FN Five SeveN pistol

[Valorius]

The FsN has a grip circumference slightly less than a Beretta M9. It is not a small grip. That being said, there is a lot of checkering material that can be removed to further reduce the grip circumference by a pretty significant amount.

[brownman]

Shisno, dont own one (yet), never even shot one, fondled a few at the LGS though. I'd say my hands are on the small-ish- to med. size. The grip was a bit on the larger size. By no means deal breaker big though. You should check one out in person before you count it out.

@Val, which version do you have? Theres two, isn't there? ETA- not that the grip/frame is any different. Maybe the triggers and controls though. Just curious.

[Valorius]

There are several models. There was the DAO "IOM" model with the funky trigger guard, the "USG" model, which i have, and the original model as well, which has the funky trigger guard, but is single action.

I might be wrong though, I am too up to speed on the pistol's lineage.

All models have the same control layout though.

[Franky4Fingers]

cant you handload to get the speed up to the full 2200 fps?

[Valorius]

There are numerous 5.7mm rounds on the market that will exceed 2200fps from the FsN pistol. From a stock 4.8" FsN barrel "weak" factory FN SS195 ammo avg's almost 2050fps from the tests i've seen, whereas their LE Only duty load avg's 2100fps. Elite S4M 5.7mm uses the same OTM bullet, and has chrono'd as high as 2400fps from a std barrel in the tests i've seen.

Sadly S4M is currently discontinued, but i'm lucky enough to have about 100rds of the stuff for defensive needs, backed up by a good sized stash of FN SS198 'LE Only' duty ammo.

I just did some more armor tests at a buddies place out in the sticks last night. Videos are uploading now.

SS198 vs 9/16" fiberglass plate armor (test gun: threaded barrel FsN pistol):

STAY TUNED.

[Ewussor]

WANT SO BAD!!!

Currently the designer is talking $100 per unit, which is out of my price range...

Given all the other FsN related stuff you own, if you're not willing to spend $100 on that, you must not want it that all that bad.

The prototype looks to be 3D printed. Time on a good 3D printer is not cheap. Based on what I pay for 3D printed pre-production stuff in my business, I don't think that part can be made for less that $50-60 a pop. Ditto for machining it out of a solid block of plastic. Of course he could get 'em injection molded; then they'd only cost maybe $5.00 each, but first he'd have to spend five figures for the tooling.

[Valorius]

Some more Five Seven armor tests. Shot these up my uncles mountain house.

Control test, Shot 1: .22LR Aguila Interceptor 40gr jacketed flat nose solid @1500+ fps fired from 22" barrel. Shot 2: Buffalo Barnes .380 80gr+P SCHP @ 1100+fps:




FN SS198 LE Only 28gr OTM from threaded FsN pistol, approx 2200fps:



Post shot plate inspection:



Result: All rounds stopped by the same 9/16" thick hard fiberglass ballistic plate armor, no spalling present, demonstrating excellent multi-hit capability. The plate is just as good now at stopping bullets as it was before the test. I have in the past also tested 5.7mm S4M 28gr OTM @ 2500+ fps vs this same thickness of plate, and that round was easily defeated as well. This is some seriously good armor, and much lighter than steel.

(My camera died during the test, so...yeah...my apologies)

[LifeInPa]

Nice, how do you think this ballistic plate would hold up to rifle rounds (5.56, 7.62x39/54R, 7.62 NATO, 30-06, etc)?

[Valorius]

2x 9/16" plates are required to stop point blank 20.5" M16 length barrel M855 semi-AP. I suspect, but have not tested, that a single 9/16" plate backed by a good IIIA vest will stop many types of 5.56mm and probably all 7.62x39mm. Especially from carbine length weapons. I have yet to test that though.

A 1/4" plate of this stuff backed by a IIIA stops Elite S4M 5.7mm @ 2500+ fps. So i'm thinking a 9/16" plate would stop just about anything with a IIIA behind it.

[LifeInPa]

That is amazing, I had no idea it was that effective. Somehow though I bet ballistic plates made from the material are quite expensive.