Featured First Look: FN Five-seveN MRD David Lane June 14, 2022 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More A COLD WAR CARTRIDGE THAT HAS FOUND NEW LIFE IN RECENT YEARS, FN HAS GIVEN THEIR FLAGSHIP PISTOL A HUGE UPGRADE PACKAGEWith over 25-years of service, the FN Five-seveN is a popular pistol for handgun hunting, self-defense, and blasting at soda cans. For almost that entire time the FN Five-seveN was basically the only pistol that chambered 5.7x28mm, although that changed in the last couple of years.Not one to be left behind, FN has a new version of the pistol – the FN Five-seveN MRD – made with major improvements to their classic pistol to keep up with the times and bring it more in line with what their other handguns offer. The biggest change is the addition of a red dot mounting point! Using a plate system for mounting similar to what FN uses on the FN 509 and 502, these plates allow you to mount basically any of the modern popular micro red dots. FN states that “The system is compatible with most common miniature red dot sights including the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, Trijicon RMR, Vortex Optics, Burris FastFire series, Docter Optics, and more.” And that the FN Five-seveN will ship with all of the plates and mounting hardware needed.FN Five-seveN MRDThe rest of the upgrades sound minor but make a major difference in how the gun feels and controls.Enhanced slide serrations and cocking ridges on the rear of the slide, a new design for grip checkering making it more like the 509’s grip, and a recontouring of the rear backstrap gives a better and more natural point of aim for the shooter.My favorite of the ergonomic changes, the magazine release has been enlarged and reshaped slightly to make dropping the magazine faster and easier.The FN Five-seveN MRD will be available in both Black and FN-signature FDE (just like the original FN Five-seveN).5.7x28mmThe low-recoil and high penetration of 5.7x28mm were originally designed to defeat Soviet body armor in the late 1980s but never saw mass military adopted due to the end of the cold war. But that never stopped it from being a popular civilian cartridge! While arguably less practical than calibers like 9mm, .45 ACP, or even .380 ACP the 5.7x28mm delivers unprecedented range, capacity, and accuracy to a handgun platform.5.7x28mm ammo for FN Five-seveN MRDFN Five-seveN MRD Specs:CALIBER: 5.7x28mmOPERATION: Delayed blowback, Single-action onlyMAG CAPACITY: 10 or 20 Rd.WEIGHT: 25.2 oz. (without mag)BARREL LENGTH: 4.8″OVERALL LENGTH: 8.2″TWIST RATE: 1:9″ RHHEIGHT: 5.6″WIDTH: 1.35″TRIGGER PULL: 4.4 – 7.87 lb.SIGHT RADIUS: 7.0″MSRP: $1,450Ready for more? Take a look at these articles:5.7x28mm RenaissanceRuger 57Breaking Down The Diamondback Firearms DBX57 PDWExplore RECOILweb:American Made: Dawson KnivesSKB Updates their Watertight 3-Gun CaseSHOT16: Sig Sauer Red Dot OpticsAnchor Tents and Tarps With The Claw NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.