In addition to the SS190 ball loading (color coded with a black tip), FN also developed a number of specialty loads. These include the L191 Tracer, Sb193 Subsonic, and SS192 Training Round. For commercial sales FN developed the SS195 LF JHP and SS196 V-Max. The SS195 LF features a jacketed hollowpoint that lacks the steel core of the SS190. It drives a 28-grain JHP at a claimed velocity of 2312 fps from a P90 and 2100 fps from a Five-seveN. Not designed to expand, and without the body armor penetration of the SS190, this lead-free round is instead designed with a rapid yaw cycle.

Originally developed for military use, the 5.7x28mm cartridge is now available to civilians in FN's Five-seveN USG

The SS196 is topped with a 40-grain Hornady V-Max and has a muzzle velocity of 1800 fps from the P90 and 1600 fps from the Five-seveN. This load is designed to expand/fragment and also lacks the body armor penetration of the SS190 load. The SS190, L191, and Sb193 were developed for military and law enforcement use, so they have always been restricted and have never been available for sale to civilians. However, neither the SS195 LF nor the SS196 load was designed to penetrate body armor, and neither is classified as armor piercing by BATFE. Therefore, both loads are available, without restriction, to lawfully armed citizens.

The Five-seveN pistol
FN developed two systems to utilize the new 5.7x28mm cartridge: the P90 PDW and the Five-seveN service pistol. Both are modern designs manufactured from space-age corrosion-resistant materials. The P90 is a unique-looking compact submachinegun that feeds from a horizontally mounted 50-round magazine. The companion of the P90 is the Five-seveN. It is a full-size service pistol that operates via delayed blowback. I had a chance to shoot both the P90 and Five-seveN pistol on the company's outdoor range, but I was looking to spend more time with the Five-seveN than was possible in a mere demonstration. So after returning to the U.S., I requested a Five-seveN pistol for review. It arrived a short time later, and I immediately got to work.

The model I received was FN's Five-seveN USG. It came in a black plastic hard case with a cleaning kit, tools, lock, and two spare 20-round magazines. A full-size service pistol with a look all its own, the USG is built on a lightweight polymer frame. Quite out of the ordinary, though, is that the slide, which houses a 4.8-inch hard-chromed barrel, also has a polymer shell. Due to the amount of polymer utilized in its construction the USG, despite its size, is relatively light, just 1.3 pounds unloaded. My sample gun weighed 1.6 pounds loaded. Overall length is 8.2 inches, and it's approximately 5.75 inches high.

(From left to right) 5.56, 5.7x28mm SS190, 9x19, .224 BOZ, 7.62x25mm Sabot, 7.62x25mm, 5.45x18mm Soviet, 5.7x28mm SS190, 5.7x28mm SS195 LF.

Upon first examining the USG one notes the controls are placed a bit differently than the norm. The USG's magazine release (which can be reversed for left-handed use) is a conventionally located push button release. No change here. But the slide release is located just forward of where the safety is mounted on a 1911. This allows it to be easily depressed without having to stretch for it. Ambidextrous safety levers are mounted on both sides of the frame just above the trigger.

While this is an unusual place for a safety on a handgun, modern pistol handling doctrine calls for placing your trigger finger alongside the frame when not actually firing. This puts it right over the USG's safety lever allowing it to be easily manipulated. To facilitate use with gloves the trigger guard is slightly oversized at the front. A takedown lever is located on the left-hand side of the pistol's frame, allowing it to be easily stripped without tools. To show the state of the firearm, a loaded chamber indicator is mounted to the left rear of the ejection port.