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Posted: 11/3/2009 8:31:43 AM EDT
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Hope this is the right place for this...
Has anyone fired an AR57? I'm looking at just the upper to put on a lower I built. To me it looks pretty neat but I have no first hand experience. For those who've had hands on I'd like to hear what you have to say, good, bad or mediocre. |
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I have one and love it.
Forget the people that say there is no practical use for the 5.7 x 28 cartridge.....they may be right, but since when has any gun had to be practical. I love the 50 round mags, the quality of the upper is first rate, you can get one for $600 if you check out gunbroker, they run PERFECT, you can use a modified AR mag as a brass catcher, it is major fun. Any similar upper that is built as a a machined one piece unit with the forearm in any other caliber is at least twice the price (I guess I am not sure of exact prices, but way more then $600). I actually now want to buy either one of the 6" or 11" models to swap on my SBR and pistol builds. I can buy ammo locally for $21.99/50.......at more locations then I can find 5.56 at the same price. Paging MadDogDan P.S. Set aside another $1000 because you will fall in love with the cartridge and have to buy the pistol 
Here's mine..... 
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Thanx I appreciate the input.
I really like the modified mag idea for catching brass!!  Does that man you reload? If I got this route thats my plan...to buy the first 1000rds and reuse the brass. From what little I've read it seems 5.7 isn't easy to reload. Don't know if thats true or not, just what I read on the interwebs.
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| I am definetly saving my brass and may reload some day down the road. I have also heard that they are a little iffy to reload, but IIRC the troubles were coming more with reploads in the pistol. If it is a pressure issue and possible case failure.....I would feel much more safe shooting the reloads in an AR57 upper....which is built like a brick. |
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The 5.7 haters should be along soon, and will say that it has the balistics of a .22 mag.
Anyway......I did just that, I sold my 9mm AR setup and bought this. I haven't regreted it one bit. I can (although getting slightly better) rarely find 9mm ammo on the shelf, 5.7 ammo is more available then it ever was, still priced at $21-$24 per 50. It is quality ammo. I was having some issues here and there with 9mm AR mags, what mag to use, what block is best, will that mag work with this block, etc...... You buy this, change the buffer (it comes with a specific buffer) buy a few mags at $29 each, but ammo and have fun. For me, be it 9mm or 5.7, I am just shooting popcans, paper, the occasional small animal that happens to drift by the range. And it complements my 5.7 pistol nicely. |
| Let me ask this question.....The mag on top holds the rds, Do they eject out the side port or out the magwell? The p mag is just for show then correct? Can you put up a picture of the ammo you use compared in size to the 9mm? Did you need a special buffer for this or could I just use one of my regular lowers with no mod.......sorry for the questions but i'm intrigued. |
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It egects straight down, out of the mag well...so the modified (cut the top off and gut) Pmag is a working brass catcher.
It uses a special heavy buffer that IS included with the uppers. If you choose to use an A2 full length stock, you will need a different buffer that they also sell...the included buffer is for collapsable stocks. I will take some pics tonight.....hope this helps. |
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I have an 11" upper built as a pistol. Lots of fun and the magazine just seems to keep goin. The standard bolt catch can not be used to lock the bolt back, but Bohica arms makes a bolt catch that can be used. I like to be able to lock my bolt open, so I put one of theirs in. I've used both the Korean and FN magazines without any failures. I've been getting 50rds for $20 out the door at my local shop. Eventually I plan on SBR'ing the lower and putting a suppressor on it. I havent decided whether I will cut the barrel back so the suppressor is under the handgaurds or not. Any 5.56 suppressor can be used if the barrel isnt cut back. If you want the suppressor to be inside the rail you will have to use a .22 suppressor or wait for gemtechs 5.7 suppressor to come out because all of the 5.56 suppressors are to large in diameter. |
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Just call Bohica Arms at 1-877-766-6575. They don't have online ordering, but if you talk to Sandy she'll get it sent right out. I think I paid $16 for mine. Shipping will be a few bucks as well. I have one of the Bohica .50's and was looking at the design of their catch and thought it would probably work on my AR57 as well, so I ordered two, and thankfully it works great. ETA: Bohicas website: www.bohicaarms.com |
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This is excellent info! More q's below.....
About the buffer swap, is it just the buffer or is it a spring & buffer swap? Other than the buffer do all the other std parts in the lower work w/ the AR57 upper? (also excepting the hold open) Has anyone fired the weapon upside down or side ways? In any but upright firing positions I wonder if it has ejection problems. Is the spent case ejected w/ 'authority' or just dropped out? Anyone have an idea what the optimum bbl length is for the FN ammo? That said they must either have a compromise loading for the pistol and p90 and/or p90 specific ammo? What do you use your AR57 for? I was thinking along the lines of home defense, plinking and small varmint control. This I think is more an ammo question...anyone fire in a night/low light situation? If so was how much flash? Again, another ammo related q, I see that 40 and 27gr ammo is most available. What do you use and why? I'm not that well read in regard to the 5.7 but only know it has its detractors. Is it the old big bullet/small bullet routine or something else like imparted energy to the target or ???? Ive seen some pretty impressive penetration tests and cant see any reason for dissing the 5.7. Im looking for just a brief answer, just enough to get a flavor for the argument(s) against the 5.7. |
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Quoted:
I am definetly saving my brass and may reload some day down the road. I have also heard that they are a little iffy to reload, but IIRC the troubles were coming more with reploads in the pistol. If it is a pressure issue and possible case failure.....I would feel much more safe shooting the reloads in an AR57 upper....which is built like a brick. I've read as much as I can find on reloading it and sadly almost all is w/o context. Are they talking pistol or rifle? That said FN hasn't made it easy and I think no one really knows what the pressure specs are for this round. IIRC there have been problems w/ some sizing dies that arent to spec. Anyway, its sort of a mixed bag and not much good data exists. If I go the AR57 route Id like to reload to get best performance and have more bullets choices...plus its loads less expensive. |
| I've thought about getting a 5.7 upper, they are dead sexy, and a 50 round mag is nice, but the biggest thing that stops me is ammo availability and pricing. 5.7 costs just as much as 5.56 for a less powerful round. 9mm is almost half that price, and you don't need to buy a $1,000 pistol to use it. |
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Quoted:
I've thought about getting a 5.7 upper, they are dead sexy, and a 50 round mag is nice, but the biggest thing that stops me is ammo availability and pricing. 5.7 costs just as much as 5.56 for a less powerful round. 9mm is almost half that price, and you don't need to buy a $1,000 pistol to use it. Oh yes...very very cool! I think far more than the P(S)90. I see your point re ammo which is why I plan was to reload to keep costs under control. It also affords more choices than FN allows. I've looked at 9mm uppers and could never bring myself to buy one. The mag situation is a fair hassle + for my intended use 9mm doesn't fit well. Dang, I don't know what FN was thinking when they priced the 5.7 HG. I certainly don't want one for that $$$. Was also thinking seriously about rebarreling a short action Savage w/ a 5.7 bbl. That could have some real attraction in popping vermin around the farm. OTOH perhaps the AR57 fits the bill + allowing quick/easy conversion back to 5.56. Right now I think I'll wind up w/ an AR57 upper. |
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Anyone use one on a full auto RR yet? Anyone use a SWR Spectre Suppressor on the 5.7 yet? If so how did it perform? Dane Not me but the ar57 site does talk very briefly about FA. You'll need a FA bolt at least to get it to work. I think youll need to talk w/ them directly for details. |
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I had a PS90 in my hands today and thought, "Why not get one of those AR uppers to put on my SBR instead?" Then I get home, come here and read this. I think I need to sell off some of my "extra" gun stuff and buy one of these uppers ASAP! You will not regret it. |
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Quoted:
The 5.7 haters should be along soon, and will say that it has the balistics of a .22 mag. The FN 5.7 when fired from a PISTOL gives performance similar to a .22 Mag fire from a RIFLE. With the longer rifle barrels the 5.7 picks up 300 or 400 fps more velocity over the handgun making it much more potent than the .22 magnum. Folks need to make a fair comparison if they say the 5.7 is just a .22 magnum. .22 Mag fired from a rifle has about the same energy as a 9MM fired from a handgun. Most folks don't think the 9MM handgun round is too bad for self defense. Yes there is a lot more to self defense than muzzle energy. But I'm not going to volunteer to stand in front of a 5.7 handgun being fired. I'm not a fan of the 5.7 from the handgun, but this upper looks like a lot of fun for a rifle. There's a lot to be said for 50 rounds of ammo at your immediate disposal. |
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