Viability of the 5.7x28?

[lrrifleman]

Fellow enablers.

For some reason, I am being drawn towards a handgun chambered in 5.7x28. It is not a cartridge that I currently load, and I honestly don't know what I'd use that handgun for. Every time I turn the page, something pulls me back.

For those that own one of the handguns chambered in 5.7x28, what roles does your pistol fulfill? Is it just a plinking round or does it have a viable role in target shooting or self-defense?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[pawngal]

I have a Ruger 57, it's fun to shoot, very accurate. High velocity should be good for distance past 25 yards but I haven't tried that.
Very easy to blow thru 100-200 rounds of ammo in a short period of time!

 

[Rudi]

Don't have one, but have done some reading. Developed to pierce a vest. IIRC, only 4 types of ammo OK for civilian use. The hot stuff is only for LE and military use. Was lucky to get 1 round for my ammo collection.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Yeah, it was designed to pierce armor in a P90. That loading is not sold to civilians any more. I don't know whether it would pierce armor out of a handgun, but it's doubtful. Definitely would out of a PS90, though.

I have a PSA Rock pistol. Pretty accurate and fun to shoot. Recoil is akin to .22 magnum, but it has a bit more power. I have a friend who carries an FN 57, but I don't think I'd rely on it for self defense unless I absolutely had no choice. It does have a "high capacity magazine clip," though.

 

[NewLiberty]

It can be viable for self defense, with the advantages of high velocity and high capacity. Compared to most pistol rounds, it is also a very flat shooting round.

A couple of issues historically have hindered the round's adoption by the US civilian market. First is what was mentioned above about only certain rounds being available for civilian purchase.

Second was that for a while, basically only two firearms were available in the caliber (the FN 5.7, and the P90), and ammo production was very limited. Then a smattering of AR uppers in the caliber started being produced. Now Ruger and PSA have lower cost pistols available in the caliber, and there are other firearms out there chambered in 5.7. More ammo producers (including PSA's ammo branch AAC) are making the round now, helping bring prices down. I currently see target ammo in 5.7 for sale at under 50 cents a round.

A potential downside to using the round for defense, is that all of the pistols chambered in it are still rather large, so concealing them may not be particularly easy.

 

[pawngal]

S & W has the M&P 5.7 out now at a price point under the Ruger and 22+1 capacity vs. the 20+1 of the FN & Ruger.

 

[lrrifleman]

Thank you for the information so far.

I can see the 5.7x28 as being a viable plinking round. What I am having difficulty grasping is where does the 5.7x28 fit into existing target games and self-defense!

Virtually all of the current shooting games (for centerfire handguns) require a minimum chambering of a 32 (NRA 2700), or 9mm/38 Special for USPSA or IDPA. GSSF matches are a minimum of 380/9mm, because they are the smallest centerfire chamberings offered.

With respect to the 5.7x28 as a defensive round, what is the likelihood that the round has the ability to provide near immediate incapacitation? I can only envision the round would cause a threat to bleed out, or create an internal bleed.

I'm not trying to be argumentative or stubborn, I'm just trying to see where the 5.7x28 would fit in light of the typical applications one could envision in today's world.

 

[The_Truth]

Don't have one, but have done some reading. Developed to pierce a vest. IIRC, only 4 types of ammo OK for civilian use. The hot stuff is only for LE and military use. Was lucky to get 1 round for my ammo collection.

I'm not aware of any laws governing the type of ammo "civilians" are allowed to use in this caliber, or any velocity designations. Perhaps you could provide a cite to authority on this?

 

[NewLiberty]

I'm not aware of any laws governing the type of ammo "civilians" are allowed to use in this caliber, or any velocity designations. Perhaps you could provide a cite to authority on this?

For a long time, FN was the only manufacturer putting out 5.7x28mm ammo at any significant volume. My understanding is that FN restricted the sales of SS190 ammo to only government agencies.

 

[Rule3]

I had the FN pistol a while back. One of those cool gotta have guns. I later sold it as I really have no use or need for it. Ammo was crazy expensive and it is a very tricky round to reload. Even if you do reload it, the expense is not worth it IMHO