So what's the general consensus on the FN Five-seveN?

[Zerodefect]

Each plate material has a specific ammo type it's best for.

Polymer plates will stop high speed 5.56mm type rounds very well. But heavier slower rounds punch through.

Steel plates stop heavy slow rounds better. But high speed small rounds like 5.56 can punch through.

Ceramic is good at both, but is toast after getting hit a couple times. And it's fragile.

Polymer and steel mixed sandwich is the best plate. But civvys aren't allowed to have those yet because out government is stupid.


5.7 isn't doing jack to quality Level III or IV plates. Maybe a piss poor plate, or an improperly used setup, or lame plates from cheapo manufacturers with fake ratings.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Many of those plates weaken dramatically after the first shot. Some do not. It varies with the make and manufacturer. The person that told me this story is well respected in the 5.7mm community. I've seen some level IV plates that I know a 5.7 wouldn't penetrate because it was shown to withstand multiple shots. But the ones that weaken after multiple shots to the same area.. look out.

Ceramic armor can be defeated after multible rounds, its how its always been.

I have heard that a highly restricted 5.7mm round will penetrate a level IV ceramic SAPI plate after the first round.

 

[happygeek]

I have heard that a highly restricted 5.7mm round will penetrate a level IV ceramic SAPI plate after the first round.

Assuming you could put the first two rounds in exactly the same place it'd be theoretically possible. Wasn't that the whole idea of the AN-94? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An94). From what I've heard though (no source, sorry) that rifle doesn't quite live up to it's '2 rounds in exactly the same place' hype, and hence doesn't defeat Level IV plates.

 

[JustinJ]

From what I've heard though (no source, sorry) that rifle doesn't quite live up to it's '2 rounds in exactly the same place' hype, and hence doesn't defeat Level IV plates.

I read accounts of shooting the gun, in Shotgun news i think, and the two rounds hit pretty close although i don't recall the range. Regardless though ceramic cracks so they need not hit the exact same spot but the closer the better.

Either way the AN-94 must have been on to something as the US army has set a requirement for their next standard issue rifle to have the same hyper burst capability.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Its a good concept, for the most part, it allows the soldier to actually use burst in combat effectively.

 

[ns66]

5.7 sounds all good, but the handgun is too big for me, and expensive, i don't know if other gun makers are allowed to make 5.7 type guns, if there are different types of 5.7 semi-auto to choose from, then i will be more interested

 

[gunnutery]

I was looking through Glockbyte's documentation of 5.7's use in Mexico. Very interesting. I think eventually there may be a market for more weapon platforms made to chamber the 5.7, but I think for the moment, it's a niche caliber that is too stifled in controversy. One side sees it as a "cop killer" another side sees it as a weak option compared to common clalibers and others see it as expensive (both ammo and the guns made for it).

Having said all that, I personally plan to get a PS90 someday, and I don't have any qualms about the potency of the 5.7x28.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I've heard rumors about some large gun companies toying with the idea of making a 5.7 chambered handgun. I myself would love a XD-57.

 

[ns66]

if there's walther pk57 i would buy it

 

[gunnutery]

I've heard rumors about some large gun companies toying with the idea of making a 5.7 chambered handgun.

Perhaps my statement will become reality much sooner than I thought. You would think that gun designers would be experts on the documentation of terminal ballistics. But they have to think of how big the demand is too. Hopefully they see enough potential to make some money at it.

 

[usp9]

if there's walther pk57 i would buy it

If HK sold the P46, I'd definitely buy it. Until then I'll just have to suffer through with the FN 5.7

 

[PabloJ]

I've had one since Nov 05.
It's OK but I'm not getting rid of my 9mm, 45ACP, .380, 9x18, etc, etc, and going strictly 5.7.

I used it for a night stand gun for several years and had no doubt it would stop a BG's clock with a shot or two to the chest.


The only complaint I have is brass, for reloading, is difficult to find and expensive.

I bet noise would be deafening......perhaps worse then flash bang? I prefer subsonic HP round for night stand duty and there is pretty good reason for that.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Perhaps my statement will become reality much sooner than I thought. You would think that gun designers would be experts on the documentation of terminal ballistics. But they have to think of how big the demand is too. Hopefully they see enough potential to make some money at it.

Defiantly, after all, the only reason I want a FiveseveN is because of the round it fires but it doesn't really fit my hand that well and feels kinda uncomfortable. I figure I would just get used to it but here's to a XD-57 in the future! (insert drink raising picture here)

 

[PabloJ]

One of the countries behind 'Iron Curtain' was developing then new assult rifle cartridge and after r&d period they settled on 6,5mm or 6,9mm on case of 39mm or 45mm length. It was never developed because "Bolsheviks" said niet. Why would someone settle on 5,7mm. Is it because for all practical purposes Belgium does not have an Army?

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Why would someone settle on 5,7mm. Is it because for all practical purposes Belgium does not have an Army?

Because I like the round and I'm highly impressed of how it performs. With EA loadings, it performs just as good, if not better, than .45 ACP in tests.

 

[481]

I was looking through Glockbyte's documentation of 5.7's use in Mexico. Very interesting.

Yes, the news articles are very fun to read.

However, the plural of "third world newspaper article" is not "data".

The 5.7 does have its place though. It is a fun little prairie dog round just like the .22 Magnum.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The 5.7 does have its place though. It is a fun little prairie dog round just like the .22 Magnum.

5.7 x 28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WrokNC3Clc&list=UU1UICFxcABkGg8Nj3X0dW8Q&index=2&feature=plcp

.22 WMR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS_KS1U3aBk

 

[481]

5.7 x 28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WrokNC3Clc&list=UU1UICFxcABkGg8Nj3X0dW8Q&index=2&feature=plcp

.22 WMR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS_KS1U3aBk

Yes, everyone knows that with properly designed projectiles the 5.7 can defeat soft armor. This can be done with other rounds, too, including the 9mm, 7.62 Tokarev and even the .22 Magnum. The 5.7 offers nothing that hasn't been done before.

The plural of "youtube video" is not "data" either. Combining "youtube video" and "third world newspaper article" does not equate to "valid research" either except perhaps in fanboi land.

 

[Nushif]

I find it kind of interesting that we assume mexico is a third world country.

While I'm not going to sit here and say Mexico right now is a dandy place to be, third world is not entirely accurate. I would give an underdeveloped newspaper article as much credence as a monetarily influenced ideological propaganda machine.

So in that vein, no news article, youtube video, or any source a reasonable person can access with any kind of ease is data. Because data is done by scientists, and as far as I know I do not see university grants into ballistics research very often.

 

[481]

I find it kind of interesting that we assume mexico is a third world country.

While I'm not going to sit here and say Mexico right now is a dandy place to be, third world is not entirely accurate. I would give an underdeveloped newspaper article as much credence as a monetarily influenced ideological propaganda machine.

So in that vein, no news article, youtube video, or any source a reasonable person can access with any kind of ease is data. Because data is done by scientists, and as far as I know I do not see university grants into ballistics research very often.

That sort of reserach is done more than you think. Lot of .gov work (not just the U.S.) done in the field.

Entertaining the "off topic" thought momentarily, Mexico has all of the elements that most common folk attribute to constituting "third-world" (under-developed nation) status;

1. Rampant military and LE organizational desertion to the drug cartels
2. Crippling corruption at all levels of governement, minimal government services
3. 46,000 people dead over the last ten years from the drug cartel wars alone
4. Poor medical infrastructure and high disease and contagion rates
5. Massive impoverishment even before the world economy tanked, now worse
6. High unemployment
7. Non-existent rights for their citizenry (highly restrictive arms laws, no free speech, etc.)
8. Very low standard of living/high "misery index"

Sure you can define Mexico using a term other than "third-world", but what does that solve?

Back on topic.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Yes, everyone knows that with properly designed projectiles the 5.7 can defeat soft armor. This can be done with other rounds, too, including the 9mm, 7.62 Tokarev and even the .22 Magnum. The 5.7 offers nothing that hasn't been done before.

.22 magnum couldn't, look what the SS195 did despite being a round that is traveling faster and having a better profile to pierce armor. The point wasn't about penetrating armor but the wounding capabilities of that last round compared to the measly .22 WMR.

Have you even looked at Brassfetcher's research on his website? It is more than just a Youtube video and the conclusion he posted is there. 5.7 x 28 is more powerful than you think, read through the thread. I changed my opinion on the round reading through this very thread when it was first made, that is why I hold the viewpoint I have. I don't own a 5.7 x 28 chambered firearm and I've only shot 5 rounds with a FiveseveN. I'm not a fanboy but someone who was educated on the round and is looking forward to the day it becomes more popular.

Your kind of posts remind me of how people thought when 5.56 was first introduced.

 

[ns66]

when glock just came out, i bet tons of people trashed it as ugly plastic toy?

 

[Skribs]

I think the 5.7 has potential, it has a lot of advantages for it and a few disadvantages.

Pros:
Low recoil
High capacity
Flat trajectory
High wounding power for the caliber

Cons:
Noise
Availability
Lack of platforms
Small caliber (since TWC or expansion are not 100% reliable, the PWC of an unexpanded bullet will be inferior to a 9mm or larger bullet.).

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

when glock just came out, i bet tons of people trashed it as ugly plastic toy?

Lots of things in the gun world were bad mouthed when they first came out, this is nothing new but doesn't mean that it's okay. In the instances where this gun has been used, it has proven itself to be just as good as other calibers if not better.

 

[Rodentman]

I got one very lightly used for a good price. It feels better in the hand with a Hogue slip on grip, as do most autos IMHO except 1911 and a few others...

I liked the challenge of being able to reload it successfully, which I have done, and someone gave me 1,600 1x fired brass.