Picked up the Ruger 57

[twarr1]

Last Saturday I spotted a new Ruger 57 for a decent price ($624) at a LGS. It was near closing time and there was a long line of people in front of me. I put down a deposit since it was the only one and returned today to pick it up.
Yeah, I know the 57 is old news, but I’ve been considering it for a long time and finally decided, why not?
Now have to get the Hi-Viz rear sight from ShopRuger.
Oh yeah, and find ammo!

 

[Hartkopf]

Old news or not I think they are cool. Don’t they make 30 round magazines? As far as ammo goes, I haven’t seen any but did see this “coming soon” at Midway. Not cheap.

 

[usp9]

I rented one a short while ago to see how I liked it. The range had finally found a supply of ammo after about a year of waiting. It felt good, has a pretty nice trigger, was as accurate as I can shoot and made me want one. If ammo were plentiful and reasonably priced I would buy one.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

My son was going to buy one. I told him not reloading for it. That was the end of that lol. He knows how to reload. But he never has time. Is his excuse. Plus he shops with empty pockets often. That being said. Twarr1 enjoy the new Ruger.

 

[twarr1]

@Hartkopf , Yes, ProMag makes a 30 round magazine for the 57. I haven’t had good luck with ProMag in the past.
At about a dollar a round I should load them one at a time!
@usp9, In addition to FN, Federal makes 5.7x28 and as Hartkopf mentioned above, Speer is coming out with ammo as well.
The 5.7 isn’t going to be the 9mm replacement that FN designed it for, but hopefully it’ll become more common.
@coalcrackerAI, I’ve been saving cases from the range, I’m going to try reloading the 5.7. I’ve heard good and bad about reloading the 5.7. But as the saying goes, I’m the kind who has to urinate on the electric fence myself.

 

[Gordon]

I got one a while back at $600 . Mine was post recall. I had a friend who used to have a PS90 FN Stargate PDW , which he sold a few years ago after the uniqueness wore off. I was suprised he had 200 rounds of 5.7 left over which he was glad to unload for $20 a box !
My son and I fired 150 of those at the range to check it out and adjust the sights the begining of the year when weather cleared and range reopened. It was a hoot to fire and was quite accurate, it begs for a magnified optic IMHO as it is a 200 yard pistol IMHO. The chronographing we did on that outing was less than impressive. It was slightly less velocity than a 6" Model 53 Jet revolver ; around 2000-high 1900 FPS for the FN 5.7 versus a solid 2100-2200 with our 40 grain Jet reloads ! Also my 8 3/8 " Model 48 .22 WRM gets a solid 1600-1700 FPS with the speediest .22 WRM loads !
I got dies and have plenty of .22 bullets stashed to reload the Ruger 5.7x28 but it is way down on my list to do . I was not that impressed but maybe an SX varmint bullet at 2100 fps would make it fun and a viable up to 200 yard pistol , but for varmints would require optics to hit such small targets. I have a scoped Ruger Single six .17 HMR Stainless Hunter that can hit ground squirrels at 100 yards if you are careful ! Spraying and praying with the 5.7 Ruger won't get that done ! Lets face it the Ruger 5.7 is a big old offensive pistol like the HK MK23 was designed for.
The cartridge from a pistol barrel runs out of power around 75 yards to stop a human well IMHO, maybe less. Up close no doubt it is effective as 9mm and other more common defensive calibers under .357 Mag. in power.

 

[TTv2]

The 5.7x28 is unique and seems to be the new tacticool thing every company wants to make right now, but given it is a nightmare to reload it doesn't interest me and I don't see the ammo industry looking to branch out and start producing 5.7x28 when it's a caliber that exists solely because it's different and once that feeling wears off people quickly lose interest in paying $30 for a 50 rd box.

 

[twarr1]

@TTv2, where can I get 5.7x28 for $30/50? I just paid $70!
The 5.7x28 is a standard NATO caliber now, hopefully more countries will begin manufacturing it. That was one of the factors in my decision to buy the Ruger. If the price stays at $1+ it may become a safe Queen.

 

[wmgeorge]

Our local Sportsmans Warehouse had some on the shelf but not interested.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

I LOVE my Ruger 57. I haven't fired it a whole lot maybe 80 rounds or so. I have shot the AE 40gr FMJ, the FN "Blue Tip" 40gr and a few of the Speer 40gr Gold Dots. Every single of those rounds hit dead center but about 2 inches low for me at 15 yards. After some rear sight adjustment I'm dead on at 15 yards. The pistol has been dead reliable with the factory mags. I have not tried the 30 rounds mags.

This Ruger 57 is setup with a flashlight on it as its my around the house varmint control and "bump in the night" gun.

 

[TTv2]

@TTv2, where can I get 5.7x28 for $30/50? I just paid $70!
The 5.7x28 is a standard NATO caliber now, hopefully more countries will begin manufacturing it. That was one of the factors in my decision to buy the Ruger. If the price stays at $1+ it may become a safe Queen.

$30 was a pretty normal price for the ammo pre pandemic.

 

[twarr1]

Got a chance to take the new 57 to the range. I had some free time so I just grabbed my range bag, (didn’t take the chronograph) and the one box of ammo.

The only ammunition available was the FN (Fiocci) Sporting rounds with the 40 grain V-Max bullets. $52/50

The gun is probably more accurate than I can shoot. On the first few shots I noticed I was pushing the trigger slightly to the side. Not sure this is because of the thin grip or just me. I’ve never noticed this with my other handguns. Even with a double stack magazine the grip is very thin - 1.2”.
The 57 comes with a rear sight that has adjustments for elevation and windage, but I’m going to work on trigger pull before I start making changes. Trigger pull and reset is longer than I’d like, but it’s smooth with a clean break. The long pull is just a characteristic of Ruger’s ‘Safe Action’ and internal hammers in general.
(The 2 outliers at 1 and 7 o’clock are all me. )

I did have one jam. The round in the picture is wedged in the chamber, but still under the magazine lip, so I couldn’t drop the magazine. I had to pry it out with a pair of needle nose pliers. Other than this one weird failure the gun operated great. I’m attributing this to ‘newness’.
Recoil is much less than 9mm, and target re-acquisition is smooth.
The 5.7 out of the 4.94” barrel has a distinctive report. A “crack” reminiscent of an AK.


All in all, I like it. It’s well balanced, has manageable recoil, is accurate out of the box, and fit and finish is of great quality I expect from Ruger.

 

[twarr1]

A couple of more notes from the 57 outing
The 20 round magazines are a little bit of a stretch. Getting the last few of those skinny rounds in takes enough effort to not really make it worth it for range duty. When I ordered the Hi-Viz rear sight from Shop Ruger I also got the magazine reloader. (Out of stock). I’ve never used mag reloaders, after spending too many hours breaking down bandoleers to fill M16A1 mags for Uncle Sam I got used to doing it by hand.
Muzzle flash is significant as you might expect. There is a $200 threaded barrel upgrade available for the Ruger 57 but I’m sure it’s intended more for a suppressor. The gun is already long at 8.65”.
The SS197SR ammunition is extremely clean burning, with practically no residue in the action or barrel after 50 rounds.

 

[TTv2]

I've no doubts the 57 is a well made gun and one that is more worth its price than the FN, I'm still struggling to figure out what use the 5.7 has out of a pistol the size of a 1911.

 

[twarr1]

My understanding is NATO wanted a PDW that would defeat IIIa body armor. The size is a function of the 5” barrel, and truthfully, that’s probably not enough for the 5.7 cartridge.

 

[miamivicedade]

I have an FN Five Seven. I love the caliber. Low recoil, high capacity, and fast enough to get the job done. My favorite load is the SS198LF.

 

[twarr1]

I have an FN Five Seven. I love the caliber. Low recoil, high capacity, and fast enough to get the job done. My favorite load is the SS198LF.

I like the Ruger 57 so far. I’d like to try the FN as well. The only ammunition I’ve been able to find is the FN/Fiocci sporting rounds. They’re accurate and very clean. I’ll try the lead-free when I can get my hands on some.

 

[TTv2]

My understanding is NATO wanted a PDW that would defeat IIIa body armor. The size is a function of the 5” barrel, and truthfully, that’s probably not enough for the 5.7 cartridge.

A 5 inch pistol and a 10 inch select fire PDW with a 50rd magazine are two different animals. If the goal is defeating soft armor from a handgun, there are other calibers that can do that.

 

[twarr1]

A 5 inch pistol and a 10 inch select fire PDW with a 50rd magazine are two different animals. If the goal is defeating soft armor from a handgun, there are other calibers that can do that.

I agreed with both of your points.
The 5.7x28 is FNs answer to NATO’s call for a 9mm replacement. The cartridge was designed first and the P90 PDW and Five Seven came later.
FN had to satisfy many conflicting requirements, 2 of which were, defeat soft armor, and simplify logistics.
So the weapons are both compromises. There are better calibers for the pistol and different, better options for the PDW. But for the military logistic requirements, having one caliber is better than two.
The pistol would have better performance if it also had a 10” barrel, but then it would become the P90. I assume the FN designers decided that a 5” barrel was the optimum length to make the Five Seven fit a different role than the P90, but still use the same cartridge. That’s the reason for me saying the pistol’s 5” barrel isn’t the ideal. At least not with the shared ammunition.
Hopefully ammunition makers will eventually develop ammo optimized for each platform, but maybe not since manufactures are developing 10”+ barrel pistols like the Diamondback DBX, CMMG Banshee, etc.
The 5.7x28 won’t replace the 9mm, but it has it’s niche.

 

[twarr1]

And 2000 FPS from a semiauto handgun is cool

 

[TTv2]

I agreed with both of your points.
The 5.7x28 is FNs answer to NATO’s call for a 9mm replacement. The cartridge was designed first and the P90 PDW and Five Seven came later.
FN had to satisfy many conflicting requirements, 2 of which were, defeat soft armor, and simplify logistics.
So the weapons are both compromises. There are better calibers for the pistol and different, better options for the PDW. But for the military logistic requirements, having one caliber is better than two.
The pistol would have better performance if it also had a 10” barrel, but then it would become the P90. I assume the FN designers decided that a 5” barrel was the optimum length to make the Five Seven fit a different role than the P90, but still use the same cartridge. That’s the reason for me saying the pistol’s 5” barrel isn’t the ideal. At least not with the shared ammunition.
Hopefully ammunition makers will eventually develop ammo optimized for each platform, but maybe not since manufactures are developing 10”+ barrel pistols like the Diamondback DBX, CMMG Banshee, etc.
The 5.7x28 won’t replace the 9mm, but it has it’s niche.

Has it's niche, yes and I think that niche is definitely along the lines of military use and special police tactics. The biggest advantage 5.7 has over 9mm is it's very light and that means carrying 50 rounds of it over 9mm is like, half the weight. That's big for when you're moving millions of rounds overseas, for the average joe... it means nothing outside of some prepping bug out disaster. Also, when the military is buying millions of rounds of the ammo, the cost is lower for a bulk order and paid for by taxpayers; for personal use the 5.7 is expensive.

So, I'm not crapping on 5.7, I think its role is best suited to professionals shall we say, and when the military is eyeing an expanded role for submachine guns the 5.7 in an MP5 type SMG would be far better than 9mm.

 

[ms6852]

It is a great gun, and that caliber is an effective round at 100 yards, not bad out of a handgun. Congratulations.

 

[GONRA]

GONRA sez reloading 5.7x28mm FN requires unusual attention to
PROPER CASE RESIZING without scraping off polymer (?) case coating!
RCBS Small Base dies, Big Strong Press, dies/shell holder centerllne aligned
using STP Oil Treatment for a case lube does it.....

SO if ya'll can't find Factory Ammo, warm up yer wallet and start reloading.

PS: Cannot Cheep out on this caliber! Its NOT a Short Term Project!