FN 5.7 Education & Mis-conception

[smak28]

I'm tired of correcting people who think they know about the FN Five Seven and the 5.7x28 so this thread is to educate people about the ballistics and usage. However, take out the cost & hard to find ammo as I am 100% in agreement that the pistol & ammo are expensive in this panic period. 2 main points below people always are confused about with links supporting the facts:

1) 5.7 ballistics is nearly double the velocity & nearly triple the muzzle energy of the .22 WMR. Yes, .22 WMR can reach a velocity of around 2,000 fps but that's coming out of a rifle and not a handgun. Hence, not an apple to apple comparison.

2) FN Five Seven is used & selected by the Secret Service, law enforcement, & military after their own testing so there must be valid reasons and facts as to why they choose the FN Five Seven. Do you think our US Secret Service would choose a pistol that cannot protect our President?

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/23/myth-busting-22-magnum-vs-5-7x28mm/

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/08/robert-farago/gun-review-fn-five-seven/

http://forums.officer.com/t174587-3/

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-20114.html

[SilverTauron]

I'm tired of correcting people who think they know about the FN Five Seven and the 5.7x28 so this thread is to educate people about the ballistics and usage. However, take out the cost & hard to find ammo as I am 100% in agreement that the pistol & ammo are expensive in this panic period. 2 main points below people always are confused about with links supporting the facts:

1) 5.7 ballistics is nearly double the velocity & nearly triple the muzzle energy of the .22 WMR. Yes, .22 WMR can reach a velocity of around 2,000 fps but that's coming out of a rifle and not a handgun. Hence, not an apple to apple comparison.

2) FN Five Seven is used & selected by the Secret Service, law enforcement, & military after their own testing so there must be valid reasons and facts as to why they choose the FN Five Seven. Do you think our US Secret Service would choose a pistol that cannot protect our President?

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/23/myth-busting-22-magnum-vs-5-7x28mm/

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/08/robert-farago/gun-review-fn-five-seven/

http://forums.officer.com/t174587-3/

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...p/t-20114.html

Not to impugne the fine folks at the USSS, but Federal agencies operate by an entirely different playbook then you and I when it comes to firearm options.

Us unwashed civilians can choose whatever gun we want. At the Federal level, many times the selection of hardware the guys and gals on the ground floor use comes down to which company has a factory in the Chair Congressman for the Public Safety Committee's district.

As to the FN pistol-every handgun worth a damn has detractors. The 1911 is too old/ unreliable, the HK too overpriced, the M9 too unreliable with a peashooter round, Glocks are ND's waiting to happen, etc. ....

[smak28]

Agreed. Just want to clarify the fact that it is used by the USSS because people keep saying USSS do not use the FN pistol

[Quiet]

The standard issue sidearm for the US Secret Service is the SIG P-229 in .357SIG.

The only 5.7x28mm firearm they use is the FN P-90, which is used by the uniformed division. Protection details still use 9x19mm H&K MP-5s.

[SilverTauron]

I find it ironic how people get fixated on which gun is used by which public agency, when Federal and State law enforcement agencies pick firearms based seemingly on every criterion except effectiveness.

Were "effectiveness" the best guide for police sidearms, 10mm would still be the standard LE cartridge today.

[smak28]

The standard issue sidearm for the US Secret Service is the SIG P-229 in .357SIG.

The only 5.7x28mm firearm they use is the FN P-90, which is used by the uniformed division. Protection details still use 9x19mm H&K MP-5s.

Ugghh... this is what I mean. Straight from Wikipedia. Last paragraph

http://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-verizon&source=android-home&site=webhp&source=hp&ei=bTZ3UcrrB-rVigLswYCwBg&q=Five+Seven+used+by+secret+serVice&oq=Five+Seven+used+by+secret+serVice&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.3..0i22i30.7185.16381.0.17269.13.12.0.1.1.0.244.1367.3j5j2.10.0...0.0...1c.1.11.mobile-gws-hp.cc4Ephbxni4#itp=open1

[rsmorgan]

One big difference between the USSS and civilians is that the Feds get to use the "real" AP combat ammo where we have to make do with substantially less effective "sporting" bullets.

The Ft. Hood massacre did, however, establish that the gun was "reasonable effective for its intended purpose."

The Secret Service standard issue handgun is a SIG 229 in .357SIG, so I assume that the FN 5.7 is simply a supplemental weapon for use in special risk situations.

[Quiet]

Ugghh... this is what I mean. Straight from Wikipedia. Last paragraph

http://www.google.com/search?client=...xni4#itp=open1

on using wikipedia as an accurate source of information.

[smak28]

Lol. I'm tired of getting links for everyone. Google it yourself "Five Seven Secret Service" as there are plenty of links but not disagreeing with what you have said because I've also found info supporting your statements also on Wiki

[smak28]

The biggest mis-conception is that people say they choose the .22 WMR over the 5.7 as the better self defense weapon but do not read thoroughly

[smak28]

Another article that mentions both the 229 & Five Seven by Secret Service

http://www.ehow.com/list_7446617_firearms-used-presidential-bodyguards.html

[hermosabeach]

I crack up at people caring so much about equipment and not training and skill.

Any modern firearm shout be reliable.

If you like the 5.7- that's cool

As a resident of CA , when I purchase a new pistol platform, I can only have 10 rounds in magazine capacity.

I would prefer to have a heavier & larger bullets than .22

The .223/ 5.56 round is good when it is above 2600 fps.
Below that it loses a lot of its temporary cavity and becomes more of an Ice pick.

Does the FBI have any data compiled on folks who were shot by the FN 5.7?

With civilian ammo, is it effective?

[Ferrum]

It is my understanding that SS does use 5.7 around the president. From what I know, it's because the 5.7 doesn't over penetrate if the SS had to shoot towards a crowd... I don't remember where I read that.

I love shooting my 5.7. Bottom line, it's just fun. It's the flattest shooting pistol that I have ever shot, and I do reload them myself, which keeps the cost relatively cheap.

If I was in a pistol battle, would I want it? I'm not sure. But to go out plinking, it's one of my first choices.

[smak28]

I crack up at people caring so much about equipment and not training and skill.

Any modern firearm shout be reliable.

If you like the 5.7- that's cool

As a resident of CA , when I purchase a new pistol platform, I can only have 10 rounds in magazine capacity.

I would prefer to have a heavier & larger bullets than .22

The .223/ 5.56 round is good when it is above 2600 fps.
Below that it loses a lot of its temporary cavity and becomes more of an Ice pick.

Does the FBI have any data compiled on folks who were shot by the FN 5.7?

With civilian ammo, is it effective?

People do have preferences and totally understand that but what I had to prove over and over again is that the 5.7 does much more damage than the .22 WMR because people think the .22 WMR is equally as powerful as the 5.7 pistol which isn't true. Don't get me wrong but I will be buying a .22 WMR but just want to clear the confusion people have between the 2 cartridges in a pistol.

[CrippledPidgeon]

The 5.7 is a good cartridge, but I really don't care much for the Five Seven. The grip isn't comfortable for me, the stock sights suck, and the trigger leaves a lot to be desired.