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FN Five-seveN



Overview

Five-seven USG

A black Five-seven USG with tactical light installed and surrounded by 5.7x28mm rounds.
Source: www.hippiekiller.files.wordpress.com - © copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Belgium
Type
Pistol
Entered service
2000
Status
In service
Development
1993 - 1998
Developer
Belgium - Fabrique Nationale
Production
1998 - present
Producer
Belgium - Fabrique Nationale
Unit cost
$ 1.100 in 2009
$ 1.200 in 2014
Number produced
Tens of thousands produced, production continues
Notable users
Cyprus - Special forces
Saudi Arabia - Army
United States - Law enforcement

Description

Introduction

The Five-seven is a modern pistol Belgian origin. It was developed by FN of Belgium in the late 1990's as a companion to the P90 sub machine gun. The name was derived from the 5.7x28mm round it fires. As such, it is the first successful pistol in a high velocity small diameter caliber.

Design

The Five-seven is a delayed blowback pistol. The exterior consists of polymer, while the internal mechanism is made out of metal. The hammer is encased by the polymer covered steel slide. A distinctive feature is that the Five-seven is thinner near the muzzle. An accessory rail is mounted under the forward frame.

Firepower

The Five-seven is a semi-automatic pistol that fires the 5.7x28mm round from a 20 round magazine. The Five-seven is unique in providing true armor piercing capability in a medium sized and medium powered pistol. Ball and hollow point ammunition exist as well. A longer threaded barrel is available for mounting a suppressor. The effective range is a few dozen meters.

Users

The Five-seven is in use with quite a number of law enforcement and special forces units. It is mainly used in the USA and Europe. Except for Saudi Arabia, no nation adopted the Five-seven as standard issue military sidearm.

Variants

Five-seven Tactical

Five-seven Tactical model with its fixed sights and small caliber barrel clearly visible.
Source: www.fnherstal.com - © copyright lies with original owner

List of Five-seven variants

Five-seven
Original production model. Double action only pistol that fires the 5.7x28mm round from a 20 round magazine. The slide and frame are made out of grey polymer.
Five-seven Tactical
Single action only version of the original Five-seven. Similar in all other aspects.
Five-seven IOM
Individual Officers Model (IOM) that features fully adjustable sights, magazine safety catch and a Picatinny accessory rail under the barrel instead of a smooth rail.
Five-seven USG
United States Government (USG) model that is also certified for civilian sales. Available in black, dark earth and olive drab. The USG is a further modified version of the IOM that features a checkered grip pattern, changed magazine release, square trigger guard and either fixed or adjustable sights.
Five-seven Mk 2
Current production model with improved sights, stronger slide and new redesigned frame.

Details

Facts Five-seven Five-seven USG Five-seven Mk 2
General
Origin
Belgium
Type
Pistol
Caliber
Caliber
5.7x28mm
Feed system
20 round detachable box
30 round extended magazines exist
Barrel length
122 mm
Rifling
8 grooves, 231 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity
650 m/s for SS190
Operation
Action
Delayed blowback, double action only
Single action for Tactical model
Fire selector
0 - 1
Rate of fire
Semi-automatic
Dimensions
Length
208 mm
Width
36 mm
Height
145 mm
Weight
0.59 kg empty
0.74 kg loaded
Sights
Mechanical
Iron sights, fixed
Sight radius
178 mm
Accessories
Rail
Accessory rail on frame

Media

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The use of the 5.7x28mm cartridge makes the Five-seveN a quite unique pistol.

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FN P90

The FN P90 sub machine gun is also chambered in 5.7x28mm.

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