GregGry
Member
Also, tests like shooting into wet phone books will likely show that a 5.7 round penetrates further then a 9mm or 45 bullet. However phone books, and light body armor always show that a small diameter pointy bullet is better at penetrating, especially when its a FMJ 5.7 round vs a expanding 9mm or .45 round. This doesn't mean that the 5.7 will work better in tissue though. The 195lf round is in the mid 9 inch penetration area in ballistics gel, most 9mm and .45 acp rounds are well above that. Its likely that the phone books help keep the rounds from tumbling which will increase the penetration at an expense of the cavity created by the tumbling action.
Considering the expense of the gun (900+ in most cases) the lack of ammo at reasonable prices (and availability at local places) and the comparisons to the 9mm its my opinion that the 5.7 pistol just isn't worth the money. You can get a glock 17 (or similar type pistol) with 1K rounds of practice ammo, and 200 rounds of good self defense ammo for the same price as just the 5.7 pistol. Your dealing with a caliber (9mm) that will achieve 12 to 15 inches of penetration at a 9mm diameter bullet in the event of no expansion, and even more if it expands. Same thing can be said for the .45acp. Relying on a bullet tumbling to cause a serious wound is even more of a variable then trying to rely on the expansion of a round to provide wounding.
If fn puts the price of the five seven pistol down to about 500$, increases the availability of practice ammo at decent prices, and had factory made ammo thats available to everyone thats capable of 12.5 inches + of penetration (With tumbling) they might just have a hot ticket. Instead you have to sacrifice to much and you really can't have your cake and eat it too.
Considering the expense of the gun (900+ in most cases) the lack of ammo at reasonable prices (and availability at local places) and the comparisons to the 9mm its my opinion that the 5.7 pistol just isn't worth the money. You can get a glock 17 (or similar type pistol) with 1K rounds of practice ammo, and 200 rounds of good self defense ammo for the same price as just the 5.7 pistol. Your dealing with a caliber (9mm) that will achieve 12 to 15 inches of penetration at a 9mm diameter bullet in the event of no expansion, and even more if it expands. Same thing can be said for the .45acp. Relying on a bullet tumbling to cause a serious wound is even more of a variable then trying to rely on the expansion of a round to provide wounding.
If fn puts the price of the five seven pistol down to about 500$, increases the availability of practice ammo at decent prices, and had factory made ammo thats available to everyone thats capable of 12.5 inches + of penetration (With tumbling) they might just have a hot ticket. Instead you have to sacrifice to much and you really can't have your cake and eat it too.
). It is especially effective as a car gun for women, due to the low recoil and high ammo capacity.
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