5.56x45mm vs 5.7x28mm Comparison
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to compare and contrast the 5.56 and 5.7x28mm cartridges today. These two cartridges may share a similar projectile size and grain weight, but they ultimately differ in many regards. We are going to compare aspects such as the background of each cartridge, uses for each cartridge, and more in this blog post. Without further ado, let’s delve into the differences between the 5.56x45mm and 5.7x28mm.
What is 5.56x45mm NATO?
The 5.56 is an iconic caliber which is currently utilized by military, law enforcement, and civilian shooters. Formally known as the 5.56x45mm NATO, the round’s roots can be traced to the .223 Remington cartridge, a popular smallbore sporting cartridge. Initially, development for the cartridge began in the United States in 1957 alongside efforts to develop a smallbore, high velocity firearm. This led to the introduction of the AR-15 and subsequent M-16 series of rifles. Development led to the adoption of the adoption of “Cartridge, 5.56mm Ball, M193” in 1963. After further development and proving itself in the Vietnam War and subsequent conflicts, NATO standardization of the round came in 1980. As a NATO standardized round, the cartridge is currently in use by a wide range of militaries across the globe. Additionally, the cartridge sees considerable use with civilians and various law enforcement and governmental agencies.
Presently, the 5.56 is one of the most common centerfire rifle cartridges one will encounter. The 5.56 features a light recoil impulse and high muzzle velocities. The light recoil of the cartridge allows the round to be utilized by shooters of all types. Novice shooters can learn to properly employ the cartridge without contending with staunch recoil while experienced shooters can take advantage of its light recoil. This light recoil aids the shooter in performing rapid follow up shots and maintaining a proper sight picture. The high velocity of the cartridge also aids in maintaining a flat trajectory and increasing the effective range of the round.
What is 5.7x28mm?
The 5.7x28mm cartridge is the product of FN Herstal’s response to a NATO request to replace the 9mm Luger. Notably, the cartridge’s design was driven by a desire to achieve high levels of penetration and be more effective against armor than the established 9mm. While new cartridges are typically derived from an existing cartridge, the 5.7x28mm was designed from scratch from the ground up by FN Herstal. Development of the cartridge began in the 1980’s with the 5.7x28mm making its debut in 1990 in the form of the SS90 round. This initial loading was eventually replaced with the SS190 cartridge in 1993. Further development of the cartridge followed the SS190 and led to the development of other specialized loadings. The FN P90 personal defense weapon (PDW) and Five-seveN handgun were also developed alongside the cartridge. These designs, and the cartridge by extension, are employed by over 40 nations in military and law enforcement use. Notably, the 5.7x28mm is utilized by the U.S. Secret Service.
The cartridge is of the bottlenecked variety and will typically feature a lightweight projectile. When compared to the 9mm Luger it was intended to replace, the 5.7x28mm features roughly 30% less recoil. The high velocity of the round also aids in ensuring that a flat trajectory is achieved and aids in achieving desirable levels of penetration. Additionally, these high velocities aid in making the cartrige more effective against armor. The 5.7x28mm features a very controllable recoil impulse that is paired with a loud report and substantial muzzle flash when fired from a handgun or short barrel. While longer than typical handgun calibers, the 5.7x28mm is slim and has a relatively efficient form factor. This means that magazines for the caliber will often have a considerable ammunition capacity.
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Distinct Difference in Cartridge Type
Notably, the two cartridges differ significantly in terms of their cartridge type. The 5.56 is an intermediate rifle cartridge intended for carbine and rifle use while the 5.7x28mm is essentially a handgun round well-suited for pistols and PDWs. This distinction is quite apparent when one looks at the cartridges next to each other. The 5.56 notably features a much longer case than the 5.7x28mm as it is intended for use in rifles. Notably, both cartridges feature distinct bottleneck appearances and are appropriate lengths for use in autoloading mechanisms.
Some Ballistics Data
| Aspect | 5.56 Ammo | 5.7 Ammo |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,750-3,000 fps | 2,350-2,800 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 1,000-1,300 ft.lbs | 300-400 ft.lbs |
| Bullet Weight | 55-77 grains | 27-62 grains |
| Effective Range | 500-800 meters | 200-250 meters |
Of course, some of this data is ultimately dependent upon the specific nature of the host firearm, loadings used, altitude, barrel length, and other factors.
What is 5.56 Used For?
Common use cases for the 5.56 are going to include training, target shooting, and hunting. Generally, the round is affordable in nature which is available in various bulk 5.56 ammo quantities. This makes the round great for training as most rifle courses require large quantities of ammunition to make the most out of the instruction given. The mass availability of the cartridge also makes the 5.56 well suited to target shooting and general plinking. The wide variety of 5.56 ammo on the market means that someone will be able to choose from cheap ammunition for plinking or more specialized ammunition optimized for precision-type shooting. The diversity of ammunition also allows one to find some optimal hunting loads if they want to use the cartridge in a hunting capacity. The round excels at varmint and predator hunting and is even capable of taking some deer-sized game with the right loads.
What is 5.7 Used For?
The 5.7x28mm can be utilized for many things. The round is currently supported by a number of manufacturers who produce defensive loadings. One will find no shortage of hollow point type cartridges optimized for self-defense in 5.7×28. Notably, Speer produces one of their renowned Gold Dot Hollow Point loadings for the 5.7x28mm. Host firearms chambered in 5.7x28mm aid in making the cartridge optimal for defensive use as they often have large magazine capacities. For example, an FN Five seven handgun features a flush-fitting magazine that holds 20 rounds of 5.7x28mm ammo. This allows an end user to carry 20+1 rounds of potent defensive ammunition in a flush package that does not add to the overall size of the firearm. The round is also well-suited to suppressor use when paired with the proper loading and an appropriate suppressor. Some of the heavier subsonic loadings, like the Fiocchi Range Dynamics subsonic 62 grain offering, are purpose built for suppressed shooting. The wide variety of FMJ loadings available for the cartridge make it viable for plinking and target use.
Availability of Ammunition
At this point in time, 5.56 ammunition is more common than 5.7x28mm ammo is. This is to say that one will have an easier time finding a wide variety of 5.56 ammo. Shooters can generally find 5.56 loadings at most places where ammunition is sold. This unfortunately is not always the case with 5.7x28mm ammunition. It is worth noting that there are more companies producing 5.7x28mm ammunition in the present day than there were just a decade ago. Shooters have more 5.7x28mm ammo offerings to browse today than they have ever had. Despite this, the supply of 5.7x28mm ammunition simply cannot compare to that of the 5.56. Manufacturers such as PMC, Barnes, Winchester, GGG, Turan, and Norma are among the producers of 5.56 ammunition. 5.7x28mm ammunition producers include companies such as FNH-USA, Fiocchi, and Speer. Shooters will be able to find general purpose loadings in either caliber in addition to specialized loadings for things such as suppressed shooting and defense.
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Availability of Firearms
Like ammo availability, shooters will find that there are more firearms available chambered in 5.56 than there are in 5.7x28mm. Currently, the market has no shortage of firearms chambered in 5.56. Firearms which accommodate the caliber are readily available at most places that sell firearms. Typically, these types of firearms will come in the form of AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles. Semi-automatic versions of popular military rifles such as the Steyr AUG, CZ Bren, and FN SCARs are commonly found in the caliber. Additionally, manual action firearms such as bolt action rifles and even pump action and lever action rifles can be found chambered in 5.56. The current 5.7x28mm offerings, like ammo options, are greater than they were just a few years ago. Previously, shooters only had FNH-USA firearms such as the PS90 and Five seveN to consider in the way of firearms in the caliber. As of now, companies such as Rock Island Armory, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and CMMG produce firearms in the caliber, providing more options to shooters. In short, there are many more 5.56 firearms available than 5.7x28mm firearms.
Conclusion
And there we have it. Both the 5.56 and 5.7x28mm cartridges are well-known and employed by shooters of all types in the United States for various purposes. One cannot go wrong with either cartridge as long as they are using them for their appropriate use cases. We here at True Shot Ammo carry both 5.56 ammo and 5.7x28mm ammunition for sale in our large inventory. Whether you want to buy 5.56 ammo or purchase 5.7x28mm ammo, we have you covered. Regardless of whether you want to buy bulk ammo or individual boxes of either caliber, we can help you get stocked up. As always, happy shooting.
