Today, it is standard issue not only to NATO and the US military, but also Russia and even China. Since 1902 the 9mm has gone on to become the world’s most popular handgun cartridge and has been adopted around the globe. It predates almost all the popular handgun cartridges currently on the market including the 10mm. Designed by Georg Luger and introduced by the German firm of Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) in 1902, the 9x19mm is one of the oldest auto-loading pistol cartridges in existence. Also known as the 9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum and 9x19mm, this handgun cartridge has surged in popularity over the last decade. The 9mm Parabellumīefore we continue though, let’s consider the other cartridge in question, the 9mm. The 5.7x28mm has a longer overall length but is smaller in diameter. × Here is a comparison between 4 different 5.7x28mm loads and a 9mm monolithic HP. This never happened, and eventually, it was released onto the US commercial market.Ĭlick here to learn about the history and development of the 5.7x28mm cartridge. In a nutshell, the 5.7x28mm was originally designed to replace the 9mm cartridge in NATO service. It was originally developed as part of a military Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) project undertaken by FNH for NATO. The design was patented back in 1989 by FNH. It is significantly older than such popular cartridges as the 300 AAC Blackout, 6.5mm Grendel and 6.5mm Creedmoor for instance. While the 5.7x28mm cartridge may be new to you, it has actually been around for quite a while. Other questions I am frequently asked are: Is the 5.7x28mm a good cartridge? Is it expensive to shoot compared to the 9mm? Is it easy to reload? Are there drawbacks to the 5.7x28mm I should be aware of? The question many shooters have though is, “How does the 5.7x28mm stack up against the 9mm?” Basically, should you consider buying a 5.7x28mm over a 9mm for recreational shooting, training, and personal protection? That is a good honest question for someone considering laying out their hard-earned money for a pistol chambered for this cartridge. People who have shot a 5.7x28mm pistol typically comment on its mild recoil, allowing very fast follow-up shots, and its flat trajectory aiding hits past 50 yards. The 5.7x28mm is a small bottleneck cartridge known for its relatively high muzzle velocity. As interesting as the Ruger-57 pistol is though, it’s really the cartridge it’s chambered for which contains the magic. A company the size of Ruger getting behind the 5.7x28mm cartridge is big news, and will have an effect on the market, especially future ammunition offerings. I was quite surprised by Ruger’s sudden embrace of the 5.7x28mm cartridge with the launch of their Ruger-57 pistol this January.

Ruger 9mm bullets