5.7 X 28 P-90

Research notes

The FN 5.7×28mm is a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. It is a bottlenecked centerfire cartridge that is somewhat similar to the .22 Hornet or .22 K-Hornet. The 5.7×28mm was developed in conjunction with the FN P90 personal defense weapon (PDW) and FN Five-seven pistol, in response to NATO requests for a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge.

In 2002 and 2003, NATO conducted a series of tests with the intention of standardizing a PDW cartridge as a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. The tests compared the relative merits of the 5.7×28mm cartridge and the 4.6×30mm cartridge, which was created by Heckler & Koch as a competitor to the 5.7×28mm. The NATO group subsequently recommended the 5.7×28mm cartridge, citing superior performance in testing, but the German delegation objected and the standardization process was indefinitely halted.

By 2006, FN's 5.7×28mm firearms—the P90 personal defense weapon and Five-seven pistol—were in service with military and police forces in over 40 nations throughout the world. In the United States, 5.7×28mm firearms are currently used by numerous law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service.

Prototype loading Belgium

PROOF LOADS

TRACER

SUB-SONIC

SHORT RANGE

T194 SHORT RANGE TRAINING. Aluminium core visible through the small hollow point.

ARMOUR PIERCING

ARMOUR PIERCING TRACER

BLANK

UNFINISHED CASE

BALL LOADINGS

GILDING METAL WITH SMALL HOLLOW POINT DUMMY

ALUMINIUM CORE CHEMICALLY TREATED CASE

OTHER

FRANGIBLE

COMMERCIAL LOADING WITH RED POLYMER TIP

IN ALL PROBABILITY A RECOIL TEST ROUND. LEAD CORE GMCS SUB-CALIBER IN A WHITE PLASTIC COLLAR