I like it when companies do unexpected things. Sometimes these outside-the-box ideas change the industry while other times they simply become a curiosity. Either way, it keeps things interesting.
The Ruger-57 is one of those unexpected pistols.
In the days leading up to the SHOT Show, Ruger is rolling out its new products for 2020. Yesterday, the company announced the Lite Rack LCP II. Today, the latest is a handgun chambered for the 5.7×28 cartridge.
Let’s take a look at what this new gun offers.
Where to Buy the Ruger-57
The Ruger 57 is proving to be a very popular pistol. If you cannot pick one up for a reasonable price locally, consider purchasing one through our affiliate links:
- Palmetto State Armory (best price)
- Guns.com
- Sportsman’s Warehouse
- Sportman’s Guide (offers interest-free payments)
I’ve done business with all of these companies and found them to be good people to work with. I willingly spend my own money with them.
Gun Design
The new Ruger-57 is a full-size pistol with a polymer frame. It has a barrel just short of 5″ and a modest weight of 24.5 ounces.
It is a semi-automatic, blowback design. Ruger designed the hammer-fired gun with a 1911-style thumb safety. The safety is ambidextrous for ease of use regardless of which hand grips the pistol.
A front fiber optic sight with a fully adjustable blacked-out rear sight is standard. The gun is red dot ready. Ruger sells multiple mounting plates for the addition of an optic like the Burris FastFire and Vortex Venom.
Standard magazines hold 20 rounds. However, the company also offers limited capacity 10-round magazines for shooters who live in less-free states.
The 5.7×28 Cartridge
There is a good chance that some of my readers are not familiar with the 5.7×28 cartridge.
That’s understandable as the cartridge has never secured a large part of the firearms market. Nevertheless, it is a caliber that offers a blend of low recoil, high velocity and the reliability of a centerfire round.
In general terms, it is a cartridge with a bottleneck case and a bullet with a diameter of 0.224″ (5.7mm.) Bullet weights range from about 20 grains to about 50 grains. The cartridge could be thought of like a thinner, shorter .221 Fireball though I have no information that suggests the Fireball directly influenced the 5.7×28 design.
Lightweight projectiles tend to make for less recoil and increased velocities. In my own testing, for example, I found the SS197 load with a 40 grain Hornady V-Max bullet averaged 1,683 fps from a 4.8″ barrel.
FN Herstal developed the round in response to a NATO request for a small arms cartridge that could be fired from a pistol and personal defense weapon (PDW) and could penetrate body armor. Although the cartridge and companion firearms were never adopted in any significant quantity by military units, the cartridge and guns have found use in law enforcement and sporting contexts.
Other than the new Ruger-57, there are few companies manufacturing firearms chambered for this cartridge. FN builds the Five-seveN pistol and PS90 rifle chambered for the 5.7×28. There are also several smaller companies that make or previously made specialty guns for the round including the AR-57 and Masterpiece Arms MPA 57.
While ammunition selection is fairly limited, Speer introduced a new Gold Dot defensive round for the 5.7×28 at the same time Ruger released this new pistol.
The Speer load uses a 40-grain bullet and will be sold in boxes of 50 rounds. The MSRP is about $1/round but street prices are expected to be about $35-39 for a box of 50.
Where to Buy the 5.7×28 Ammo
Finding 5.7×28 ammunition is tough in this market. However, you can find Ruger 57 bullets if you do a little digging. Here are two affiliates that have some in stock:
The best choice for 5.7×28 self-defense ammo I can find right now is the Speer Gold Dot load here.
Holster Options
For self-defense, predator control or just plinking on a camping trip, there is a good chance you will need a holster for your new Ruger-57. Fortunately, Ruger had the good sense to work with a number of companies to ensure there would be carry rigs available at launch.
Check out my Ruger-57 Holsters Guide and see what is available.
Specifications
| Caliber | 5.7×28 |
| Capacity | 20+1 |
| Barrel Length | 4.94″ |
| Overall Length | 8.65″ |
| Height | 5.6″ |
| Weight | 24.5 oz |
| Grip Frame | polymer |
| Finish | matte black |
| MSRP (at launch) | $799 |
| MSRP (2022) | $869 |
Final Thoughts
I have a positive first impression of the new Ruger-57.
As I always say, the proof will be in the shooting. Even so, I am intrigued by this gun and have high expectations for its performance and the amount of fun it can provide.
The guns are not cheap by Ruger standards, but it is an all-new design and there are costs associated with that. Compared to the FN Five-seveN, the pistol is significantly less expensive – by more than $600. That will definitely bring more shooters to the 5.7×28 niche. I hope that means we will see more ammo made for it as well.
Last Update: October 15, 2022
25 replies on “Ruger-57: New 5.7×28 Pistol”
I never could justify the $1400 for a Five seveN. I’ve seen them online for $1099, but add tax, shipping & transfer fee, and you’ve just added $125+. I’ve always wanted one, though: I can foresee them being labeled “high-capacity armor-piercing assault pistols” and targeted for banning. I can’t see myself ever using a Ruger 57 for serious self-defense or spending much time with it on the range ($$$), but I am definitely getting one!
Unless there is a major political shift in this country, now’s the time to buy those guns (& magazines) you’ve always wanted. All “they” need is 2 years as a majority and our rights will be gutted. The Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 was a test run – the next one won’t have a grandfather clause or a sunset date.
If you got in the FN years back you would have paid low $800’s, ammo is almost double what 22 mag runs, but it does perform better on all aspects, and more reliable than the PMR, most people would buy a AR pistol, but there is no comparison on the compactness of the two. So I believe there will be something of a market. It would be nice if the original high velocity ammo didn’t get banned back in the day, it was l think 2200 fps out of 5″ barrel and capable of penetrating body armor. But I think FN agreed not to import it or it was banned. There are small quantities of that ammo out there but because of it’s scarcity it draws a stupid price and you got to worry are you really getting what you are buying. If they were importing it it wouldn’t cost any more than the 50 cents or so you get the other stuff for and more inline with 556 ammo. Then I think there would be more of a market.
How do you take a cheaply made Ruger Securty9 and sell one and make 4 times the Profit? Answer: Design it for a new caliber. A caliber that most will not shoot a lot of rounds down range. The cost and availablity will see to that.
Wow. First Ruger then CMMG and now Diamondback. What’s going on with all of the 5.7×28 guns??