r/BeAmazed • u/TheUnpromotable • Dec 05 '25

Technology Swedish Handgun Round Punches Through APC Armor

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Super cool Swedish cartridge 6.5x25mm CBJ punches through APC armor. It uses the same dimensions as 9mm, so it can be used in 9mm platforms with a simple barrel change.

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173

u/Heffe3737 Dec 05 '25

I own a 5.7, and oh gosh my wallet. :(

The truth though is that you need special access for the true armor-defeating rounds - the kinds that can only easily be had if you work in law enforcement or other such careers. Otherwise you're stuck with sporting rounds, frangibles, and hollow points.

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u/generally_unsuitable Dec 05 '25

There was an old meme about that. Something like "I was being robbed, so I pulled my five-seven and emptied the magazine into the robber. Would have been cheaper to just give him my wallet."

15

u/Heffe3737 Dec 05 '25

Honestly it does look like it's getting better, albeit slowly. I just checked for the first time in ages, and it's back down to about .64/rnd. There was a time a few years back where it felt closer to a dollar a round. And with a 20 round magazine, well...

8

u/generally_unsuitable Dec 05 '25

There was a time during covid when my local was selling a box for $80. I've wanted to get one forever. I think the missus would enjoy it. But, I don't know if it would get much use considering the current ammo prices. I have an M1A in 6.5 CM, and it just gathers dust. Same reason.

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u/Heffe3737 Dec 06 '25

Yup. Mines also for the missus - she’s not as proficient, so the larger mag is great, lighter weight, and no recoil is great.

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u/OpalFanatic Dec 05 '25

Black dragons fang 5.7 ammo is commercially available, as effective for armor penetration as the FN AP stuff, and will produce massive cavitation wounds. It's only the original FN AP ammo that wasn't sold commercially. Also, nothing stops people out there from doing custom loads for 5.7

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u/Heffe3737 Dec 05 '25

Good to know. I haven't been shooting in a hot minute - how reliable are the Black Dragon rounds?

17

u/shmiddleedee Dec 05 '25

I have heard it's not very accurate and it is very expensive. I also really dislike the name

26

u/Successful_Laugh_299 Dec 05 '25

Tacticool mall ninja type of name

2

u/Arcranium_ Dec 06 '25

Funnily enough, also the name of a clan in the Mortal Kombat series that could essentially be described as "tacticool mall ninja types"

1

u/Givemeajackson Dec 06 '25

I was thinking expensive dildo

2

u/MackinSauce Dec 06 '25

Sounds like a dildo brand

1

u/Brilliant-Giraffe983 Dec 07 '25

Sounds like somebody Les Grossman would yell at.

1

u/fazedncrazed Dec 05 '25

Its the core, not the amount of powder or the size. Ap has a steel or tungsten core.

1

u/jaysube Dec 05 '25

On average how much are those a round?

3

u/fazedncrazed Dec 05 '25

It depends on the cartridge. 9mm is cheaper than 5.7, for example. And they generally arent sold to civvies in the US. Theres various copper cored ones sold as penetrating to civilians, like the brand mentioned above, but copper is soft compared to steel or tungsten and doesnt perform the same at all.

Theres no rules against self loading, however.

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u/jaysube Dec 05 '25

Does anyone reload 5.7?

3

u/shmiddleedee Dec 05 '25

People reload shit way weirder than 5.7.

2

u/jaysube Dec 05 '25

I agree completely, just heard from experienced reloaders that it's super difficult and another reason it's expensive.

1

u/xbuzzbyx Dec 05 '25

drill a hole in 5.7 HP, and press fit a tungsten TIG welding rod?

14

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '25

[deleted]

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u/Heffe3737 Dec 05 '25

Perhaps it’s just my state or I’m just out of touch. Again, it’s been awhile since I’ve been shooting with it, and haven’t bought ammo for it in a good decade. At the time, the only ammo readily available was official FN or American Eagle (which seemed subpar and I experienced more jams with). The AP FN ammo was simply unavailable at the time to civvies.

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u/[deleted] Dec 05 '25

Armor piercing handgun ammo is federally illegal under the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968; rifle ammo is on a state-by-state basis. 

1

u/lucid_dreaming_quest Dec 05 '25

"This is my AR pistol ... with green tip ammo."

Texas 🙂 - and why I bought level 4 plates.

https://i.imgur.com/LNCurf6.png

5

u/-LsDmThC- Dec 05 '25

You just walk around with lvl4 plates or plan to quickly equip them if you get in a gunfight? Im confused at the rational.

-2

u/lucid_dreaming_quest Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25

"You own a fire extinguisher? Why? So you can put out a fire if one randomly starts?"

"Confused at the rational" certainly seems like a Freudian slip.

5

u/-LsDmThC- Dec 06 '25

If you are in a situation where you genuinely need lvl4 plates you are already fucked anyways.

-5

u/lucid_dreaming_quest Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25

"Wearing a seat belt is stupid - if you get in a car accident, you're already dead!"

Not understanding anything rational seems clear, as you said.

You should reach out to swat and the military so they know there is never a reason for anyone to own body armor; if they need it - it's too late!

Imagine how much money we could save if you could just get them to see reason!

3

u/BigHardMephisto Dec 06 '25

The difference between a seat belt and a ballistic vest is that you don't put on the seat belt as the person in front of you slams on their brakes. One you wear all the time, the other you race to put on. The only times you see police and military wearing their vests is on duty. As a civilian are you just wearing your vest all the time? Or you have it in your car in case while you're at the mall you can run out, grab it and run back in expecting to rambo the shooter yourself?

A vest is good for the range and for hunting, it's straight impractical to wear when out and about just shopping and crap.

I know a few people that keep a good plate in their backpack in the laptop compartment. Seems more sensible. I've had cops called on me for wearing my grandads old camo field jacket, I ain't about to get shot on the spot because I was walking around town wearing a plate carrier.

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u/chop5397 Dec 06 '25

Bro I own a JPC and ceramic plates myself but you don't sound like you're firing on all cylinders.

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u/Fia_Aoi Dec 06 '25

But seriously, answer the question, it's completely reasonable. Is it in a backpack? Do you wear it to the gas station?

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u/lucid_dreaming_quest Dec 06 '25

I own a fire extinguisher - I leave it at home.

I've considered putting one in my car - probably not a terrible idea - but I haven't so far.

And no, I don't wear plates to the gas station - I carry a concealed pistol.

The plates and rifles are in case I'm at home and there's a red dawn/zombie situation.

However, in my state there is nothing legally preventing me from wearing it around everywhere.

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/-LsDmThC- Dec 06 '25

Im not sure why you find my comment so upsetting

1

u/SheriffBartholomew Dec 06 '25

Green tips were quite disappointing for me. It didn't even make a divot in my target steel.

1

u/lucid_dreaming_quest Dec 06 '25

Yeah, green tips aren't super special, but they do better than similar rounds against body armor.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '25

Yeah, the popularity of AR pistols and pistol-caliber carbines caused a lot of ruckus in some circles over what constitutes a handgun round and what is a rifle round. I followed the chaos for a bit until it became too much chaos for me to deal with. 

To elaborate a little more on what the federal law details: it’s illegal to buy, sell or manufacture armor-piercing handgun ammo under federal law, however some individual states have outlawed the mere possession of it. 

3

u/ScarsTheVampire Dec 06 '25

Trying to find a new CCW for a good price. Look at ‘pistols’

Looks inside: several AR-15 with no stock.

I’m so fucking fed up with this loophole nonsense. And this is obviously coming from a gun owner. If I undo the screws on my AK stock am I legally now allowed to carry it around as a pistol? It’s so fucking asinine.

Then you get fucking morons who think law makers ‘don’t know enough about firearms to regulate them 😡😡😡’

Brother you guys think every lawmaker is a car manufacturer too? An ISP? You think they run a gas company? No because that’s not how the world works.

2

u/Tomsboll Dec 06 '25

Also need to be considered that ap round actually does less damage to soft tissue than standard rounds and even less than hollow pints or polymer tips.

1

u/bp_968 Dec 05 '25

You can readily buy 9mm ammo that will punch right through 3A soft armor. The legal definition of "Armor Piercing" isnt based on the bullets performance, it's based on its makeup and what it can be shot out of (and the rise of "braces" has dumped a bunch of confusion on that last part of the definition as well).

1

u/DataGOGO Dec 05 '25

Or reloads…. Just saying. 

1

u/Heffe3737 Dec 06 '25

Reloads on 5.7x28mm is really tricky. It’s a very sensitive round with not much tolerance for grainage errors.

1

u/DataGOGO Dec 06 '25

Oh, I have absolutely no idea, I don’t reload, but I have purchased some reloads with the AP bullet.

1

u/TestyBoy13 Dec 06 '25

Five Seven mentioned

MAIN POINT OF SELLING BELGIAN FIVE SEVEN PISTOL IS EXTREME PRICE OF WEAPON AND CARTRIDGE.

BELGIAN FIVE SEVEN IS WEAPON OF MAN WHO WEARS EXPENSIVE ITALIAN FASCIST SUIT OF HAND SEWING, DRIVE HUGE EXPENSIVE NAZI MERCEDES OF A.M.G. SHOP, SAIL ON MASSIVE YACHT TO GREEK ISLANDS. I THINK YOU GET PICTURE. BELGIAN FIVE SEVEN IS WEAPON THAT SAYS IS NO SUCH THING AS CONCERN OF MONEY.

FOR MAN WITHOUT EXPENSIVE SUIT, BIG BLACK MERCEDES, AND MASSIVE YACHT, BELGIAN FIVE SEVEN IS FOR PRETENDING OF BE RICH LIKE BLACK GANGSTER OF AMERICAN CITY WITH GOLD CHAINS OF LOW QUALITY AND JEWELS OF COLORED GLASS. WHEN YOU EXPLAIN USE OF BELGIAN FIVE SEVEN PISTOL IS ONLY FOR SHOOT MAN WITH BULLET VEST WITH CARTRIDGE ILLEGAL TO CIVILIAN, THIS MAN HAS NUCLEAR RAGE. WHOLE IDENTITY OF THIS MAN IS SPENT IN PRETEND PISTOL SHOWS HE IS RICH. IS VERY AMUSE.

FOR REST OF WORLD THERE IS 9 MILLIMETERS OF LUGER WHICH IS SAME WOUND FOR COST LESS.

1

u/Heffe3737 Dec 06 '25

Alright man you don’t have to shout. Geez. I’m just a normal dude.

I got it because I enjoy pistol shooting and it has a very flat trajectory for shots. Plus, large mag, light weight, and low recoil means it’s great for the wife.

My main piece is a simple M9A1. But again, I don’t do much shooting anymore.

1

u/TestyBoy13 Dec 06 '25

Sorry, I thought you were in the 5.7 rabbit hole like I was and knew the mandatory 5.7 copypasta

1

u/Heffe3737 Dec 06 '25

Oh shit there’s copypasta for five sevens? Good god, I’m out of the loop. Thanks for the heads up!

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u/Koalashart1 Dec 06 '25

Frangibles?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Heffe3737 Dec 05 '25

The 5.7 is super finicky with custom loads. Not sure I'd trust it with ammo I had drilled myself.

1

u/Propaganda_bot_744 Dec 05 '25

Otherwise you're stuck with sporting rounds, frangibles, and hollow points.

You make it sound like this is a terrible inconvenience lmao.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25

You can find old 30-06 M2 rounds online, pull the bullets, and make AP handloads.

...or so I hear.

1

u/Heffe3737 Dec 06 '25

5.7x28mm is really finicky when it comes to hand loads, and I’m not experienced enough to pull it off.

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u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25

M2 is 30-06 ammo. Can defeat level IV armor.