What Are the Key Features of the FN Five Seven Pistol

 

Sleek, unconventional and built around a high-velocity cartridge, the FN Five-Seven stands apart from most service pistols. Designed by FN Herstal in the 1990s for military and law-enforcement use, it blends low recoil, high magazine capacity and lightweight construction into a platform that’s equally at home on the range, in a defensive role or as part of a duty loadout. This guide breaks the pistol down into its core features so you can quickly understand what makes the Five-Seven unique.

Overview

At first glance the FN Five-Seven is recognizable by its long, slender slide and polymer frame. It uses an uncommon 5.7×28mm cartridge and emphasizes controllability and magazine capacity while remaining light. The model reviewed here is finished in flat dark earth, often referred to in listings as fn 57 fde and five seven fde — a cosmetic option popular with shooters who prefer desert or tactical aesthetics.

Caliber

The Five-Seven fires the 5.7×28mm cartridge, a small-bore, high-velocity round developed alongside FN’s PDW concepts. The cartridge produces relatively flat trajectories and reduced recoil compared with many pistol calibers, enabling quick follow-up shots and less shooter fatigue during extended strings of fire. This caliber is a defining technical reason shooters choose the platform.

Learn more: Types of Bullets: Sizes and Calibers

Capacity

Magazine capacity is one of the pistol’s strong suits. Standard factory offerings include 10- and 20-round magazines; civilian models often ship with three 10-rounders in states with magazine restrictions. The slim case of the 5.7 round allows FN to pack more rounds into a magazine that still fits an ergonomic grip. If capacity matters to you, the Five-Seven delivers while keeping the grip size manageable.

Action

The Five-Seven is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol. Its single-action trigger offers a predictable, crisp break with a trigger pull range reported by FN at roughly 4.4–7.87 pounds, depending on measured samples. The single-action design contributes to consistent trigger feel and accuracy once the shooter is familiar with the reset.

Frame & Slide

The pistol’s frame is polymer, making the overall package surprisingly light for a full-size platform — listed weight is about 21 ounces without a magazine. The slide is machined steel covered with a polymer exterior, engineered to balance durability with weight savings. Ergonomically the grip is checkered and comfortable for a wide range of hand sizes; controls include a reversible magazine release and a forward-mounted ambidextrous manual safety that works for left- or right-hand shooters.

Barrel & Accuracy

FN fitted the Five-Seven with a cold hammer-forged stainless steel barrel that’s chrome-lined in the bore and chamber for extended life and corrosion resistance. Barrel length is approximately 4.8 inches, which helps the 5.7×28mm achieve its velocity and accuracy potential. Combined with a sight radius around 7.0 inches and low recoil impulse, the design lends itself to accurate, fast shooting — especially at typical pistol engagement distances.

Recoil & Ballistics

One of the pistol’s most praised attributes is its low felt recoil. Because the 5.7×28mm is a low-mass, high-velocity round, it generates significantly less muzzle flip than many larger pistol calibers while still delivering excellent penetration and velocity on target (performance varies widely with load selection). The result: fast follow-ups and steady aiming between shots, which benefits both new shooters and seasoned competitors.

Sights & Optics

Standard Five-Seven models ship with adjustable three-dot sights. The long slide and generous sight radius make precision shooting easier than on most compact pistols. The frame also incorporates an accessory rail (MIL-STD-1913) for lights and lasers, and many shooters outfit the slide with aftermarket red-dot optics where allowed, turning the platform into a very capable precision pistol for close to mid-range work.

Also read: Best .22 Pistols of All Time

Controls & Ergonomics

Ambidextrous operating controls (safety lever and reversible magazine release) help the Five-Seven feel familiar to left- and right-hand users alike. The trigger guard is serrated for a positive off-hand hold, and the checkered grip offers secure purchase even with thin gloves. The overall layout is intuitive: slide serrations fore and aft, a manual safety reachable without changing grip, and a low profile that aids concealment when needed.

Variants & Use

FN produces several variants and finishes; the tan FDE option is widely marketed as fn five seven fde. The pistol is also offered in configurations compliant with specific regional rules — searchers in some areas will find references to fn five seven california when looking for compliant models or dealer availability. The Five-Seven finds use among military and law enforcement units worldwide, as well as sport shooters and collectors who appreciate its unique balance of capacity, accuracy and low recoil.

Conclusion

The FN Five-Seven is a distinct pistol with a focused design philosophy: pair a low-recoil, high-velocity cartridge with a lightweight, high-capacity handgun to create a controllable, accurate semi-auto. Whether your priority is manageable recoil, magazine capacity, or a platform that adapts to optics and accessories, the Five-Seven remains a compelling, if unconventional, choice.

Many prospective buyers inevitably ask “how much does a fn 57 cost” — prices vary by retailer and configuration, but at time of listing some retailers show prices in the mid-four-figure to low-thousand dollar range for new models; check local dealers for current inventory and compliance details.