Practice & target
Full-metal-jacket, plated, lead, and wadcutter bullets describe different constructions. Grain weight is projectile mass; it does not state a powder charge or guarantee recoil.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · PISTOL
5.7x28mm
A small-bullet, bottleneck centerfire cartridge used in both handguns and compact rifles. A pistol test barrel and a rifle test barrel should not be conflated.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.5346–1.5945 in
38.980–40.500 mm - Case length · max
- 1.1378 in
28.900 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2244 in
5.700 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.3071 in
7.800 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Pistol
- Bullet specification
- 0.2244 in / 5.700 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 6 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 35–62 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
5.7x28mm is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 5.7 × 28 FN. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
Civilian sporting products and military-designated loads are not interchangeable descriptions of projectile construction.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
FN began developing the 5.7×28 mm cartridge and P90 personal-defense weapon in the late 1980s, anticipating a NATO requirement that became known as Project 90. The company designed the firearm and ammunition as a system, seeking a compact shoulder-fired weapon with different range, capacity and projectile characteristics from conventional pistol-cartridge submachine guns.
The P90 entered international service during the 1990s. FN then developed the Five-seveN pistol, giving the same cartridge family a handgun platform. The Five-seveN and civilian PS90 carbine reached the U.S. commercial market in the mid-2000s. FN announced NATO standardization of the caliber in 2021. That sequence—from military personal-defense-weapon project to handgun, civilian carbine and broader commercial ammunition support—is central to understanding it. It also explains why a historical account must distinguish the cartridge family from particular military, training and sporting loads sold under different product designations.
Historical sources: FN: first-party P90, Five-seveN and commercial-market development timeline ↗ · FN: March 2021 NATO-standardization announcement ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Expanding factory bullets
JHP, XTP, FTX, HST, and similar product names refer to particular designs. Muzzle energy alone does not show expansion, penetration, or reliability in a particular firearm.
Specialty load families
Reduced-recoil, subsonic, monolithic, and heavier-bullet offerings are product-specific. A +P marking is a pressure category where standardized, not simply a heavier bullet. Follow the maker’s exact product and firearm guidance.
The expanded factory selection spans 35–62 grains. Exact products and source conditions appear in the table.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
Factory-labeled subsonic additions include Fiocchi. The table also distinguishes ordinary factory loads. Published test conditions and product-specific notes accompany each addition; no velocity curve is inferred from one muzzle specification.
From the factory catalog
40 grains
1,810 fps
FTX®
62 grains · Subsonic
1,050 fps · factory specification
Subsonic Full Metal Jacket
Compare all 6 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady90000 | 40 gr 2.59 g | FTX® | 1,810 fps 552 m/s | 4.8 in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Hornady90001 | 40 gr 2.59 g | V-MAX® | 1,810 fps 552 m/s | 4.8 in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Fiocchi57FMJ40 | 40 gr 2.59 g | Full Metal JacketStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 1,700 fps 518.2 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 29 ↗ |
| Fiocchi57JF35 | 35 gr 2.27 g | Jacketed FrangibleStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 1,750 fps 533.4 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 29 ↗ |
| Fiocchi57PT40 | 40 gr 2.59 g | Tipped Hollow PointStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 1,750 fps 533.4 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 29 ↗ |
| Fiocchi57SUB62 | 62 gr 4.02 g | Subsonic Full Metal JacketManufacturer product specification; test barrel not stated in this catalog row. | 1,050 fps 320 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 29 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
5.7x28mm: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 40 gr Hornady FTX® | Hornady | 0: 1,810; 50: 1,559; 100: 1,343 |
| 40 gr Hornady V-MAX® | Hornady | 0: 1,810; 50: 1,583; 100: 1,383 |
| 40 gr Fiocchi Full Metal Jacket | Fiocchi | 0: 1,700 |
| 35 gr Fiocchi Jacketed Frangible | Fiocchi | 0: 1,750 |
| 40 gr Fiocchi Tipped Hollow Point | Fiocchi | 0: 1,750 |
| 62 gr Fiocchi Subsonic Full Metal Jacket | Fiocchi | 0: 1,050 |
5.7x28mm: measured chronograph results
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 62 gr Fiocchi 57SUB62 · Range Dynamics Subsonic FMJ | Measured · PSA Rock | 5.2: 1,052 |
| 27 gr FN SS195LF · lead-free JHP | Measured · PSA Rock | 5.2: 2,168 |
| 40 gr Federal American Eagle FMJ | Measured · PSA Rock | 5.2: 1,647 |
| 40 gr FN SS197SR · V-MAX | Measured · PSA Rock | 5.2: 1,798 |
| 40 gr Speer Gold Dot HP | Measured · PSA Rock | 5.2: 1,807 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Read the 5 measured chronograph test records
| Ammunition | Firearm / barrel | Measured velocity | Method | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 gr Fiocchi 57SUB62 · Range Dynamics Subsonic FMJ | PSA Rock 5.25 in barrel | 1,052 fps | 5-shot average Caldwell chronograph 10 ft | Original test ↗ |
| 27 gr FN SS195LF · lead-free JHP | PSA Rock 5.25 in barrel | 2,168 fps | 5-shot average Caldwell chronograph not stated for chronograph | Original test ↗ |
| 40 gr Federal American Eagle FMJ | PSA Rock 5.25 in barrel | 1,647 fps | 5-shot average Caldwell chronograph 10 ft | Original test ↗ |
| 40 gr FN SS197SR · V-MAX | PSA Rock 5.25 in barrel | 1,798 fps | 5-shot average Caldwell chronograph 10 ft | Original test ↗ |
| 40 gr Speer Gold Dot HP | PSA Rock 5.25 in barrel | 1,807 fps | 5-shot average Caldwell chronograph 10 ft | Original test ↗ |
Direct answers
Common questions
What is 5.7x28mm?
A small-bullet, bottleneck centerfire cartridge used in both handguns and compact rifles. A pistol test barrel and a rifle test barrel should not be conflated.
What diameter does 5.7x28mm use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2244 inches (5.700 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
Civilian sporting products and military-designated loads are not interchangeable descriptions of projectile construction.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
Factory datasets show manufacturer specifications and any published downrange projections. Chronograph and barrel-study datasets identify recorded measurements and the original test source. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values are labeled linear estimates; single source points are not extended into invented curves. Energy is calculated from bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Skives & petals: read the jacket construction →
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 1 ↗
- FN: 5.7×28mm cartridge development ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗
- FN: March 2021 NATO-standardization announcement ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.