5.7 Pistol

[pop pop]

Does anyone have any experience with the 5.7 pistol? Just read an article, by James Tarr in Dec 24 Guns and Ammo magazine about the Caliber. If memory serves me that shooter that shot up Fort Hood used a 5.7. It was quite effective there. Tarr said he was in a class with a man from USCCA and he told James they were involved with a shooting by one of their members, and the round was very effective in that self-defense situation. 

Has anyone shot one? The stats on the caliber is really up there in good standing with some rifle ballistics. Also was tested in gelatin and it performed adequately (12" penetration consistently) from a 40 gr HP used in the test. Tarr said it was not much more punishing than shooting a 22 LR load and far less recoil than 9 MM. 

It appears there are several ammo companies offering both practice and S D ammo for the caliber, so my interest is aroused. Not getting younger you know. Arthritis and everything detrimental to good shooters in creeping in on me. 

Wondering if this is a real option for self-defense purposes for older persons who may have difficulties with 9 MM and above. 

[Defender]

Can’t answer your question, but the round has always intrigued me.  I had a friend that had kne years ago, the FN model, and he hardly ever shot it because the ammo was high, plus there were hardly any holsters made for it. I’m sure the ammo is cheaper now, and I imagine there are better holster selections now that other gun manufacturers are making guns in that caliber. I think I saw that S&W is making one and I know Ruger is too as well as Keltec. Only concern I might had would be overpenetration.  But the lrecoil you mentioned is certainly an attraction.

[ken_mays]

I have had the FN pistol for a few years, but I haven't shot it very much due to the cost of ammo, which has stayed above 5.56x45 in price.  

I'm not going to say much about the ballistics other than it will probably get the job done given proper shot placement, but here are the pros and cons as I see it.

Pro: Lightweight, 20+1 ammo capacity, light recoil, accurate

Con: Bulky for its size due to polymer overlay construction, weird safety lever location, magazine safety, cost, difficult to reload ammo for it

[Johnny Rotten]

holding out for this

 

[Scotty]

That will give you the ballistics. 
 

The PSA rock has gotten good reviews for what it’s worth. I want to say I saw one of there kind of always rotating blem sales of a package with 5-10 mags for $400 plus the outrageous psa shipping and theft within the last 3 weeks. 
 

Ammo has come down significantly. Same or cheaper than 5.56 now that aac retooled and started producing. 

[Erich]

The patent expired about 5 years ago, so other manufacturers are pushing it now they have something “new” to offer.  I’d say rent or borrow one first. 

I had my FN 5.7 for a few years. It wasn’t a great gun imo. The recoil was very light, absolutely. But the ergonomics and size were bad for a pistol. It was more about the novelty of the rifle velocity ballistics.

Like a good portion of others that had them before the patent expired, I sold it to a member here a few years ago. 

Would I get another now that they are 1/3 to half the cost?  I don’t see it. Ruger was first out of the gate and I scratched my head that they just knocked off the FN including its bad trigger. While the ammo is cheaper, it’s not cheap.  

I have hard time justifying it over say an AR pistol in the home defense scenario. much more adaptable. cheaper ammo, more capacity,  and will make things just as dead

If the ammo drops to sub AR prices and they offer some more interesting platforms that are clear improvements / ergos over things so close to the FN, it would offer more draw imo.

[JustEd]

Good evaluation, Erich