FN Five-seveN Standard Model

Steve at The Firearm Blog links to pictures of FN Herstal’s new model of the Five-seveN pistol, which features standard 3-dot fixed sights as opposed to the adjustable sights featured on the USG version.  This model is so new, that as of this writing it’s not even up on FN’s website that I can find.

I’ve always been fascinated by this gun.  I don’t know what it is, maybe it was too much Counterstrike in my formative years, but this is a gun that I have always desired to own, but have been scared off by the nearly $1000 price tag on the retail models.  Hopefully the new Standard model will street price for around $800, which is a price where I almost might maybe consider laying down the cash for one.  The problem with the 5.7x28mm cartridge though is that I can’t use it for anything – it’s not legal for IDPA, IPSC, Steel Challenge, and it would be lousy for bowling pins.  I would essentially have a gun that I would only use to carry for self-defense, that wouldn’t share mags with any of my other guns, uses a weird and expensive cartridge, and does not share a manual of arms with my other guns.

Sure, I still want one, if for no other reason than it makes Sarah Brady cry.  I won’t buy one unless IDPA makes a new “sub-caliber defensive pistol” category, but it’s fun to dream.

Speaking of guns from FNH, I have been hearing anecdotal reports from friends in the shooting sports that their FNP line of pistols are pretty sweet.  They’re all DA/SA polymer framed guns, available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP – and while everyone else is running off and buying Glocks, M&Ps, and XDs, the FNP pistols are quitely starting to grab their own share of the market.  Michael Bane really like his .45 ACP version, and the price on these guns in any caliber is really quite reasonable.  If you’re looking for a full-sized polymer framed defensive gun, you might want to check out the FNP guns.  The FNP-9 and the FNP-40 are also both approved for USPSA Production Division, so there is the potential for additional use there.

7 Comments

  1. Caleb: As for the usages of the 5.7 pistol, about all I can ask is “Do you HUNT small varmits?”

    I’ve got the P90S carbine and I used it last winter to kill a red fox as well as some trespassing wayward domestic creatures, but I would never consider it sufficient for self-defense. Unless of course you think the .22 Magnum is a GOOD self-defense cartridge, because they really are pretty close in terms of power and penetration. However, I would give the edge to the 5.7x28mm for accuracy out of most guns.

    And Yes, the FNH FN9 is a really decent 9mm; especially when you consider its full-boat retail price versus everything else on the market. I gave one to my son.

    All The Best,
    Frank W. James

  2. In the ‘For What Its Worth’ column of events; I’m not convinced you CAN SAFELY reload the current 5.7 fired casings. The 5.7x28mm cartridge case presently is made from mild-steel and until someone makes brass casings, I think there is a problem inherent in reloading this stuff. I’ve reloaded some for my P90S and while I haven’t blown anything YET I know enough to REALLY DISLIKE what I see in the spent cartridge casings that have been reloaded.

    the problem as I see it is resizing the area just in front of the extractor groove;i.e. the web. I see too much expansion and the resizing dies are not doing what’s needed in my opinion.

    In fact, I’m so concerned that I’ve stopped reloading this stuff and I don’t even pick up the once fired casings anymore. I hope someone like STARLINE will start making true brass casings for this round and then I will try reloading it once more.

    All The Best,
    Frank W. James

  3. Of course the gun is impractical for many of the reasons you stated above but how cool would it be to own the sidearm of the Colonial Fleet from Battlestar Galactica. The property department switched over the Five-seveN pistol after the show went into full production after the mini-series aired.

  4. A friend attempted to reload 5.7X28, he found out the cases are straight-walled with no taper. I guess FNH coats the cases with some sort of lube, that wears off with time, so he was having LOADS of extraction issues.

    Still in the Arf.com discussion somebody mentioned you could pull the guns a decent way out of battery before the disconnector would kick in.

    No idea if this is true haven’t tried it myself, but I’d certainly check it before throwing my money away.

    It’s one thing for a pistol being an answer to a question nobody asked, it’s another thing for it to have a potentially dangerous design flaw. (see Also new Rugers!)

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