JUST BOUGHT AN FN57 WHY HAS THIS GUN NEVER CAUGHT ON?

[marathonrunner]

Hey Guys, after buying the FN57, I had buyers remorse because for a few hundred more dollars could have bought an M1A. Anyway, I have heard great things about this pistol. how it has little recoil, very accurate, fun to shoot etc..

While I agree it is fun to shoot, the trigger at 6.18lbs with some creep is not all that. It is accurate up to 30 feet and then out to 50 feet it is combat accurate. 75 feet I can hit a barrel but groups are about half the size of a barrel. For all the talk of how accurate it is, it is certainly not all that. If the trigger had a flat face, less under travel, and was around 4lbs maybe different story. I was a bit disappointed my Walther PPQ can outshoot this pistol

Anyway another irksome thing I noticed, I bought a kydex Black rhino concealment holster and just from doing about 12 presentations I am already seeing some holster wear on my slide and frame. I have been using vedder holsters that do not leave any marks but this brand is scuffing it up. Will it eventually stop wearing my finish off or will it continue until I have no more frame left? I imagine at some point the wear will stop. Maybe a sandpaper to sand the inside of holser work better?

Anyway why has not this pistol gain popularity? Is it because of the hefty price tag? Seems 57 cartridge is pretty darn good for a self defense

 

[6518John]

Ammo expense/availability.

 

[WC145]

Ammo is neither overly expensive nor difficult to find, check Palmetto State Armory, that's where I get ammo to feed my PS90. They have the best prices around.

 

[marathonrunner]

Ammo expense/availability.

You can go to SGAmmo and buy a ton of it. I just think the price is way out of line

 

[Glashaus]

I have a FN 5.7 and a PS90. It is a great round and a lot of fun to shoot. I think that price is probably why you do not see more Five Sevens. It would help if more manufactures made pistols chambered in 5.7x28, but I don't really see that happening. It is kind of cool to carry the 5.7 and three mags - 60 rounds, a little large but not that much bigger than a 1911

 

[6518John]

Ammo is neither overly expensive nor difficult to find, check Palmetto State Armory, that's where I get ammo to feed my PS90. They have the best prices around.

I have NEVER seen a box of that ammo in any gunstore, Wal-Mart or other brick and mortar retailer. I agree with you on ordering online--one can find pretty much any offering there--but I wonder how many ordinary gun owners get their ammo that way. Go around to your local stores there in Maine and tell me how many boxes you can find?

 

[sigp220.45]

I've always liked them, but the hefty price tag of the gun has scared me off. If I ever found a deal on one I'd think I'd jump.

I see the ammo at all the big box outdoor stores. During the Great Ammo Panic, it was usually the only thing on the shelf.

 

[italiansport]

It's my understanding the the P 90 is the gun used to protect the President by the Secret Service these days!
Jim

 

[Biggfoot44]

Ammo availability at local sources.

Annnnd... Its differnt, very differnt . A completely different aproach to mil/ LE/ defensive ballistics. 5.7x28 from PISTOL is very similar to .22WMR from a RIFLE . Yeah, yeah I actually like .22WMR, and consider it underrated . But for service or defensive use, for doing handgun things at handgun distances even I have major pause considering it as substitute for .38spl, 9mm,.45acp, and so forth . We have lots of cumulative knowledge how they perform . Not much database of gunfights with .22WMR rifles .

New ideas sometimes are good ideas, and I have occasionally updated my ballistic beliefs over the years. But I'd have to see a boatload of real world results before endorsing 5.7 compared to existing proven rounds.

Now as a long range plinking or varmit ctg, its very intriguing . Gives a whole new dimension to flat shooting. 100Yd tin can shooting without concen for trajectory !

 

[marathonrunner]

Ammo availability at local sources.

Annnnd... Its differnt, very differnt . A completely different aproach to mil/ LE/ defensive ballistics. 5.7x28 from PISTOL is very similar to .22WMR from a RIFLE . Yeah, yeah I actually like .22WMR, and consider it underrated . But for service or defensive use, for doing handgun things at handgun distances even I have major pause considering it as substitute for .38spl, 9mm,.45acp, and so forth . We have lots of cumulative knowledge how they perform . Not much database of gunfights with .22WMR rifles .

New ideas sometimes are good ideas, and I have occasionally updated my ballistic beliefs over the years. But I'd have to see a boatload of real world results before endorsing 5.7 compared to existing proven rounds.

Now as a long range plinking or varmit ctg, its very intriguing . Gives a whole new dimension to flat shooting. 100Yd tin can shooting without concen for trajectory !

Actually the 5.7 has proven to be very devastating because it tumbles once it hits soft tissue. The price of ammo at local gun stores for this round is crazy expensive and SGAMMO sells for $20 for 50 rounds of softpoints. I would say .45HST would be much more.

My only regret in buying this is the factory trigger is too heavy for what you are paying. It should have been shipped with a flat face and a trigger that has little if any undertravel. I can barely reach the trigger with my finger.

There are a trigger shoe kit but having never installed one on a 57 I would not trust myself. My local gunsmith has never worked on one so I do not trust him. There is a place that you can mail it to and they specialize in doing upgrades but at $200 plus shipping too and from that is a bit steep

 

[pharmer]

Major/Dr. SandRat Hassan used one with very effective results at FT hood a few years back. I'm more curious why he is still alive. My bud has one, it's a big yawn. Joe

 

[BC38]

I don't understand. You describe the pistol this way....

...While I agree it is fun to shoot, the trigger at 6.18lbs with some creep is not all that. It is accurate up to 30 feet and then out to 50 feet it is combat accurate. 75 feet I can hit a barrel but groups are about half the size of a barrel. For all the talk of how accurate it is, it is certainly not all that. If the trigger had a flat face, less under travel, and was around 4lbs maybe different story. I was a bit disappointed my Walther PPQ can outshoot this pistol

...and then ask...

Anyway why has not this pistol gain popularity? Is it because of the hefty price tag? Seems 57 cartridge is pretty darn good for a self defense

Seems to me like you've answered the question.

Expensive for what it is,
Fairly heavy and creepy trigger,
Only fair to poor accuracy.

FWIW, it doesn't sound like a combination that would sell all that well to me.

 

[marathonrunner]

I don't understand. You describe the pistol this way....
...and then ask...



Seems to me like you've answered the question.

Expensive for what it is,
Fairly heavy and creepy trigger,
Only fair to poor accuracy.

FWIW, it doesn't sound like a combination that would sell all that well to me.

You are right about that. I think it is really crappy that you spend $1400 for this and then you have to spend $300 more to get a decent trigger. I could have gotten 2 quality handguns like the Walter PPQ for half the price

 

[lebomm]

The cartridge intrigues me from a technological standpoint, but IIRC, it uses a completely unique case, and therefore cannot be formed from any other in the event of poor availability. I can certainly see its potential, but will reserve judgment until it's had a few years of experience.

Larry

 

[Drm50]

I was hoping Ruger would pick up the cartridge and chamber it
a spin off of their Mark series target type pistols. The gun market
has been on the para military, SD, and LEO kick for years. Can't
blame them, it's where sales are at. This cartridge would have
great promise as a useful field gun when pared with a target
accurate gun. Perfect varmit rig for handgunner. The gun Co's
are working the other end of the scale with extreme large bores.

 

[686-380]

I have both the Five-seveN and a PS90. I'm waiting on my tax stamp for my SBR'd threaded barrel for the PS90.

Smith and Wesson triggers seem to be far superior to me, I was just comparing last week.

That said, I have my pistol suppressed with a Dead Air Mask. The rounds are still kind of loud (much louder than a suppressed .22) in both the pistol and the PS90. Subsonic ammo is stupidly expensive. I value my hearing and my dog, so subsonic it is.

I also like that I don't have to worry about over penetration. The 27 grain and 55 grain bullet won't kill my neighbors kids.

The best place to get SS198 (fastest ammo) is Midwest Gun Works.

 

[amcline82]

Because the round is a joke. It can only be fired though two guns.

Friends don't let friends buy Taurus.

 

[Rock185]

I had the use of one for several months and thought is was an interesting gun and caliber. I did some chronographing of the SS192 ammo. Averaged 2025 FPS from the pistol. Just as Biggfoot44 indicated, similar to .22 Magnum rifle ballistics. Anyway, interesting but odd to most American shooters I think. I do wish we had more options for pistols and carbines in 5X28. As is, the 5.7 pistol is fine as a recreational firearm/ range plinker,etc. Have to admit though, that I am much more comfortable with pistols with a more familiar manual of arms, chambered in boring old mainstream calibers..........ymmv

 

[DWalt]

Sort of chicken and egg. Not many guns chambered for it so ammo demand is limited. I don't know if anyone other than FN factory loads it. Any doubts about effectiveness were destroyed at Ft. Hood. Not a caliber I can ever imagine having a use for. Only benefit I see is the large-capacity magazines. There supposedly is a very effective 5.7 AP round which will penetrate most body armor, but of course it is not available to the general public.

 

[marathonrunner]

Sort of chicken and egg. Not many guns chambered for it so ammo demand is limited. I don't know if anyone other than FN factory loads it. Any doubts about effectiveness were destroyed at Ft. Hood. Not a caliber I can ever imagine having a use for. Only benefit I see is the large-capacity magazines. There supposedly is a very effective 5.7 AP round which will penetrate most body armor, but of course it is not available to the general public.

I am still baffled why Glock and others have not come out with their own version of this round. Yes I know ammo is limited, but at 21.00 a box of 50 softpoint that is not too bad. I am surprised the price of the FN57 has not come down much in price as it is not a fast mover.