Tell me about the FNH FN five seven

[jaykellogg]

My girlfriend says her girlfriend is in the market for one. Apparently she rented one and liked the mild recoil. It looks like it is breathtakingly expensive to shoot at $1.00-2.00 a round. The guns are also expensive at $1500 up.

 

[swilli41]

It worked well for Nidal Hasan at Ft. Hood. He managed to kill 13 and wound 29 with one.

 

[LVSteve]

Ballistically it is very similar to .22 WRF but does have pointier bullets. Your friend should rent a Kel-Tec PMR-30 and see how she likes that. Even the Kel-Tecs are still stupid money IMHO, but the ammo is way cheaper.

 

[max]

Hickok 45 has a video test on one.

 

[Rock185]

jay, I had the use of a five7 for several months for T&E purposes. Neat gun, reliable, very low recoil, FN SS192 ammo we were using averaged 2025 FPS from the pistol,etc. Don't know of course how experienced with handguns the potential buyer is, but the five7 would seem to be a rather exotic and expensive, and now expensive to shoot, pistol for anyone not really into guns. The one we used for T&E was still like new when we finished with it, and I was offered the pistol for a very good price but declined. Didn't know what I'd do with it at the time. Seeing the incredible prices on these pistols now, sure wish I'd bought it ;-)

 

[R. G. Amos]

Now is not the time to buy an FN Five seveN. It seems to me that this may be the firearm that has increased most during the recent price run up. I bought one about 2 years ago and paid about $1100 for it. I had a local dealer order it from Davidson's. I recently sold it along with four boxes of ammo (cost me about $100 for the ammo) on Gunbroker for $2200. These things always bring multiple bids on Gunbroker except those of course with a beginning bid around $3000. Condition doesn't seem to make much difference, Most of the bids are from those with no or only few previous purchases. SS192 ammo for which I paid about $30/box goes for anywhere from $50-$80.

I felt so bad about the selling price for the one I listed that I included two extra new magazines which weren't included in the original auction.

I do not understand the demand for this gun.

 

[Rule3]

I have always wanted one. I shot one a few times it is really really nice.

What stopped me from getting one other than the price, even a like new used one. The ammo. At the time the ammo was no more expensive than say 45 ACP it was $20 something a box of 50. But I reload and it is a very tricky round to reload without having a major problem.

Some say it is like a 22 mag but that is a "discussion" for another time (it isn't)

 

[bobf]

Check the Rock Island 22TCM. A lot cheaper and includes a 9mm conversion.

 

[jaykellogg]

Check the Rock Island 22TCM. A lot cheaper and includes a 9mm conversion.

What is the recoil like on the RIA? I imagine it would be heavier than she'd like.

 

[LVSteve]

Check the Rock Island 22TCM. A lot cheaper and includes a 9mm conversion.

Very interesting. Has there ever been another period when it seems new cartridges are being invented so often? 22 TCM, 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel etc, etc.

 

[bobf]

What is the recoil like on the RIA? I imagine it would be heavier than she'd like.

It's a full size 1911 so it's not real light, I believe the 9mm recoil is more than the 22TCM. I expected more recoil than it has, it's a cut down .223.

 

[bobf]

Very interesting. Has there ever been another period when it seems new cartridges are being invented so often? 22 TCM, 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel etc, etc.

I hope they all stay around.

 

[CW Spook]

What is the recoil like on the RIA? I imagine it would be heavier than she'd like.

This review says the recoil is negligible. I'd like to try one. I've got an RIA compact .45 that I really like.

Smallbore Slabsides: Rock Island Armory .22 TCM Review - Shotgun News

 

[Mike7.62]

I saw one today at my buddies shop while picking up a
Marlin 336CB. It was well made, lightweight, but rather unwieldy in two respects:

One, it's grip is very long to accommodate the round, very much like a Glock 20 in 10mm. Not uncomfortable, just unwieldy.

Two, its safety is located forward on the slide above where other semi autos have a slide release. The slide release is further aft where the safety would normally be on the frame. I found that to be more than unwieldy, but downright confusing, especially in the heat of battle.

IIRC the cartridge as sold to the public is not the same round that the Praetorians use in theirs, and essentially what you have is a hi cap, expensive, .22 Mag. Personally, I would rather have two Glock 22's, or a Glock 22 and a 27, or a G22 and a Smith Airweight, for the money it costs for one of these, even at current prices.

 

[R. G. Amos]

The FN 5.7 round is actually closer to the 22 Hornet.

 

[mwtdvm]

Have both, 5n7 and RIA 22 TCM

My 5n7 was purchased in Jan 2008 to celebrate the recent inauguration. The 22 TCM was purchased because my local purveyor of fine fire arms said "Hey, here's a strange one... " knowing I like the unusual.
The 5n7 is fun to shoot. but as others have pointed out, not cheap and getting more expensive all the time. I have saved some brass but the warnings about how easy it is to destroy your gun have me a bit gun shy. The 20 round mags are a hoot and the "extension" you can buy to bring them up to thirty which remind me of what the Rebs said about the Spencer, Load it on Sunday and shoot it all week long.

The 22TCM is as others have pointed out, a steel framed 1911 variant. I was pleasantly surprised how well it is put together and what a value it was. I will look at more RIA pistols in the future. Reloading for the TCM is also problematic. "Save your brass and send it back to get a rebate/discount." No reload data I have been able to find but I also think the same potential for a KaBoom may be possible. My big complaint is that it comes with 1 magazine and there seems to be none available from the mfgr.
YMMV

 

[tops]

I have played with a FN 5.7 and I think if someone likes automatics one of them would be a great defense or offense pistol. Very little recoil so it can be shot fast and 20 of those little bullets are bound to leave a mark. Larry

 

[richeyo2]

Use to be able to pick one up between $950-1200 around here. Thought about it but ammo was expensive even then & hard to find unless ordered online. I've shot one & they are sweet IMO & very accurate.

Talking about the PMR-30, I'd love to have one but they were always hard to find like the KSG from Kel-tec. If you did find one they wanted way over retail for it. Now they are selling for a $900 + on a pistol w/a MSRP of $425.

I'd opt for that over the Five-seven, just because you can or will be able to again I hope anyways p/u ammo anywhere.

 

[Mike7.62]

The FN 5.7 round is actually closer to the 22 Hornet.

So it is, out of a P90 with a 12-16" barrel, depending upon .mil or civilian versions. Out of a 5" tube on either the 1911 variant or the FNH, it is considerably less, and the round with the bullet that has such impressive ballistic performance is unavailable to civilians. In essence you have a 25-35 gr bullet going downrange at maybe 2000 f/s.

If I'm going to stake my life on something, I'd much rather have a .40 caliber 180 gr bullet at 1000 f/s, or a .357 caliber 125 gr bullet going 1300 f/s. Both of those weights and velocities have proven track records in actual shootings with normal HP bullet types. Besides, shooting the FNH often enough to become proficient will cost a small fortune, especially with the bass ackwards placement of the safety and slide release. Lots of muscle memory to be unlearned there.

 

[ladyT]

I've owned, shot and then sold a fiveseven.

I would advise against getting one. The ammo is near impossible to acquire unless you are willing to pay over $1 a round for it when it becomes availble. Of course I do have some for $75 a box today but next week or next month I may get $100 a box for it. So tell your friend to forget the FiveSeven.