5.7x28 Glock - Side by Side Comparison 5.7×28 vs. 9mm Luger. Find out if the faster 5.7×28 is a good choice for your needs, or if you're better off with the trusty 9mm.
Sometimes in the shooting industry, a new cartridge will dramatically increase sales of a particular rifle or pistol. Sometimes the opposite happens. New weapons will bring to life ammunition that was previously forgotten (or at least ignored). This is the case with Ruger's new pistol called the Ruger 57. As the buzz gets louder and gun ownership increases, we thought a comparison between the 5.7×28 and the 9mm would be a good way to get a feel for what that round is capable of.
5.7x28 Glock
Ruger's new pistol, which comes standard with a 20-round magazine, is becoming one of the most talked about pistols in the industry. Ruger announced it in late 2019 and it hit the market in early 2020. The Picatinny rail pistol is quite compact and comfortable in design. But what shooters are really talking about is probably a more affordable price point. Although it has an MSRP of $799, it's not unusual to see dealers list it for closer to $700. That's about 40% less than what it would take if you started shooting the FN-Herstal 5.7×28 before the Ruger arrived.
Tone Fn57s By Abelardo Roman
The popularity of the Ruger 57 also brought new sales for its cartridge, the fast-flying 5.7x28mm FN round.
This round became so popular that it could challenge one of the world pistol champions, the Luger 9mm. But is this cartridge poised to enter as one of the world's dominant rounds, or is it just another challenger that will be quickly dispatched and forgotten?
We cannot predict the future, but we can look at the two phases and try to make a fair comparison.
Although it has been introduced since 1901, the 9×19 bullet remains a very popular round. It is probably the most popular gun cartridge in the world. With its superior balance of power, velocity, accuracy and compact size, the 9mm has risen to the top thanks in large part to the many pistols designed for the round from top manufacturers like Glock and SIG Sauer.
X28 Vs. 9mm
The FN 5.7x28mm is a newcomer to the shooting industry. Released in the early 1990s, the cartridge was intended to be a high-velocity, low-weight cartridge that could be used by both military and police forces. Notably, the 5.7 was originally intended to replace the 9mm Luger in NATO forces, although full use never occurred. Regardless, the cartridge is a popular choice for private gun owners, especially hunters who want an accurate small-caliber revolver that they can use effectively at medium to long ranges. Although some consider it an expensive pistol, the $1,200 FN Five-SeveN MK2 pistol has enjoyed a loyal following.
To get to the details, here's the disclaimer you know is coming. The prices listed below are subject to change and are used for illustrative purposes only. Visit our website for current prices.
When it comes to price, the 5.7x28mm FN ammo can't compete. The 9mm Luger is one of the most affordable pistols available. This is largely due to the sheer number of options available. (At the time of writing this article, there are 218 different 9mm products on the site and only four 5.7 products.)
The lowest price for a 9mm Luger is only $0.13 per round, while the 5.7x28mm is $0.60 per round; that's a significant difference, almost 5 times cheaper.
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Even similar products show that 9mm is more affordable. Federal Premium Metal Jacket (TMJ) rounds totaled $0.32 per round, while the same company's 5.7 rounds totaled $0.57 per shot. So if cost matters to you (and me), there is a clear winner in the 5.7×28 vs. This 9mm.
Velocity is an important factor in ballistic performance, affecting accuracy, trajectory, energy and penetration. The 9mm is well established as a reliable pistol cartridge, but if speed is your goal, the 5.7 provides a faster muzzle velocity.
9mm typically registers a velocity of around 1,000 to 1,400 ft/s depending on the specific load you are shooting. The federal TMJ stage we discussed above, for example, has a speed of 1,120 fps. In fact, in our testing of dozens of 9mm rounds (see our 9mm Luger page, then scroll down), the fastest round was 1,250 fps. Not bad at all, but feels slow compared to the 5.7x28mm.
The Federal Premium 5.7 TMJ round we discussed above is rated at 2,250 fps by the manufacturer. Obviously, this is the faster of the two, and with its higher velocity and lighter bullet, it also maintains better down-range accuracy.
First Review] The New Ruger 57 5.7x28mm Pistol
We always ignore the manufacturer's test results. Additionally, we wanted to get a better idea of what shooters should expect if they pick up a Ruger 57. So we tested two of FNH's top-selling loads with a chronograph.
These are two very different cartridges with distinct differences in design, bullet size and muzzle velocity. But when it comes to muzzle energy, they look similar.
For example, the 40-grain 5.7x28mm V-MAX has a muzzle velocity of 367 foot-pounds (ft-lbs). These are pretty typical stats for bullets.
So there is a lot of overlap, but if you prioritize muzzle energy, the 9mm probably has the most potential because it has more options. There are 9mm Luger cartridges that have muzzle energy in excess of 450 ft-lbs, while FN 5.7 cartridges tend to exceed about 400 ft-lbs; not a huge difference, but a difference.
Glock 19 Gen 5 Mos Optics Ready 9mm New
Muzzle energy as a number is huge, but usually the reason we worry about it is because we're trying to stop a threat. While not a perfect medium, Clear Ballistics synthetic gelatin can give us a relative picture of bullet performance.
We prepare and supply a portion of the 40 grain FN V-Max load with the Ruger 57 at 10 feet. We placed a standard four-layer fabric barrier in front of the gelatin test material.
Penetration was better than we expected. All five of the five test rounds we ran passed the FBI minimum of 12 inches. The farthest it pushed through the gel was 17 inches. (In our five-county group, we recorded an average of 14.4 inches of penetration.)
In the wound channel, we saw evidence of some flaking from the bullet. We did not notice any signs of rolling from the bullet in the gel.
Fn Five Seven
Expansion is a different story. In all fairness, we find the results here somewhat disappointing. We measure the expanded diameter at about 3/8 inch, on average. for our 5.7x28mm rounds. In our 9mm self-defense load tests, it wasn't hard to find a 9×19 round that consistently expanded to about double that. Keep in mind that we expect new versions of the FN 5.7 ammo to hit the market if and when the Ruger 57 gains popularity. Speer, for example, is working to bring new Gold Dot loads to market for firearms this year.
The recoil force of the gun in your hand, known as "recoil," has a lot to do with the muzzle energy of the bullet. Loud recoil can cause pain in your arms and body when recording at high volume, such as in the evening. Good shooting technique can sometimes soften the impact, but the power is still there.
Anecdotally, the Ruger 57 was easier on the shooter than the Sig P226 9mm pistol when fired in our tests. However, neither of these rounds are considered high recoil cartridges, so that's not really a factor in their comparison. Basically, we expect some people to say, "I bought a 9mm Luger because the 5.7 is too hard to handle," or vice versa.
Whether you use a gun for target shooting or personal defense, you probably want to know how many rounds each load can carry. This will greatly depend on the weapon made for the cartridge, although cartridge design is a consideration and some cartridges allow higher loads.
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Pistols chambered for the 9mm Luger typically hold between 8 and 15 rounds, although you can certainly find guns with more. Pistols designed for FN 5.7, however, can usually carry up to 21 (20+1) rounds while remaining compact and concealable. The Ruger 57, for example, has a 20+1 capacity, like the popular FN Five-seven pistol.
5.7x28mm usually gets you more rounds here. Of course, if you're looking for a smaller scope to use for concealed carry, your options in 5.7x28mm are very limited.
Any of these cartridges would be a great addition to your gun safety. The 5.7×28 is a joy to shoot and we certainly had fun with the Ruger 57. However, if price is a serious concern, the Luger 9mm is probably your best bet. Of course, the price of 5.7 can come down if the cartridge
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