I have owned my Five Seven (FsN–for short) for a while now, long enough to get a good feel for the gun itself and the ups and downs of owning one. First and foremost, let’s be honest about the cost. Normally the FsN itself is probably going to set you back somewhere between $1,000 and $1,200 (now, with the possibility of the FsN being banned, the price has increased significantly in some areas and is hard to predict). If you are okay with spending that amount on a handgun then let’s move on to the next cost, ammo. Ammunition for the FsN can be pricey. About a year or so ago, when I first got my FsN, you could easily buy a box of 50 rounds for less than $25. Currently, there is a shortage so that has greatly impacted the price. At a recent gun show the cheapest I could find ammo was $34 for 50 rounds. Ouch. Hopefully the shortage will soon end and prices will go back down; however, $24 a box is still twice as much as what a box of 9mm will cost you, so this is a very important consideration before purchasing a FsN. The last thing you want to do is spend over a thousand dollars for a paperweight.
If you do not care about how much the gun or ammo cost then it is on to the fun stuff. I will start out with what I like about the FsN, and by like I really mean love. The FsN holds 20 rounds in each magazine (if you don’t live in a state that has a capacity limit, otherwise they will hold 10 rounds) and comes with three magazines. All of the main contact areas of the gun have great texture and grip. This gives the gun a great feel in the shooter’s hand and makes racking the slide easier. The FsN ‘kicks’ like a .22 pistol with attitude, yet it is significantly lighter than a 9mm. The light kickback allows the shooter to make accurate shots in rapid succession, and the FsN can easily group as tightly as the person holding the gun is able to shoot. The crisp trigger makes Follow-up shots a breeze with very little time needed between to reacquire the target accurately. My FsN has not malfunctioned once in any manner (failure to fire, eject, feed, etc., nada). The gun feels very well made with tight tolerances, and all of the FsN’s functions work without any extra effort. The safety is ambidextrous and right in line with where your trigger finger rests along the slide. There is a loaded chamber indicator that is small but very easy to see for the shooter. The amount of effort to rack the slide is very similar to a Glock 9mm or .40. All-in-all, the FsN comes across very well designed and performs great.
Here are a few of the drawbacks I’ve found with the FsN. Even if you are okay with the price of the ammo it can still be somewhat hard to find when there isn’t a shortage (like the one right now). Another drawback others who have shot the FsN have found is created by the overall length of the 5.7mm cartridge. Because it is such a long round (for a handgun) the grip of the gun is a little longer than average. If you have smaller hands you should give the FsN a test drive to make sure you are comfortable with it. Personally, I have average size hands, and I have no problems shooting the FsN whatsoever. Additionally, in light of the recent movements in Congress there is a chance that the FsN or its ammunition could be banned. Obviously, there is no way to tell what legislation will come out, but may be worth at least considering before making a purchase.
In conclusion, I think the FsN is a well-made, quality firearm. It offers low recoil from a rifle like cartridge. The FsN certainly shoots a unique round at a unique price. If your budget can afford it, and you are looking for a firearm that offers something a little different, then the Five Seven may be just the handgun for you.
