Five-seveN
Technical Summary
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The FN Five-seveN
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| Caliber: | 5.7 x 28 mm |
| Action: | Delayed blowback |
| Weight: |
- 617 g (1.36 lbs) empty
- 744 g (1.64 lbs) loaded
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| Height: | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Length: | 208 mm (8.2 in) |
| Barrel length: | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Magazine: | 20 rounds (10 rounds) |
| Effective range: | 50 m |
The Five-seveN is a pistol manufactured by Fabrique Nationale.
Overview
The FN Five-seveN is designed ergonomically and is built mostly out of polymers and plastics - it is therefore light and easy to handle. The 5.7 mm round's unique design also results in extremely low recoil for the gun.
The Five-seveN's use of the 5.7 x 28 mm SS190 cartridge enables it to penetrate class IIIA body armor at up to 50 m. Independent testing has shown that the round can blow through a combination of kevlar armor and heavy clothing (sweater, denim jacket) and still penetrate 7" into the soft target. This makes the Five-seveN unique among handguns, and has made it the target of New York law enforcement officers who want a federal/local ban on it. (FN has since denied their allegations.)
Since it is the only other commercial weapon to fire the 5.7 mm round, the Five-seveN is advertised as the companion sidearm of the FN P90. Like the P90, the Five-seveN and its ammunition are generally only available for sale to military and law enforcement agencies due to FN policy. Unlike the selective-fire P90, the Five-seveN and certain types of ammunition (notably the SS192 and T194) may be purchased/owned/posessed legally by civilians in some parts of the world. The Five-seveN was popularized as Sam Fisher's standard-issue side arm in the series of computer game and novels, Splinter Cell as well as in the popular computer game Counterstrike. The version to appear in both games is the Five-seveN Tactical.
Variants
Five-seveN Tactical - single action (SA) - the hammer is pulled back by the motion of the slide after every shot. Trigger pulls are short and light and the user is therefore capable of expending ammunition faster and more accurately than with the double action only variant.
Five-seveN - double action only (DAO) - the hammer is not pulled back automatically, necessitating a longer trigger pull. Shooting is slower and less accurate than with the Tactical variant. The DAO variant does not have a manual safety.
Five-seveN IOM (Individual Officer's Model) - single action (SA) - similar to the Tactical variant in that it is single action. The IOM features adjustable rear sights (which are not directly compatible with the earlier sights), a magazine disconnect safety feature, cross-slots on the tactical rail, and 10-round magazines that were legal for civilian posession during the AWB era. The IOM magazines are backward compatible, but the IOM itself will not function with earlier magazines.
Five-seveN USG (United States Government?) - single action (SA) - similar to the IOM variant feature-wise, but with cosmetic differences: a new squared-off trigger guard, a new enhanced grip (checkered fore grip and backstrap,) and a new user changeable (left or right handed) magazine release that is larger than those on previous models.
Accessories
All models of the Five-seveN can also mount a laser aiming module (LAM) or a tactical flashlight on the accessory rail. Laser-Devices, Inc. (http://www.laserdevices.com/) (LDI) produces a LAM specifically designed for the Five-seveN pistol.
A threaded barrel is available for mounting of a suppressor (silencer.)
Gemtech (http://www.gem-tech.com/) produces suppressors specifically designed for the Five-seveN pistol, model number S-FN57.
FN produces night sights for the DAO and Tactical models. These sights do not fit the IOM and USG models without gunsmithing. Trijicon (http://www.trijicon.com/) is slated to produce tritium night sights for the IOM and USG models but they are not available yet. (December 6, 2004)
External links
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