Braxton Taylor
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) has accepted and standardized the 5.7x28mm centerfire pistol and revolver cartridge. SAAMI—founded in 1926 at the request of the Federal government—is the organization at the forefront of promoting firearm safety by creating standards that ensure safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition and components.
The 5.7x28mm was originally designed by FN Herstal, S.A. It was proposed for standardization by SAAMI voting member Fiocchi of America, in partnership with FN America. The cartridge features a 40-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 1,750 fps from a 5-inch test barrel at a Maximum Average Pressure of 48,500 psi.
Full details and specifications can be found on SAAMI’s technical drawing page. Shooting Illustrated published an article on the cartridge that provides more details for enthusiasts who reload.
In 2021 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standardized the cartridge, which was first introduced in the 1980s. The earliest firearms to chamber it were the FN’s FN P90 and FiveseveN pistol, but today nearly every major manufacturer makes at least one gun fed by the ammunition.
The primary purpose of NATO standardization is very different than that of SAAMI. Its focus is ensuring interchangeability of small-caliber ammunition used by allied armed forces. The cartridge was integrated into NATO’s Multi-Caliber Manual Of Proof and Inspection list in 2021. That year it joined 9mm, 5.56 NATO, 7.62 NATO and 12.7×99 mm NATO (also more widely known as the .50 BMG) in the NATO small-caliber ammunition portfolio.
FN Herstal has a long history of cartridge innovation. It designed the 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO, which were standardized by NATO in 1957 and 1981, respectively. The latest acceptance by SAAMI underscores the company’s dedication to providing law-abiding citizens, armed forces and security forces with high-performance and efficient small-caliber ammunition.
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