What Makes the 5.7x28mm Caliber So Unique

The 5.7x28mm caliber high-velocity round was developed in response to a NATO request to replace the 9mm cartridge. 

The manufacturer, FN, first used the 5.7x28mm for its Five-seveN pistol and P90 personal defense weapon. 

Fact: The Ruger-57 soon followed as the next handgun model designed to use 5.7x28mm ammo.

FN’s NATO deal fell through because Heckler & Koch, a competitor of the 5.7x28mm, developed a 4.6x30mm cartridge. Subsequently, Germany — a key member of the NATO alliance — objected to the standardization of ammunition, halting the process indefinitely.

The upside of it all is that this unique low recoil and flat shooting round, besides being used in over 40 nations worldwide by military and law enforcement, went mainstream and became available on the civilian market.

The uniqueness of this round is that it’s lightweight (27 grains).

Why is that important? It has greater muzzle velocity, making it a faster and flatter shooting projectile.

The purpose of the high-velocity military version of the ammo was to penetrate body armor. Which is just one of the reasons it’s used by many law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service.

Other advantages: Low and smooth recoil allows staying on long-range targets with ease and precision. Its impressively light weight enables you to carry more ammo.

The 5.7x28mm has the speed needed to beat armor, which is important for the next section.

Can the 5.7x28mm Penetrate Body Armor?

When it hit the market, the 5.7x28mm, was neutered, as the military SS190 version was not available for civilians to purchase. Instead, other less powerful rounds were manufactured.

Can you still find 5.7x28mm ammo that will pierce Level IIIa body armor on the market?

Let’s find out.
Take a look at how three different types of 5.7x28mm perform in a Level IIIa armor ballistic gel test — or consult the table below.

The winning projectile shot from a CMMG 8” had incredible muzzle velocity, and even the bullets that didn’t penetrate the armor would seriously injure the person wearing it.

But how would it perform in an extreme situation, like an attack from a wild animal?

Can a 5.7 Kill a Bear?

The short answer? Yes. But it’s not that simple; let’s explain.

Spoiler alert: Don’t rush to take your Five-seveN or Ruger-57 on a trip to bear country just yet.

Life or Death Situation

Firstly, we’re not talking about a single round stopping a bear. With a 5.7 chambered pistol, you’re packing 20 rounds in the magazine. That alone gives you significantly more chances to inflict a lethal wound to a bear or at least deflect its attack.

Secondly, we don’t recommend going bear hunting with 5.7x28mm ammo. 

Instead, let’s talk about what could happen in an unavoidable life or death encounter with this magnificent animal.

A 5.7x28mm, as we’ve seen, can pierce Level IIIa body armor — so it will pierce a bear’s skin. But your aim better be true.

Bears have thick skulls, bones, and dense muscles protecting their organs — a challenge for even bigger calibers.

So aim for vital parts, or you may end up with a slightly wounded, angry bear heading your way.

Worth Mentioning

That said, use all measures to prevent a bear encounter. Bring bear spray along with your gun, attach bells to your bags and your dog’s collar, make noise while hiking, and practice situational awareness.

Here’s a great video on how to handle and prevent a bear encounter.

Just know that you may face certain fines and the responsibility for taking care of the carcass (depending on your local laws) if you do kill a bear.

Now, if you want to try out the 5.7x28mm ammo, you’ll want to choose a gun to suit your needs, be it self-defense, plinking, etc. Let’s see what’s available. 

List of Weapons That Use 5.7x28mm

There isn’t a wide selection of 5.7x28mm chambered firearms that aren’t military or law enforcement grade. But there is a decent pistol and carabine selection for civilians, and more coming in the future. Plus, there are conversions to the 5.7x28mm platform.

Those available for civilian purchase have nothing short of surprising capabilities.

You may find your favorite amongst one of these bad boys:

• FN PS90 PDW
• FN Five-seveN
• Ruger-57
• Kel-Tec P50
• AR57 (AR Five-Seven)
• CMMG Banshee MK47 PPC

We’ll look at the FN Five-seveN as it’s the first handgun produced for 5.7x28mm rounds.

Five-seveN — Short Review

First, you’ll notice the pistol’s weight. Even fully loaded, it’s only 1.6 lbs.

This gun comes with three 20 shot magazines (that resemble a small AR magazine), with 30 shot magazines available aftermarket. The ammunition is light, compact, and provides plenty of firepower.

This type of gun is a great choice for backpackers, long-distance runners — anyone who needs to keep it light.

Because of its significant firepower, the Five-seveN can handle situations with multiple adversaries wearing body armor.

5.7x28mm vs. 9mm — Plinking Test

How do these rounds compare in a plinking test? 

We’re primarily looking at 5.7x28mm vs. 9mm, but we’ll also include a .45 ACP as shown in the example below.

So let’s examine them in action.

Muzzle Velocity

After studying the 5.7x28mm round, we see its similarity in shape to a 5.56 AR-15 round. In this example, we have a 40-grain projectile, one-third of the weight compared to a 115-grain 9mm bullet — that difference provides significant muzzle velocity.

In general, 9mm flies a little over 1000 feet per second (ft/ps) compared to the 5.7x28mm, which reaches over 2000 ft/ps.

As we can see in the video, the 5.7x28mm ripped through the water jug with greater impact than the 9mm or .45 ACP. It isn’t the most scientific approach, but any plinking enthusiast will appreciate that kind of result.

What Is the 5.7×28 Good For?

As an example, let’s take FN Herstal’s 5.7x28mm SS198LF 27 grain Hollow Point cartridge with a lead-free powder and primer. That’s the one in the first video, which showed the best performance, even up to 100 yards.

It’s great for:

• Plinking
• Long-range target shooting
• Self-defense
• General range use

Carrying 5.7x28mm with a Five-seveN or Ruger-57 is excellent as a CCW — it has the proven speed, range, and power to tackle almost any problem.

Time to Try It Out

If you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on the 5.7x28mm ammunition, you won’t go wrong with that decision.

It’s a specialty round that will fill the gap in your arsenal.

The ammo is great for self-defense, as it pierces through body armor, car doors, and similar obstructions. This is vital in the modern age, when potential aggressors may be wearing body armor.

For that kind of a terrifying scenario, you want something with range and firepower.

Be sure to get your 5.7x28mm today and in bulk.

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