Reloading the 5.7x28

[Carbon_15]

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I picked up an FN FiveseveN pistol this weekend at the gunshow. I was wondering if you guys could share some reloading data with me using 40 grain bullets. Being a cheap-o I dont like to buy powder for just one caliber...I prefer powder that can multitask.
Currently I load .38, .380acp, .357, 30-06 and 7.62x39
Powder I have on hand that may be suitable:
Accurate 1680
Alliant Power Pistol
Alliant American Select

[tom234]

Check powder mfgr web sites. Not a good idea to reload without a reloading manual.

[Carbon_15]

So far Ramshot and Accurate are the only one postig data...and its very minimal

[CraigC]

Accurate (#5 and #7) and Ramshot True Blue are the only ones I've seen.

[res45]

Lyman #49 manual has date for your caliber and none of the powders you have will work with it.

[Carbon_15]

care to give me some insight on what powders will work well with the .40gr bullets acording to Lyman...or should I just buy the book :)

[darkgael]

care to give me some insight on what powders will work well with the .40gr bullets acording to Lyman...or should I just buy the book
With all due respect - a couple of things.
You were given some insight to appropriate powders. The Ramshot powder is True Blue. In addition, Hodgdon's HS-6 works well.
Yes, you should buy the Lyman manual and pick up the data sheets (free) from Accurate and Ramshot.

I understand from your OP that you reload. Good, the 5.7 is not a cartridge to learn on. It is extremely finicky about charges. You are using charges in the six grain area and the difference between safe and blowing the neck of the case is measured in tenths of a grain.
The 5.7 case stretches - the shoulder blows forward - proportionately more than any case I have ever seen. This is a result of the delayed blowback system. The delay itself is effected by a coating on the case that causes it to stick in the chamber a tad longer than it would otherwise; the timing of that delay is important and one reason why the use of proper propellants is important.
When sizing the case, it is important to set the shoulder back to spec. If your die/press combo has any slack in it at all, that may not happen. It is common to set the press so that it "overcams" a bit when sizing.
Pete

[Carbon_15]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I have been reloading and casting for about 10 years, but I must admit this little bugger has me a little intemidated. The whole reason I bought the pistol was becasuse I wanted something new and interesting to reload.
Still waiting on my dies, but I think I will play it safe and buy a can of AA #7 (and maybe a more sensitive scale). #7 should work well in .357 loads also

[Magnum Wheel Man]

of the (+ or -) 40 cartridges I reload for, the 5.7 X 28 out of the FN is the hardest most frustrating cartridge to reload, & has the shortest case life... it's not so bad out of a fixed breach gun like the Contender though... however, new brass is not available, ( rumor has it Starline is going to start selling new brass, weather it's pre-laquered or not ??? )... unless you are a glutton for punishment, ( or like I do, look at reloading as a completely different hobby ) I suggest selling the once fired cases, & finding your best bulk prices on loaded ammo

if you are still thinking about reloading it, here are some problems I ran into... besides finding the right powder... my early ( I think Lyman dies ) were too long, & I had to have my machinist buddy shorten them ) I had to buy 3 different shell holders before I found one that fit tight enough not to damage the tiny rim, with all the force needed to properly resize the case ( damaged rims & stuck cases were common, when I 1st started )... I had a file trim die made, as the brass stretches more than any other I reload for... I've pulled off 3-4 necks & stuck them in the sizing die, out of the 500 - 600 rounds I've reloaded...they were thinned on the inside, where the shoulder was movd from & you couldn't tell from the outside ( now I pre-inspect using a bright light & shining it into the cases, I can usually see a bright ring ) I went throuh 4-5 different lubes before I found something that worked well on the laquered cases as much as they need to be sized... some primers are staked, I just seat primers in the staked pockets, but it takes a little futzing sometimes... I had a 5-7% failure rate in once fired cases I bought, & 7-10% on twice fired, I haven't reloaded that many 3 times fired, but suspect the failure rate will be higher yet, plus it may be time to re-laquer them for proper function in the FN...

I have used some powders that there is not loading data available, using my Contender barrel as a test barrel, but as DARKGAEL indicated, the burn rate needs to be just right for the FN to function reliably... one interesting thing, is that the gun has a fast enough twist rate to stabilize much heavier bullets than what are available in factory loads, but powders & charges must be chosen carefully with various bullet weights, not only for function, but also to prevent a KB ... ( a search may turn up 4-5 guns that have KB'ed )... probably all related to reloads, so I'm very carefull, starting with the Contender barrel 1st, then working up loads I've tested in the Contender & deemed safe powder charges in .2 grain increments

[Carbon_15]

or like I do, look at reloading as a completely different hobby

Bingo. I love reloading and casting just adds another dimension to it. I have gotten into calibers just because I wanted to cast bullets for them.
Its a sickness

[darkgael]

Well...since this thread is still developing. Before there was any data available from any company, I tried a number of other propellants with mixed success. No KBs and they all went bang. Accuracy was erratic.
Some powders that I tried were AA#9, Unique, Blue Dot, 2400, 4064 (yes, for subsonic loads. it didn't last long). None worked as well as the #2 and #5 Accurates and True Blue from Ramshot - except for HS-6.
Of these, the only ones that I use now are True Blue and HS 6.
Pete

[dsv424]

Go to this site for extensive info on loading the 5.7x28mm:

http://www.fivesevenforum.com/

I have got 99% of all my data from this site. Look up Grantness, he is the most helpful. Some of the others can be a bit arrogant and offensive, especially if they deem your question stupid in their eyes.

My favorite load so far is 40 grain Vmax Hornady or 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip with 5.6 grains True Blue, case trimmed to 1.130 and seat the bullet at 1.580. Works great in my AR-57. But you need to be careful loading this round. It has very tight tolerances. Regarding recommended equipment and dies go to the site I posted, it has all the info you need to load this round.

[darkgael]

+1 about the five seven forum.
Some of those fellows were pioneering the loading a long time before there was any factory data. Unfortunately, there was a server crash a year or so ago and a lot of the early data was lost.
The very fine Elite Ammunition is produced by one of the fellows who was doing the early testing on that site.
Pete

[Carbon_15]

Thanks everyone,
I ended up getting a can of AA#7 , 100 39gr varmint grenades and 100 blitzking bullets yesterday. Still Waiting on my dies. I'll let you know how it goes.

Now I gotta get a PS90 and SBR it:cool:

[Magnum Wheel Man]

FYI... I'm currently still loading with Blue Dot as well as some other powders listed...

[dsv424]

BTW, the powders I have used for this caliber are: True Blue, HS-7, Blue Dot, and AA#7. All these have worked well for this round. From what I have seen the most popular powder is True Blue. You may want to get one of these as opposed to trying or finding any data on the powders you have. I haven't seen any recipes for those powders yet.

[Walkalong]

Look up Grantness, he is the most helpful. Some of the others can be a bit arrogant and offensive, Yep, Grantness is very helpful, but as far as some of the others go, that is why I do not post there anymore. ;)

Lots of good info there though, including some posts by me with loads I shot in my AR 57.

[Carbon_15]

I went throuh 4-5 different lubes before I found something that worked well on the laquered cases as much as they need to be sized... some primers are staked, I just seat primers in the

I have One-Shot, RCBS case lube (the syrupy stuff) and Redding sizing wax. Three totaly different types of lube. What do you think would work best.

[darkgael]

Lube? What do you think would work best.

Imperial Sizing Die Wax. It's the top shelf choice in case lubes. Redding sells it.
One small tin will last you...oh...maybe.....a hundred years.
It goes far.
Pete

[Magnum Wheel Man]

RCBS case lube & Franford Arnsenals spray lube did not work the best for me...( don't know how One Shot compares to the Frankford stuff, which I do like for "normal reloading ) at the recommendation of my retired tool & die buddy, I bought a new pad, & started it on STP oil treatment, & that is now what I use exclusively on the laquered 5.7 cases... I either wash or tumble the cases after sizing, to clean up the STP, but my sticky case issues litterally went away after I started using STP... prior to loading 5.7, the spry type lubes were my favorite for other cartridges, & still what I use most of the time ( except fo 5.7 )

[Walkalong]

I lubed all my 5.7 cases with RCBS Case Lube II. The Redding Sizing Die Wax is also great stuff for really tough sizing jobs, which this isn't.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

... for really tough sizing jobs, which this isn't.

:eek: are you talkng about 5.7 X 28 ???

if so, you must either be really really good, or really really lucky... I don't consider myself to be a master reloader, but I do reload around 40 different cartridges... & size for size, this is the toughest one I reload... granted it's not a uber ultra mag sized case requiring some muscle to resize, but with the tiny case head, I've pulled off several during the sizing process, something I've never done on any of my belted magnums...

[Walkalong]

No problem with mine. I did, however, buy 3 shell holders. I use one to prime with and another to size with. Off hand I don't remember which is which. I have a Lyman, a Hornady, and an RCBS. You might try another shellholder. That tiny rim does need a good fitting shell holder. :)

[Carbon_15]

My dies showed up today. Everyone had me freaking out about resizing but with the Imperial Wax that was smooth as silk. Hoever it seemed like my primers were seating very deep. I put a primed case in the gun and went outside...CLICK. There was a dimple but no bang.
I'm using Federal gold medal SPM primers.
I know some people are using pistol primers with success (The data from Accurate suggest SPM or SR)...what gives

[darkgael]

. Hoever it seemed like my primers were seating very deep. I put a primed case in the gun and went outside...CLICK. There was a dimple but no bang.
I'm using Federal gold medal SPM primers.

Now that's a surprise. Is the case sized properly - shoulder where it should be so that the headspace is correct?
Try small rifle primers which should be a little taller ( LR are 0.008" taller than LP)
Did you try firing the test case again? Did a second hit make it go off?
Pete

[Carbon_15]

I did. I seated a new primer, but used less pressure and it went off. Supprising how loud a magnum pistol primer is...

[McClintock]

Ouch. Hope you're okay, were you wearing safety glasses?

I have yet to experience a primer going off in the press, and I hope I never do.

Cheers!
McClintock

[Carbon_15]

oh yea... I put the primed case in the gun, when outside and fired it in the gun. Thought it would be a little pop...sounded like a .22 rifle and woke the neighbors. No blue lights or helicopters though

[xtremehunter83]

sorry for bumping old thread :)

love the 5.7 :) im over there on the forum listed above, as stated grantness is very good at helping out others not so much...... i only post there when i absolutely need info and cant find it, its kinda sad there are alot of ppf do just the same......


any time you find some hs7 snag it up.......