The FN 5.7x28mm cartridge first hit the market over 30 years ago and almost died out but, in the past few years, has seen a remarkable jump in popularity. Why?
Author: Michael Crites
Michael Crites has served as executive editor of AmericanFirearms.org since 2016 and previously held positions as associate editor and range correspondent dating back to 2000. He discovered his passion for precision shooting at age 12 during his first visit to his grandfather's shooting range, eventually earning an Expert classification in three different shooting disciplines before age 18.
During his studies at University of Wyoming, he earned four varsity letters on the collegiate rifle and pistol teams, serving as team captain for three consecutive years. He became the first UW student to complete the NRA Range Safety Officer certification while maintaining full-time student status. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Communications.
His diverse career has included roles as Range Safety Coordinator for the National Rifle Championships in Camp Perry 2001; editor-in-chief, Precision Shooter Quarterly; series editor, Modern Firearms Handbook collection; managing editor, National Shooting Sports Foundation Newsletter; editor, Competitive Shooter Magazine; operations director for Western Arms & Ammunition Co.; senior editor for the Shooter's Reference Annual (Cheyenne); content director for The Firearms Report, published by the American Shooting Coalition in Billings, MT; firearms correspondent for Hunting & Shooting, produced by Outdoor Sports Media Group in Jackson, WY; and publisher for Wyoming Shooting Sports Journal in Casper. He has contributed as a regular columnist for American Rifleman (NRA Publications), technical editor for Precision, a publication of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (Phoenix, AZ); and as firearms specialist for the Gun Owner's Annual.
As a digital content creator, he has written more than 400 articles on AmericanFirearms.org, developed shooting technique coverage for the Brownells Shooting Blog (Montezuma, IA) and Federal Premium "Range Notes" platform (Anoka, MN), and served as lead content strategist for International Defensive Pistol Association (Berryville, AR). Beyond Tactical Firearms, his current endeavors include content development for the Wyoming State Rifle Association (Cheyenne, WY) and technical manual production for High Plains Publishing of Laramie, WY.
He has contributed to the 12th, 13th, and 14th editions of Modern Sporting Rifles Guide and edited The Complete Guide to Tactical Shooting and Competitive Shooter's Reference Manual (Gun Digest Books).
The Echelon: Is Springfield Armory Getting It Right?
Today’s Springfield Armory, Inc dates to 1974 and, when it comes to handguns, primarily makes assorted 1911s and 2011s (the terribly received Prodigy) domestically then imports pistols from Croatia’s HS Produkt— the XD series (HSP G2, SF, and S series) and the Hellcat (the HSP S7). Now, the company appears to be putting the XD… Continue reading The Echelon: Is Springfield Armory Getting It Right?
Taurus Judge Review: I Fired 300 Rounds, Zero Malfunctions
The Taurus Judge is a unique and versatile firearm that has gained a reputation for its ability to fire both .45 Colt and .410 shotshell rounds. With its rifled barrel and double-action trigger, the Judge is a popular choice for self-defense, hunting, and recreational shooting. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the… Continue reading Taurus Judge Review: I Fired 300 Rounds, Zero Malfunctions
SIG M400 Review: 2,000 Rounds Tested & Dropped in the Snow
The SIG M400 is a popular AR-15 rifle (and one of our favorites) that is known for its accuracy, reliability, and value. It is a great choice for both beginners and experienced shooters. The SIG Sauer M400-SDI XSeries is one of the latest iterations of Sig’s line of AR-style rifles. Utilizing some advancements and upgrades… Continue reading SIG M400 Review: 2,000 Rounds Tested & Dropped in the Snow
News: SIG Optics, Viridian, POF-USA, and KAK Industry Announce New Summer 2023 Products
SIG Ups Whiskey to 4th Gen SIG’s Electro-Optics wing is fairly new, just eight years old. Their naming convention is easy to figure out, borrowing from the NATO phonetic alphabet. For instance, Romeo is set aside for non-magnified red dots, Juliet for magnifiers, Zulu for binos, Kilo for rangefinders, Foxtrot for lights, etc. Their Whiskey… Continue reading News: SIG Optics, Viridian, POF-USA, and KAK Industry Announce New Summer 2023 Products
Vortex Sonora Review: My Take After an Oregon Winter
Many a rifle whisper will spew forth the advice that one should “spend as much on the glass as the rifle” — but what if that’s not in the cards? I’m more of a “spend what you can realistically afford” kind of guy, which means certain brands aren’t really on the radar a lot of… Continue reading Vortex Sonora Review: My Take After an Oregon Winter
News: AAC E3: Coming soon, new CMMG Dissent Rifles, & Ghost Gunner has SIG P320’d the Glock
AAC E3: Coming soon Advanced Armament Corp, better just known by its AAC acronym, is a brand that was one of the first big suppressor makers. They were responsible for the Honey Badger and the .300 Blackout before Remington Outdoors gobbled them up and basically destroyed the company. The brains trust there included John Hollister,… Continue reading News: AAC E3: Coming soon, new CMMG Dissent Rifles, & Ghost Gunner has SIG P320’d the Glock
AR-15 Laser Sights: Reliable Options for Home Defense and the Range
Ah, the laser sight. Conjuring up images of Stallone’s iconic “Cobra” or the jungle hunts of “Predator,” laser sights have made a lasting impression on our imaginations. Chasing the fantasy alongside our childhood heroes, we dove deep into the realm of AR lasers, leaving behind the Hollywood nonsense and highlighting their unique practicality.
News: GX4 Safety Notice, New Colt 1908, Ruger LC Charger 5.7, SA Saint Law Folder
Taurus GX4 Safety Notice Taurus says that some (not all) “GX4 pistols assembled and sold only in the United States may, under certain circumstances, discharge when dropped.” If you have one, they advise you to “safely unload and stop using your GX4 IMMEDIATELY. Failure to observe this warning may result in injury or death to… Continue reading News: GX4 Safety Notice, New Colt 1908, Ruger LC Charger 5.7, SA Saint Law Folder
News: SW PC M&P 10mm M2.0, a ‘Star Spangled Banger’ Desert Eagle, & Compensated CR920P
Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 10mm M2.0 Smith & Wesson introduced their M&P model pistol in 10mm Auto earlier this year and now has a tuned Performance Center model. The new PC M&P 10mm has all the same things the standard model has but uses enhanced features such as a ported 5.6-inch barrel, optic-height… Continue reading News: SW PC M&P 10mm M2.0, a ‘Star Spangled Banger’ Desert Eagle, & Compensated CR920P