Recomendations for 5.7x28?

[CATTLEMAN]

Anyone load 5.7x28?

If you do, do you use boolits?

I have been getting more interested in this cambering. Apparently factory ammo is VERY difficult to get right now (big surprise) and I am interested in loading some.

Any experiences, mold and / or powder recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

[runfiverun]

dies are becoming available, and rcbs makes shell holders.
take a couple of different brands of cases when you go to get one, and try them all in the shellholder.
i'll be glad to take any brass you have laying about though.
it makes pretty good 30 cal bullets.

[CATTLEMAN]

I have the dies, shell holder and a small amount of brass. I wish I had enough to share, but I don't. Anyway hoping to get a jump start on boolit and powder selection from someone who has been there and done that.

[SP5315]

I own a FNH Five-seveN but decided not to reload after reading on how temperamental the Five-seveN is. The Five-seveN is a bad one for pressure jump if pushed even a little bit over the line on a charge. The brass is also part of the recoil system, and stretches the neck on recoil working the case excessively. I guess you could anneal the case but that would destroy the polymer coating on the case. This is one round, in my opinion that I would stick with commercial ammunition.

[CATTLEMAN]

Just an update -- I signed up for the 225107 GB, it looks it might work for the 5.7

[alfloyd]

I have a friend that uses my swagged 55 grain slugs ( made from 22 LR brass ) in his 5.7.
He is having great success with them.
He only loads them 3 times, then I get them to make 30 cal slugs from.

Lafaun

[Chev. William]

Off Subject somewhat:
Have you thought of reforming 'once fired' 5.7x28 to some other sizes?
the case body diameter of about .314"-.312" sounds like it could be neck expanded and loaded with heeled "32" bullets for firing in a custom chambered .308 barrel as Rimless .32 Long Colt or even CF ".32 extra Long". modern action and modern steels would allow modern pressures and some 'interesting performance' Cartridges.

Reforming down in body diameter to about .300" would yield a case that would be like a short .22 K hornet (Frank de Haas published a note on a shortened and shouldered .22 hornet and sounded interesting).

Reforming down Further to .288" or even .276" Body diameter would make cases suitable for .257" bullets or .250" bullets. The .276" body diameter is the same as both the .25ACP and the .25 Stevens, both of which used the .250"/.251" Bullets. it also is easier to make a ".25-10 Halsted" case which uses the .257" bullets.

Think 'Outside the box' and inexpensive shooting becomes possible.

I bought a bag of 'Uncleaned Indoor Range once fired 5.7x28mm Brass' for about $60.00 for 1000 pieces including Shipping. So, for the moment, empty brass is available at reasonable prices, much less than the $32.00 for a bag fo 100 each .22 hornet brass I last bought.

De-priming the brass was the FIRST process I did with them.

Best Regards,
Chev. William

[Camba]

I had been reloading my 5.7x28FN Contender rifle (18" barrel) and found some great loads. My loads are for Contender and SHOULD NOT be used in the PISTOL version as the pressures may be higher in the Contender.
I settle down on the following load for my cast boolit shootings:

58gr GC RCBS 22-055-SP mold
6.4gr AA#7
CCI-550 (SPP mag) and CCI-450 (SRP mag)
I get around 2300 FPS and it looks about the same as another load that I pasted in this message. See pictures below:
Camba
147428147429

NOTE: This cartridge is not for beginners as it can go from normal to high pressure with fractional extra grains of powder. You may want to start low and work your way up in tenths of a grain and check for accuracy AND SIGNS of PRESSURE.

[Chev. William]

Another "offshoot":
the 5.7 case is about .312" body diameter as Found.
What about expanding the Neck/Shoulder out to slightly larger than .312" diameter then running the Case through a ".32 Long Colt" or ".32 Extra Long" sizing die to give a .Straight walled .312 body diameter Rimless Case. It could be used as either a .32, a .31, or a .30 Caliber parent.
Formed Case length is probably close to the .32 Extra Long Case Length, possibly allowing for some Trimming.
For either the .32 or .31 Calibers you would probably need a Custom Heeled and Inside Lubed Bullet to fit the case mouth without reaming.
.31 would separate this modern Cartridge form the older, obsolete, rimmed Black Powder Cartridges of similar Bullet diameter.
A Rimless .30 cartridge with a True .30" Diameter Bullet would need a barrel with .bore smaller than the Bullet but aren't .294" or .296" bore Barrels available?
Alternatively an inside lubed and hollow base Bullet design could be used in a .300" Bore barrel.

Some more Ideas to Ponder.

Best Regards,
Chev. William

[osteodoc08]

45cal has had good luck with 40gr Vmaxs and CFE Pistol. True Blue is also a popular powder. The cartridge (AFAIK) still does not have SAAMI standardization.

[Chev. William]

45cal has had good luck with 40gr Vmaxs and CFE Pistol. True Blue is also a popular powder. The cartridge (AFAIK) still does not have SAAMI standardization.
This cartridge is controlled By CIP Standards. They are Available for viewing and printing at "http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/en/tdcc_public"

CIP Standards Have the Force of LAW in Europe.

Best Regards,
Chev. William

[rnelson11]

I've been reloading for the FiveSeven for about 10 years. I don't cast for it but use Hornady 35 and 40 gr V-Max bullets. In my opinion True Blue is the best powder but very hard to find. It is also believed to be the factory FN powder for the SS ammo. AA7 is, to me, the second best and much more available. I did a lot of development back in 2005 with some guys from the FiveSeven forum before any reloading data was published.

[Chev. William]

Ammoguide Interactive (http://ammoguide.com) Lists 44 Loads for the %.7x28mm FN cartridge.
LoadData (http://www.loaddata.com) has Listings for 164 Loads in six Categories by Source, including 66 stated as being "5.7x28 FN / 5.7x28mm FN Handload Data (http://www.loaddata.com/members/search_detail.cfm?metallicid=5457&caliber=5.7mm&caliberid=39&header=5.7mm%20Caliber%20Reloading%20Data)" with the Notes:"Notes: An FNH Five-Seven USG with a 4 7/8-inch barrel was used to fire the test loads. FN cases and Winchester Small Pistol Magnum primers were used throughout. Case length: 1.137 inches; factory overall loaded length: 1.5925 inches. Temperature during tests was 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
These Loads were developed by Brian Pearce for his article on Handloading the FN 5.7x28mm. "

For General Information.
Best Regards,
Chev. William