FN 5.7×28mm
The FN 5.7×28mm (designated as the 5.7×28 by the C.I.P. and FN 5.7x28mm NATO) is a small-caliber, high-velocity, smokeless-powder, rebated, bottleneck, centerfire cartridge designed for pistols and personal defense weapons (PDW) uses, manufactured by FN Herstal. It is similar in length to the .22 WMR and .22 Hornet. Unlike many new cartridges, it has no parent case; the complete package was developed from scratch by FN.
FN 5.7×28mm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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5.7×28mm sporting cartridges. From left to right: SS195LF, SS196SR, and SS197SR. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Pistol, personal defense weapon | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of origin | Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Service history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In service | 1990–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Used by | 40+ nations; see: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wars |
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Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Designer |
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Designed |
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Manufacturer | FN Herstal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Produced |
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Variants | See Varieties | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Case type | Rebated, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | 5.70 mm (0.224 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Land diameter | 5.53 mm (0.218 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Neck diameter | 6.38 mm (0.251 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoulder diameter | 7.95 mm (0.313 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Base diameter | 7.95 mm (0.313 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim diameter | 7.80 mm (0.307 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim thickness | 1.14 mm (0.045 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case length | 28.90 mm (1.138 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall length | 40.50 mm (1.594 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case capacity | 0.90 cm3 (13.9 gr H2O) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rifling twist | 228.6 mm (1 in 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Primer type | Boxer Small Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum pressure | 345.00 MPa (50,038 psi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Test barrel length: 263mm (10.35in) for bullets 1-3, 406mm (16in) for bullets 4-5. Source(s): |
The 5.7×28mm was developed in conjunction with the FN P90 PDW and later the FN Five-seven pistol in response to NATO requests as a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. In 2002 and 2003, NATO conducted a series of tests with the intention of standardizing a PDW cartridge as a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. The tests compared the relative merits of the 5.7×28mm cartridge and the 4.6×30mm cartridge, which was created by Heckler & Koch as a competitor to the 5.7×28mm. The NATO group subsequently recommended the 5.7×28mm cartridge, citing superior performance in testing, but the German delegation objected and the standardization process was halted until 2021 when it was officially adopted as a NATO standard STANAG 4509.
By 2006, FN's 5.7×28mm firearms—the P90 PDW and Five-seven pistol—were in service with military and police forces in over 40 nations throughout the world. In the United States, 5.7×28mm firearms are currently used by numerous law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service.
In addition to being used in the FN P90 and FN Five-seven firearms, the 5.7×28mm cartridge has subsequently been used in a number of other weapons, such as the AR-57 and FN PS90 carbines. Excel Arms has developed four firearms chambered in 5.7×28mm, MasterPiece Arms offers three different firearms in 5.7×28mm., and CMMG offers several of its AR-Style Banshee firearms in 5.7x28. As of December, 2019, Ruger offers its Ruger-57 semi-automatic pistol chambered in this cartridge. January 2021 saw the announcement by Kel-Tec of the P50 handgun, which uses 50 round P90 magazines. Palmetto State Armory introduced its Rock 5.7 pistol in January 2022; it became available for purchase in May 2022.
The 5.7×28mm cartridge itself is produced in a number of varieties, two of which—the SS195LF and SS197SR—are currently offered by FN to civilian shooters.