[jimpander]

Anybody have an FN Five-Seven? They kind of intrigue me, how do you like yours?

[bobotech]

I have always wondered what the big draw is to those guns. They are nice and all and shoot an interesting round but its neither cheap nor plentiful.

What is the big attraction to them?

[CA357]

A bullet that can pierce body armor?

[threefeathers]

I handled one last week and it is handier that I thought, I'm also thinking seriously about it.

[CA357]

It feels somewhat plasticky and kind of light to me, but it fits well. I think it's a little wierd looking too, but wierd in kind of a cool way. Apparently they're supposed to have minimal recoil, making it much faster for target reacquisition.
I guess my real beefs are that the price seems a bit high and the ammunition cost is ghastly.

[chim]

When they first came out, I really thought it would be neat to have one. THEN after learning the prices of the gun and its ammo, it didn't seem all that appealing............chim

[bobotech]

Thats the thing that scares me, the price of the ammo. I also find the gun to be light as well but feels well put together. I still prefer metal guns but thats just me.

Body piercing ammo: just not that important to me. Sure is a neat looking round though.

[wilkerson]

i have handled a couple and my feelings are about the same. yet another gun i would love to shoot, but not enough to actually buy one.

[Fuelburns1]

My friend recently bought one. Until then I had intended to get one as well but the grip is too big for my hands. I felt that the plastic gave it a cheap feel as well. For the price I can buy two other guns that I can better control.

[Sir Knight]

I think that if we ever go explore Mars, that would be a good gun for the explorers to bring -- something compact with good penetration ... and a 1911. :D

[jimpander]

I have always wondered what the big draw is to those guns. They are nice and all and shoot an interesting round but its neither cheap nor plentiful.

What is the big attraction to them?Very high(20 rounds)capacity,minimal recoil and;with good bullets,maybe good (I almost hesitate to say it)stopping power. I have heard but can't corroborate that the secret service is using these.

[StrawHat]

Apparently I am just crawling out from under a rock and missed something.

FN Five-Seven?

What the heck is that, cartridge or handgun?

Any got a link or picture?

Granted I prefer revolvers but I thought I kept up on new developments.

At least I'm not asking what is a cartridge!

[Sir Knight]

The Five-seveN is a semi-automatic (http://www.answers.com/topic/semi-automatic-firearm) pistol manufactured by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (http://www.answers.com/topic/fabrique-nationale-de-herstal) (FNH).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Five-seveN_USG.jpg/300px-Five-seveN_USG.jpg



FN created the new 5.7 x 28 mm (http://www.answers.com/topic/5-7-x-28-mm) cartridge (http://www.answers.com/topic/cartridge-firearms) for its FN P90 (http://www.answers.com/topic/fn-p90) personal defense weapon (http://www.answers.com/topic/personal-defense-weapon) to meet NATO (http://www.answers.com/topic/nato) requirements released in 2000. Subsequently FN created the Five-seveN pistol to offer agencies who adopt the P90 a sidearm chambered for the same cartridge.

Overview

Conventional sidearms usually use the 9 x 19 mm (http://www.answers.com/topic/9-mm-luger-parabellum), .45 ACP (http://www.answers.com/topic/45-acp) and similar cartridges that are effective for stopping a hostile individual in ordinary circumstances. However, FN argues that if that individual is wearing a light Kevlar (http://www.answers.com/topic/kevlar) vest, these bullets will be stopped without causing lethal damage. Such body armor (http://www.answers.com/topic/ballistic-vest) is currently in use with over 50% of the world’s armed forces. Law enforcement officers also need the ability to pierce body armor, as it is worn by an increasing number of criminals. FN claims that thanks to the use of their newly designed 5.7 x 28 mm (http://www.answers.com/topic/5-7-x-28-mm) cartridge, the Five-seveN is capable of piercing the older U.S. Army (http://www.answers.com/topic/united-states-army) PASGT vest (http://www.answers.com/topic/personnel-armor-system-for-ground-troops) at 300 meters (http://www.answers.com/topic/metre) range, and a U.S. Army PASGT helmet (http://www.answers.com/topic/personnel-armor-system-for-ground-troops) at a range of 240 meters. However, these penetration statistics are for the military SS190 (http://www.answers.com/topic/5-7-x-28-mm) cartridge. Other available cartridge variants are not armor-piercing (http://www.answers.com/topic/armor-piercing-shot-and-shell), according to the BATFE (http://www.answers.com/topic/bureau-of-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-and-explosives). These cartridges are loaded with heavier, expanding projectiles driven at lower velocities.


After penetration, the 5.7 mm round is marketed as being able to effectively incapacitate an enemy (http://www.answers.com/topic/stopping-power), but there has been controversy over these claims. Conventional hollow point bullets (http://www.answers.com/topic/hollow-point-bullet-1) rely on expansion to create a large wound channel, but the Five-seveN's ammunition is designed to hit the enemy, travel a few inches (http://www.answers.com/topic/inch), then tumble end over end and continue travelling in this manner without deforming. This means that the wound it creates would be as tall as the length of the projectile (more than 21 mm), supposedly creating a more grievous wound channel, but without the expansion of a hollow point or the fragmentation of a frangible bullet. As a result, FN claims the round—and the Five-seveN—are suitable for military (http://www.answers.com/topic/military) use.


The advantages of the pistol itself include its weight (the 5.7 mm round weighs half as much as a standard 9 mm round (http://www.answers.com/topic/9-mm-caliber)), its recoil (FN claims the 5.7 mm round produces roughly half the felt recoil of a 9 mm round), and its 20-round magazine, which holds significantly more ammunition than other pistols. Despite its magazine capacity, the Five-seveN is a light pistol, weighing 726 g (1.6 pounds) loaded. It is also reasonably compact.


Though an effective weapon, the Five-seveN has not been widely adopted, due mostly to the rather unconventional concept and ammunition. Current users include several international special forces (http://www.answers.com/topic/special-forces)/counter-terrorist (http://www.answers.com/topic/counter-terrorism) groups (including the French (http://www.answers.com/topic/france) GIGN (http://www.answers.com/topic/groupe-d-intervention-de-la-gendarmerie-nationale)) and a large number of local police department SWAT (http://www.answers.com/topic/swat) teams (including some in the United States (http://www.answers.com/topic/united-states)).

Variants


Five-seveN

The original Five-seveN is now discontinued. It has a double action (DA) (http://www.answers.com/topic/trigger-firearms) trigger and no safety. This makes shooting slower and less accurate than with the newer single action variants of the Five-seveN. It features a shaped trigger guard, designed to facilitate gloved use.

Five-seveN Tactical

This model is identical to the original version, with the exception of the single action (SA) (http://www.answers.com/topic/trigger-firearms) trigger and a safety device. The Five-seveN Tactical is also increasingly hard to find.

Five-seveN IOM

The IOM model (for Individual Officer's Model) was the first publicly available variant, debuting commercially in 2004. The IOM is similar in its basic design to the original versions, but differs in that it has a different accessory rail, lined trigger guard outside edge, and adjustable sights. It also incorporates a magazine disconnect—this safety mechanism prevents the weapon from being fired without the magazine inserted.

Five-seveN USG

The most recent version of the Five-seveN, the USG. (United States Government) variant debuted in 2005 and replaced the IOM. The USG keeps the differences incorporated in the IOM, such as the magazine disconnect and adjustable sights, but has further modifications, including: conventionally-shaped (square) trigger guard, checkered grip pattern, and a larger, reversible magazine release.

Accessories

All models of the Five-seveN can also be mounted with a laser aiming module (http://www.answers.com/topic/laser-applications-1) (LAM) or a tactical flashlight (http://www.answers.com/topic/flashlight) on the accessory rail. There are various companies that make these devices for various firearms.
A threaded barrel (http://www.answers.com/topic/gun-barrel-1) is available for mounting a suppressor (http://www.answers.com/topic/suppressor). Again, various manufacturers provide their models and variations of suppressors.
FN produces night sights for the DAO and Tactical models. These sights do not fit the IOM and USG models without gunsmithing (http://www.answers.com/topic/gunsmith). Trijicon (http://www.answers.com/topic/trijicon) is slated to produce tritium (http://www.answers.com/topic/tritium) night sights for the IOM and USG models, but they are not available yet. There are also other companies that produce sights for various pistols that may or may not require gunsmithing.


As with all pistols, holster options are limited only to the choice that the individual or department makes. There are myriads of options one can make when deciding on a holster for their sidearm.


A magazine extension for the Five-seveN is available that will extend 1.75 inches below the weapon. It allows the Five-seveN to hold ten extra rounds, for a total of thirty.

The "Five-seveN" Self-loading Pistol was designed by Belgium company Fabrique Nationale (FN). Pistol was publicly presented in 1996. "Five-seveN" is chambered for the new perspective 5.7 x 28 mm (SS190) intermediate cartridge developed by Fabrique Nationale. The SS190 is already used with the FN P-90 (http://www.enemyforces.com/firearms/p90.htm) Submachine Gun.

This cartridge was developed to fit a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) conception. Mainly it features assault rifle cartridge's combat abilities and penetration, within pistol cartridge's barrel pressure and recoil power. It was published that the SS190 penetrates 4http://www.enemyforces.com/firearms/fiveseven_2.jpg8 layers of kevlar in 200 m range, fired from the P-90 (http://www.enemyforces.com/firearms/p90.htm) submachine gun. In 150 m range bullet proofs standard US Army helmet and defeats target covered by it. Cartridge recoil power is threefold lower than the standard NATO 5.56 x 45 mm (.223 Rem) cartridges.


The "Five-seveN" Self-loading Pistol is a new generation and conception weapon. Technically it is classified as an ordinary submachine gun but tactically it is a Personal Defense Weapon. To remind: the PD Weapons are mainly used by drivers, staff personnel, artillery crew, and other second line soldiers that do not take part in active combat actions and have no need in automatic or assault rifles as they use weapons mainly for the self defense. Earlier second line soldiers were armed with the submachine guns that featured range of effective fire in 50 - 200 meters. However the PDW conception differs from ordinary submachine gun conception. The main difference is that submachine guns are chambered for ordinary pistol cartridges. The PDW main idea itself was to develop a submachine gun size weapon with automatic rifle fire characteristics as submachine guns are not effective defending from assault or automatic rifle armed enemies in a long ranges. Furthermore compact weapons are necessary for second-line and supply soldiers as they are not used often.


The SS190 small-bore cartridge has a very high initial speed as well as a sharp nose bullets. These both features provide extremely high penetration effect. However light bullet has one disadvantages as it quickly looses it's initial speed. Furthermore light cartridges weight allows to increase ammunition storage in 60%.


Pistol automatic works on partly free lock recoil principle. It executes single fire only. Weapon is completed with "double-action" hammer mechanism as standard. However it's model intended for a special forces is completed with a "single-action" mechanism. "Double-action" hammer makes weapon always prepared to shoot but unfortunately it doesn't provide first accurate shot and the firsthttp://www.enemyforces.com/firearms/fiveseven_3.jpg round is intended just to prepare pistol for further accurate fire. This is the reason why there is no serious special operation force in the world that uses "double-action only" type pistols.


Pistol has no manual safeties in standard model. It's slide and lock are made from steel. Handle has adjustable rear part. The FN "Five-seveN" is completed with some different such rear parts so it fits almost every hand.


Mainly "Five-seveN" has no radical constructional design features comparing with other pistols. Almost the only new feature is SS190 cartridge. Externally it only has new shape trigger guard likely to the P-90 (http://www.enemyforces.com/firearms/p90.htm). It allows to shoot when wearing gloves. Pistol can be easily dismantled into 4 main parts. The "Five-seveN" uses standard, tracer and subsonic speed bullets (used with sound suppressor).



It has an opened fixed sight. Every "Five-seveN" can be fitted with an underbarrel mounted laser pointer or a flashlight.



To sum it up "Fabrique Nationale" engineers designed a self-loading pistol with a really impressive bullet armor-piercing and penetration abilities almost equal to an ordinary assault or automatic rifle abilities in a short range distances. The "Five-seveN" became the first Personal Defense Weapon requirements fitting pistol.

[Vibe]

You can get about the same balistics from the Five-seveN pistol as you do from a 22 mag rifle. And a 20 round capacity. The civilian legal ammo (SS-198 I think) is not body armor piercing - as it uses a 40 grain V-max bullet. the P-90 sub machine gun (IE Stargate SG1) and PS-90 "carbines" are blowback actions (Just like the 10/22) but the Five seveN is a locked breech, delayed blowback action, so reloaded ammo can be loaded a bit "hotter" than factory. Last time I priced the ammo it was right at $22 for a box of 50.

FNH is "supposed" to be coming out with a PBR bolt action rifle in this chambering later this year.

[Vibe]

You know, the more I think about this the more I don't understand why it is that we cannot get a Russian PSM. It was banned from import because it was chamberd for the 5.45x18 - a necked down 25acp for all intents and purposes. But the Five-seveN is just fine, holds more ammo, faster MV, same caliber - go figure.

[StrawHat]

Thank you for the explanations.

Self loaders are not my cup of tea but a blot gun might be a consideration.

I'll have to cheack out the dimensions and figure what rifle it would fit.

Thanks again.

[Vibe]

I'll have to cheack out the dimensions and figure what rifle it would fit.

Thanks again.
Anything that would be good in a hornet would be right for this. The rimless case will up capacity and or reduce the magazine volume requirement. Might not get quite all that the hornet can give, but the brass is heavier so case life should be longer. There are some folks that have already wildcatted this case to 20 and 17 caliber and get fairly impressive velocities for really not much powder. Do a serch for 17 Velociraptor, 20 Shrike, 4.4x28. FN has said that hey are planning to release their PBR (Model 70) in a 5.7 x 28 later this year. But PBRs are a bit spendy for my budget. Let me know what you find out (I've done some searching on my own, but you never know I might have missed something. :D)

[Shipwreck]

I have one, as well as a PS90 Carbine. I really like both weapons - the PS90 is just too kewl.

I actually am the admin at the FN Forum - so if you want to learn more about the weapon(s), you may wanna come check us out. There are some recent ballistic tests done by some of the members that are pretty impressive.

I do think that both the PS90 and Five Seven are a little high priced... But what ya gonna do?