So, you just picked up a new 5.7x28mm firearm. Congrats! All you need to know now is the best 5.7 ammo for your needs.
After researching and talking with other 5.7 ammo experts, the Ammo.com team picked some favorites. We’ve curated the best ammo overall for self-defense, pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs), subsonic performance, and budget-friendly target shooting.
If you’re in a hurry, Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection 40 grain JHP is our top choice. It outperforms other self-defense ammo in ballistic gel tests, and comes from a trusted company.
Top 5.7x28 Ammo Picks
| Category | Product | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection 40 Grain JHP Top Pick | Jump to Details→ |
| Self-Defense/Concealed Carry | Hornady Critical Defense 40 Grain FTX | Jump to Details→ |
| PCC | Hornady BLACK 40 Grain V-MAX | Jump to Details→ |
| Subsonic | Fiocchi Range Dynamics 62 Grain FMJ | Jump to Details→ |
| Budget-Friendly | FN SS197SR 40 Grain V-MAX | Jump to Details→ |
Best 5.7x28 Ammo Quick Comparison Chart
| Ammo | Bullet Type | Grain | Case Material | Muzzle Velocity (fps) | Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | Cost Per Round As of Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection 40 Grain JHP | Gold Dot JHP | 40 | Brass | 1,800 | 288 | $1.84 |
| Hornady Critical Defense 40 Grain FTX | FTX | 40 | Brass | 1,810 | 291 | $1.74 |
| Hornady BLACK 40 Grain V-MAX | V-MAX | 40 | Brass | 1,810 | 291 | $1.62 |
| Fiocchi Range Dynamics 62 Grain FMJ | FMJ | 62 | Brass | 1,025 | 145 | $0.84 |
| FN SS197SR 40 Grain V-MAX | V-MAX | 40 | Brass | 1,738 | 268 | $0.80 |
For muzzle velocity, energy, and drop at range across the rest of the cartridge’s lineup, see our full 5.7x28 ballistics charts.
5.7x28 Ammo Reviews
Best Overall – Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection 40 Grain JHP
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
- Bullet Weight: 40 Grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,800 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 288 ft-lbs
Why I Chose It
Speer Gold Dot rounds are trusted by civilians and law enforcement agencies around the globe because they’re accurate, reliable, and quickly stop threats.
Speer Gold Dot is the gold standard that other 5.7 concealed carry rounds are measured against. It’s proven effective during ballistics gel tests and real-world law enforcement situations alike. “Speer’s Gold Dot is the only major manufacturer 5.7x28 load built ground-up for self-defense.”
Speer loads high-quality brass, primers, and propellant to ensure optimal feeding and consistent ballistic performance. According to Speer’s own website, the Gold Dot JHP is designed to “virtually eliminate core-jacket separation” because “the jacket is bonded to the core one atom at a time.” That means deeper penetration and more energy transfer to the target. In layman’s terms, it stops bad guys quickly through the powers of proper penetration and expansion.
The biggest downside I see is how costly these rounds are. If you believe in training with the same ammo you plan on carrying, then training with these rounds can get expensive.
Overall, if you want the best 5.7x28mm ammo, then Speer Gold Dot 40 grain JHP is the one to buy.
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