New to Smith & Wesson’s M&P lineup is the 5.7×28 chambering. Like the 10mm, .357 SIG and .38 Super, the 5.7×28 is an excellent though under-appreciated handgun chambering. However, with S&W throwing its hat into the ring, the 5.7x28mm cartridge has a much brighter future.
About the Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7
The polymer-framed M&P 5.7 slide and barrel is made of stainless steel and has a black Armornite finish, making it nearly impervious to rust. There are two lightening cuts at the front of the slide. The frame features a strip of railing up front. And the handgun only weighs 26.7 ounces.
The 5-inch Tempo barrel is part of the rotating locked-breech system designed to further enhance control during rapid-fire shooting of the high-intensity 5.7x28mm cartridge. It doesn’t cam open until the bullet passes the gas port. The barrel is threaded for suppressor use, and there is currently no unthreaded barrel offered.
The M&P 5.7 is remarkably thin in configuration and easily gripped despite the length of the 5.7x28mm cartridge. Because of the chamber’s length on the M&P — or any 5.7 pistol — an extra ¾ inch or more is added to the barrel length, which increases overall length. So while my 9mm SA35 “Hi-Power” and the M&P 5.7 both have 5-inch barrels, the overall length of the M&P is 1 ¼ inches more.
S&W M&P 5.7 Specifications
Width: 1.1 inches
Overall length: 8.5 inches
Barrel length: 5 inches
Weight: 26.7 ounces
Capacity: 22
How Does the S&W M&P Feel?
This pistol is available with or without a thumb safety. I requested my pistol come equipped with the additional manual thumb safety feature. While these ambidextrous safeties operate along the order of 1911 pistols, they can also be applied while the pistol is uncocked, and do not lock the slide in place. There is a small trigger lever safety in addition to the manual safety levers and no magazine disconnect. The slide releases are also ambidextrous and easily reached by the shooting-hand thumbs. The magazine release is reversible.
Weighing in at a crisp 4 pounds, 3 ounces, the M&P 5.7’s flat-faced single-action trigger pull is superb. That is thanks, in part, to using a rotating internal hammer rather than a striker to fire the rounds. It may be the best trigger on any of the polymer 5.7s available.
I was surprised S&W used a much smaller-than-standard triggerguard on the 5.7. It is much smaller than the one used on my M&P M2.0 Compact. The small size could be an issue for folks with larger hands than mine or those who wish to use the M&P 5.7 outdoors or on duty while wearing gloves.
The M&P 5.7 comes with the highest capacity flush-fitting stainless steel 5.7×28 factory magazines available — 22 rounds — and two are included. A compact plastic magazine loading device is also included, which I found necessary.
The sights were a bit of surprise, especially considering the sights that came with my M&P M2.0 Compact. Even though the M&P 5.7’s slide is cut for optics, the factory sights that were mounted were 3-dot plain white steel sights of standard height instead of tall sights and are drift adjustable only.
Shooting the M&P 5.7
I tested the M&P 5.7 using FN’s SS197SR load topped with blue polymer-tipped Hornady 40-grain V-Max bullets. Fired from the FN PS90 carbine, muzzle velocity is 2,034 feet per second, which generates a respectable 256 foot-pounds of energy. Velocity when fired from a handgun is usually around 1,800 feet per second.
Cycling was quite smooth due to the Tempo barrel system. It was an extremely pleasant shooting experience. At 25 feet, my rounds impacted a bit to the left of my point of aim, averaging 2 inches in diameter. There was no feeling of the barrel torquing off-center during firing, which was known to happen with previous handguns that used rotating barrel designs. If I were keeping the M&P 5.7, I would likely mount a red-dot optic so that a full range of adjustment could be available.
Should You Buy the Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7?
I was thrilled when Smith & Wesson introduced this 5.7×28 pistol. I had intended to test carrying concealed in an Uncle Mike’s universal belt slide as it was the only one I initially had that fit. However, when I sat in my truck with the holstered (empty) pistol, I found that the extended threaded barrel poked well out of the bottom of the holster and dug into the seat.
While the S&W 5.7 is an exceptionally good pistol with a new operating system, I would like to see three changes made. These would make this handgun better suited to law enforcement.
- Offer a model available without a threaded barrel for easier carry in outside-the-waistband holsters.
- Replace the current sights with the tall sights currently available on standard M&Ps.
- Enlarge the triggerguard.
However, the new S&W M&P 5.7 is a welcome addition to the 5.7x28mm pistol stable. MSRP is a remarkable $699, which puts it in better wallet range for more shooters.
Source:
Smith & Wesson: Smith-Wesson.com
