When I first got hands on the Ruger 5.7 I was immediately shocked and excited. I wasn’t even sure what to think, but the more I looked at it, the more I loved the idea of it!
I was a bit amused while thinking of the best way to quickly describe it…. If a Kel-Tec PMR-30 and a Ruger American had a baby, that was just so chambered in 5.7x28, it would be what we see here.
It’s been a long time since FN brought the 5.7 to market but many have wondered why other companies haven't done anything with the caliber. The caliber seems to have lost a lot of its interest as well. While the timing seems really surprising, I think this one is going to be an interesting score for Ruger.
First things first, what I have is a prototype so some features may change, while other features may
not be available when the firearm first hits the market. Let’s discuss some of the comparisons with the FN Five seveN. Most importantly, the grip of the Ruger is much slimmer, allowing for a lot more of your hands to wrap around the grip. The magazine is quite a bit smaller as well when compared side by side. Ruger still pulled off the twenty round capacity matching the FN. The Ruger has an ambidextrous 1911-style safety. While I don’t much care for safeties, 1911-style safeties never bother me and I tend to enjoy them. The Ruger is hammer-fired, single-action only. It's really an overall, really nice trigger. There’s a reasonable take-up, followed by a decently clean break, that’s roughly around 6-7 pounds. I dig the aesthetics where they made grip-and-rip style cutaways on each side of the mag well. Solid looks with great functionality in mind. The Ruger-57 has a much lower bore axis than the Five seveN from FN. Yet another winning feature for the Ruger
The price point should well undercut the FN Five seveN. That will be a massive score for many people interested in the firearm as a plinker. The Fabrique Nationale offering is just too high for many enthusiasts.
I have to give it to Ruger on this one. They surprised me, intrigued me, and know I’m just flat out interested in something I never that I’d be into. It does make me wonder what’s next though. This can’t be it. Are we going to see a new Ruger PC chambered in 5.7? That would be cool. Hey Ruger, I’m just going to throw this out there. Give us a civilian version of the HK MP7 A2 chambered in 5.7x28mm and I think you’ll have one of the most talked-about firearms for years to come! If you agree, let us know!
There’s more to come on the Ruger Five Seven and many others, so subscribe to stay up to date with everything we post right here at The Armorer’s Fix! Below is our video with side-by-side comparisons of the Ruger-57 and FN Five seveN.
Kyle Braschler, Creator
The Armorer’s Fix