5.7×28 vs 223: Which Is Higher For CQB?
July 30, 2024 |
Like many a 2nd Modification-loving youngsters of my era, I used to be launched to the FN 5.72×28 by way of the Showtime tv sequence Stargate SG-1. Followers of the present will keep in mind how the primary characters, performed by Richard Dean Anderson and Amanda Tapping, would journey throughout the galaxy battling alien forces armed with their full-auto FN P90s.
Though FN Herstal (FNH) didn’t initially develop the 5.7x28mm as an alien-slaying cartridge, it has turn into an integral a part of a number of legislation enforcement and army organizations attributable to its spectacular terminal ballistics, low recoil, and armor-piercing functionality.
However how does the comparatively new 5.7×28 spherical stack as much as the most well-liked centerfire rifle cartridge in North America, the 223 Remington?
On this article we’ll take an goal take a look at how the 223 Rem compares to the 5.7×28 and provide you with some insights into each cartridges and the way they apply to your self-defense wants.
What’s the distinction between 5.7 x 28 vs 223?
The distinction between 5.7×28 and 223 is that the 223 is a rifle cartridge, whereas the 5.7×28 is assessed as a handgun cartridge. The 5.7×28 was developed to be used in a private protection weapon (PDW) like a submachine gun or handgun for close-quarters battle (CQB), whereas the 223 Rem was developed to be used in a carbine or rifle with an extended efficient vary.
Cartridge Specs
When evaluating centerfire cartridges, it’s a good suggestion to investigate the cartridge specs to realize extra data of every.
One main similarity between 5.7×28 vs 223 is that they fireplace the identical diameter bullet: 0.224”. Nevertheless, that is the place their similarities finish.
The straightforward reality is that the 223 Remington is only a larger cartridge than the 5.7×28. The 223 Rem towers over the 5.7 when it comes to case size, and has greater than double the case capability to indicate for it. The 223 Rem’s max chamber stress can also be 5,000 psi larger.
Resulting from its bigger capability, the 223 Rem can fireplace heavier bullets at larger velocities.
Recoil
Relating to recoil, the 5.7×28 has significantly lower than the 223.
Felt recoil will differ between rifles, shooters, barrel size, bullet weight, and powder cost. In reality, the FNH 5.7×28 is marketed as having roughly 30% much less recoil than a 9mm Luger.
The 223 Remington is understood for having low recoil for a rifle spherical. However because the 5.7×28 has half the powder cost and is firing lighter bullets, the 223 merely can’t sustain.
Assuming a 7lb rifle, the 223 can have a median free recoil of round 4 ft-lbs in comparison with 1.2 ft-lbs for NATO customary 5.7×28. To place this in perspective, a high-velocity 40 grain 22 LR cartridge delivers roughly 0.15 ft-lbs of recoil vitality when fired in a 7lb rifle.
The low recoil of the 5.7×28 is among the key promoting factors for utilizing it in a submachine gun, PDW, or handgun. In all these firearms, having low muzzle flip helps hold the shooter heading in the right direction throughout speedy or full-auto strings of fireplace. This permits the shooter to get a number of photographs heading in the right direction in a really quick time frame.
One factor that many shooters uncover is that it takes some coaching to get used to the recoil impulse of the 5.7×28, particularly in a handgun.
Though the free recoil on the 5.7×28 is low, its bottle-neck cartridge and comparatively giant powder cost trigger a relatively giant report in a handgun just like the FN 5-seveN or Ruger-5.7”. The recoil impulse can also be described as quick and a bit of snappy, however with little or no vitality imparted to the palms.
Loud report and quick recoil generally is a bit shocking at first, however they are often simply managed with correct coaching and grip.
Muzzle Velocity and Kinetic Power
Though the 5.7×28 supplies wonderful muzzle velocity and kinetic vitality for a pistol spherical, it merely can not evaluate to the 223 Remington on this class.
The 223 Rem can fireplace a 55-grain bullet at 3,240 fps with 1,282 ft-lbs of muzzle vitality.
When discussing the 5.7×28, you will need to notice that there are two distinct varieties of 5.7×28 ammunition: army/legislation enforcement vs. sporting.
As a result of Gun Management Act of 1968, armor-piercing ammo able to being fired in a handgun is against the law in the USA. The ATF has unconstitutionally expanded on this ban with some rifle rounds as properly, primarily the 2014 banning of the importation of Russian 7N6 5.45x39mm ammo.
With this in thoughts, how is it potential for FN Herstal to promote the 5.7×28 in the USA, contemplating that the cartridge was particularly designed to penetrate Kevlar mushy physique armor?
FNH initially developed the 5.7×28 for NATO forces solely. However after they noticed the civilian functions for the spherical, they developed a sporting cartridge that labored across the ATF’s restriction on armor-piercing handgun ammo.
NATO customary 5.7×28, in any other case referred to as SS190, fires a 31-grain Hornady V-MAX bullet at 2,350 fps and 380 ft-lbs of muzzle vitality. That’s greater than enough to punch by way of NATO mushy physique armor.
The sale of this ammo to American civilians is prohibited by legislation, so FNH diminished the muzzle velocity of their sporting ammo to inhibit its armor-piercing means. The ATF dominated that this ammo was acceptable, and is why it’s authorized to buy 5.7×28 in the USA.
Federal American Eagle affords an FMJ sporting spherical that’s in style with the 5.7×28 capturing neighborhood; it has a muzzle velocity of 1,655 fps and 243 ft-lbs of kinetic vitality. A far cry from the complete energy NATO hundreds the Secret Service carries of their FN P90 submachine weapons!
Trajectory
Trajectory is how we quantify a bullet’s flight path because it travels downrange, measured in inches of bullet drop.
Clearly, a flatter-shooting cartridge is most popular for long-range capturing, as a shooter would require fewer changes to their optics to compensate for bullet drop. Having a flatter trajectory additionally implies that a cartridge will probably be extra forgiving of ranging errors.
Evaluating a rifle cartridge to a handgun spherical when it comes to trajectory is just not what many would take into account a good combat.
Rifle rounds are sometimes employed for long-range capturing, and rifles are sometimes zeroed for 50 or 100 yards. Handgun rounds are typically used for close-quarters battles at quick distances the place trajectory is a non-issue.
Because it stands, the 223 Remington has a a lot flatter trajectory at vary in comparison with the 5.7×28.
For this comparability, we’ll take into account the civilian-approved Federal American Eagle 40 grain FMJ 5.7×28 and 55 grain FMJ 223 Rem.
At 100 yards, the 5.7×28 spherical has skilled -3.8” bullet drop, which is extremely flat-shooting for a handgun spherical. Nevertheless, at 200 yards, the 223 spherical has skilled -2.7” bullet drop.
The excessive velocity of the 5.7×28 supplies wonderful trajectory for a handgun spherical, however it merely can not compete with a centerfire rifle cartridge.
Ballistic Coefficient
Ballistic coefficient (BC) is a measure of how properly a bullet resists wind drift and air resistance. Put one other approach, it’s a numeric illustration of how aerodynamic a bullet is. A excessive BC is most popular as this implies the bullet will overcome wind deflection extra successfully, preserve a better share of its velocity, and strike tougher on impression.
Ballistic coefficient varies from bullet to bullet based mostly on design, weight, and different elements which can be past the scope of this text. That mentioned, heavier bullets are inclined to exhibit larger BCs than their lighter counterparts.
Because the 223 Remington can fireplace heavier bullets than the 5.7×28, the 223 will sometimes have a better BC.
For instance, Hornady V-MAX bullets that are generally used for each cartridges. The 35 grain V-MAX for five.7×28 has a BC of 0.109, whereas the 55 grain V-MAX for 223 holds a BC of 0.255.
Sectional Density
Sectional Density (SD) is the measure of how properly a bullet penetrates a goal. That is extraordinarily essential when searching massive and medium-sized sport, as you want a bullet that may punch by way of thick disguise, bone, and sinew.
Sectional density is calculated by evaluating the bullet weight and bullet diameter. The upper the SD, the deeper the bullet will penetrate into the goal. This can be a simplified view of penetration, as there are different elements to think about, reminiscent of bullet growth and velocity.
Because the 223 can fireplace heavier bullets at a better muzzle velocity than the 5.7×28, the 223 will typically penetrate deeper into its goal than the 5.7×28.
Utilizing the identical V-MAX bullets as talked about within the ballistic coefficient part, the 5.7×28 35-grain bullet will carry a SD of 0.100 whereas the 55-grain bullet for 223 has a SD of 0.157.
Searching
Relating to varmint searching, it’s exhausting to beat a 223. Lengthy thought to be a wonderful pest management spherical, the 223 has been on the forefront of varmint and medium sport searching since its launch within the Sixties.
The 223 is extra highly effective than any rimfire spherical in the marketplace, eclipsing the 22 WMR and the centerfire cartridge, the 22 Hornet. Many take into account it a wonderful possibility for coyotes, woodchucks, and different medium-sized critters inflicting havoc in your property.
With the widespread recognition of the AR-15 carbine, hunters can take pleasure in fast follow-up photographs of a semi-auto with a hearth price that merely can’t be matched by a bolt-action rifle.
The 5.7×28 has not caught on as a searching spherical primarily attributable to a scarcity of searching ammo choices and firearms that make the most of the cartridge. Though the 5.7×28 has been round for nearly 30 years, it has been primarily relegated to the position of a self-defense cartridge. Fact is, there are a lot of more practical and economical choices for varmint searching.
Might you go pop some woodchucks or raccoons along with your FN 5-seveN pistol or Kel-Tec P50? Positive, it could work simply high-quality for this inside 100 yards. Nevertheless, the 223 does the identical factor for about half the associated fee, which is why it has remained the extra in style searching spherical.
Neither the 223 Remington nor 5.7×28 are good decisions for whitetail. Regardless, most states/territories require a bigger diameter bullet, like 0.243” or larger, for deer searching.
Self-Protection/House Protection
The 5.56 has been the frontline battle cartridge for the USA Navy because the Vietnam Conflict. Though the fight effectiveness of the spherical has been confirmed time and time once more, the 5.7×28 is the higher selection for self-defense and/or dwelling protection.
The primary purpose I’d favor the 5.7×28 in a self-defense state of affairs is journal capability. An ordinary Ruger-5.7 and FN 5-seveN pistol has {a magazine} capability of 20 rounds, which is larger than nearly each different self-defense cartridge in the marketplace. By comparability, the Glock 17 journal (9mm Luger) can maintain 17 rounds, whereas the Glock 21 (45 ACP) can deal with a mere 13 rounds.
In your dwelling protection carbine, you could possibly take into account the CMMG Banshee AR handgun or SBR packing a 40-round journal or Kel-Tec P50 that makes use of the 50-round P90 horizontal magazines. That’s a number of bullets, and in any private protection state of affairs, you’ll at all times desire extra bullets to fewer.
The second purpose the 5.7×28 is a greater possibility for self-defense are its terminal ballistics and bullet design. Early bullet designs for the 223 Rem skilled fragmentation once they impacted mushy tissue, inflicting extra injury. Nevertheless, more moderen battlefield reviews query the fragmentation capabilities of present army hundreds.
This might result in overpenetration in a short-range engagement, and the very last thing you need is your bullet to undergo an attacker and strike an harmless bystander.
In distinction to the 223 designs, the 5.7×28 doesn’t depend on fragmentation and as a substitute was developed to destabilize and yaw when it impacts tissue. This tumbling causes extra injury to the goal with out the necessity for a traditional hole level bullet, which is strictly prohibited to be used in conflict by the Hague Conference of 1899.
Though an American civilian is just not constrained to wartime doctrine, the tumbling of the 5.7×28 bullets enormously reduces the possibilities of overpenetration. Moreover, the light-weight bullets typically resist deflection, which means you shouldn’t should cope with the potential for ricochets.
Ballistic gelatin testing for some protection hundreds for 5.7×28 is kind of spectacular, particularly for FN SS197SR. This sporting load was permitted for civilian use. Topped with a 40-grain V-MAX bullet and carrying 2,034 fps and 256 ft-lbs on the muzzle, it’s a formidable protection spherical.
The 223 Rem is a superb self-defense possibility. Nevertheless, the flat trajectory, low recoil and excessive journal capability of the 5.7×28 make it a superior selection. To tame the muzzle flip much more, a suppressor can be utilized indoors even on a SBR to make the 5.7×28 an extremely soft-shooting, extremely maneuverable bundle.
Ammo and Rifle Price/Availability
Relating to ammo price and availability, the 223 Remington is the clear winner.
Because the 5.56 NATO is a army cartridge presently in service, there’s a plethora of surplus ammo obtainable in the marketplace that drives costs down. Moreover, the widespread success of the AR-15 sporting rifle has catapulted the 223 to unimaginable heights of recognition.
Each main ammo producer, together with Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, Federal, PMC, Wolf and Remington, all have a number of manufacturing unit hundreds for 223.
Shopping for in bulk is at all times sensible. Make sure that to take a look at our inventory of 223 bulk ammo.
On common, low cost steel-cased 223 ammo can go as low cost as $0.40/spherical, whereas premium searching ammo sometimes prices $1.20/spherical on common. As compared, 5.7×28 ammo begins round $1.20/spherical for FMJ ammo and goes up from there.
The principle drawback with 5.7×28 is that solely 4 main ammo producers supply the cartridge presently, FN Herstal, Federal American Eagle, Hornady, and Speer. A basic lack of ammo choices has been the bane of the 5.7×28’s existence, thereby severely limiting its progress and acceptance as a mainstream cartridge.
And if the shortage of ammunition wasn’t sufficient of a bottleneck, for a few years, solely two firearms fired the 5.7×28: the FN P90 and the FN 5-seveN handgun. Extra not too long ago, new additions have been made to the 5.7×28 household of firearms: the CMMG Banshee line of AR-15 carbines and pistols, in addition to the Ruger-5.7 and Kel-Tec P50 handguns.
Though the 5.7×28 is gaining considerably in recognition, its market share doesn’t even evaluate to the 223’s. Rifles and ammo for 223 are significantly extra plentiful and cheaper than most all choices for five.7×28.
Reloading
When you take pleasure in reloading like me, then you definitely’re going to like the 223 Rem. Handloading for the 223 is an superior expertise as brass is cheap and simple to search out. Moreover, elements are comparatively plentiful and will be present in most shops the place reloading provides are bought.
Though the 5.7×28 fires the identical bullet diameter because the 223, the 5.7×28 sometimes fires lighter bullets than most shooters use within the 223 reloads. Moreover, the 5.7×28 requires using pistol powders, whereas 223 makes use of slower-burning rifle powders. Because of this you’ll want to purchase totally different powders for each reloads.
The 223 is pretty properly referred to as being a relatively forgiving cartridge relating to reloading, which means that minor variations in powder cost and bullet seating depth don’t have a serious impression on the performance of the spherical. This can’t be mentioned for the 5.7×28.
Primarily based on what I’ve realized from 5.7×28 reloaders, the spherical is extremely temperamental, particularly with bullet seating depth, shoulder size, and a polymer coating on the brass that comes from the manufacturing unit to boost extraction.
All of this isn’t to say which you can’t reload for five.7×28, as many handloaders do it efficiently on daily basis. Nevertheless, my advice is to be overly cautious when handloading for five.7×28 as it’s a bit pickier than your common 223 reload.
Proceed studying extra concerning the variations between 5.7×28 vs 223 ammo right here.
