Any Good Reason Not to Get a FN 5.7?

[Welding Rod]

I am thinking about a FN 5.7.

I have plenty of other handguns... I compete mostly with a 1911, and carry a P220.

But the FN looks like it would be a fun gun to shoot. It is ugly as sin IMO, but if it is reliable, has a good trigger, is of high build quality, and is accurate I think I would enjoy shooting it due to the ballistics of the cartridge.

However they obviously aren't cheap.

So any one have a bad experience with one?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

A few come to mind. Ugly, expensive, and shoots a caliber that doesn't impress me much.

That'll torque a few folks off.

They seem to be well made guns though, so go for it if it interests you.

 

[herrwalther]

My own list: Ugly, expensive, hard to find/reload ammo (saw my first 5.7 ammo on the shelf just last week), weird ergonomics (safety very far forward), and it is a handgun that is on every anti politicians hate list. So that one is good or bad.

 

[M1GarandDeerHunter]

I had the opportunity to shoot a couple hundred rounds through a new one a buddy got a few weeks back, and I found it a hoot to shoot. It seemed to penitrate well for what it is and it was impressive on water jugs. I found it extremely easy to operate. As pointed out it has funky controls that would take getting used to. Round count is high, 20 if i remember. The thing was easy to hit with and I found it very accurate and flat shooting. Down side? Ammo. It sure aint cheap. And it isnt every where. Also, I SURE dont think its a case that I would want to reload. Its a funky round. Your choice. Fun to shoot. I think if I lived with it I could get used to the safety. Its a minority choice for sure. It comes apart easy, similar to a glock, and is a jiff to clean. The version I shot had adjustable sights. Thats my experience with it. If someone gave me one, I would immediately buy a BUNCH of mags, and 5,000 rds of ammo for it. Its a system that would easily be a victim of new regs down the road. Other than that I dont think I am springing for one. YMMV.

 

[Kiln]

You're not gonna read many bad experiences, they're excellent guns but the cost to buy and shoot makes it pretty unappealing to me. The thing that made them most impressive (AP ammo) is next to impossible to find.

 

[burk]

As a toy and part of a collection, for a cool long range varmint control gun, they are fine. As a key go to gun for SD, they leave a lot to be desired, from Round availability, to ballistic issues, to over penetration issues, I wouldn't pick a 5.7 as my only SD gun. There are some applications where they make a sense (a couple of guys in a team for corporate protection who can take on possible body armored assailants). But as a general SD gun, there are just too many issues with the round.

 

[horsemen61]

I've heard they are a pita to try and reload them

 

[Havok7416]

I find it to be a fun range toy, but as mentioned, the ammo costs can kill you.

To specifically address your questions, it is very reliable and well built. The trigger could probably be worked on a bit, but it's acceptable.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Uncomfortable
Not aesthetically pleasing
Expensive to purchase
Expensive ammunition
Few ammo choices
Not easily flipped if unwanted
Expensive magazines
Overrated cartridge

There's not a whole lot of pistols that exceed the 5.7 in terms of capacity or ballistics. However, plenty that are just as good capacity-wise that cost half as much.

 

[usp9]

The only negatives I can think of are the reports that reloaders have to be uber careful and some ranges, mostly indoor, will not allow the round. Other than that, it is a terrific pistol with many excellent attributes.

 

[45_auto]

Did you read the thead from a day or so ago by the guy that just sold his?

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=753352

 

[Orion8472]

It isn't sold yet. Currently on gunbroker.

I liked mine when I first got it. I wanted one back when they were not available for civilian purchase. When they were, I bought one. I thought the round was cool looking. I thought it was awesome that the magazines held 20 rounds. It IS one of the easist pistol magazines to load since they load similar to a AR-15 magazine. They can be accurate if you learn the trigger's characteristics. The blast and fireball can be entertaining.

But recently, I picked up a CZ P-09 and P-07, and I discovered that I liked shooting them more. The fact that I will need money for a future car purchase has been one of the main reasons for selling some stuff [not just the Five Seven pistol]. I will probably miss it some when it is gone. I'll miss it a lot more if the pistol gets regulated to the point of "unobtainium" and demand for the pistol and ammo skyrockets. But I'm willing to take the chance that such a thing won't happen anyway.

Ultimately, it is each person's choice as per "what to buy". I think you'll enjoy it.

 

[clang]

The main reason I wouldn't get a 5.7 is the cartridge may be obsolete in a couple of years.

 

[tommy.duncan]

If you go to wiki-arms you can buy American Eagle 50 rounds for 23.95, 0.48 a round. That is about .10 more then 357 mag and .14 cheaper then 44mag. I hear they are a pain to reload but the ammo price is not as bad as most people think. I would not sit at a range and blow 1k rounds a day, but, dropping 50/100 rounds is not that bad.
It wasn't that long ago we were paying $25 for 9mm!! I am finally seeing 380auto again, but, it is selling for $22 and change!!
If you enjoy shooting it, add it to your collection.

 

[Orion8472]

clang, why do you suppose it will be obsolete?

 

[Kiln]

I assume it will be obsolete because there are very few civilian firearms chambered in it and popularity has never really caught on with the cartridge when it comes to civilian ownership. The sad part is that if FN had sold the 5.7 for what it actually is worth, about $750 then it might've gained more popularity and the round would be produced in larger numbers, eliminating the two main complaints about the gun.

 

[benzy2]

If range ammo were more available and at a better price, I'd be for it. Since that isn't the case, and I'd have to special order all ammo at expensive (for range use) prices I simply don't see a reason to buy it. If it's interesting enough in any reason for you to be willing to spend your money, by all means grab what you like. From a practical stand point it isn't very relative to other more common options.

 

[barnbwt]

popularity has never really caught on with the cartridge when it comes to civilian ownership

Well, I get the impression FNH has only really been trying for a couple years, now. Before, when they were the sole source for ammo, it was quite plain they were basically recouping development costs lost when HK queered the NATO acceptance of the round*. Now that we've got a couple companies making ammo, more platforms are coming out (the AR57 and Masterpiece Arms Mac-57 or whatever it is are fairly recent arrivals), magazines are cheap and plentiful via import (though ostensibly of lesser quality), and the pistols/carbines from FNH are still selling like hotcakes. The ammo, too.

Just like with ARs, when you sell a crap ton of them, you eventually create a sustaining market. I think we're nearing that with FNH (it just took ten years because it's a pricey/lower volume proposition) and will see a proliferation of accessories and platforms over the next few years. Either that, or FNH does something monumentally boneheaded like shutting everything down to satisfy the Bradys (but I think we, the American civilian shooting population, and FNH have arrived at an understanding of what the consequences of that would be)

TCB

*H&K would go on to file for bankruptcy, whereas FNH went on to offer better and more innovative products on the American market than nearly anyone

 

[hAkron]

If the price isn't a concern, then who really needs a good reason to buy anything? I have a safe chock full of stuff I don't need that is surrounded by a house full of stuff I don't need.

 

[Kiln]

If the price isn't a concern, then who really needs a good reason to buy anything? I have a safe chock full of stuff I don't need that is surrounded by a house full of stuff I don't need.

There is a line where cost exceeds usefulness. The 5.7 is within this class.

 

[hAkron]

There is a line where cost exceeds usefulness. The 5.7 is within this class.

That's really not my call.

 

[HKGuns]

None at all, they're great pistols, expensive but you usually get what you pay for.......

 

[wild cat mccane]

I disagree on costs. *when* found on shelves in Utah, it is a dollar up or down from a box of 45 fmj....

I think people repeat the cost thing without knowing.

 

[benzy2]

I'll say this, the local big chain departments stores have 9mm, 45, and 40 on the shelf today at $15-$22/box. I haven't seen 5.7 at any of them for any price. The local firearms store has a shelf FULL of multiple different options in most any caliber, typically at 10-20% above the big chain store prices. Again, a shelf stocked with as much 9mm, 45, and 40 you would like to buy. Not a single box of 5.7. The nearest Cabela's (about 60 miles each way) has some 5.7 at $30/box. If it exists at a price that is closer to 9mm than that, I haven't found it in person. It's nearly 50% more than 45 and right at double the price of cheap 9mm. That's a significant price difference for me. It's also a solid 2 hour round trip drive to get it, where the other common 3 can be bought on my way home from work. It's a niche round. If you fit that niche, there's no arguing against it. If you don't, there isn't a ton of arguing for it. It is what it is, for better and worse.

 

[Welding Rod]

Must be a great gun as complaints <about the gun quality and performance> seem quite scarce.

I tried to order one today (FDE MKII) but my dealer said he can't get one... His distributors are all out. Out of curiosity I called the biggest gun shop in OR (Keith's) and they had one, in black only.

I checked gun broker and the gun is available but the prices were pretty steep after adding in the shipping, insurance, tax, and transfer fee. I know I could get a comparative good deal if my dealer could get one.

I found ammo is available on the net for mid twenties per 50.