Click HERE to learn more about the new Ruger-57.
When Ruger announced its new Ruger-57 handgun late last year, the firearms industry took notice. The 5.7x28mm cartridge isn’t really what you’d call “mainstream.” But Ruger’s decision to jump into the 5.7mm game has sparked a renewed interest in the little bottleneck, and we stopped by their booth at Shot SHOW 2020 to see it for ourselves.
Paul Pluff, Ruger’s Public Relations Manager, explained that the company wanted to release a handgun chambered in 5.7mm because they saw its potential for self-defense and, as he put it, “this gun is just fun to shoot.”
That latter point is definitely true. The 5.7mm cartridge naturally produces very little recoil, and the thin grip and low bore axis help users control what little recoil it does produce. The grip is nicely textured, and the beavertail provides lots of space to maintain contact with the handgun.
The hammer-fired, double-action-only trigger is smooth, crisp, and consistent, which lets users throw lots of lead downrange in a timely fashion. But the included 20-round metal magazine also means you aren’t constantly reloading, and the 5-inch, alloy steel barrel ensures you’ll hit what you’re aiming at.
The handgun comes with a set of durable sights, and the rear is adjustable for both windage and elevation. For those users who’ve jumped onto the red-dot wagon, the Ruger-57 also comes with plates that adapt to Vortex and Burris red dots.
SEE ALSO: Diamondback’s New 5.7mm Pistol Is the 5.7mm You’ve Been Waiting For – SHOT Show 2020
The 5.7×28 cartridge was developed in the early ’90s by FN Herstal as a possible replacement for NATO’s 9x19mm Parabellum. While NATO didn’t adopt the cartridge, the FN Five-seveN has seen increasing popularity in the civilian marketplace. CMMG also released a pistol chambered in 5.7mm in 2018, and Diamondback announced their 5.7mm pistol at this year’s SHOT Show.
MSRP for the Ruger-57 is $799, but Pluff noted that they’re going for $650 on the street.
Click HERE to learn more about the new Ruger-57.