FN Five-seven

FN Five-seven
Five-seven USG with 20 round magazine fitting 5.7×28mm cartridges
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originBelgium
Service history
In service2000–present[1]
Used by20+ nations (see Users)
Wars
Production history
DesignerFN Herstal
Designed1993–98[6][7]
ManufacturerFN Herstal
Produced1998–present[7]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass
  • 610 g (1.3 lb) empty[8]
  • 744 g (1.6 lb) loaded[9]
Length208 mm (8.2 in)[8]
Barrel length122 mm (4.8 in)[8]
Width36 mm (1.4 in)[8]
Height137 mm (5.4 in)[9]
CartridgeFN 5.7×28mm[8]
ActionDelayed blowback[8]
Rate of fireSemi-automatic[8]
Muzzle velocity
  • 762 m/s (2,500 ft/s) (SS198)[10]
  • 625 m/s (2,050 ft/s) (SS195)[10]
  • 520 m/s (1,700 ft/s) (SS197)[10]
Effective firing range50 m (55 yd)[11]
Maximum firing range1,510 m (1,651 yd)[11]
Feed systemDetachable box magazine; capacities:

Detachable drum magazine; capacity:

Sights

The FN Five-seven (stylized as Five-seveN) is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium.[8] The pistol is named for the 5.7×28mm cartridge's bullet diameter, and the trademark's capitalization style is intended to emphasize the manufacturer's initials—FN.[14]

The Five-seven pistol was developed in conjunction with the FN P90 personal defense weapon and the FN 5.7×28mm cartridge.[15] The P90 was introduced in 1990, and the Five-seven was introduced in 1998 as a pistol using the same 5.7×28mm ammunition.[7] Developed as a companion pistol to the P90, the Five-seven shares many of its design features: it is a lightweight polymer-based weapon with a relatively large magazine capacity, ambidextrous controls, low recoil, and the ability to penetrate body armor when using certain cartridge types.[16]

Sales of the Five-seven were originally restricted by FN to military and law enforcement customers, but since 2004, the pistol has also been offered to civilian shooters for uses such as personal protection and target shooting.[17][18] Although offered only with sporting ammunition, the Five-seven's introduction to civilian shooters was met with vocal opposition from gun control organizations such as the Brady Campaign, and the pistol has been subject to ongoing controversy in the United States.[19][20]

The Five-seven is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 nations, including Canada, France, Greece, India, Poland, Spain, and the United States.[21] In the United States, the Five-seven is in use with numerous law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service.[14][22] In the years since the pistol's introduction to the United States' civilian market, it has become increasingly popular with civilian shooters.[23]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference gourley2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference lalibre2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Indonesian troops kill seven rebels, seize weapons in Aceh". Antara. November 23, 2003. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference byron2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Des armes wallonnes utilisées pour mater les manifestants en Libye?". La Libre Belgique (in French). February 21, 2011. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference gunzonetimeline1990 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c Hogg, Ian (2002). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Jane's Recognition Guides. Glasgow: Jane's Information Group and Collins Press. ISBN 978-0-00-712760-3.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "FNH USA Five-seveN Autoloading Pistol Owner's Manual" (PDF). FNH USA. 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference detty2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c "FNH USA 2008 Product Catalog – 5.7×28mm Ammunition" (PDF). FNH USA. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference sterett2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference dettyTL2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "ProMag FN Five Seven IOM & USG 5.7x28mm 55-Round Drum Magazine". gunmagwarehouse.com. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Wood, J.B. (26 June 2009). "FNH USA Five-seveN Pistol 5.7×28mm". Tactical Life. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  15. ^ Francotte, Auguste; Claude, Gaier; Robert, Karlshausen, eds. (January 2008). Ars Mechanica – The Ultimate FN Book. Vottem: Herstal Group. ISBN 978-2-87415-877-3.
  16. ^ Bahde, Dave (November 2009). "FNH Five-seveN ODG 5.7×28mm". Combat Handguns. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  17. ^ "Five-seveN Pistol". FN Manufacturing LLC. 2001. Archived from the original on October 3, 2001. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  18. ^ "The Five-seveN". FNH USA. 2012. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  19. ^ "Police Officers at Risk from Cop-Killer Gun". Brady Campaign. February 17, 2005. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  20. ^ Massad Ayoob (April 16, 2010). "Defensive Handguns – The FN Five-seveN". On Target. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
  21. ^ Tirans, Ivars (2009). "Baltic Defence Research and Technology 2009 Conference Proceedings". Military Review: Scientific Journal for Security and Defence (ISSN 1407-1746), Nr. 3/4 (132/133), p 103.
  22. ^ Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  23. ^ Grevillius, Nils (September 11, 2006). "One Hot Number". Guns & Ammo, Vol. 50 (No. 10): pp 48-53.