Are 5.7 Pistols Worth It?

Published on October 3, 2025
Duration: 3:48

This video reviews the 5.7x28mm pistol cartridge, highlighting its low recoil and high capacity as key advantages, making it suitable for new shooters and follow-up shots. However, the high cost of ammunition and the cartridge's limited expansion and penetration compared to 9mm are noted as significant drawbacks. The speaker advises against it as a primary self-defense or everyday carry firearm.

Quick Summary

5.7 pistols offer advantages like extremely low recoil, making them easy for new shooters, and higher capacity due to their thin cartridges. However, the high cost of ammunition limits training, and the cartridge has less expansion and penetration than 9mm, making it less ideal for primary self-defense.

Chapters

  1. 00:07Introduction to 5.7 Pistols
  2. 00:20Origin and Purpose of 5.7 Cartridge
  3. 00:32Ruger 57 Example
  4. 00:52Pro: Extremely Low Recoil
  5. 01:09Pro: Easier Follow-Up Shots
  6. 01:20Pro: Higher Capacity
  7. 01:27Pro: Designed to Pierce Body Armor
  8. 01:39Con: Very Expensive Ammunition
  9. 01:49Con: Limited Training Frequency
  10. 01:54Con: Large Size for Concealed Carry
  11. 02:02Con: Holster Availability Issues
  12. 02:10Con: Penetration and Expansion Limitations
  13. 02:39Recommendation: Not for Everyday Carry or Home Defense
  14. 03:07Fun to Shoot
  15. 03:28Final Summary: Pros vs. Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main advantages of 5.7 pistols?

The primary advantages of 5.7 pistols include virtually no recoil, making them very easy to shoot and excellent for new firearm users. They also offer higher magazine capacity due to the thinner cartridge and are designed to pierce soft body armor.

What are the disadvantages of owning a 5.7 pistol?

The significant disadvantages of 5.7 pistols are the high cost of ammunition, which limits training frequency, and their large size, making them less ideal for concealed carry. Additionally, the cartridge offers less expansion and penetration compared to 9mm for defensive purposes.

Is a 5.7 pistol good for self-defense or home defense?

While a 5.7 pistol can be fun to shoot, it's generally not recommended as a primary self-defense or everyday carry firearm. Its limitations in expansion and penetration, coupled with high ammo costs, make other calibers like 9mm often a more practical choice for these roles.

How does 5.7 ammunition compare in cost to 9mm?

5.7x28mm ammunition is considerably more expensive than 9mm. The video notes that a box of 50 rounds of 5.7 can cost around $40, making it significantly more costly to train with regularly compared to 9mm.

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