FN 5 7 Update
Senators from Hell err New Jersey are introducing a bill to ban the FN 57:
New Jersey’s U.S. senators plan to introduce a bill that would make it illegal for anyone, except a police officer or military official, to purchase or use an assault pistol that fires bullets capable of penetrating a bulletproof vest.
The Five-SeveN gun made by FN Herstal of Belgium has already been denounced by three national police organizations and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The handgun is small and lightweight and easily concealed in a person’s pocket, the groups said.
Last month, the Brady Campaign released a videotape of its staff test-firing one of the handguns it had purchased from a Virginia gun dealer. The bullets penetrated a police Kevlar vest.
The anti-gunners can’t get huge categories of guns banned now so they’re doing it one at a time and, in some cases, one state at a time. Almost any rifle round will penetrate a vest as vests are designed to stop ammo commonly used in handguns. The FN fires a rifle round. The ATF has stated that the rounds will not penetrate a vest and ATF has stated the pistol ammo commercially available is not armor piercing (else it would be illegal):
FTB has also examined a 5.7 X 28 mm projectile that FN Herstal has designated the “SS196.” The SS196 is loaded with a Hornady 40 grain, jacketed lead bullet. FTB classified SS196 ammunition as not armor piercing ammunition under Federal firearms statutes.
According to FNH USA, FN Herstal tested the SS192 ammunition. SS192 ammunition did not penetrate the Level IIIA vests that were tested. FNH USA states that SS196, Hornady V-Max 40 gr. bullets fired from a 4-3/4 inch barrel did not penetrate the Level II vests that were used in testing.
FNH USA has informed FTB that SS192 is no longer imported for commercial sale to the United States and that commercial sales of 5.7 X 28mm ammunition are restricted to the SS196 (not armor piercing).
However, the SS190 is armor piercing and is not legal to buy. Additionally, this pistol costs about $1,000 and is not something your average criminal would carry.
March 4th, 2005 at 1:29 pm
[…] h – its bullets can penetrate a bulletproof vest [no, the commercial rounds cannot – ask the ATF]. One of the weapons was recently pulled off the streets of Camden County […]
February 24th, 2005 at 2:23 pm
Why does he think police officers need a pistol that can pentrate a bullet proof vest?
February 24th, 2005 at 2:25 pm
Actually, the Five Seven doesn’t really fire rifle ammo. It fires submachinegun ammo. I forget the name of the weapons, though.
February 24th, 2005 at 2:30 pm
Same ammo as the P90, which per ATF would be technically a rifle.
March 2nd, 2005 at 5:49 am
i own a fn 5.7 and i believe this pistol should not be used by anyone other than police or military, this is a mean little firearm!!