[Fuelburns2]

There is a bill trying to ban the FN FIVE SEVEN pistol because the Brady Campaign claims that it is armor piercing. That gun does have AP rounds available to Law Enforcement Only. The regular, civilian, bullets are not armor piercing but they do penetrate well on other targets. The BATF even said that this gun is not armor piercing.

What the ATF found regarding the FN 5.7's specific ammunition capabilities is the exact opposite from what the Brady Campaign showed. The type of ammunition available to the general public (SS196) was thoroughly studied.

FTB classified SS196 ammunition as not armor piercing.
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).

The ATF information is available on-line at: http://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearmstech/fabriquen.htm

Not only does the Five Seven cost from $800-$1200 but it doesn't live up to the claim that the Brady Campaign is making about it's capabilities. These two factors alone make the Five Seven an unlikely choice for criminals to use. They are also rather scarce so you can't just go to any gun store and walk out with one.

I found this information at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d109:15:./temp/~bdxh1Q:@@@L&summ2=m&

S.527
Title: A bill to protect the Nation's law enforcement officers by banning the Five-seveN Pistol and 5.7 x 28mm SS190 and SS192 cartridges, testing handguns and ammunition for capability to penetrate body armor, and prohibiting the manufacture, importation, sale, or purchase of such handguns or ammunition by civilians.

Related Bills: H.R.1136 (an identical bill)

Unfortunately it looks like this proposal may still be alive.

Status: Introduced (By Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY])
This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced House bills go first to House committees that consider whether the bill should be presented to the House as a whole. The majority of bills never make it out of committee.
Introduced: Mar 7, 2005
Last Action: May 10, 2005: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Thanks to riley1dog on SGW for bringing this to my attention. I thought this bill died long ago. Let's all hope it never makes it out of committee. I think this could potentially open the door for banning other centerfire pistol cartridges due to bogus claims about performance.

 

[md_beatt]

Fuelburns2,

Thanks for posting this info.

This is a bill we need to stay on top of, and let our elected officals how we feel about this bill.

Once again thanks for digging up the info on this bill.


Mike.

 

[hudlow1]

.




They are also rather scarce so you can't just go to any gun store and walk out with one.

Well, Gander Mountain around here has them.

But i agree. The whole deal is blown out of proportion.

My 270 is probably capable of firing armor piercing rounds too. Just one problem though. I cant buy them.

 

[Fuelburns2]

Hudlow, since I first posted this the Five Sevens have become much more abundant around here. I see them at Gander Mountain and a few gun stores too whereas in December '05 I went to six gunshows and every gun store and only saw one. I'd like to get one because its unique but I won't until someone besides FN starts loading ammo for it. Last time I checked ammo was about $25 a box. Funny how the antis always seem to target the guns in the upper price range.

 

[uglydog]

FN is currently made, at least in the U.S., by Fiocchi USA. Fiocchi is expected to launch their own line this fall and Wolf announced bringing out a line this fall too. Looking around, ammo could be found in the $16 range, maybe more like $18 by now.