By: Friedrich Seiltgen

Having been impressed by the FN Five-seveN since its introduction, I longed for a pistol in the same caliber, only a bit cheaper.

Sturm, Ruger & Co. answered the call and produced the Ruger-57! The pistol has all the features of the FN. but at a price difference of $400!

The first thing you notice about this gun are the impressive ergonomics. The textured frame and grip made with a Ruger proprietary glass-filled nylon is designed with an easy trigger reach. Combined with a reversible mag release, and an ambidextrous 1911-style safety, handling the 57 a pleasure.

The slide is a hardened steel billet with lightning cuts. As with most new pistols, it comes pre-drilled and tapped for easy optics mounting. The FN still does not have this feature! The adjustable rear sight and green fiber optic front sight and the low recoil of the 5.7 X 28 round allows for quicker target reacquisition.

You would think that a double-stack, 20-round magazine (free states only) would be bulky and a minus, but it’s not any wider than other full-size pistols.

As for safety, the 57 features Ruger’s secure action, fire-control system, which uses a protected hammer, hammer catch, and a bladed safety trigger. With the added bonus of an inspection port/loaded chamber indicator, the 57 has your safety well in hand.

Another safety plus is the disassembly of the pistol. It’s somewhat similar to the Sig Sauer 226, which uses a takedown lever. Ruger did not want the shooter to have to pull the trigger before disassembly. I personally know three people who have shot themselves through the hand when disassembling another brand of pistol. And before you say it, I know it’s not the pistols fault. Always remember the basic firearm safety rules!

The 5.7 AP round will penetrate a standard bullet vest, but Federal and others who manufacture the proprietary round only sell the armor piercing type to law enforcement and military.

SPECIFICATIONS

Action Type: Single Action, Delayed Blowback

Caliber: 5.7 X 28mm

Velocity: 1,725 fps

Magazine capacity: 10 or 20

Sights: Adjustable Rear with Fiber Optic Front

Barrel Length: 4.94”

Overall Length: 8.65”

Weight: 24.5 oz.

MSRP: $799

The Ruger-57 is a hit in my book. It’s a full-size pistol suitable for home defense, target shooting, or even small game hunting. It handles well, and at a price of $799 MSRP as opposed to $1,199 for the FN, I’ll take it and use the savings for ammo!

That’s all for now folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s be careful out there.”

Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism, Firearms, First Aid, Active Shooter Response, and Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations in Florida. His writing has appeared in The Counter Terrorist Magazine, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International. Contact him at [email protected].

Photo from https://www.ruger.com/products/ruger57/models.html