Who Makes 5.7x28mm Ammo?
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over who makes
5.7x28mm ammo today. The cartridge has been experiencing a renaissance as of late as it has seen increased industry support. Today we are going to delve into a brief overview of the cartridge while covering different producers of
5.7x28mm ammunition among other considerations. Without further ado, let’s talk about who makes 5.7x28mm ammo.
What is 5.7x28mm?
The
5.7x28mm cartridge is the product of
FN Herstal’s response to a NATO request to replace the established
9mm. 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 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 cartridge 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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What Firearms Use 5.7x28mm Ammo?
As mentioned above, industry support for the
5.7x28mm has grown substantially. Initially, firearm support for the cartridge was limited to the commercial offerings from
FN. These offerings are still available today in the form of the company’s PS90 and Five-seveN offerings. As time progressed, more offerings became available as other firearm manufacturers began to support the cartridge. Companies such as Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Palmetto State Armory, Excel Arms, and Rock Island Armory are among non-FN manufacturers who support the cartridge. Both pistols and long guns can be found in the 5.7x28mm chambering. At the end of the day, one will not have an issue finding something chambered in 5.7x28mm if they truly want to get something in the caliber.
What is 5.7x28mm Used For?
Shooters employ
5.7x28mm ammo for a wide range of use cases and purposes. Current availability of
ammo and
affordable 5.7x28mm ammunition make the cartridge well-suited to plinking and training. Increased availability of ammo makes it easy for one to fill the high-capacity magazines common with
5.7x28mm chambered firearms. Simply put, common and
affordable ammunition is conducive to many well-spent days at the range. Shooters can easily employ the 5.7x28mm recreationally or to help develop their skills.
The cartridge is often utilized in defensive roles and for duty use. At this point in time, many 5.7x28mm loadings can be found in forms optimized for defensive use. These loadings take advantage of the high velocity of the cartridge and are generally designed to stop and expand within a target upon impact. Many of these loadings also are designed to minimize the potential for overpenetration. The light recoil, accuracy, and controllability of the round makes it well-suited to defensive and duty use.
Who Makes General Purpose 5.7x28mm Ammo?
At this point in time, general purpose
5.7x28mm ammunition is produced by a number of companies. This is to say that these offerings are typically made to stringent standards in accredited facilities. These loadings will generally feature full metal jacket, or FMJ type projectiles.
FNH-USA,
Fiocchi, and
Federal are among the producers of general purpose
5.7x28mm ammo.
Ammunition of this type is well-suited for plinking, training, and even competition use cases. This type of 5.7x28mm ammunition is also the most common type one will encounter as standard loadings vastly outnumber specialized ones.
Who Makes 5.7x28mm Defensive Ammo?
Beyond general-purpose loadings, there are a number of companies who produce
5.7x28mm defensive ammo. These loadings are optimized for self-defense use and are designed to stop threats and minimize potential collateral damage and overpenetration. Loadings of this type depart from traditional FMJ projectiles and feature projectiles ideal for defensive use. Projectiles are typically going to be in the form of hollow points or other bullets conducive to self-defense. These types of loadings prioritize terminal ballistic performance, often featuring projectiles conducive to expanding within the target. Companies such as
Speer,
FNH-USA, and
Fiocchi produce defensive
5.7x28mm ammunition.
Who Makes 5.7x28mm Specialty Loadings?
Specialty
5.7x28mm ammo is produced by a number of companies for various purposes. Shooters utilize specialty
5.7x28 ammunition for many use cases such as training, hunting, suppressed shooting, and precision shooting. Loadings are available in various grain weights and with purpose-built projectiles suitable for specialized tasks. For example, solid copper frangible loadings are well-suited for training and utilizing steel targets at close ranges. Additionally, subsonic loadings are also available with heavier projectiles and low velocities optimal for use with suppressors.
Fiocchi and
FNH-USA produce specialty 5.7x28mm ammo.
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Is 5.7x28mm Ammo Expensive?
Generally speaking, like most calibers and
ammo offerings, price is contingent upon the specifics of a given loading. It is also worth noting that cost of materials and labor come into play when it comes to ammunition as well. This is why general-purpose loadings tend to be cheap and affordable while more specialized offerings tend to demand higher prices. For example, traditional FMJ loadings intended for practice are going to cost less than their solid copper counterparts designed for defense. One can expect Fiocchi FMJ ammo to be cheaper than Speer ammo made for self-defense.
Of course, one can save on
ammo when purchasing bulk quantities as there is usually a price break at the case level. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that prices are often subject to change and fluctuation factors such as supply and demand come into play. That being said, 5.7x28mm has come down in price in recent years as availability has increased. All in all, some
5.7x28mm loadings are going to be economically priced while others are going to be more expensive, especially if they are specialty products.
Is 5.7x28mm Ammo Easy to Find?
Currently,
5.7x28mm ammunition is more common than it ever has been. This is due to the fact that loadings are being produced by more companies now than ever. Loadings are available in many forms such as full metal jacket (FMJ) range loadings and specialized loads for specific use cases such as suppressed shooting or defense. One can
purchase 5.7x28mm ammunition in various quantities such as individual box offerings to
bulk ammo offerings.
Bulk 5.7x28mm ammo offerings can be found in the forms like
bulk packs from Fiocchi and case quantities. Additionally, if one elects to
shop for 5.7x28mm ammo online, their options become even broader. This can come in handy if one is looking for a specific loading for specialized use cases such as hunting or precision shooting. Simply put, one will have no issue finding 5.7x28mm ammo.
Conclusion
All in all, the
5.7x28mm cartridge enjoys a higher level of industry support now than it ever has in the past. More companies support the round with ammunition and firearms now than ever. With loadings tailored for use cases like recreation to defense or suppressed shooting, shooters can find a loading best suited to their needs. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide range of
5.7x28mm for sale in addition to the rest of our ammunition inventory. Beyond
5.7x28mm ammo, we also offer loadings for popular calibers such as
9mm,
5.56,
12 gauge, and
.22 Long Rifle to name a few. Put plainly, we carry a wide range of
pistol,
rifle,
rimfire, and
shotgun ammunition optimal for shooters of all types. Whether you want to
buy 5.7x28mm ammo or
purchase bulk ammo of a different type, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.