Not all that fun to reload for from what i have been told.

 

Looks a little Hornet-ish, or 30 luger. I've ruined a lot of those cases

 

Fun gun.
Light, accurate and firepower.
For me, the grip is terrible, and hate the shark fin sights. Everyone nowadays wants suppressor height sights, so there ya go.
I know several people who swear by them, one hunts the big cats here in the west with his.

Ammo? Just stack it deep.
Reloading, no harder than any other thinwall case. Forget progressive loaders though, in my opinion.

I am a dyed in the wool .4"+ caliber person. But put me back in the city, and the 5.7 would get serious consideration as the primary.
And going with the Ruger 5.7 pistol and carbine, it would limit the number of types of ammo needed, and just carry a 9/40/45 as backup.

Why the Ruger over the FN? I can buy a mess of mags and ammo for the difference.

 

They are ridiculously fun to shoot.

Every LE agency in the US that has shot someone with the caliber has rapidly mothballed the platforms in question. My agency is one of them. Our SWAT team had about 20 P90s that ended up gathering dust in the armory for years, because we literally could not give them away.

I've read multiple official reports where people hit multiple times center mass were inconvenienced at best.

A few entities still have them on the books, for very niche applications.

It's telling when the only thing people can point to when extolling how awesome 5.7 is, is the Fort Hood shooting, where literally any duty caliber would have performed at least as well.

 

The civilian grade ammo is not the same as the military grade ammo for the 57.
Also, Ivan Chesnokov gives a ice summary of the 57. Worth the read. About halfway down.

Rifle is Fine! The Firearms Philosophy of Ivan Chesnokov

The insightful wisdom of firearms aficionado and Soviet history guru Ivan Chesnokov. Do not tacticool, rifle is fine!"

m1-garand-rifle.com

 

My shooting buddy has one and I love it. I can’t justify the price and ammo is expensive. In a SHTF situation the ammo will be real hard to find and parts will be impossible to find.

 

If you want a range gun that fun sure. I’ve never bought one due to the ammo. I only buy guns that are 9mm, .45 acp, .22 LR, 5.56, .308 and 12 gauge. When SHTF, you won’t find 5.7x28.

 

FN 5.7 as a range gun or fun gun, sure. The fun factor is tremendous.
Hold one before buying as IMHO the grip isn't for everyone -- slightly longer front to back with less "rounding" than say a G17 due to the 5.7x28.
Check out ammo availability / pricing if you want high velocity ammo or shoot a lot.
In the "good old days", AE 5.7x28 40gr was close to cheap 45ACP, not even close now.

 

If you have deep pockets and want something fun to shoot, it might be for you. Ammunition availability is a problem, in my area.

As for me, I would pass. I just can’t, personally,
justify the expense. To me it’s one of those cool things, that I’ll never own. Like a two seater sports car. They look nice, but they just aren’t practical, for my needs. They also cost more than I’m willing to spend.

 

Not practical for prepping, might be worthwhile if you have someone who can't shoot 9mm effectively though. If you're fighting dudes with body armor, aim for the face instead of trying to defeat the armor, it's more effective.

 

Not a Good choice in a survival weapon, Ammo will be hard to find, or components to buy, Fast but weeny bullet size !!!

 

If you get one make sure you get the newer version.

 

If you get one make sure you get the newer version.

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Nice upgrades, but they were pushing 50% more cost than the gen 1 FN at first! Now merely $200 more, so worth it.

Even then, the ammo is still the limiting factor. When I first started researching 5.7, I did not realize that many ammo manus quote velocity out of longer barreled carbines, not the handgun. If the handgun could hit those velocities in a small package, I'd have to suck it up and buy one!

 

I can't give you much of an opinion but I sure like what I see. Very nice lines and I'd be interested to know the bullet velocity of the barrel. I'll be looking into one for myself. 20+1 is very cool.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/147538/fn+herstal+66101275+five-seven+mrd+fde+fde+2x20

 

 

Ruger and PSA make versions that are a lot cheaper. Like literally half price.

For a gun that I couldn't afford to feed enough ammo to break it anyway....I'd save money on the gun and buy more ammo with the difference, IF I even decided to buy the gun....which I wouldn't.
I have 22+1 in my duty sized 9 mm with the OEM mags, I paid a LOT less than the FN costs, and it came with a threaded barrel.
Will 9mm penetrate armor? Not so much...but niether will most of the available 5.7 ammo.

Alternative options for high capacity or zippy small bullets....the KelTec PMR30 in .22 mag, or the Rock Island .22 TCM guns.

 

Ruger and PSA make versions that are a lot cheaper. Like literally half price.

For a gun that I couldn't afford to feed enough ammo to break it anyway....I'd save money on the gun and buy more ammo with the difference, IF I even decided to buy the gun....which I wouldn't.
I have 22+1 in my duty sized 9 mm with the OEM mags, I paid a LOT less than the FN costs, and it came with a threaded barrel.
Will 9mm penetrate armor? Not so much...but niether will most of the available 5.7 ammo.

Alternative options for high capacity or zippy small bullets....the KelTec PMR30 in .22 mag, or the Rock Island .22 TCM guns.

I'd take the Ruger over the PSA, but the gun isn't the issue.

It's the ammo. If it ever becomes reasonable enough to stack, I'll stack and get the FN.

 

I love idea of it, but $70 for 50 rds premium SD ammo at times, IF you can find it???

Too rich for my blood for something that doesn't demonstrate superiority over the established combat calibers. Let us have the very best tactical ammo that is currently restricted and dial it back to $50 for a box of the best, $35 for other, and I'm there.

 

I love idea of it, but $70 for 50 rds premium SD ammo at times, IF you can find it???

Too rich for my blood for something that doesn't demonstrate superiority over the established combat calibers. Let us have the very best tactical ammo that is currently restricted and dial it back to $50 for a box of the best, $35 for other, and I'm there.

My wish above became true during Cyber Week or whatever the marketers want you to call it. Although Fed AM. Eagle fmj would be thought of the ideal range ammo by some, it is on the slow side and basically costs the same (<$40) as superior/faster FN SS197SR with VMAX ballistic tip if you know where to look. And even SS198LF isn't really much different than premium level .45 acp or even 9mm lately. A box of 50 Gold Dot +P in 9mm is still hovering at $40-$48 (I remember when it was $25) and .45 acp is at least $50 (or $30 for only 20 rds!) at most places compared to SS198 at $50.

The true premium ammo like Elite and Vanguard are still too rare and expensive, but Fiocci entering the game is a very good sign. I think 5.7 cost will continue to drop and it will become more plentiful next year. I look forward to more manus entering the arena. Underwood, are you listening???

 

I am not a fan of the gun or caliber. Here’s why:

Capacity is nice, but I can buy 17+1 mags for my Beretta (G17 comes standard with them).

Caliber: 5.7x28 is marginal from a rifle, and handguns don’t improve it any. It’s loud, expensive, and offers little beyond potentially poking through pistol armor.

Ergos: I don’t like the pistol. It’s uncomfortable to me. Sights are annoying too.

Size: it’s bigger than my Beretta significantly. The Beretta is big to begin with. Adding heft to a big gun isn’t typically useful.

 

I'm a HUGE fan of the 5.7 round and I really like FN, but the Ruger 5.7 is half the price and ergonomically much better, in my opinion.

It's just that the round is so uncommon and expensive. I figure in a real SHTF scenario the odds of me coming across very much 5.7 aren't going to be very good.

In other economic times I'd buy it just for the range fun factor, but right now seems like a real good time to stick to the basics and stock up.

 

The rounds run between .70 c and .90 c each, depending on brand, quantity, type, etc.

Still quite costly in my book, which is why I have concerns. Interesting to note Ajole's and X-Wrestler's posts about the knockoffs...that's excellent info to know. Will check out those options, too.

 

My Friend has a 5.7. It is a blast to shoot! Looks like a huge pistol but weighs nothing. I was thinking about getting one since the ammo is showing up everywhere in my AO. I really really really want the Keltec Princess Leia pistol though. That thing looks like a whole bunch of fun,,But, at 1K plus,,the "Keltec" thing is kinda holding me back

 

Part of the issue is removing the "plastic coating" on the case (methy ethyl ketone peroxide works - can be hard on your liver). Apparently the shoulder needs set back after every firing because of the pressure still there when it starts to open.

I'll stick to my Jet, I can still shoot it with cast bullets for around a penny a pop at 22 MRF velocity. Plus it will 22 shorts longs or long rifle with the silver inserts. Selectable between center and rimfire S&W model 53

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I've been considering the Keltec P50, adding a folding brace and optic (Compact ACOG 1.5 or 2x). Not so much for a primary self-defense weapon, but it would be quite ideal as a minimalist E&E or survival gun (granted the Keltec doesn't fall apart on your).

50 rounds per mag of 5.7mm would take a lot of game or keep some heads down while you break contact and E&E at a very fast pace...

ROCK6

 

HappyinID, that Ruger's textured grip looks better, imho, than the FN. Checking price on that bad boy.
Thanks for sharing!

 

And it's cool to own!!!!

 

My opinion, skip them if you have to save to get them.

Fun on the range, niche (IMO) for carry. Even further niche if for "survivalist" purchase.

For us, they are great for camp/hiking, in today's "normalcy", given the capacity, weight & our "expected" threats (2 legged) . For "survivalist/shtf" they would be carried with PS90's, and used as intended. Light weight PDW system while working, to break contact only.

Current ammunition pricing for the caliber is absurd. So someone saving to buy one would be less likely to both become proficient & stock up. Today. IMO.

-Mind, not saying don't get one. Just saying tight $ could be better purposed...

 

For "survivalist/shtf" they would be carried with PS90's, and used as intended. Light weight PDW system while working, to break contact only.

Better carry every bullet you will ever need, because you aren't finding more...

 

Thank you, everyone, for all of your excellent comments, both pro and con.

This is certainly something I'd like to invest in for 2023, if possible, but wow...the prices of the pistol, ammo and holsters are certainly a bit more on the costly side.

All things considered, I'd love to own one and a few thousand rounds of ammo to make it sing.

 

All things considered, I'd love to own one and a few thousand rounds of ammo to make it sing.

Did you ever get the gun? I thought the concept was interesting but would probably never own one myself. I have too many calibers to chase now to add another. My mindset is that I have to be able to reload for anything I shoot (excepting rimfires) and just don't want a new caliber to have to find and stock supplies.

 

Ammoseek has it from sixty one cents each on up. A few thousand is more than I can pay out.

 

The only pistol calibers I would "goof off" with much these days are 9mm and .22LR. Almost anything else is excessively expensive, even the better .38 SPL out there. 🤪

I expect it will be relatively easy to master combat shooting with 5.7 due to very light recoil and inherent accuracy. But it will never be a casual plinker for me. A more serious toy.....with purpose.

 

I have only messed with it a couple times, both in a LE setting. Giggle factor was certainly there, especially in full auto. It hit the 100 yard target easier than 9mm in handguns. We had CMMG AR pattern rifles for it rather than P90s, and it functioned fine.

But when we tested its performance against our standard 9mm/40/45 in gel, we found it severely lacking. It did penetrate pistol armor, but on the other side of the armor it performed about like 22lr (8” penetration in calibrated FBI spec gel). We decided that an armored attacker would just get shot in the pelvic girdle with handgun rounds and we’d spend our weapons upgrade funding on more ammo and springs.

All that being said, if they weren’t so doggone pricey, I’d be interested in one just for shooting at milk jugs across the canyon.