The current issue of Shooting Times has a cover feature on the 5.7 mm round. This stems from a conversation I had at work over the performance of that round.
ENOUGH!
I have to speak up about this round.
Please look at the facts people, and not the hype.
The 5.7x28mm round was developed for the P90, a full automatic weapon designed to be carried by people other than frontline soldiers such as vehicle and weapon crews. This is the same role that the M-1 Carbine was developed for.
The P90 has such a high cyclic rate and low recoil that short bursts of AP ammo can be fired with little or no muzzle climb, increasing hit probablity. But it's lethality depends on burst fire and multiple hits.
The FiveseveN handgun was then developed to provide a sidearm with ammo commonality with the P90 for military users.
SIDEBAR: The P90 has gained in popularity by being featured on Stargate SG-1. It's a freakin' TV show, and even they get it right. Firing bursts, with a 50 round mag they will usually only take out 4 or 5 bad guys.
Many people who should know better seem to think the 5.7mm round fired singlely out of the PS90 or worst yet out of the FiveseveN handgun seems to be magically empowered.
But the facts say different:
Remember that sales of AP rounds are illegal, so only 2 rounds are availible to civilians,
the SS195 and the SS196/197.
(velocity figures are for the FiveseveN handgun)
SS195 28gr. bullet at 1890fps, 222fp.
SS196 40gr. bullet at 1650fps, 242fp.
Let's put this in perspective.
.17HMR 20gr. bullet at 2375fps, 250fp.
.22 HV 40gr. bullet at 1255fps, 140fp.
.22WMR 40gr. bullet at 1910fps, 324fp.
TAKE NOTE: these are RIMFIRE cartridges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"But those figures are for rifles, and the FiveseveN is a handgun."
Irrelevant!
The ONLY reason I would EVER defend myself with a .22 Magnum rifle was if it was the ONLY weapon availible, NEVER by choice.
As a benchmark,
the 5.56mm NATO M855 round with a 62gr. bullet
M-16A2 MV 3100fps, 1323fp.
M-4 MV 2900fps, 1158fp.
The idea that some people have of poping off 5 or 6 rds from a handgun at a bad guy while he's shooting at you is ....... well, I have no words. Has anyone taken notice of all the news stories of trained cops blazing away at someone with dozens of rounds and only conecting a couple of times?
Even worse is the idea that a few people have of being able to engage targets at 100 yards with the FiveseveN. Try defending THAT in court!
OH, he had a rifle, did he?
DO NOT try and tell me with a straight face, that faced with a bad guy 100 yards away, armed with a rifle (or any weapon, for that matter) and intent on killing you, that you would stand in place and take him on with a handgun!
My final point being, if you are impressed by all of this then here's a superduper whopping magnum thunderzapper for you:
How about a 110gr bullet at 1990fps, and a whopping 967 foot pounds!!!!!!!
4X's the energy of the 5.7mm!
HOLY CRAP! you say?
That's not all! It's readily availible in a light, handy, reliable, battle-proven weapon!
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the .30 cal M-1 Carbine.
Update: Out of a 6" handgun, the .22 mag.
40 gr. bullet at MV 1335 , 158 fp.
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