Posted: 3/17/2004 8:40:33 AM EDT
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Well I went and did it. I bought one of those FN 57 pistols. Since I am waiting for the paper work to clear the gun shop lets me have conjugal visits with it. I went to the range but only had 30 minutes to try it out. I wound up putting only 20 rounds through it. I did not have my dig camera with me so I have no pics. I am hoping to get back this weekend and get some pics fer ya all. Now fer the good stuff FIT/FINISH The gun is LIGHT. I mean this thing feels like it is half the weight of a Glock. (I am not sure of the exact numbers) It is scary light. I was thinking to myself that the lack of mass was going to break my wrist when the gun goes bang. It is COMPLETELY plastic. The slide, frame and most internal parts are plastic. (or polymer if you like) The only steel parts are the barrel, springs, and bolt. There are two recoil springs in the gun. You 1911 guys will like the feel of the gun. The basic shape resembles a 1911 and the angle of the handle is very similar to those style of guns. It was very comfortable if you have large hands. The handle kind of reminded me of my 44mag Desert Eagle. If you like the feel for a large handle guns (like the Beretta 92FS) then this is for you. The rear site is adjustable. The front site is fixed like the Beretta. I do not know the exact length of the barrel but it seems to be around 5 inches. You CCW people will love the weight of the gun. It will not rust or corrode. Since the gun is plastic the finish will not wear off from drawing and holstering the gun. COMPONETS The gun comes with three 10 round mags, cleaning kit and a black plastic carrying case. I am not sure of the availability of the 20 round hicaps. It has an intergraded rail. I am not sure if this rail is standard size or proprietary to FN. There is a safety located on either side of the frame. It is place right above the trigger. Your trigger finger can easily access it or supporting hands thumb. (That is if you are using a thumbs forward grip) PERFORAMNCE Incredible! This gun shoots the 5.7 round. This gun was developed around this caliber. It looks like a miniature rifle round. It does not resemble a pistol round. The recoil is very similar to a 9mm. I say similar because it was actually a little less. Another noticeable feature is that this gun does not have any muzzle flip. It was a very weird feeling to shot the gun and not have it nose up. Very comfortable to shot. The expelled rounds came out of the gun so fast I could not see where they were going. I think (by looking on the ground at the spent casing) they were extracting slightly forward. No jams, miss fires or any other problems. I know… it was only 20 rounds. Since this was the first time I ever fired this gun let a lone this caliber I warmed up at the 15 yard marker. WOW! This round shoots straight as an arrow. I aimed at the center of the 10 ring and every shoot went slightly to the right. (I will have to adjust the site) The holes that the round makes are smaller than a 9mm but a little larger than my AR-15. After 10 rounds I put a new target up and went to 25 yards. WOW! The rounds still went straight as an arrow. Barely any compensation was needed to hit the 10 ring. I aimed to the top of the 10 ring and all rounds were placed (again) slightly to the right. CONCLUSION I am very pleased with this gun. I think it will become one of my favorite shooters. I hope the rounds come down in price and that accessories start to develop. I am curious (as most of you probably are) as to how well it will hold up in the long run. |
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Why wouldn't it work? There are 9mm AR platform rifles out there. Perhaps I should have clarified a "modified AR". I wasn't suggesting a 1:1 swap. If your comment was related to ballistics please clarify. Don't spend too much time though because I'm not trying to launch some project to get one to run. Just wondering out loud on the list. Thanks |
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Just to clarify a few points... The slide is actually a sheet metal stamping; the polymer cover is molded over this piece. The particular weapon you have/described is the "I.O.M.", or Individual Officer Model. It is different than the original, standard Five-Seven in that it has the Picatinny mounting rail on the dust cover, and only accepts 10 round magazines. The 20-rounders will not fit, and vice versa. The only ammunition available for civilian purchase at this time is type SS192 "Training", which lacks the armor-piercing capability (steel penetrators) inherent to normal 5.7x28 ammo. SS192 seems to be going for around $20-$25 per box of twenty, but as pointed out, prices are always better in bulk. The I.O.M. is only sold to FFL's and LEO's by company sales policy, however these individuals are not legally bound or restricted to selling to civilians (not the case with the standard Five-Seven pistol, P90, etc). Enjoy, Clint |
1)You sure about that? Impact Guns and CMMG both say that they have 10 rounders for civilians and 20 rounders for Cops for all models of the 5.7 available. No mention of what you said. 2)On the round, I dunno if you meant "available for legal reasons", but somebody on Packing.org wrote the BATF about the 5.7mm and the agent said that the handgun was legal (in any version), and all the 5.7mm ammo was legal, as long as you didn't use the AP ammo in the commission of a felony. So, if you could find SS190 (which I've never seen for sale), it would be legal. As long as you didnt' commit a felony with it. Anyway, I really want one. A LOT. I love that handgun. Too expensive for my college age blood right now though. I think LE Solutions (an AR15.com Dealer partner) has the best price around on it. |
There are at least three versions of this pistol in circulation, and a fourth being developed in Herstal for possible release. I have heard the first generation I.O.M.s will accept the 20 round mags, and the newer pistols do not. The guy who would really know is out of the office this week or I'd get the final word... I'm still waiting to get an I.O.M. model to see if the 20 round mags fit or can be made to fit.
I won't argue semantics... I was only offering some info regarding Ptlm724's inquiry. And yes, I'm sure FN sells only the training ammo without an L.E. Letterhead. If you can get the other types that's cool too.
Good luck and enjoy your purchase! Clint |
a)I agree, I figure it's a letterhead thing direct from the factor for the SS192, because I've never seen it anywhere. I've seen illegal things that are easier to find than SS192. b)If I can save enough, I definitly well. I've got a list of guns I "need" as long as my arm. |