Herstal 5.7

[DrLewall]

I've read on other forums a little abt the Herstal 5.7 and how many seem to think that it's more or less a $1000 22cal..and basically, they are correct I guess. But the more I look at one and lust for one, I really want one..I have plent of 45's here in which to choose from for EDC, not sure if I would carry the 5.7 as I would be a wee bit leary of going beyond intended target if I ever had to us eit for self defense, but good golly Miss Molly, I WANT ONE! So watcha think?

[hwhite1725]

FN Herstal makes great guns, that is the bottom line, and the 5.7 is just that, a great gun. I am good friends with a regional production manager for FN (he actually owns and operates the training company I work for) so I have seen a bit more of the inside workings of FN but they make fantastic, accurate and dependable firearms. In fact, a very large percentage of the US militarys small arms are now FN products, like the M249 SAW and the GAU-21. As far as the 5.7 pistol is concerned, FN did a great job and the idea is sound, but the problem is in the ammunition. The gun was designed to fire the SS190 duty round which has a steel penetrator and an aluminum core. This round will penetrate IIIA body armor at 50 meters from the 5.7 pistol and 200 meters from the P90 subgun but once it encounters a soft body, i.e. human flesh, the projectile tumbles, causing a much bigger wound channel than its 5.7mm diameter while limiting over-penetration. Basically, they say that the SS190 projectile will go in and stay in whether the target is armored or not. While this is good, civilian use of the SS190 is prohibited meaning you have to make do with a standard jacketed hollowpoint or a hunting round which can have over-penetration issues as well as a small wound channel.

All this aside, the 5.7 is a great pistol and I will have one someday soon.

[whiskey]

Originally Posted by hwhite1725

FN Herstal makes great guns, that is the bottom line, and the 5.7 is just that, a great gun. I am good friends with a regional production manager for FN (he actually owns and operates the training company I work for) so I have seen a bit more of the inside workings of FN but they make fantastic, accurate and dependable firearms. In fact, a very large percentage of the US militarys small arms are now FN products, like the M249 SAW and the GAU-21. As far as the 5.7 pistol is concerned, FN did a great job and the idea is sound, but the problem is in the ammunition. The gun was designed to fire the SS190 duty round which has a steel penetrator and an aluminum core. This round will penetrate IIIA body armor at 50 meters from the 5.7 pistol and 200 meters from the P90 subgun but once it encounters a soft body, i.e. human flesh, the projectile tumbles, causing a much bigger wound channel than its 5.7mm diameter while limiting over-penetration. Basically, they say that the SS190 projectile will go in and stay in whether the target is armored or not. While this is good, civilian use of the SS190 is prohibited meaning you have to make do with a standard jacketed hollowpoint or a hunting round which can have over-penetration issues as well as a small wound channel.

All this aside, the 5.7 is a great pistol and I will have one someday soon.

+1 to that. If you "know a guy" you can get the good stuff anyway ; )

[tattedupboy]

Is overpenetration an issue with the rounds this pistol shoots? I've read ballistics statistics for this gun, and the bullet velocities are comparable to those of rifles.

[kwo51]

Have a friend here in Fl that wants to trade his 57 for a 45 .Shooting cost to high,to big for ccw