Five Seven Ammo

[Vermiform]

I friend and LEO told me the other day he wanted a 5.7 because it penetrated best. He said the rounds were practically AP rounds.

I was under the impression that the 5.7 wasn't much different than regular calibers because the true AP stuff couldn't be imported and that although it had a balistic tip, it still didn't do much better in penetration than other handgun calibers.

I know alot about rifles and almost zero about handguns. Someone skewl me please.

 

[JustinR]

The 5.7 isn't really a "handgun" caliber. It was developed for the P90 first. Due to it's size however, it was easily turned over into a handgun. It is basically a .22 centerfire cartridge traveling at 1900-2300 FPS. I think the actual bullet diameter is something like .224. So essentially it's considered 'armor piercing' because it's small and fast, having less surface area and a super high velocity to push it right through the material. What makes that less impressive is, a LOT of rifle cartridges (270, 7.62x39, .223, .308, 30-06, etc) can easily penetrate armor. I've seen ballistic tests where certain types of commercially available 9mm, .40S&W, and .357 easily punched right through it as well.

 

[LouisianaCarry]

Anything that is longer than it is wide is going to penetrate better than something that is not, all other factors being equal. 9mm will penetrate many things better than .45 ACP, for example, even though it is a girly round.

Bonded core bullets make a big difference in this arena. For example, regular FMJ 5.56 round is not known for overpenetration, because of its tendency to yaw upon impact with soft barriers. However, if you get a bonded core load, that will reduce the fragmentation ordinarily incurred by the yawing, and it will stay on course better after, say, going through auto glass.

Just a couple thoughts.

 

[Speedlace]

Read the overview section.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-seveN

 

[ShipWreck]

Come check out the Fn Forum if ya wanna know more. I have a Five Seven and a PS90. I love both of the guns...

 

[SpeedRacer]

I really like the Five-Seven, but the proprietary ammo thing just bugs the **** out of me. And from folks I've talked to, if you can't get the LE only ammo it's not worth it.

 

[Manimal]

.45's have pretty crappy penetration compared to many handgun calibers, even though it hits harder than many others do.

5.7 is gained its reputation as a 'cop killer' round though it never became very popular with the 'wrong crowd'...anti-gun media painted it as a horrible round, and I am fairly certain that it is an example used in some anti-gun arguments/legislation.

It does penetrate armor very well from what I understand.

It is a small bullet and cartridge with exceptional penetration for the powder charge, that was what drew attention to it as something special.

 

[CajunTim]

Trying to get Old Painless to test it
http://www.theboxotruth.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=680

 

[chibajoe]

Meh, if you're looking for penetration from a pistol, you'd be better of with 9x18 makarov; the P90/5.7 combo is quite formidable, but in a very limited environment. IMO, unless you can get your hands on SS190, the 5.7 doesn't offer anything that can't be had in other (cheaper and more readily accessable) calibers.

 

[dragginaknee]

I know a guy who has a few thousands rounds of the "good" stuff ss190. He is about to sell it has he doesnt own his fn's no more.

 

[Vermiform]

Thanks for the info. I am not in the market for one, I was just checking my info before I explained to him that it wasn't exactly an Armor Piercing handgun.

My first semi-auto SD handgun will most likely be a Glock 19. That 5.7 sure looks nifty though!

 

[dragginaknee]

im pretty sure that the ss109 will penatrate a class 3 vest