Love the FN PS90

[Ping]

Had the opportunity to teach a NRA Class down in Sheridan, Indiana. While there, one of the students was using the 5.7 FN Pistol. He gave me the opportunity to put a few rounds down range. Must say I liked it alot! After we were through with the class, he brought out the FN PS90 Carbine. Hard to believe that with the pistol and rifle you would be carrying 70 rounds with one magazine in each. The carbine shot very well and once I figured it out the bullseye shots were one after the other.

Had a chance several years ago to pick one up at a gun show for $1,300. Really wish I had now. Just did not think the 5.7 round would catch on and decided not to make the purchase. After having some trigger time with it, I would really like to invest in the pistol and carbine. There is absolutely no recoil in my opinion and deadly accurate.

Have you had any experience with them and what are your thoughts? I do have pictures but they are on my facebook page.

[tombogan03884]

My thoughts are this,
1 - 5.7 little high speed bullet, same draw backs as 5.56, not enough weight or mass to dump a bunch of energy into the target, tendency to punch little holes right through it . Cold blooded as it may sound, it did not seem to be particularly effective for the Ft Hood shooter.
2 - Because FN is the only manufacturer of arms in this caliber ammo could be harder to come by whether through availability or price.
3 - same round in pistol and carbine GOOD
4 - Butt load of capacity is also a very good thing
5 - Every one I've heard of that has shot one speaks very well of the handling, reliability and accuracy of both carbine and pistol.

[Magoo541]

A buddy of mine had one but didn't shoot it enough and sold it.  Part of the problem was the ammo price and reloading issues with bottlenecked pistol ammo, not sure what the issues are but I've heard that from a few sources.  He has a couple of ARs and the PS90 seemed a little redundant and underpowered.  If money were no object or room in the safe, I'd have a pistol and PS90 for the reasons you mentioned BUT there are other guns I'd rather have that cover a bigger niche.

My $.02 

[Rastus]

Guns are tools and this one has it's niche.  I travel with mine on business because it breaks down to nothing and reassembles in a snap.  It fits in a bag where an AR would never go without a hassle and travels easily in a hard case that does not look like a carbine when flying.  So when I travel with business associates they never know I have the PS-90 in an auto or on a plane (cause I get there ahead of them to check it in).      

I think inside 75 yards it's pretty good on target but going beyond that the energy falls off.  It is important to note that a person can make the shot at 100 yards + repeatedly and quickly which is an area where a handgun just can't compete.  OK, let's go to 25 yards to 100 yards...the PS-90 will outperform handguns by getting on target accurately and quickly every time from a ready position.  Sure my 45 throws 230 grains or so of lead....but the 40 grain 5.7 is on the distant target with multiple shots first and more quickly and in my mind that wins the fight.

The trigger sucks...but it's a bullpup so I just train every now and then and get over it.  

However, it is really, really fast on target.  I'm as quick or quicker with the PS-90 than I am with the AR I train with.  I'm quicker on multiple targets with the PS-90 and that's despite the sucky trigger.    

When you buy defensive ammo you spend $20+ for 20 rounds....you get 50 rounds for $19-$22 with the 5.7.  Also, and you wouldn't notice if you were not a 5.7 user, Federal just came out with a 5.7 line that I hope pulls the price more in line.

When I travel without associates in an auto I carry an AR.  When I fly by myself on business I bring the PS-90.

I wish the HK 4.6 had been out 10 years ago...but it wasn't so I have the 5.7 which is less a cartridge than the 4.6.  I think it all boils down to what you are going to use the tool for and what tactics are you going to employ in a self-defense situation.  My tactics are to always be a distance from people...so with the 5.7 I know I can't fight effectively with a sniper past a hundred or so yards...but against the more likely occurrence of a thug or pack of thugs popping shots from a handgun at 25-100 yards I will have the more effective tool.

Ping, maybe when you are in Tulsa again we can meet at USSA with my semi-auto and let you shoot it.  We can also rent a full auto from USSA....you can buy the ammo! 

[Jrlobo]

The FNH five-sevens make me drool, both pistol and carbine. One drawback for me is my gun club doesn't allow the pistol at the range, but the carbine is fine. It's the ammo thing with the pistol and may stem from the days when you could by the armor piercing cartridges which have since been outlawed in  U.S. save for LE. Glad to hear Federal now makes the ammo; competition is good for us. Those five-sevens are hard to find, everyone seems to be "out of stock". I saved up my pennies, but waited too long. Guess I'll hit a few gun shows and see what I can find. And, if I find a PS90, I'll probably have to convince my local sheriff I'm mature enough to own one!

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

My Five SeVen pistol trigger sucks pretty bad.  It needs a trigger job or, better yet, someone else making them.  They aren't anything much more than plastic...it's outrageous how much they cost.  I'd love to have an M&P frame in 5.7.

[Ping]

Rastus, we will definitely have to get together the next time I am in Tulsa . Love the U.S. Shooting Academy and the ability to rent firearms. Not too many places in Indiana where we can do that.

As for the 5.7 round, it is awesome for getting multiple follow up shots on target. I would not use it for shooting distance. For home defense and every day carry it would fit the bill. The frame is large but lighter than my Glock 21SF. The triggers on the pistol and carbine I fired were nice. The sights for the carbine were dead on. The owner of the FN's I fired was able to get them for $10.50 a box.

Glad to hear Federal is coming out with the 5.7 round. I would hate to try to reload 5.7.

[Rastus]

Let me know next time you are in town.  I'll let you shoot one all you want....you buy the ammo!

I would especially like to see a 22LR based semi-auto rifle converted to 5.7 use.  I would have one in a heartbeat...even though I would need to sell something to get it.  You could use similar sized mags and amp up the performance with a longer barrel.  It would be good for squirrels to coyotes moreso than a 22 mag.  Just my 2 cents....

[TAB]

If you really wanted a center fire 22ish  rifle, there are alot better and cheaper options then the 5.7

[Rastus]

If you really wanted a center fire 22ish  rifle, there are alot better and cheaper options then the 5.7

OK.  Hit me.  Small, fast round for a small semi-auto rifle on a 22/17HMR sized frame with a 30 to 50 grain olgive bullet that's not a handload.  22mag doesn't count...too slow.