5,7 - why still a niche caliber?

I would love to have a FN FiveseveN but I ain't paying $1,200 bucks for a pistol that shoots .35 a round ammo.
 
Because niche round is a niche round?

It was designed as a niche round from the start...


The survival rifle idea was interesting...

Until ammo availability and chambered firearm availability increases, and costs decrease, it's not going to gain much popularity. Not when there are alternatives that can do the same job at less cost.

Because of that, it's hard to find a role for the caliber outside its initial and narrow initial design.
 
As a civilian in the United States, the biggest barrier for me has been that I've only ever seen one pistol chambered in 5.7 and it typically costs twice as much as other full-sized polymer-framed pistols. Worse, I'm a DA/SA guy who doesn't care for manual safeties. If there was a good option for me in this caliber, I'd try it.
 
^^^ I think the point is that no major gunmaker other than FNH has offered a non-modular dedicated pistol design that's readily concealable for users who aren't wearing trenchcoats or dusters. ;)
 
I'm not convinced the 5.7 offers many advantages in a pistol, but it's great for a small rifle. If the NFA ever gets repealed, I think we might see a number of SBRs chambered in 5.7mm, and thereby drive the cost down a bit. As it is now, though, I really don't see much benefit to it as a civilian compared to existing choices.

I stand by my survival rifle suggestion, though; I really wish I had the know-how to design one myself.
 
My biggest hangup of the FN 5.7 pistol was It felt like a plastic toy airsoft gun. I couldn't justify the cost versus the feel of the gun.
 
thanks Carguy Chris, I didn't think that I would have to qualify in order to omit conversion kits for ARs, but I guess we know what happens when I ASSUME...

personally I think the 22TCM took the idea of a bottleneck pistol cartridge in a much better direction. allowing for a 22 cal(non rimfire) cartridge for use in any standard combat pistol sized frame with minimal modification to the overall designs. too back Armscor was the brain child behind that one, that one will likely never take off either, although they are making bolt actions in that cartridge too. add to that the 1911s they ship in that caliber also include 9mm barrels and take the same mags and you have enough incentive or a guy to buy it without fear that the round will disappear overnight and become a reloader special. also armscor has brass buyback for the 22tcm. a lot of nifty ideas that would have immensely helped FN with the 5.7.
 
As a civilian in the United States, the biggest barrier for me has been that I've only ever seen one pistol chambered in 5.7 and it typically costs twice as much as other full-sized polymer-framed pistols.
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I've seen one and only one in the wild. The owner was very cool and let me shoot it too. It was a lot of fun. It made a big bang, held lots of rounds, and had little recoil but just enough to feel it (about the same as my Single Six loaded with 22mag). The gun felt nice in the hand, had a decent trigger and seemed accurate.

If it was a $400-500 gun and ammo could be had for less than $12 a box, I might consider it for a range toy. However, that cost is pretty much not ever going to happen.

I'll stick with 9mm and 223/5.56
 
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