Reloading 5.7x28mm

abortedfetus

abortedfetus

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So I've recently purchased a Five Seven and I tried researching on how to reload for the it, but I couldn't find much info on it. Most of the information I found required powder that was hard to acquire in Canada (True Blue, AA-7, AA-9, AA-5, Universal, Power Pistol, and VV-N105).

So I was just wondering, is there any way to reload with more readily available powder in Canada? or am I SOL and stuck buying the ammo?

Thanks in advance.
 
I don't own anything in 5.7x28 but was curious so started searching. Found this forum which lists some questionable load data.
http://fnforum.net/forums/handloading-reloading-ammo/520-5-7x28mm-reload-data.html
Approach with caution. Looks like non-laboratory data developed by gunwriters, not ballistic engineers. That's not to say it is bad data but definitely requires more caution than scientifically measured, proven, lawyer approved load data.

Regardless they all use pistol or shotgun powders which can be difficult to find currently (in Canada and the US).
Win 231
Unique
Bluedot
HS-6
SR-7625 (discontinued by Hodgdon)
Win Action Pistol
Lil Gun
 
I own and reload for a FiveseveN. Pleasure to shoot, the wife especially loves it. I hope that's not degrading the gun as a "ladies"...

It is a pain to reload for. There is a whole forum for it, just google Five Seven Forum. There's a whole well of information there. And reloading, although a pain, is very popular for the cartridge.

The only published loads in a book I have found is in Lyman 49th edition. Which is the same powders you mentioned. True Blue is an absolute pleasure to work with, it has the consistency of sand and meters very smooth.

One thing worth mentioning with this round is that you are dealing with a high pressure round where small variations in powder make a big difference. It is also a very easy round to double charge (even a tripple charge will physically fit in the case for some recipes). I would definitely recommend you set up a system so that you remember which cases you have charged. Personally, I seat the bullets straight after charging each case for this guy.

Google "Five Seven Kabooms" for results of a double charge.
 
LUTNIT said:
I don't own anything in 5.7x28 but was curious so started searching. Found this forum which lists some questionable load data.
http://fnforum.net/forums/handloading-reloading-ammo/520-5-7x28mm-reload-data.html
Approach with caution. Looks like non-laboratory data developed by gunwriters, not ballistic engineers. That's not to say it is bad data but definitely requires more caution than scientifically measured, proven, lawyer approved load data.

Regardless they all use pistol or shotgun powders which can be difficult to find currently (in Canada and the US).
Win 231
Unique
Bluedot
HS-6
SR-7625 (discontinued by Hodgdon)
Win Action Pistol
Lil Gun
Click to expand...

Hmm, thanks, this could be helpful. Is there a reason why pistol and shogun powders are scarce in Canada and US?


FF57 said:
I own and reload for a FiveseveN. Pleasure to shoot, the wife especially loves it. I hope that's not degrading the gun as a "ladies"...

It is a pain to reload for. There is a whole forum for it, just google Five Seven Forum. There's a whole well of information there. And reloading, although a pain, is very popular for the cartridge.

The only published loads in a book I have found is in Lyman 49th edition. Which is the same powders you mentioned. True Blue is an absolute pleasure to work with, it has the consistency of sand and meters very smooth.

One thing worth mentioning with this round is that you are dealing with a high pressure round where small variations in powder make a big difference. It is also a very easy round to double charge (even a tripple charge will physically fit in the case for some recipes). I would definitely recommend you set up a system so that you remember which cases you have charged. Personally, I seat the bullets straight after charging each case for this guy.

Google "Five Seven Kabooms" for results of a double charge.
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that your wife loves to shoot the gun...my wife was the one who wanted, so I got it for her.

But seeing the rounds being so expensive and also there are only 2-3 dealers who carry the ammo in Canada, I thought I could save some money by reloading.

Are you still using True Blue to reload? If not, what do you use to reload now?

Anyways it seems the general consensus is head to the Five Seven Forum.

Thanks a lot for the info guys!
 
Yeah, I still use True Blue.

Bass Pro just north of you tends to have the AE brand of ammo on the shelf. It's good for at least getting cases... That's the other hard part... cases...
 
yea...cases of that....I was on the phone with irunguns the other day and they said they could give me a discount of 30 bucks per box (down from 36) if I bought 5000 rounds....

If you don't mind me asking, where did you acquire True Blue powder?
 
abortedfetus said:
Is there a reason why pistol and shogun powders are scarce in Canada and US?
Click to expand...
It all appears to have started with the Sandy Hook school shooting on December 14, 2012. There are countless tin-foil-hat conspiracy theories floating around as well.

This thread is about Alliant powder specifically but outlines the general powder shortage overall:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1176660-powder-shortage!

There were huge world-wide powder shortages started in the US and manufacturers are just now getting rifle powders back on shelves. Most brands PR departments are saying they're hoping to have pistol powders back as regular stock items by late 2015, early 2016.
 
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I also reload 5.7x28. I use the Lee 90603 die set, Lee 90725 Factory Crimp Die, Lee 90219 Case Length Gauge and Lee 90110 Cutter & Lock Stud. Higginson Powders should have all four in stock. They are Lee Precision and Hornady distributor for Canada.
Bullets should be crimped in lieu of gluing them into the case as per FNH specs.
The reloader's bullet of choice is the Hornady 22241 V-Max .224 40gr this is the same bullet as FNH uses only they get Hornady to supply a Blue Tip instead of the standard Red Tip (FNH SS197SR)
Hornady 22242 Z-Max work equally well as they are the same bullet with a "Zombie Green" tip. Good luck finding them in stock anywhere...
Nosler 39510 Ballistic Tip Varmint is another good choice as it is near identical to the Hornady V-Max only it sports an Orange tip.
"Handwash" your brass only in warm soapy water and rinse well & air dry thoroughly.
NEVER wet or dry tumble you brass. Ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended either. The cases have a polymer coating on them which is easily damaged.
If your lucky, you might be able to squeeze 3 reloads from once fired brass but most likely only twice..
Lee includes load data with their die sets but it is the same as in Accurate's pdf
The fivesevenforum dot com is an excellent source of info. User "panzermk2" (Jay Wolf) manufactures specialized 5.7x28 ammo but is in Harvard, IL so buying his ammo is not possible for Canada.
Accurate Powders (Western Powders) publishes 15 loads using 3 different powders. The 54-page pdf can be downloaded here: http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_1-23-14.pdf
As you stated, Lyman also publishes load data in their 49th Edition (page 325) - they show 15 loads. Work up slowly in 0.1 grain increments on these loads. NEVER exceed Max published loads!
One final thing: - Good luck getting powder!
 
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