FN 5.7x28 USG Five-Seven

[SecedeTX]

A friend of mine just purchased the FN 5.7x28 USG Five-Seven pistol. He also has a few boxes of penetrator rounds with it. God forbid I would ever call it overkill, but what a package!

A rifle round in a pistol with good mag size intrigues me, but the $1100 price tag makes me wonder if I really "need" one.

[Aggie_engr]

He also has a few boxes of penetrator rounds with it.

These wouldn't happen to be armor piercing rounds like green tip M855 rifle rounds would they? I may be mistaken but isn't armor piercing handgun ammunition a no-no?

[Pawpaw]

He also has a few boxes of penetrator rounds with it.

These wouldn't happen to be armor piercing rounds like green tip M855 rifle rounds would they? I may be mistaken but isn't armor piercing handgun ammunition a no-no?

M855 is NOT armor piercing ammunition. It simply has a piece of steel inside the nose of the bullet's jacket to help it pierce mild steel more easily.

I bought a 1000 round box of it at CTD in January.

[Texas_Tactical]

I wouldn't carry it for CHL because of over-penetration.

[Aggie_engr]

He also has a few boxes of penetrator rounds with it.

These wouldn't happen to be armor piercing rounds like green tip M855 rifle rounds would they? I may be mistaken but isn't armor piercing handgun ammunition a no-no?

M855 is NOT armor piercing ammunition. It simply has a piece of steel inside the nose of the bullet's jacket to help it pierce mild steel more easily.

I bought a 1000 round box of it at CTD in January.

So what is the definition of armor piercing ammunition? What type of "armor" are we talking about, light vehicle armor, soft body armor, armor plates for vests? Why are they designated M855 "penetrator"? AP rifle ammunition is not regulated by Texas law like AP handgun ammunition is. The only AP designated ammo I know of is API- armor piercing incendiary. Even though it is not illegal to my knowledge, didn't someone get in trouble for having armor piercing rifle ammo in their apartment not too long ago? Btw I've had a few 1000 round boxes of lake city steel core penetrators sitting in my closet for a few years now.

[Aggie_engr]

To the OP the FN five-seven looks like a hoot of a gun to shoot from the vids I've seen of them. Soft recoil, high velocity, very accurate and good capacity. Congrats to your friend on the buy.

[philip964]

Houston's SWAT uses the 5.7 because it does not over penetrate. Supposedly the round tumbles after impact. I have not tested this but its not suppose to go through both sides of a sheet rock wall as it hits the second layer of sheetrock on its side. I read where the Houston SWAT killed a man and the autopsy showed the round cut the mans heart in half. I'm no expert here as you see I've used "supposedly" a lot.

What I can say from experience is I shoot the most accurately with this gun of any I have tried. Slow fire, rapid fire does not matter, I am consistently more accurate with this gun than any I own or have borrowed, save a .22 target pistol with a red dot sight.

[apostate]

So what is the definition of armor piercing ammunition?

Texas Penal Code 46.01 contains the definition for Texas law and focuses on design intent. I believe the Federal definition is in 18 USC 921(a)(17) and is based on composition rather than intentions or effectiveness.

[lonewolf]

I saw one of these the other day. Looked really impressive! I'd love to shoot one myself sometime.....

[karder]

I have been using one for concealed carry for about a year or so. It is on the big side so I have to dress around it, but accuracy and dependability is really excellent. The soft recoil lets me get a lot of rounds on target very fast. There are a number of high capacity .45s and .40s out there which will carry nearly as many rounds, but, at least for me, they are much harder to keep on target during rapid fire. IMO, this gun fills a specific niche. If you are worried about a mugger, a snubby will take care of you and be easier to carry, but if you can't have a carbine and may run into guys with carbines, this pistol is a good companion.

[Crossfire]

The FN 5.7 is a REALLY fun gun to shoot, but, because it is so fun, and holds so many rounds, is expensive to feed. You can go through $50 worth of ammo in about 5 minutes!

[surprise_i'm_armed]

As a side note for those who may not be aware, the FN 5.7 was the pistol
used by the Muslim army doctor who killed all the folks at Fort Hood. He
had a lot (5-8?) of 20 round magazines when he entered the killing room.

He bought the gun at Guns Galore in Killeen, Texas and was approved for
the purchase since he wasn't on any kind of list that would have prevented it.

He had been found to be talking to the American Muslim who advocated jihad,
but the FBI/Homeland Security, or such, felt that this did not present a threat
to Americans.

SIA

[scud runner]

He bought the gun at Guns Galore in Killeen, Texas and was approved for
the purchase since he wasn't on any kind of list that would have prevented it.

If he applied for a CHL before the attack, it would have been free.

[Crossfire]

This thread is about the FN 5.7, not about the Ft Hood shooting.

Don't demonize the gun, blame the criminal.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have been using one for concealed carry for about a year or so. It is on the big side so I have to dress around it, but accuracy and dependability is really excellent. The soft recoil lets me get a lot of rounds on target very fast. There are a number of high capacity .45s and .40s out there which will carry nearly as many rounds, but, at least for me, they are much harder to keep on target during rapid fire. IMO, this gun fills a specific niche. If you are worried about a mugger, a snubby will take care of you and be easier to carry, but if you can't have a carbine and may run into guys with carbines, this pistol is a good companion.

Do I recall correctly that you originally sought yours for exactly those reasons, having to do with the situation along the border in the El Paso area?