Quoted:
It shot like it was a .22. Very controllable, quick follow up shots. I was impressed.

Quoted:


And judging by it's terminal performance, it might as well BE a .22.

The only real reason the cartridge is effective at all is the P90, which has full-auto capability...meaning the multiple hits on a target make up for it's lack of terminal performance.

The ONLY thing the cartridge has going for it is it's armor piercing quality.  Of course you get the same thing out of a .223/5.56 with terminal performance to boot.

I fear that police forces will be taken in by FN's marketing hype and that this weapon system will cost lives.

Quoted:
The cartridge supposedly has the same tumbling/fragmenting qualities as a .223. At least that's what the FHN rep told my friend. If you know of any independent tests on the round, I'd like to see them.

"Wound Profile of the 5.7x28mm FN Cartridge (SS 190) Fired from the FN P90 Submachine Gun", Wound Ballistics Review Volume 4 Number 3, Spring 2000,
Dean B. Dahlstrom, RCMP Forensic Laboratory, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Kramer D. Powley, RCMP  Forensic Laboratory, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Cst. Gordon, Pope, Regina Police Service, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Several papers have described the incredibly poor terminal performance of projectiles fired by the FN P90.

--Fackler M: "Errors & Omissions", Wound Ballistic Review. 1(1):46; Winter 1991.

--Fackler M: "More on the Bizarre Fabrique National P-90", Wound Ballistic Review. 3(1):44-45; 1997.

--FBI Academy Firearms Training Unit. FBI Handgun Ammunition Tests 1989-1995. Quantico, U.S. Department of Justice--Federal Bureau of Investigation.

--Hayes C: “Personal Defense Weapons—Answer in Search of a Question”, Wound Ballistic Review. 5(1):30-36; Spring 2001.

--Roberts G: “Preliminary Evaluation of the Terminal Performance of the 5.7 x 28 mm 23 Grain FMJ Bullet Fired by the New FN P-90 , Using 10% Ordnance Gelatin as a Tissue Simulant”, AFTE Journal. 30(2):326-329, Spring 1998.

--Roberts G: “Terminal Performance of the 5.7 x 28 mm 31 Grain SS-190 FMJ Bullet Fired by the FN P-90 in 10% Ordnance Gelatin.”, AFTE Journal. In Press.

The early 5.7 x 28 mm 23 gr FMJ bullet fired by the FN P-90 had insufficient penetration for law enforcement and military use. The current 31 gr SS-190 FMJ bullet has nearly adequate penetration, but the wound resulting from this projectile has a relatively small permanent crush cavity, as well as an insignificant temporary stretch cavity. Although the 5.7 x 28 mm penetrates soft body armor, wounding potential is at best like a .22 LR or .22 Magnum. Even 9mm NATO FMJ makes a larger wound--and we are all aware of the awe inspiring incapacitation potential of M882 ball from the M9......