Best 5.7×28 Pistols (2026)

The best 5.7×28 pistols of 2026 have taken a cartridge that was once a niche curiosity and made it one of the most talked-about rounds in the gun world. The 5.7x28mm was designed by FN in the late Cold War as a personal defense weapon round for troops who needed something lighter than a rifle and more capable than a 9mm. It pushes a 40 grain bullet at around 2,000 feet per second with recoil so light that shooters compare it to a .22.

For years, your only choices were the FN Five-seveN and the P90 family, and both cost serious money. That changed when Ruger launched the Ruger-57, and since then KelTec, Diamondback, CMMG, and others have jumped in. Now you can get a 5.7 pistol in a traditional handgun, a 50-round top-loader, or an AR-style large-format pistol, and ammo is easier to find than it used to be.

Is it a magic bullet? No. It is a fast, flat, light-recoiling round with high capacity, and that is a very good combination for a lot of shooters, especially those who struggle with 9mm recoil. If you want the background on the cartridge, read our 5.7x28mm education and our take on 5.7×28 as a survival caliber.

Every gun here has a GunsAmerica Digest review behind it. We ranked seven of the best 5.7×28 pistols by what they do best, from carry-size handguns to large-format PDW-style pistols. Start with the buyer’s guide so you know which type fits you.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best 5.7×28 Pistols In 2026

The 5.7×28 pistol market splits into two camps: conventional handguns and large-format pistols that are really carbines without stocks. Here is how to choose.

Handgun Or Large-Format Pistol

Conventional handguns like the FN Five-seveN and Ruger-57 carry in a holster and hold 20 rounds. Large-format pistols like the KelTec P50, KP50, Diamondback DBX57, and CMMG Banshee have longer barrels for more velocity and often a brace, but they are not carry guns. Decide which job you need first.

Barrel Length And Velocity

The 5.7 gains a lot from barrel length. A 5 inch handgun barrel is fine for defense at pistol distances, but an 8 to 10 inch barrel adds significant velocity and range. If you want a truck gun or a PDW, go long.

Magazines And Capacity

Handguns typically use 20-round magazines. The KelTec P50 and KP50 use 50-round P90-style magazines. Some large-format guns use Five-seveN pistol magazines, and CMMG uses its own AR conversion magazine. Check magazine cost and availability before you buy.

Optics And Accessories

Most modern 5.7 guns are optics ready, either with a slide cut or a Picatinny rail. Threaded barrels are common on large-format pistols, and the 5.7 suppresses very well.

Ammo Cost And Selection

5.7 ammo costs more than 9mm, and it is not a cheap plinking round. Pick a gun you will actually practice with, and choose a defensive load that has been tested in your barrel length.

Legal Considerations

Braced pistols and short-barreled rifles are subject to changing federal rules and state laws. Know your local laws before you buy a large-format pistol or add a brace or stock.

Best 5.7×28 Pistols Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup

FN Five-seveN: Best for Overall 5.7×28 Handgun (2026)

The FN Five-seveN is the original, and it is still the benchmark. It weighs only 21 ounces without the magazine, which surprises everyone who picks one up, and it carries 20 rounds of 5.7×28. The frame, trigger, and controls are all polymer, and the slide even has a polymer shell. Our reviewer, coming from a rifle background, said the trigger gave him deja vu of a high-quality 2-stage rifle trigger; he guessed it was much lighter than the 6 pounds it measured. The sights are very tall, almost suppressor height, with white dots front and rear, and the rear is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. He shot 25-yard accuracy groups with multiple loads and found both himself and the gun capable of shooting extremely accurately with the right ammo. There is a magazine disconnect, so the trigger will not work without a mag inserted.

Read our full FN Five-seveN review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Capacity: 20+1
• Weight: 21 oz without magazine
• Trigger: 6 lb (as measured)
• Sights: Tall, white dot, fully adjustable rear
• Price: $1,435 MSRP at time of review

Pros

• The proven original
• Very light for 20 rounds
• Excellent trigger feel
• Accurate with the right ammo

Cons

• Most expensive handgun here
• Magazine disconnect
• All-polymer controls and slide shell are not for everyone

🛒 Check Current Price for FN Five-seveN on GunsAmerica

Ruger-57: Best for Value 5.7×28 Handgun (2026)

The Ruger-57 is the gun that made 5.7×28 affordable, and our reviewer called it the best Ruger handgun in five decades. It pushes a 40 grain bullet at over 2,000 feet per second with very minimal recoil. Capacity is 20, which is a serious amount of shooting per magazine. The slide is cut for a red dot, and the grip narrows at the top with a nice undercut and grooves that seem to move your finger more in line with the trigger. The trigger is a hybrid of curved and flat with a center safety blade wide enough to be comfortable over a long day. The biggest selling point at launch was price: at its MSRP, the Ruger-57 cost roughly half of the only competitor at the time, the FN Five-seveN.

Read our full Ruger-57 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Capacity: 20+1
• Optics: Slide cut for a red dot
• Trigger: Hybrid curved/flat with center safety
• Price: $799 MSRP at time of review

Pros

• Much cheaper than the Five-seveN
• Optics ready
• Very mild recoil
• Comfortable grip and trigger

Cons

• Pistol-specific magazines
• Ammo still costs more than 9mm
• Review dates to 2020

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger-57 on GunsAmerica

KelTec KP50: Best for High-Capacity Large-Format Pistol (2026)

The KelTec KP50 is KelTec’s newest 50-round 5.7, and with the Jungle Clip connecting two 50-round magazines back to back, it carries 100 rounds in a package that stays relatively flat and compact. It has a fully machined lower receiver, uses KelTec’s SU16 trigger group with a B5 Systems grip, and wears a continuous Picatinny rail. Our reviewer described the recoil as only slightly greater than a rimfire, so keeping a red dot on target during rapid fire takes little effort. At 50 yards, horizontal dispersion was extremely small, and he believes it has sub-inch potential with a magnified optic, though he is clear that is an estimate. It ran reliably through mag dumps, cheap ammo, and suppressed fire without cleaning; one odd malfunction near the end involved a loose cartridge trapped under the bolt that he could not conclusively blame on the gun.

Read our full KelTec KP50 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Capacity: 50 (100 with Jungle Clip)
• Barrel: 9.6 in, 1:7 twist
• Trigger: SU16 trigger group
• Models: Pistol $899, Braced Pistol $1,099 (tested), SBR $1,099, Defender package up to $1,349
• Ammo: About $29 per 50 rounds at time of review

Pros

• 50 or 100 rounds on board
• Near-rimfire recoil
• Accurate at 50 yards
• Multiple configurations

Cons

• One odd malfunction in testing
• Not a carry gun
• Brace and SBR versions carry legal considerations

🛒 Check Current Price for KelTec KP50 on GunsAmerica

Diamondback DBX57: Best for PDW-Style Pistol (2026)

The Diamondback DBX57 is a large-format pistol that our reviewer called the best PDW on the market. It takes AR-platform triggers and safeties, but Diamondback designed the rest of the gun around the 5.7 cartridge, with dual adjustable gas blocks that ensure reliable cycling. The body is less than an inch wide, so it feels more like a standard pistol than AR-based “pistols.” It feeds from 20-round FN Five-seveN compatible magazines, so it pairs well with a Five-seveN on your hip. It weighs 3 pounds unloaded, and with a red dot, steel folding stock, and a full magazine, the whole package came to only 4 pounds 2 ounces. The 8 inch barrel is threaded 1/2×28 and wears a DBX muzzle device.

Read our full Diamondback DBX57 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Capacity: 20 (FN Five-seveN compatible magazines)
• Barrel: 8 in, 1/2×28 threads
• Length: 15.25 in
• Weight: 3 lb unloaded
• Trigger: Mil-spec AR-15; MagPul MOE K grip
• Price: $1,125 MSRP at time of review

Pros

• Very slim and light
• Shares magazines with the Five-seveN
• AR triggers and controls
• Adjustable gas for suppressed use

Cons

• 20-round magazines are smaller than P90 mags
• Brace or stock adds legal considerations
• Review dates to 2021

🛒 Check Current Price for Diamondback DBX57 on GunsAmerica

KelTec P50: Best for Original 50-Round Pistol (2026)

The KelTec P50 was the first of KelTec’s 50-round 5.7 pistols, and it is still a unique design. It uses P90-style magazines that load on top, and the clear magazine makes it easy to see how many rounds remain. The bolt rides on two spring-loaded guide rods, and the whole bolt group can be removed for cleaning in seconds. A full-length Picatinny rail on top has integrated adjustable iron sights; they sit flush with the rail and are hard to see, so most people will put an optic on it anyway. The 9.6 inch barrel is threaded 1/2×28. Our reviewer had zero malfunctions in the 250 rounds he fired.

Read our full KelTec P50 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Capacity: 50 (P90-style magazines)
• Barrel: 9.6 in, 1/2×28 threads
• Overall Length: 15 in
• Weight: 3.2 lb unloaded
• Trigger: 5 lb
• Price: $1,095 MSRP at time of review

Pros

• 50 rounds in a compact package
• Zero malfunctions in 250 rounds
• Quick bolt removal for cleaning
• Threaded barrel

Cons

• Iron sights are hard to see
• Odd ergonomics compared to a handgun
• The newer KP50 adds more features

🛒 Check Current Price for KelTec P50 on GunsAmerica

CMMG Banshee 5.7: Best for AR-Style 5.7×28 Pistol (2026)

The CMMG Banshee in 5.7×28 puts the cartridge into a familiar AR package. Our reviewer shot it as part of a deeper look at the 5.7 cartridge, and he found the recoil similar to a .22 with excellent accuracy for such a small gun. The upper has a 5 inch barrel and CMMG’s patented Radial Delayed Blowback operating system, which further reduces the already minimal recoil. It ships with one 40-round CMMG 5.7 AR conversion magazine. With a Trijicon RMR mounted, a whole magazine at 25 yards made a pleasing group on a half-scale target, and a three-round group from 50 yards standing supported was tight enough that he thought he was missing. His group fired about 500 rounds with no malfunctions using Federal ammo.

Read our full CMMG Banshee 5.7 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Barrel: 5 in
• Operating System: Radial Delayed Blowback
• Capacity: 40 (CMMG 5.7 AR conversion magazine)
• Trigger: CMMG single stage mil-spec style
• Price: Check current GunsAmerica listings

Pros

• Familiar AR controls
• Recoil similar to a .22
• About 500 rounds with no malfunctions
• 40-round magazines

Cons

• Proprietary magazines
• Review is part of a broader cartridge article
• Short barrel gives up velocity

🛒 Check Current Price for CMMG Banshee 5.7 on GunsAmerica

Ruger LC Charger: Best for Ruger-57 Owners Who Want a Large-Format Pistol (2026)

The Ruger LC Charger is a large-format pistol based on the Ruger LC Carbine, and it uses the same magazines and controls as the Ruger-57. If you already own a Ruger-57, that magazine compatibility is the big selling point. It has a 10.3 inch barrel threaded 1/2×28, an ambidextrous manual safety, a reversible magazine release, and Ruger’s Secure Action fire control with a protected internal hammer and bladed safety trigger. An M-LOK aluminum free-float handguard with an adjustable hand stop, multiple QD sling points, and a full-length Picatinny rail give you room for optics and accessories. Note that our Digest coverage is a launch article, not a full range review, so treat this pick as a lighter-sourced option.

Read our full Ruger LC Charger first look here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Capacity: 20 (Ruger-57 magazines)
• Barrel: 10.3 in, 1/2×28 threads
• Safety: Ambidextrous manual; bladed trigger
• Handguard: M-LOK free float, full-length Picatinny
• Price: $999 MSRP at launch

Pros

• Shares magazines with the Ruger-57
• Long 10.3 inch barrel for velocity
• Ambidextrous controls
• Threaded for a suppressor

Cons

• Launch article, not a full Digest review
• Only 20-round magazines
• Not a carry gun

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger LC Charger on GunsAmerica

Final Thoughts On The Best 5.7×28 Pistols Of 2026

If you want a 5.7 handgun, the FN Five-seveN is still the benchmark and the Ruger-57 is the value pick with an optics cut. For large-format pistols, the KelTec KP50 gives you 50 or 100 rounds with near-rimfire recoil, the Diamondback DBX57 is the slim PDW that shares mags with the Five-seveN, and the original KelTec P50 still runs. The CMMG Banshee brings 5.7 to AR shooters, and the Ruger LC Charger is the natural partner for a Ruger-57.

The 5.7 is fun, fast, and easy to shoot well, but ammo costs more than 9mm, so buy enough to practice. Test your defensive load in your barrel length, and know your state and federal laws on braces and SBRs before you configure a large-format pistol.

Related reading: see our guide to the best Kel-Tec guns.

More reading: see our guides to the best FN pistols and best Smith & Wesson pistols.

GunsAmerica has been connecting buyers and sellers since 1997, and you can find every one of these 5.7 pistols at GunsAmerica.com. Train hard, shoot straight, and stay dangerous.