[Harrishmasher]

I have had my 5 7 for just over a month now. After today's range session, I have fired 750 rounds through it (a mix of AE, 195, 198). The gun has performed absolutely flawlessly. It is also one of the most accurate handguns I have had the pleasure of shooting.

The 5 7 has also been my daily carry gun since I first tested it out. The incredible capacity, and much of what I read about the 5.7 round made me feel it was a great choice for personal defense. Prior to carrying the 5 7, I either carried one of my many 2.5" or 3" 7 or 8 shot .357 S&W revolvers, a 1911, or a Glock 17/19.

In my last four outings with the 5 7, I brought it alone to the range so i could really focus on it. Today I brought one of my 2.5" 357 S&W L Frames, and a 1911 45acp. I first shot 100 rounds through my .357, then 100 rounds through my 1911, then the 5 7.

When I fired the first shot out of my 5 7, having just fired a bunch of 357 and 45acp, I could not believe how mild and soft shooting the 5.7 ammo was. I felt like I was shooting a 22lr for sure. It felt so weak and anemic compared to the 357 and 45, it really freaked me out. I started wondering what the heck I was doing carrying this gun. How could this gun, which felt like a 22 plinker, possibly offer any kind of terminal performance compared to the other rounds I normally carry?

I continued firing the 5 7. I shot 100 rounds of SS195. As I was shooting quarter and half dollar size groups with ease, I just kept shaking my head and wondering how this recoilless round could possibly offer any more terminal performance than a 22. I am really starting to second guess my decision to carry this gun. I love this gun. It is crazy accurate, super light, offers incredible mag capacity, is a breeze to clean because it never even gets dirty. But is this gun really nothing more than a slightly pumped up 22?

With 357 and 45acp I know exactly what I am carrying and know exactly what these rounds are capable of in terms of terminal performance. The 5.7 not so much. There is just not enough info out there and actual real world shootings. When I watch the videos of people shooting gel, pork shoulders, armor, and so on it never seems all that impressive. When people shoot these mediums with 357s and 45s, it is impressive. Things pop up, parts go flying. With the 5.7 it looks like a 22 is hitting the medium.

I love this gun, and I want to believe that the 5.7 is a round to be reckoned with and offers terminal performance that rivals a 357 and 45acp. What am I missing here?

 

[vz58kid]

I'll catch Flak but ur thinking what many have and are still saying! In a lot of ballistic tests the ammo did horrible u can watch some ss 198 ammo test in gel which are nothing to brag about!

 

[Arizona CJ]

you guys are way off the mark...this is one of the more lethal rounds out there...like standing in front of an AR with over 2,000 fps
check some more facts and articles before you second guess yourself any further
if I had one gun to carry, this would be it. they make me carry a Glock for duty gun...otherwise, I'd carry this 5.7

 

[nelly105]

i feel the exact same way whenever i shoot a .223 AR. the light recoil is nothing compared to .308. does that make it not lethal?

there are several threads here showing pictures of a deer that was shot with a 5.7x28 round. i have no issues with the round's effectiveness.

 

[Harrishmasher]

you guys are way off the mark...this is one of the more lethal rounds out there...like standing in front of an AR with over 2,000 fps
check some more facts and articles before you second guess yourself any further
if I had one gun to carry, this would be it. they make me carry a Glock for duty gun...otherwise, I'd carry this 5.7

My friend, I want nothing more than to be with you 100% on this. The problem is I have done hours upon hours of research on this round and I am still on the fence. I have read and watched everything I can find online about this round. I don't want to be on the fence. I want absolute confidence that this round is capable of serious terminal performance. I'm just not there yet. That is why I wrote this post, I want you guys to help me see the light and show me what it is I am missing.

Shooting my five seven back to back with my 357 and 45 really has me scratching my head even more than before.

 

[Harrishmasher]

i feel the exact same way whenever i shoot a .223 AR. the light recoil is nothing compared to .308. does that make it not lethal?

there are several threads here showing pictures of a deer that was shot with a 5.7x28 round. i have no issues with the round's effectiveness.

I have lots of rifles in 5.56 and 308. I have no doubts about 5.56. It is a rifle round. Any rifle round is serious business. Watching gel, pork, or whatever tests with 223/5.56 leaves no doubt about what that round can do. Stuff goes flying, huge wound cavities...no doubts.

 

[vz58kid]

There are several vid reviews of respected Gun reviewers who don't recommend it for self defense, I believe even everybodys fav Mac reviewed it and said he will stick with his 9mm!
In 1 vid a NAA guardian .22lr with a 1 1/8" barrel mini revolver :lol: had better penetration or just as close as ss 198 out of a 5.7 in ballistic gel.:-D

 

[Dizzy82]

IMHO if your still having difficulty trusting what is basically a handheld AR, you just might have to move on to a caliber you trust more. Not trying to get on your bad side, but most of your posts second guess the effectiveness of the 5.7 cartridge. I myself will continue to trust it with my life.

 

[vz58kid]

I bought both my 5.7 & ps-90 for target shoot many yrs ago and that is it! But any gun even a .22 mini is better than nothing!

 

[SeaMac]

I could be mistaken here, there is a very knowledgeable 5.7 member who will correct me if I'm wrong but....AFAIK the US Secret Service Presidential Protective Detail carries both the Five-SeveN and PS90, that should convince just about anyone as to the terminal and lethal effectiveness of the cartridge. Of course the USSS does have access to 5.7x28 ammunition us lowly civilians do not, woe is us.

 

[vz58kid]

U are mistaken despite what Wiki says!

The standard issue sidearm for the US Secret Service is the SIG P-229 in .357SIG.

The only 5.7x28mm firearm they use is the FN P-90, which is used by the uniformed division. Protection details still use 9x19mm H&K MP-5s.

Actually the 5.7 in a pistol is pretty much useless!

 

[vz58kid]

Should tell u something when only the uniformed division (flunkies) carry the P-90 and the protective detail the 9mm HK, these are the highly trained ones to protect the head honcho!
Nato didn't want anything to do with either one and the US army has enough probs with the 5.56 being effective in combat!

 

[Fnpurist]

U are mistaken despite what Wiki says!

The standard issue sidearm for the US Secret Service is the SIG P-229 in .357SIG.

The only 5.7x28mm firearm they use is the FN P-90, which is used by the uniformed division. Protection details still use 9x19mm H&K MP-5s.

Actually the 5.7 in a pistol is pretty much useless!

Useless?? This statement makes everything you say a joke. Tell the fort hood victims how useless it was. These kind of ignorant comments seem to be a staple with you. I guess you just like attention.

 

[Harrishmasher]

Should tell u something when only the uniformed division (flunkies) carry the P-90 and the protective detail the 9mm HK, these are the highly trained ones to protect the head honcho!
Nato didn't want anything to do with either one and the US army has enough probs with the 5.56 being effective in combat!

vz58kid the point of my thread (that you are hijacking) is not to bash the 5.7, I am trying to learn here and help make the most informed decision possible. I see where you stand on this round. I got your opinion. No need to go on further. I would like to hear from some other folks who could help point me in the right direction. Thanks.

 

[vz58kid]

Even the Russian Sp Forces quit using the 5.45 and went back to the AK 103 which is 7.62x39!

 

[FNFlorida]

U are mistaken despite what Wiki says!

The standard issue sidearm for the US Secret Service is the SIG P-229 in .357SIG.

The only 5.7x28mm firearm they use is the FN P-90, which is used by the uniformed division. Protection details still use 9x19mm H&K MP-5s.

Actually the 5.7 in a pistol is pretty much useless!

 

[cdiamond]

There are several vid reviews of respected Gun reviewers who don't recommend it for self defense, I believe even everybodys fav Mac reviewed it and said he will stick with his 9mm!
In 1 vid a NAA guardian .22lr with a 1 1/8" barrel mini revolver :lol: had better penetration or just as close as ss 198 out of a 5.7 in ballistic gel.:-D

At what distance was it comparable to a .22lr? The 5.7 has twice the muzzle velocity as a .22lr and depending on the round is doing this with a larger projectile. The physics alone behind that statement don't add up.

 

[PursuitSS]

In 1 vid a NAA guardian .22lr with a 1 1/8" barrel mini revolver :lol: had better penetration or just as close as ss 198 out of a 5.7 in ballistic gel.:-D

If you want a 5.56 to penetrate deeper, slow it down! The same wih most calibers.

As to ballistic gelatin, I've never been assaulted by a block of ballistic gelatin.

As I've mentioned before, ballistic gelatin tests rate my duty/off duty round as horrible. Winchester Ranger 9mm 127 gr +P+, yet it's a PROVEN performer in real life shootings. (again, are you being attacked by ballistic gel?)

Its a HORRIBLE example but the Fort Hood shootings are REAL WORLD shootings, real people died from the 5.7 round.

If you research enough you will find numerous shootings of Wild Boar with he 5.7 round.

I ONLY trust actual shooting data, as an example, I trust the data compiled by Evan Marshall, Ed Sanow, and Massad Ayoob. Referring to my earlier comment, Massad Ayoob also trusts the Winchester 9mm 127 gr +P+.

One last thought, if you are carrying a pistol for self defense, when it all goes bad you will be launching bullets. You MUST make sure where every single round goes. You don't want to be hitting innocent bystanders. If you do your part and hit center of mass, the 5.7X28 will do its part and end the threat.

BUT, if you aren't comfortable with round I wouldn't carry it.

YMMV

 

[DrToyHoarder]

This has been discussed repeatedly, search the old threads. ::0::

 

[PursuitSS]

Here are a couple of links to agencies using the 5.7X28 round...

FN Five-seven - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://fnforum.net/forums/fn-five-seven/8879-agencies-employing-fn-five-seven.html