The FN Five-seveN MK3 MRD is the gun that created this entire category. FN developed the 5.7×28mm cartridge in 1990 alongside the P90 PDW, and the Five-seveN pistol followed as a sidearm chambered in the same round. The MK3 MRD is the current production version — same Belgian-made platform, now with a factory optic cut and an MSRP around $1,500. That price is the biggest thing standing between this gun and a much larger audience.

The 6.2 lb single-action trigger is the one spec that divides opinions. Reviewers consistently note it as long and deliberate — more like a DA/SA pull than what you'd expect from a modern single-action. The 4.8" cold hammer-forged barrel and ambidextrous frame safety are genuinely well-executed. At 25.2 oz with 20+1 capacity, the Five-seveN is a full-size pistol that owners report shoots with dramatically less felt recoil than any 9mm of comparable weight — closer to a .22 LR impression. That is the cartridge's primary appeal in practical use, and it is more noticeable here than the spec sheet suggests.

The Ruger-57 and S&W M&P 5.7 chamber the same round for $700 and $650 respectively, making the Five-seveN a hard sell on value alone. What you get for the premium is the original platform with documented NATO and law enforcement adoption, Belgian manufacturing, and the largest holster and accessory ecosystem in the 5.7 category. If you're spending $1,500 on a handgun, make sure you've handled the trigger first — the 6.2 lb pull is authentic to FN's original spec, but it is noticeably heavier than the Ruger's 4.8 lb or the S&W's 4.0 lb pull.