Is 5.7x28mm Just Overpriced .22 Magnum?
- Thread starter Hammer67
- Start date
LarryT
Elite
I am more prone to thinking that .22WMR is a poor man's 5.7x28. I enjoy shooting both. With the 5.7 it seems the round strikes the target before you pull the trigger. That being said, I prefer .22WMR for general plinking and in my backup carry revolver, and 5.7 for varmint control (especially over 100yds.).
Hammer67
Professional
As a varmint caliber I bet it would be excellent. But I tend to think it's "tactical man-stopping" properties may have been a wee bit exaggerated over the years.
LarryT
Elite
If you put it straight between the eyes, I don't see a problem. ;-)
Hammer67
Professional
Sure, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end, but I'd say that of just about any caliber. But you have to admit, 5.7 was being hyped for quite a while there as being some sort of mysterious super round that vaporized people. And no doubt a couple of super cultish PDWs chambered in the round bolstered the fanboyism.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
Just like the Creedmoor line......hype. Sure the 5.7 is hype, but it's a decent round as well as the 22mag (I've shot it for decades). All have a roll and place.
Lexie__M
Custom
It looks like Part I was mostly history.
Hopefully in Part II, he goes into depth
Hammer67
Professional
Yes, there will be a pt 2, and I imagine that will get more into cost comparison, etc.
Did you watch the vid?
Talyn
SAINT
Of course. To make a comparison between the two, as per the title of the vid & this thread is silly, but it's used to effect as many articles do to gain attention.
Otherwise the vid clearly shows the superiority of the 5.7 over the 22 mag.
And I have a AR-57 so I'm very familiar of its pluses & minuses. I consider it a CQB platform.
Hammer67
Professional
The vid didn't draw any firm conclusions - it simply asked the question. And as mentioned above, it's expected it will go into more detail in the next installment, this was just the first vid of the series.
But you don't think it's a valid to compare two cartridges that are both typically 40gr in weight and almost identical diameter?
I think part of the problem is finding readily available ballistics data for factory ammo that is a direct comparison per barrel length. Most of the .22 WMR is designed for rifle length barrels and reports ballistics data for such, with a few select rounds designed for short (2") barrels. A lot of the data available for 5.7x28 is for full-size pistols around 5" in barrel length.
Have you chrono'd rounds out of your AR-57? And are you using factory ammo or handloading? I'd be curious to hear more detail.
While "Ballistics By The Inch" doesn't have data for 5.7x28, they do for .22 WMR. Out of a 16" barrel, they report velocities of 1800-2300 fps:
That may not be quite as fast as 5.7x28, but it's also not far off, from what I've seen. But velocity is of course only one factor. I think the bigger question is whether 5.7 truly has a significantly more devastating terminal effect, as many in the past have claimed.
Talyn
SAINT
Factory ammo since the 5.7 isn't worth reloading for me.
No, I don't think its a valid comparison, and I don't need to chrono anything, because it's obvious a high-pressure centerfire round is faster than a low-moderate pressure rimfire round shooting a blunter projectile, albeit near the same weight, and all the data says the 5.7 performs much better.
The upper I have...
americanshootingjournal.com
Plenty of info here.
I'd like to get a PS90 but the expense isn't worth it, and the AR57 is paid for.
If the .22 mag was as good there wouldn't be a 5.7.
My .02
No, I don't think its a valid comparison, and I don't need to chrono anything, because it's obvious a high-pressure centerfire round is faster than a low-moderate pressure rimfire round shooting a blunter projectile, albeit near the same weight, and all the data says the 5.7 performs much better.
The upper I have...
Gun Review: The Fully Functional AR57
The AR57 Is An Excellent High-capacity Yet Affordable Alternative For Self-defense, Varmint Hunting.
americanshootingjournal.com
Plenty of info here.
I'd like to get a PS90 but the expense isn't worth it, and the AR57 is paid for.
If the .22 mag was as good there wouldn't be a 5.7.
My .02
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Hammer67
Professional
FWIW, I am not saying that I think the two are identical and interchangeable (and I didn't hear that vid say that either). But I do tend to think that the capability of the 5.7 has been exaggerated in the past (and the vid shows examples of this), and that the difference between the two may not actually be as vast as some want to believe.
Interesting logic, but there are no shortage of cartridges than have been invented in recent years that overlap significantly with other options that are already available. The mere existence of a particular cartridge in no way signifies that it is utterly unique or does something other options don't.
Not saying it may not have some practical applications, but given what the round was initially developed for, it's telling that hardly anyone is still using it in that professional capacity. As a purpose-driven project, the original initiative behind the 5.7 has pretty much fizzled, and likely not without reason.
Interesting logic, but there are no shortage of cartridges than have been invented in recent years that overlap significantly with other options that are already available. The mere existence of a particular cartridge in no way signifies that it is utterly unique or does something other options don't.
Not saying it may not have some practical applications, but given what the round was initially developed for, it's telling that hardly anyone is still using it in that professional capacity. As a purpose-driven project, the original initiative behind the 5.7 has pretty much fizzled, and likely not without reason.
Hammer67
Professional
Yeah, it's more popular now with the civilian market, but that misses my point. How many teams are still in the field carrying 5.7?
The .22 WMR was never developed for professional use to begin with. The 5.7x28 entirely was.
But this is getting silly. I'll look forward to the next installment in the series.
Talyn
SAINT
The P90 is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 countries. In the United States the P90 is in use with over 200 law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
I have 4 5.7x28 firearms. S&W, FN5.7 pistol, PS90 16" and a 5.7 16" conversion complete upper from PSA for an AR15. I have the dies necessary for the cartridge and a chrono, but haven't chrono'd or handloaded any yet. The only 2 factory ammo I've shot are federal american 40gr fmj and fn 40gr v-max. With pistol shooting steel @ 100 yards is easy peasy. I only bought the 5.7 over the wm due to being able to reload.
WellArmed
Master Class
I am unfazed by these new calibers that get released as a way to get people to spend more money on a new gun. They are solutions to problems no one knew they had prior to their introduction. Everyone would have lived and gotten by just fine if some of these calibers never existed (30 Super Carry included). 380acp, 9mm, 40s&w, 45acp, 10mm, 38 special, 357mag, and the like has been doing everything all these newer latest and greatest claim to do, and they've been doing it for 10x longer.
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