FN Five-seven facts for kids

The FN Five-seven is a type of pistol made by a company called FN Herstal in Belgium. It's called "Five-seven" because of the size of the bullet it uses, which is 5.7 millimeters wide. The name also highlights the company's initials, "FN".

This pistol was created at the same time as another weapon called the FN P90. Both use the same special 5.7×28mm ammunition. The P90 came out in 1990, and the Five-seven pistol followed in 1998. It's designed to be light, easy to hold, and has a large magazine that holds many bullets. It also has low recoil, which means it doesn't kick back much when fired.

At first, the Five-seven was only sold to military and police groups. But since 2004, it has also been sold to civilians for things like target shooting. Some groups had concerns about it being available to civilians.

Today, the Five-seven is used by military and police in over 40 countries. This includes places like Canada, France, and the United States. In the U.S., it's used by many law enforcement groups, like the U.S. Secret Service. It has also become quite popular with civilian users.

History

How it was Developed

The Five-seven pistol and its special 5.7×28mm ammunition were made because NATO (a group of countries working together for safety) wanted a new type of bullet. They wanted something better than the older 9×19mm bullet used in pistols and submachine guns. NATO asked for two new weapons: one that you hold against your shoulder and one that you hold in your hand (a pistol). These new weapons were called "personal defense weapons" (PDWs). They were meant to help people protect themselves in dangerous situations.

In 1989, NATO listed what they wanted:

• The new bullet needed to go farther, be more accurate, and be able to go through some types of body armor.
• The shoulder-fired weapon should weigh less than 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds). It also needed to hold at least 20 bullets.
• The handheld pistol should weigh less than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds), but ideally around 700 grams (1.5 pounds). It also needed to hold at least 20 bullets.
• Both weapons had to be small enough to carry easily. They also needed to work well in all kinds of weather.

FN Herstal was the first company to meet NATO's request. They first made the FN P90 shoulder weapon and the small, fast 5.7×28mm bullet. The first version of the bullet, called SS90, was made in 1990. This was later replaced in 1993 by the SS190 bullet, which was a bit heavier and shorter. The shorter size of the SS190 bullet made it easier to use in the Five-seven pistol, which was still being developed.

In 1993, FN filed a patent for a special system to help the Five-seven pistol handle its recoil. In 1995, FN officially announced the Five-seven pistol. A test version was shown to the public in 1996. After some improvements, a model that fires with a "double-action" trigger was made in 1998. Soon after, a "single-action" model called the Five-seven Tactical was also introduced. The Five-seven was first used in May 2000. The Cypriot National Guard bought 250 pistols for their special forces.

The Five-seven uses a lot of Polymer (a type of plastic) in its design. Even the steel part that moves when you fire is covered in a polymer shell.

NATO's Review

In 2002 and 2003, NATO tested different bullets to decide on a new standard. They compared the FN 5.7×28mm bullet with the HK 4.6×30mm bullet from a German company. Experts from several countries looked at the results. They decided that the 5.7×28mm was "undoubtedly" the better bullet.

However, some countries, like Germany, didn't agree right away. This delayed the official decision until February 2021. Even so, both the 4.6×30mm and 5.7×28mm bullets are now used by different NATO countries, depending on what they prefer. The Five-seven pistol is used by military and police in over 40 countries around the world.

Today

At first, FN only sold the Five-seven pistol to military and police. But in 2004, they released a new model called the Five-seven IOM for civilian users. This model used 5.7×28mm sporting ammunition. The IOM model had some changes. It included a rail to attach accessories and a safety feature that stops the pistol from firing if the magazine isn't in place. It also had sights that could be adjusted.

Later, the Five-seven USG model was developed. This model was approved for sporting use in 2004. The USG model had a more common square-shaped trigger guard. It also had a magazine release button that could be switched for left-handed users, and other small changes.

The Five-seven MK2 came out in 2013, replacing the USG model. The MK2 has grooves on the front of the slide to help with gripping. It also has all black controls and slightly different sights.

The newest model, the Five-seven MK3 MRD, was shown in 2022. It has a special barrel that allows a silencer to be attached. It also has a new grip texture and deeper grooves on the slide. The MRD version is currently only for government and police, but a civilian version is planned for later.

Design

The Five-seven is a semi-automatic pistol that uses FN's 5.7×28mm ammunition. It has a hidden part called a hammer. The pistol uses a lot of Polymer (a type of plastic) in its design. Even the steel part that moves when you fire is covered in a polymer shell. This makes the pistol lighter and helps it resist rust. Because of the polymer shell, the pistol looks like it's made entirely of plastic. But inside, parts like the barrel and trigger are made of steel. Still, it's very light, weighing only 744 grams (1.6 pounds) with a loaded magazine of 20 bullets.

The Five-seven is a full-sized pistol. It is about 208 millimeters (8.2 inches) long. It is 137 millimeters (5.4 inches) tall and up to 36 millimeters (1.4 inches) wide. It has a similar grip angle to famous pistols like the Browning Hi-Power. Even though its 5.7×28mm bullets are quite long, the grip is comfortable to hold. The distance from the trigger to the back of the grip is about 69.85 millimeters (2.75 inches). This is the same as a U.S. Military M9 pistol.

The Five-seven's barrel is made using a special process called "cold hammer-forging." It is also coated with chrome. The barrel is 122 millimeters (4.8 inches) long. It has grooves inside that make the bullet spin, which helps with accuracy. The barrel weighs 113 grams (0.25 pounds). The pistol is known for being very accurate. It is also designed to last for about 20,000 shots.

Current Five-seven models are "single-action" pistols. This means they have a short and light trigger pull, needing only about 20 to 30 Newtons (4.4 to 6.6 pounds) of force. They have a Picatinny rail where you can attach accessories. They also have a safety feature that stops the pistol from firing if the magazine is not in. The grip has a checkered pattern to help you hold it firmly. The slide has narrow ridges at the back for easy gripping. The trigger and trigger guard also have grooves to prevent fingers from slipping. The trigger guard is made longer so it's easier to use while wearing gloves. The Five-seven comes in black or a brown color called "flat dark earth." You can also choose between adjustable sights or fixed sights.

Ammunition

5.7×28mm cartridges used in the Five-seven. From left to right: SS195LF hollow point, SS196SR V-Max, and SS197SR V-Max.

A very important part of the Five-seven pistol is the small, fast bullet it uses. This 5.7×28mm bullet was created by FN Herstal because NATO wanted a new bullet to replace the common 9×19mm Parabellum bullet. The 5.7×28mm bullet weighs about 6.0 grams (93 grains). This is much lighter than a typical 9×19mm bullet, which weighs around 12 grams (180 grains). Being lighter means you can carry more bullets without adding too much weight.

Because the 5.7×28mm bullet is also quite thin, a lot of them can fit into a magazine. When fired, it makes a loud noise and a bright flash. However, it has about 30 percent less recoil than a 9×19mm bullet. This makes the pistol easier to control. Because it travels very fast, the 5.7×28mm bullet also flies in a very straight line.

The standard 5.7×28mm bullet, called the SS190, was designed to go through Kevlar protective vests. These are vests that can stop regular pistol bullets. When fired from the Five-seven, the SS190 bullet travels at about 650 meters per second (2,130 feet per second). It can go through a special NATO vest from 100 meters away. It can also go through 48 layers of Kevlar (like two strong Kevlar vests) from 50 meters away. FN says the bullet is effective up to 50 meters and can travel a maximum of 1510 meters.

Tests have shown that the SS190 bullet and similar 5.7×28mm bullets tend to flip end-over-end as they go through things. This creates a larger path as they pass through. The lightweight bullet also causes less risk if it misses its target. This is because it loses most of its power after traveling only 400 meters. A regular 9×19mm bullet can still be powerful even after 800 meters.

How it Feeds

The Five-seven makes a loud noise and a bright flash when fired. But it has about 30% less recoil than a 9×19mm pistol, making it easier to control.

The Five-seven pistol uses magazines that you can take out. It's designed to load bullets very reliably. The pistol usually comes with magazines that hold 20 bullets. In some places with laws, it comes with magazines that hold 10 bullets. You can also get an extra-long magazine that holds 30 bullets. With a bullet already in the chamber, the Five-seven can hold 11, 21, or 31 bullets in total, depending on the magazine.

You can take the Five-seven's magazine apart to clean it. The magazine is made of polymer (plastic) with steel parts where the bullets come out. It's different from many other pistol magazines because it holds bullets in two rows, like an M16 rifle magazine. You load bullets by pushing them straight down into the magazine. This makes it very easy to load. The bottom of the magazine has a small part for your finger. There are also four holes on the side of the magazine. These let you easily see how many bullets are left.

Controls

On the Five-seven USG and older models, all the controls (except the trigger) are made of grey plastic. This is different from the black plastic frame and slide cover. On the Five-seven FDE and ODG models, all controls are black plastic.

There's a lever on the left side of the pistol's frame to take it apart. There's also a slide release lever on the left side at the back. These controls are protected by small bumps on the frame so you don't accidentally move them. A small pin on the left side of the slide acts as a chamber indicator. When a bullet is in the chamber, this pin sticks out a little. You can see it and feel it, so you know there's a bullet ready to fire.

Current Five-seven models have a safety device that can be used by both right-handed and left-handed people. It's in a unique spot: there's a control on each side of the frame, above the trigger guard. You can reach it with your trigger finger or your other thumb. When the safety is off, you'll see a red dot, meaning the pistol is ready to fire. When the safety is on, the red dot is hidden. The button to release the magazine is on the left side of the frame, where the trigger guard meets the grip. It's square-shaped and can be switched for left-handed shooters.

The Five-seven is quick and easy to take apart for cleaning. You pull the slide back slightly with your left hand. At the same time, you push the takedown lever back with your left thumb. When you let go of the slide, it moves forward, and the whole slide part can be removed from the frame. Then, the barrel can be taken out of the slide. This is enough to clean the pistol well. The company suggests that you don't take it apart any further unless you are a trained expert. Putting the pistol back together is just the opposite process.

Sights and Accessories

The tritium-illuminated fixed sights of the Five-seven USG pistol, shown in normal and dim lighting.

The Five-seven has a sight radius of 178 millimeters (7 inches). This is the distance between the front and rear sights. You can get the pistol with either adjustable sights or fixed sights. The adjustable sights let you change where the bullet hits. The fixed sights are simpler and can only be adjusted a little bit. The fixed sights can also come with tritium-illuminated inserts (called "night sights"). These glow in the dark to help you see in low light.

When you buy a Five-seven, it comes with a hard case that you can lock. It also includes a locking device and keys, a tool to reverse the magazine release, and a sight adjustment tool (if you have adjustable sights). You also get a cleaning kit, an owner's manual, and three 20-round magazines (or three 10-round magazines if required by law).

You can use many different accessories with the Five-seven. Various companies make holsters for it. The pistol has a special rail called a MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail. You can attach lights or laser pointers to this rail. If you use a special threaded barrel, you can also attach sound suppressors (also called silencers). Companies like Advanced Armament Corporation and Gemtech make these. Gemtech made a suppressor called the SFN-57 specifically for the Five-seven in 1998. It is 147 millimeters (5.8 inches) long and weighs 147 grams (0.32 pounds).

There are also kits that can turn the Five-seven pistol into a shoulder-fired weapon. For example, FAB Defense offers the KPOS G2 FN 5.7 kit. Another system, called CornerShot, lets you aim and fire the pistol around corners without showing yourself.

Variants

Over the years, the Five-seven pistol has had several different versions:

Five-seven

This was the first version, made in 1998. It is no longer made. It didn't have a manual safety switch. It was "double-action only," meaning the trigger pull was quite heavy. This heavy trigger was often criticized. This original model had a bumpy grip, a smooth accessory rail, and fixed sights. It also had a large, round trigger guard designed for use with gloves. It didn't have a slide release, and the slide wasn't grooved like on newer models.

Five-seven Tactical

This version came out soon after the original. It was a "single-action" model, which meant it had a much lighter and shorter trigger pull. It also added an ambidextrous manual safety device (meaning it could be used by both hands) and a slide release. Other than these changes, it was like the original Five-seven. This model was stopped when the IOM model came out.

Five-seven IOM

The Five-seven IOM (Individual Officer Model) was the first Five-seven pistol sold to civilians. It came out in 2004 but is now replaced by the USG model. The IOM was similar to the Tactical version. But it had a MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) accessory rail, a grooved slide, and fully adjustable sights. It also had a safety feature that stopped it from firing if the magazine wasn't in.

Five-seven USG

The Five-seven USG (United States Government) model was approved for sporting use in 2004. It replaced the IOM model. The USG kept the changes from the IOM. But it also had a more common square-shaped trigger guard. It had a tightly checkered grip pattern and a larger magazine release that could be switched for left-handed users. It first came with adjustable sights, but later also offered fixed sights. The USG model usually had a black frame with grey controls. It was also made in small numbers with black controls. Since 2013, the USG model is no longer listed by the company.

Five-seven FDE

The Five-seven FDE (Flat Dark Earth) model was just like the Five-seven USG. But it had a brown frame and black controls, instead of the black frame and grey controls of the USG. Like the USG, the FDE came with either adjustable or fixed sights. Since 2013, this original FDE model is no longer listed. However, a brown version of the newer MK2 is available.

Five-seven ODG

The Five-seven ODG (Olive Drab Green) model was also like the Five-seven USG. But it had an olive drab (greenish-brown) frame and black controls. Like the USG, the ODG model came with either adjustable or fixed sights. Since 2012, the ODG model is no longer listed.

Five-seven MK2

The Five-seven MK2 model was introduced in 2013. It is now the standard version of the Five-seven. This new model has grooves on the front of the slide to help with gripping. It also has a single piece of metal under the polymer cover of the slide, while older models had two welded pieces. It is only available with adjustable sights. The rear sight on the adjustable version was also changed to be stronger.

The MK2 has a black frame and slide, with flat black controls instead of the grey ones found on IOM and USG models. It is also available with a flat dark earth (brown) frame color. It is slightly wider than previous models, so it might not fit holsters made for older Five-seven versions.

Current model

Five-seven MK3 MRD

The Five-seven MK3 MRD model was introduced in 2022. The main difference is a new system that lets you easily attach popular red dot sights. It also has new textures on the grip and deeper grooves on the slide. The MK3 MRD is available in black and flat dark earth colors.

Users

A map showing countries where the Five-seven is used (in blue)

The first military group to use the Five-seven was the Cypriot National Guard in May 2000. They bought 250 pistols for their special forces. By 2009, the Five-seven was being used by military and police in over 40 countries around the world.

In the United States, as of 2010, more than 300 law enforcement agencies use the Five-seven. This includes the U.S. Secret Service. Here are some of the military and police groups that use the Five-seven:

Country	Organization	Model	Quantity	Date	Reference
Belgium	Composante Air (Belgian Air Force) pilots	−	−	−
	Composante Terre (Belgian Army), replacing the Browning Hi-Power pistol	Mk2	−	2013–
	Directorate of Special Units (DSU) group of the Federale Politie/Police Fédérale	−	−	−
	Special Forces Group (SFG)	−	−	−
	Liège metropolitan police force	−	−	−
Canada	Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) in Montreal, Quebec	−	−	−
Cyprus	Εθνική Φρουρά (Cypriot National Guard) special forces	Five-seven	250	2000–
France	Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE) intelligence agency	−	−	−
	GIGN counter-terrorist unit of the Gendarmerie Nationale	−	−	−
	Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion (RAID) unit of the Police Nationale	−	−	−
Georgia	Georgian army	−	−	−
	Ministry of Internal Affairs	−	−	−
Greece	Ειδική Κατασταλτική Αντιτρομοκρατική Μονάδα (EKAM) unit of the Hellenic Police	−	−	−
Guatemala	Dirección General de Inteligencia Civil (DIGICI) intelligence agency	USG	−	2008–
India	Special Protection Group (SPG) assigned to the prime minister and other officials	USG	−	2008–
Indonesia	Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group of the Indonesian Navy	−	−	−
	Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group of the Indonesian Army	−	−	−
Italy	Col Moschin 9º Reggimento d'Assalto Paracadutisti (9th Parachute Assault Regiment) special forces of the Italian Army	USG	−	−
Libya	Military of Libya (used by Muammar Gaddafi's military forces in the 2011 Libyan civil war, and some of these examples were captured and used in the war by Libyan rebel forces)	USG	367	2008–
Mexico	Ejército Méxicano (Mexican Army)	−	−	−
	Estado Mayor Presidencial (EMP; Presidential Guard)	−	−	−
	Fuerzas Especiales (FES; Special Forces) of the Mexican Navy	−	−	−
Nepal	Nepalese Armed Forces	−	−	−
Peru	Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales (GRUFE) of the Peruvian Armed Forces	USG	−	2009–
Poland	Centralne Biuro Śledcze (CBŚ; Central Bureau of Investigation)	−	−	−
	Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-Manewrowom (GROM) special forces (used primarily for dignitary protection)	USG	−	2007–
Saudi Arabia	Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia	USG	12,000	2007–
Singapore	Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation (CDO FN)	Five-seven Tactical	500	−
Spain	Fuerzas Armadas Españolas (Spanish Armed Forces)	−	−	−
	Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) municipal police force	−	−	−
Suriname	Security forces	−	−	−
Thailand	กองทัพบกไทย (Royal Thai Army)	−	−	−
United States	U.S. Secret Service	−	−	−
	Duluth police department in Georgia	−	−	−
	Passaic County sheriff's department SWAT in New Jersey	−	−	2002–
	Landis police department in North Carolina	USG & Mk2	5	2011–

See also

In Spanish: FN Five-seveN para niños

• FK BRNO Field Pistol – A modern pistol that uses a similar fast, bottlenecked bullet.
• FK Brno PSD – Another modern pistol using the 7.5 FK bullet.
• Fort mod. 28 – A semi-automatic pistol that also uses the 5.7×28mm bullet.
• Heckler & Koch UCP – A competing pistol project that used a different 4.6×30mm bullet.
• PSA 5.7 Rock – A semi-automatic pistol that uses the 5.7×28mm bullet.
• QSZ-92 – A Chinese pistol that uses its own special armor-piercing bullet.
• Remington XP-100 – An older type of pistol designed for long-range shooting.
• RSh-12
• Ruger-57 – A semi-automatic pistol that uses the 5.7×28mm bullet.
• Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 – A semi-automatic pistol that uses the 5.7×28mm bullet.
• Thompson/Center Contender – A single-shot pistol or rifle that can use many different types of bullets.