Future of the FN Five-Seven and the 5.7x28 cartridge?

[ChuckW]

In weak moments I sometimes find myself wanting an FN Five-Seven which shoots the proprietary FN 5.7x28 cartridge. I'm looking for opinions regarding whether this proprietary cartridge size (and this gun) will stand the test of time and still be around several years from now?

I am well aware of some of the negatives, or controversy, surrounding this gun and ammo size in the minds of the anti-gun crowd. Namely that the cartridge is supposedly a body armor piercing cop killer (not true in that the round that is supposed to pierce body armor is only sold to military and police). Only much tamer rounds are available for commercial public sale. Also, I believe, this was supposedly the gun that was used at Ft. Hood - definitely another negative in the minds of the anti-gun crowd.

My concern is that unless other manufacturers start making guns in this caliber or other ammo makers manufacture the cartridge it might just die out.

Sooo, I'm looking for news anyone might be aware of, rumors or opinions regarding this gun's future? Does anyone here own one?

[gigag04]

Some of our swat guys are issued ps90s. It will be around for a while.

[pbwalker]

I'd say this round is going to be around for a while. The FN is a favorite, for one, because of the magazine capacity. I hear they are selling like hot cakes on and around the southern border...

I don't see this going the route of the .45 GAP...

Plus, I want a FN Five-Seven too... (BUT I'VE GOT TO GET MY SPRINGFIELD EMP FIRST...haha)

[shootthesheet]

As long as the public believes the thing is "armor piercing" it is going to sell. I look at it like a "Glock" or AR type rifle in that they gain some sort of cultural icon status. I have seen all kinds of made up things about this gun over the years from people that have no knowledge of guns at all. Once a person learns a little about the law and actual capabilities of these guns they don't want them so much any more. I would get this http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/pmr30.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; before I would ever consider the FN because it is less expensive and ammo is cheaper and more abundant. If A.P. ammo was available to us I would have bought the FN when it was around $300.00 and they couldn't give them away until, that is, the "legend" was created. I would never use the FN as a carry gun because of the bullet but also because the gun is way to big and heavy for the advantage of some 4 rounds over my XD9 SC 16 round magazine. However, I am not bashing anyone that would choose to carry it any more than I bash those that carry .22s. I just don't trust the stopping power and I want to shoot as few times as necessary to stop a bad guy/gal. If the ammo is available and cheap enough, which I don't see how since the bullets used for military and L.E. are different than we can buy, then it might be a fun plinker.

[Purplehood]

My understanding is that it is in common usage among European Armed Forces by Officers and others that normally use pistols but need more firepower. It is my guess that as long as that remains true, it will remain commonly available.

[casingpoint]

Light, accurate, low recoil, high capacity round count, excellent terminal ballistics. This is a pistol round that tumbles and yaws on impact. Feeding problems are most likely non-existent with the tapered bullet. The round does double duty in an FN patrol rifle, so there is the added advantage of ammo commonality among firearms. There is nothing else like it. It's efficacy was amply demonstrated when U.S. Army Major Midal Hasan killed thirteen soldiers and wounded thirty others with one in last year's Fort Hood mass shooting incident. If the ammo was available, the 5.7 has armor piercing capability, which could be a factor om self defense where the BG's are wearing protective gear, as it appears they increasingly are. It would help if the price would come down. Engineering wise, it's a $500 plastic gun.

[karder]

I believe that the round will last. I had the same question about the long term viability of .357 sig when that round first came out and it has been very successful.
I have been carrying a Five-seveN daily for the last couple of months. They are in very high demand in my part of the state as pbwalker noted. It is large and can be difficult to conceal. I use a OWB holster and a 5.11 vest to cover. That is gonna get really warm about mid July, but there is not much I can do about it.
For me, the biggest advantage of the Five-seveN over all the other high capacity pistols I have tried is that it is a very soft shooter. It is one of the best handguns I have ever used for rapid fire drills. It has excellent accuracy as well. From what I can tell, that is the real advantage of this particular pistol. For me it is not about the 20 round capacity as I can get nearly the same in a number of 9mm pistols and even a few .45s. It is about unloading a lot of rounds very quickly and accurately. I simply cannot put .45 on target as quickly as this round.
I don't think it will catch on too well for most carry and self-defense applications. I am not even too sure about police applications. For military applications, I definitely see future for the pistol and the round. If I lived north of the border, I would go back to .45 and .357 as these are my favorite self-defense rounds but for now, it looks like I am an FN guy.

[CompVest]

I found that the round produces a recoil that feels just like a 9mm. I didn't think it felt anything as light as a 22. I shot a couple hundred rounds through one a couple of years ago.