Info on 5.7x28 ss195

[Guest slim]

Just recently bought a ps-90 which i like so much and went and also got the 5.7 pistol! Ammo for those is weird, prices vary by as much as $7.00

a box depending where you can find it, so i found some for $18.99 a box, got 5,000 rounds and got a 10% discount so i cant complain.

However of those 1.500 are the lead-free ss195 ammo, lately i hear all kinds of reports, which i do believe that the ss195 ammo due to being lead-free even the primers, has a shelf life of only 10 yrs. before it breaks down!

I e-mailed FN on several occ. with no response, now recently there are claims that it might only last 5 yrs. at best!

I do know the US mil. had wanted to have all the lead in its ammo and primers replaced by 2004, but nobody was able to meet the 10 yr. shelf life! This ss195 ammo has only been around 2 yrs or less, i have also heard that remington did made some lead-free ammo 5 yrs. ago and some owners of it say 30-50% of their stock which was 4 yrs. old is a dud!

Any info. is greatly appreciated! Thank you:rolleyes:

[Guest Verbal Kint]

If you're worried about the shelf life, just shoot up the 1,500 rounds first. That should only take 3-4 range sessions. Twice as many, if you don't like to shoot that many rounds at one time. But, hey, that's still only one or two months time. I don't see any problem here.

[Guest slim]

That is what i plan do, but it doesnt answer the question! And what was the line in the old C Eastwood movie, I needs to know????????????????????

[enfield]

"Ah gots to know!"

[Guest slim]

"Ah gots to know!"

Yeah, that was the question the bad guy asked Eastwood in regards as to whether or not he still had one in the chamber, after he gave up!

As far as this ammo goes, most people dont seem to know and the ones making it, aint saying!

[TripleDigitRide]

I don't have the answer, either. Have you tried calling them? I've not had great luck attempting to communicate with some companies via email.

Tel: (803)736-0522

[Guest slim]

I don't have the answer, either. Have you tried calling them? I've not had great luck attempting to communicate with some companies via email.

Tel: (803)736-0522

Yes, a long time ago and their cust. service is as bad or worse as that of Sig, was told to send an e-mail and did 2x, but there it said that they are not in the habit of answering! I think i see why!

[Guest slim]

The following is the best and most informative info that was sent to me by a member from another forum by the name of YARRO, i am posting it so our members can learn from it as i did!

They are referring to lead azide based primers having an "incredibly long shelf life", which stored in a cool dry place have a useful shelf life in excess of the average lifespan of a US citizen. Lead Azide is also used in airbags as it has good stability and shelf life. I have shot US .30 carbine ammo from WWII with modern lead based primers that showed good storage and it all went off. It was over 50 years old at the time. Mercury based primers have an even longer life span under worse storage conditions. I recently shot some 1916 dated British and 1918 dated Canadian .303 British and it all went off eventhough the cases were so dirty we had to wipe them clean before running them through the SMLE. Had quite a few split necks from the batch.

Lead free primers are a totally different animal. Lead free primers are a scarifice to the green movement. What you give up is shelf life and consistency in the switch. The lead free ammo is training ammo intended for law enforcement and would be used by law enforcement rather quickly. A shelf life of 10 years under prudent storage conditions considering the product's intended use does not seem unreasonable. The US military's goal for lead free training ammo was a shelf life of 12 years under prudent storage. The chemicals used in the lead free primers are less resistant to moisture than the two previous solutions mecuric and lead based primers. My guess is that they will eventually sort it out, but that time is not here.

Lead free primers will continue to have teething issues for years. The first lead azide based primers had issues with shelf life and consistency, which is why the military took so long to adopt them over mercury based ones. .30-06 was switched in 1947, except for match ammo, which wasn't sorted out until 1957 due to consistency issues. You can thank gas operated rifles for the military to really embrace the need for a noncorosive priming mixture. The communists took much much longer as storage issues were of more importance to them and they just designed around it.

I would recommend that you just use the SS195 for it's intended purpose of training. The other ammo will outlast you if stored properly. You need to practice anyway if you intend this weapon to be used for defensive purposes if it ever comes to that.

[Magiccarpetrides]

This issue has been discussed before elsewhere. mods? ;-D If you cant shoot 150rds per year x 10 years you probably shouldnt have bought this in the first place lol.

FWIW I had a lil more SS195 then you and what I have shot in the last 2 years has functioned flawlessly.

Edited October 17, 2008 by Magiccarpetrides
helpful FWIW

[molonlabetn]

Yes, a long time ago and their cust. service is as bad or worse as that of Sig, was told to send an e-mail and did 2x, but there it said that they are not in the habit of answering! I think i see why!

I got a prompt reply from FNH when I e-mailed a question about my FNP-45 a few months ago. I'll try to get back with you the name of the CSR who I talked to... he was very helpful. Also, I think on the FN Forum, there is a thread in which an FNH rep answers questions regularly... your question may already have been answered there.

[Guest FNandGlock]

The ss195 does have a 5 to 10 year life span they arent sure yet because it hasnt been out long enough. The only reason to purchase lead free is if the indoor range you shoot at requires that. I'd make sure I shot it up within 5 years but it doesnt matter because if you know who gets in office we will be at war anyways and you will need all the ammo you can get your hands on because they will be coming to take that rifle and ammo, so either you shoot it up on the range before then, shoot at the targets that come to take the weapon and ammo or just give it up to them when he gets in office. Seriously though like I said they think it will last 10 years but right now they have data on 5 years and its still ok.

[Guest FNandGlock]

By the way I have the Five Seven and the FNP 45 and love both pistols, I'm looking to purchase the FNP 9 and FNP 40 but I want the PS90 and FS2000 first but whatever comes along at a good deal first I will purchase. Let me know if you want to ever sell that PS90 or know one for sale cheap or cheap considering what they are new. Hard to pay the price they ask for the plastic they are made of but damn they are awesome to shoot and awesome guns.

[Guest slim]

Thanks, i am a member of several FN forums, and nobody there really knows anything for sure either, the only reason i had asked about the ss195 is that since the ammo is somewhat hard and exp. to get, i want to make sure i have plenty before the elec. etc. anyway the 5.7 has been getting a bad rap, and many want it banned! I have planned to get rid of my ss195 and stock up on more ss197, since thet is all there is avail.

I would love to be able to get some ss190 ammo for it!

But at $400.-$600.+ a box, that is crazy.

I love both my rifle and pistol, as well as my FS 2000. and hope to be able to buy the scar, when and if it is avail. next yr.

The cheapest ps-90 i have seen at show was $1599.-$1999.The price on the FS 2000. is $2100.-$2500, if you get a fs 2000. dont ever put a thermold mag in it, does not tell you in manual, but it gets stuck, i spend 30 min. with a 6 in. neednoose plyers, took off the mag. plate and spring and had to manually break the mag. apart, scary as hell but i got it done with no damage!

Also on the ps-90, you should be aware, that the white reticle sight on those has now been updated to a black one, some people say it makes it easier to see than a white one, in snow or bright sun it does, however at dusk or in shadowy areas it makes it harder to see! But there is a $70. aftermarket piece that will turn a white ring into a black one!

The strange thing is that all the militaries that have been using it for the last 12 yrs. never had a problem, what had happened is this, these units only have a 20 yr. life span and after 10 yrs. ret. brightness is only 50%, and some how they put some old units into the rifles, and naturally it is harder to see. Mine is 100% so i got lucky!

I have seen some new ps-90s at shows and the older white ret. were not very bright, like taking a red dot and turning the sett. from 10 to 4 or 5, which is really sad! so be careful and check it out in person or buy one with the black ret.

I also bought 6 more mags for mine and 5 more mags for my pistol!

Thank you again. james:tough:

[Magiccarpetrides]

Just go buy some Ammunition from Eliteammunition.com and you can get all the same performance if not better then the SS190 :-D