Can You Conceal Carry a Ruger 57?

The Ruger 5.7, pronounced five-seven, is an exciting and unique pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm. Although the cartridge is much longer than the standard concealed carry calibers like the 9mm or 40 S&W, and because the pistol is full-frame, you may wonder if it’s possible to conceal carry. 

Yes, it is possible to conceal carry the Ruger 5.7. However, it’s on the larger size for concealed carry, so you may have to think outside of the box to hide it from sight. If you already conceal carry a full-frame pistol like a 1911 or the G17, then the Ruger 5.7 will be easy to carry for you.

Many people are interested in buying a pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm but the price has always been a limiting factor until Ruger designed the Ruger 5.7. Now that there is a more affordable pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm more people are purchasing them to shoot for fun and for concealed carry.

Let’s take a closer look at the history of the Ruger 5.7, considerations for concealed carry, and holster options.

Ruger 5.7 History

The Ruger 5.7 was released in 2019, but that is not where its story began. The Ruger 5.7 was predated by the FN 57 which was released in 1998.

Sometime in the late 1980s, NATO decided that it wanted to replace the 9x19mm Luger. The resulting round was 5.7x28mm. NATO had the P90 PDW and the FN 57 designed around the same time because they wanted a pistol and a shoulder-fired weapon capable of firing the same 5.7x28mm round.

The FN 57 was only sold to military and law enforcement personnel for the first few years of production. In 2004, FN decided to start selling the pistol to civilians.

Since then the distinctive FN 57 has been popular with shooters across America. Until Ruger released the Ruger 5.7, the FN 57 did not have much competition.

Both weapons are well designed and constructed, but Ruger’s 5.7 is much more affordable with an MSRP of $869 than the FN 57 with an MSRP of $1,319.

Considerations for Conceal Carry

The top concerns most people have regarding pistols for concealed carry are pistol size, accuracy, handling, and bullet performance. Below we will discuss all three of these. 

Pistol Size 

The Ruger 5.7 is a full-frame pistol which can make it difficult to carry for some people. That being said, a full-frame pistol is generally going to be more accurate and handle better than a compact or subcompact handgun.

Here are some of the Ruger 5.7 size specifications straight from Ruger’s website.

After looking at the dimensions of the Ruger 5.7, you can tell that it is a similar size to 1911 and full-frame pistols. For example, the Ruger SR1911 has similar dimensions.

In fact, the Ruger 5.7 is narrower, has a slightly shorter barrel length, and is much lighter than the Ruger SR1911. It also has a much higher capacity!

So, if you are able to carry a full-frame handgun you will be able to carry the Ruger 5.7. If you don’t like carrying full-frame pistols or have trouble concealing them, then you may want to look elsewhere for a concealed carry gun. 

Accuracy and Handling

The Ruger 5.7 handles superbly and it has been reported by many people as a joy to shoot. Ben Findley reported that the gun handled superbly, doesn’t have very much recoil, and is easily held on target while firing. Ben also gave the gun a 10 out of 10 accuracy rating.

Bullet Performance

Bullet performance is a big deal for concealed carry weapons. You want the bullet to have enough energy to stop an aggressor but not enough to pass through and potentially hurt innocent bystanders.

The 5.7x28mm round is essentially a mini .224” rifle round that shoots relatively light bullets at high velocity. FN reports that its SS197SR ammo loaded with a 40 grain Hornady V-max projectile will produce 256-foot pounds of muzzle energy at 2,034 fps.

Check out this video by Paul Harrell for more information about “real world” ballistics of several different types of 5.7x28mm ammo out of the Ruger 5.7. Importantly, you will find that the 5.7x28mm round will not over penetrate its target. 

Closing Thoughts

Although there may be easier guns to carry, the Ruger 5.7 is a good choice for people who enjoy carrying a unique large-frame handgun. Although the gun may be more difficult to conceal, it is chambered in a good round for personal defense, it’s accurate, has a large capacity, and is easy to shoot.

If you really like the Ruger 5.7 but think you may have issues carrying it, you could always put it into the rotation during cooler weather when you can conceal it under a jacket or vest.

All things considered, the Ruger 5.7 is a great firearm and is worth considering for a concealed carry gun, and even if you don’t want to conceal carry a full-frame pistol, it is a blast to shoot at the range!

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