Five-seveN
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The Five-seveN is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN).
Overview
One of Fabrique Nationale's latest offerings, the Five-seveN is an unusual pistol.Conventional pistols usually use 9 x 19 mm, .45 ACP and similar cartridges that are effective for stopping a hostile individual in ordinary circumstances. However, FN argues that if that individual is wearing a light Kevlar vest, these bullets will be stopped without causing lethal damage. Such body armor is currently in use with over 50% of the world’s armed forces. Law enforcement officers also need the ability to pierce body armor, as it is worn by an increasing number of criminals. FN claims that thanks to the use of their newly designed 5.7 x 28 mm cartridge, the Five-seveN is capable of piercing the older U.S. Army PASGT vest at 300 meters range, and a U.S. Army PASGT helmet at a range of 240 meters. However, these penetration statistics are for the military SS190 cartridge. Other available cartridge variants may not be armor-piercing, according to the BATFE.
After penetration, the 5.7 mm round is marketed as being able to effectively incapacitate an enemy, but there has been controversy over these claims. Conventional hollow point bullets rely on expansion to create a large wound channel, but the Five-seveN's cartridge is designed to hit the enemy, travel a few inches, then tumble end over end and continue traveling in this manner without deforming. This means that the wound it creates would be as tall as the length of the projectile (more than 21 mm), supposedly creating a more grievous wound channel, but without the expansion of a hollow point or the fragmentation of a frangible bullet. As a result, FN claims the round — and the Five-seveN — are suitable for military use.
The advantages of the pistol itself include its weight (the 5.7 mm round weighs half as much as a standard 9 mm round), its recoil (FN claims the 5.7 mm round produces roughly half the felt recoil of a 9 mm round), and its 20-round magazine, which holds significantly more ammunition than other pistols. Despite its magazine capacity, the Five-seveN is a light pistol, weighing 1.6 pounds loaded. It is also reasonably compact.
Though seemingly an effective weapon, the Five-seveN has not been widely adopted, due mostly to the unconventional concept and ammunition. Current users include several international special forces/counter-terrorist groups (including the renowned French GIGN) and a large number of local police department SWAT teams (including some in the United States).
Variants
Five-seveN (Double Action Only — DAO): the original Five-seveN, now discontinued. It has a DA trigger and no safety. This makes shooting slower and less accurate than with the newer single action variants of the Five-seveN. The DAO variant does not have a manual safety device or magazine disconnect. The DAO variant also has an unusually shaped trigger guard, designed to facilitate gloved use. It is extremely hard to find.Five-seveN Tactical (Single Action — SA): this is identical to the original version, except with a SA trigger and a safety device. The Tactical is increasingly hard to find.
Five-seveN IOM (Individual Officer's Model) (Single Action — SA): the first version publically available, the IOM debuted commercially in 2004. The IOM is, of course, similar in its basic design to the original versions, but differs in that it has a different accessory rail, lined trigger-guard outside edge, and adjustable sights. The IOM also incorporates a magazine disconnect. This safety feature prevents the gun from being fired without the magazine inserted.
Five-seveN USG (United States Government) (Single Action — SA): the most recent version of the Five-seveN, the USG debuted in 2005 and replaced the IOM. The USG keeps the differences incorporated in the IOM, such as the magazine disconnect and adjustable sights, but has some new differences. These include: conventionally-shaped (square) trigger-guard, checkered grip pattern, and a larger, reversible magazine release.
Accessories
All models of the Five-seveN can also be mounted with a laser aiming module (LAM) or a tactical flashlight on the accessory rail. [Laser-Devices, Inc.] (LDI) produces a LAM specifically designed for the Five-seveN pistol.A threaded barrel is available for mounting a suppressor. [Gemtech] produces suppressors specifically designed for the Five-seveN pistol, model number S-FN57.
FN produces night sights for the DAO and Tactical models. These sights do not fit the IOM and USG models without gunsmithing. Trijicon is slated to produce tritium night sights for the IOM and USG models, but they are not available yet.
Holsters are being produced now by [Sidearmor], among other manufacturers. These are made for the newer USG model and will not fit the older IOM model.
A magazine extension for the Five-seveN is now available from CMMG that extends 1.75 inches below the weapon. It allows the Five-seveN to hold ten extra rounds, for a total of thirty.
See also
External links
- [American Handgunner Five-seveN/P90 Article]
- [FNH USA product description]
- [Modern Firearms — Five-seveN]
- [Steve's (Latest) Firearms Interest: The FN 5.7 x 28 mm Weapon System]
- [FN FiveseveN Discussion Forum]
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