From Fabrique Nationale Herstal (FNH), the SS197SR replaced the SS196 load. The SS197SR ammo uses the same 40 grain Hornady V-Max projectile as the SS196, but at a slightly higher velocity. The bullets have a blue-colored polycarbonate tip instead of a red tip like the older SS196. Boxer primed and reloadable.
The 5.7 x 28 mm cartridge was designed for pistols, submachine guns, personal defense weapons and carbines. It was developed by Fabrique Nationale Herstal (FN Herstal), Belgium and primarily marketed to European militaries for use by vehicle crewmen, artillery personnel and combat engineers and as a military and law enforcement round that has more effective performance against modern body armor when compared with traditional pistol caliber ammunition. The ammo for the civilian market WILL NOT penetrate Level IIA and Level IIIA Kevlar, Kevlar 129 or Spectra vests, contrary to popular myth put originated by misguided politicians and gun control advocates trying to advance their agenda. Ballistically, the 5.7 round is very similar to the .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) round.
The 5.7x28mm rounds are bottle-necked cartridges with .224 inch (5.7 mm) bullets and come in several versions. 5.7 ammunition is characterized by high muzzle velocity and low recoil, and were designed to be more effective against modern body armor when used in pistols, submachine guns, or carbines.
The following is a list of ammunition (both current and discontinued) manufactured for the 5.7 x 28mm caliber. The civilan rounds are listed first.
The SS197SR is manufactured by Fiocchi under contract for FN Herstal. The SS197 cartridge uses the same 40-grain (2.6 g) .224 inch (5.7 mm) Hornady V-Max projectile as the SS196SR, but it is loaded for a slightly higher muzzle velocity. The bullets have a blue-colored polycarbonate tip. The SS197SR boxes can be distinguished by their packaging with modern FN blue and black labels. With the discontinuation of the SS196 round, SS197SR is now the one of the last two loads available to civilians.
Function: Sporting Round
Bullet Type: V-Max Ballistic Tip
Tip Color: Blue
Length: 40.5mm (1.6 in)
Weight of Round: 105 gr.
Weight of Projectile: 40 gr.