FN-57 (5.7x28 mm)

[lgm270]

The FN 57 auto pistol, chambered for the 5.7x28 mm, was used by the Islamic Army  Major in the Ft. Hood shootings.  Has anyone had any experience with this pistol?   The 5.7x28 mm appears to be a shortened 5.56 Nato (aka .223 Rem).   


http://www.remtek.com/arms/fn/57/

[Savage]

The link you provided pretty well covers the history of the cartridge. Haven't shot the pistol or the subgun. The only one I know on this forum with hands on experience is William Layton.  I'm sure he can fill you in from the shooter's standpoint.
Savage

[williamlayton]

Well--that post flew to space.
My FN is a very hot round--better than 1500fps. Shoots about like a 22mag, very controlable.
It is capable of very high capacity.
He just proved what I thought---the weapon is avery good self-defense gun.
Blessings

[GatCat]

I have no experience with it, but I'm sure it is fine for what it is intended for, penetrating body armor and helmets, both in handgun and sub-gun configurations, something the standard handgun rounds cannot do.
BUT, in reading early reports of the Fort Hood atrocity, one female soldier attending to the wounded removed her blouse, to use as battle dressing ( gotta give her a BIG thumbs up, as well to all the others who went into "combat mode" mentality!!). Anyway, back to the point, after her blouse was off, she realized she had taken a round, penetrated her torso, with no reaction from her. Not exactly "stopping power". I don't have balistic tables handy, but the FN would equate to what, a service 5.56 @ maybe 500-600 yards ??
Mark

[drdougrx]

I thought it was closer to a 22 hornet?!? 

[coyotejoe]

Between .22 WMR and .22 Hornet. My AMT Automag ll gives a 30 grain bullet over 1700 fps. It's a good varmint and small game round. I wouldn't choose one for self defense but if it's what I had I wouldn't feel unarmed.

[Bitterroot Bob]

Civilian ammo is loaded with light Hornady A-Max bullets. The armor-piercing ammo is heavily controlled and is only available to military and police agencies.
That said, a 40-grain .224" bullet at 2000fps would be devastating at nearby ranges. It IS pretty much a modern .22 Hornet.

Bitterroot

[Savage]

William,
Do you reload for the 5.7x28? 
Savage

[williamlayton]

No. I know they make a reloader but I don't---that is why I keep it loaded but seldom shoot it.
IT IS FUN THOUGH. & flat.
Blessings

[coyotejoe]

There seems to be a lot of confusion on the ballistics of this round, for several reasons.
 For one, most of the published velocities were taken from the PS90 sub-gun and naturally the 5" pistol barrel falls several hundred fps short.
 For another, there have been a lot of ammo types and bullet weights produced. Some are available over the counter, some are restricted to LE and military and some are just no longer produced. Most of the loadings were with very light weight bullets, 28-31 grains.
 Another, and probably greater, source of confusion is that people have "heard" it is a super velocity round and they have an exaggerated idea as to what that means.
Here is a link to some reloading info from Guns & Ammo magazine. http://www.gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/The+5.7x28+FN?packedargs=pagenum%3D2
There is a mistake in the chart, they list "max pistol velocity" twice, the second one should read "max rifle velocity".
 As you'll see here they got the 35 grain bullet up to a max of 1850 fps from the pistol barrel. As I earlier mentioned my 6" barreled .22 WMR goes over 1700 fps with a 30 grain bullet so the difference is not really enormous. You'll also find the ballistics from the 22" barrel fall considerably short of the .22 Hornet.

[gbjeep]

I thought about reloading it, but then found out the average brass life was four firings. The other thing that keeps me from reloading is the fact that the heaviest and most common round is the 40 gr vmax. i never shoot anything that light in my .223. The other common round is a 28 or 29 gr hollow point. Not sure who makes it.
Something no one has mentioned is that there are mag extensions available for the FiveseveN. It has thirty round capability, without the huge mag hanging out, like the glock. Wonder if the shooter used the twenty round mags?
You can unload twenty shots as fast as you can pull the trigger, and stay pretty much center of mass at 25 yds.
I love mine

[williamlayton]

If I was a wealthy man I would have a place where I could shoot the snot out of it.
I have owned .22 pistols and a 22mag and loved too shoot them. that is the reason I compared it to the mag.
It is quick---Quicker than I remember a mag seeming, and flatter.
It is absolutey controllable.
Boys---when I say fun--I mean fun
Blessings

[drdougrx]

Hmmmm...wonder why someone hasn't made an auto in 22 hornet....

[williamlayton]

Now there ya go---That should be an easy do.
Who do we talk too?
I want one--in a 1911.
Blessings

[drdougrx]

I liked the one that Hank08 showed us a while back!!!

[Mohawk]

  The 5.7x28mm has been issued in semi-auto subguns for a few years now with the Secret Service. Can't remember the name but we sold a few in the gunstore I worked at part-time.

[casper_zip]

Hey there:

I am awaiting my 5.7 x 28 MM barrel from MGM. Should be here soon. One of my friends on another forum shoots this one. He said he gets 120 FPS more than his 22 Hornet with 2 grains less powder. I have dies and brass ready to go when I get my barrel.

One thing not mentioned, is; don't tumble your brass in any media. The cases come with a coating over about 60% of them, and that corncob or walnut media sticks like glue. Ask me how I know. I did get them cleaned, tho, used simple green and lots of elbow grease.

I have the Hornet, K-Hornet, and a good chrno, so I'll have lots to play with. I think it's going to be a fun lil cartridge.

Best,

casper_zip

[coyotejoe]

I'll be interested in seeing your results, do keep us posted. As to your "friend on another forum", I think he is full of beans. If you check out the article from Guns & Ammo magazine you'll see that they never got close to .22 Hornet ballistics. Their top velocity from a 22" barrel was 2475 fps with a 35 grain bullet. The Hornet can top 3,000 with such light bullets. "Ammoguide Interactive" is home to some pretty wild load info and most of their data is for the 5" barrel but the one load listed from a 16" barrel is pretty lame, a 40 grain bullet at 2352 fps. None of their handgun loads reached 2,000 fps with a 40 grain bullet.

[valvesinmyhead]

Here is some info on factory rounds from three different barrel lengths.

http://www.fivesevenforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=55