Ruger-5.7

About the Ruger-5.7

The Ruger-5.7 is a full-size semi-automatic pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm FN, introduced in December 2019 by Sturm, Ruger & Co. as a more affordable alternative to the FN Five-seven. It features a Secure Action fire-control system with a protected internal hammer, a bladed-safety trigger, and a 1911-style ambidextrous manual safety. The pistol holds 20+1 rounds in its double-stack steel magazines, fed through a glass-filled nylon polymer frame with an alloy steel slide and barrel. Its 4.94-inch barrel with black nitride treatment provides durability and corrosion resistance. The slide is drilled and tapped for direct optics mounting, and a Picatinny-style accessory rail is molded into the frame. Fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight come standard. At 24.5 ounces empty, it is lightweight for its capacity. The 5.7x28mm cartridge delivers high velocity with very low felt recoil, flat trajectory, and a 20-round capacity that exceeds most traditional pistol calibers. The Ruger-5.7 brought the 5.7x28mm platform to a significantly lower price point than the FN Five-seven, contributing to a surge in consumer interest in the cartridge.

The Ruger-5.7 democratized the 5.7x28mm cartridge by offering a pistol at roughly half the price of the FN Five-seven, which had been the only commercially available 5.7mm pistol for nearly two decades. Its introduction in 2019 triggered a surge in consumer interest and ammunition availability for the previously niche cartridge.

Ruger-5.7 specifications

The Ruger-5.7 uses a proprietary Secure Action system that is technically a protected internal hammer design, not a striker. The trigger operates as effectively single-action with a consistent pull of approximately 4 pounds. The 10+1 round model (16402) is designed for jurisdictions with magazine capacity restrictions. Ruger includes two steel magazines with the pistol. The 5.7x28mm cartridge delivers roughly 1,650 fps from the 4.94-inch barrel with standard 40-grain FMJ loads, losing some velocity compared to the longer-barreled FN P90 PDW or even the FN Five-seven with its 4.8-inch barrel. Despite the small caliber, the high velocity provides good terminal performance with appropriate expanding ammunition.