Few handguns have generated as much interest among the military and police as the FN Five-seveN MRD.
Released in 1998 as a companion sidearm to the FN P90 personal defense firearm, the Five-seveN established a niche position due to its novel 5.7x28mm cartridge. With low recoil, a high-capacity magazine, and armor-piercing capability, it presented a new type of performance from service pistols.
From the start, the first Five-seveN stood out with its light frame made of polymer and a 20-round magazine, which was more than the usual 15 rounds in the M9. Its design took ideas from the P90, which had a 50-round magazine and could switch between firing modes.
The Five-seveN used a delayed blowback system and had a hammer that worked in just one way, making its trigger pull clean and its cycling smooth. This quickly caught the attention of military and police groups all over the world.
The gun was made better over time. In 2004, the USG type brought in a squared trigger guard, a better grip, and a switchable magazine button. The 2013 MK2 type added cut lines on the front of the slide, better sights, and dark controls for easier use and more precise shots. By 2010, over 300 groups, including the U.S. Secret Service, had picked the Five-seveN, showing its solid place in operations.
The latest model, the FN Five-seveN MRD, is a big step in tech. It has a special system for mounting optics that lets users put a wide range of small red-dot sights on it by using switchable plates, helping aim in long fights. The 4.8-inch barrel, made by cold hammering and a fine finishing touch at the tip, works well with bright iron sights that you can still see with the optics, giving a backup in dim light or bad weather.
Ergonomics was also greatly upgraded. Stippling and serrations of an aggressive nature on the grip, trigger guard, and safety selector provide a positive grasp even when wet or in high-stress situations.
Redesigning backstraps and specially serrated frontstraps enhances comfort and control, and the ambidextrous safety remains accessible without sacrificing trigger discipline.
Reliability has long been at the heart of the Five-seveN’s popularity. The pistol will cycle hundreds of rounds of 5.7x28mm ammunition smoothly, even under adverse conditions.
Its delayed blowback mechanism and internal hammer offer a consistent, controllable trigger pull that promotes accuracy in rapid fire.
Internally supported slides and frames add strength, allowing the pistol to maintain consistent performance over the long term.
Bullets are a key part of the gun. The 5.7x28mm type was first made to go through armor, with a straight path and very little kickback.
Though the ones sold in stores are not made to break armor, the ones for the army and cops can still do that. Making this bullet is hard, it needs very set glues and neck grip, which stops its wide use, but new deals with Fiocchi are making it easier to get and maybe cheaper.
The new launch of the MRD has made more people want this bullet, making others like Ruger and Palmetto State Armory sell their own 5.7x28mm guns at lower prices. The FN Five-seveN MRD, though, is still at the top, known for how it can be changed, its high quality, and its tested trust.
In a fight, the FN Five-seveN MRD stands out for its smart build, many uses, and new design. Its ready-for-optics top, better fit, and strong build make it a top pick for today’s army and cops. As planned for gun tech, the Five-seveN MRD shows FN Herstal’s ongoing push for new ideas and top work.