The PX-5.7 Pistol from SDS Arms

When I attended the 5.7 Fest last year to learn about the capabilities of 5.7x28mm ammunition, I ran 150 rounds of 5.7x28mm ammunition through the Tisas PX-5.7 semi-automatic pistol. It proved itself a solid, reliable firearm during my shooting. 

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Then, I watched two other event participants blast off 500 rounds through one of the PX-5.7’s that already had hundreds of rounds shot through it. The pair of shooters kept slapping in full mags and firing them off. In seven minutes of steady shooting, they burned through the 500 rounds; the pistol experienced zero malfunctions and shots were consistently on target.

Sure, the end of the PX slide and barrel were hot enough to second-degree burn your skin. Expected. But the gun itself functioned fine.

Impressed, I asked Jahred Gamez of SDS Arms, who also attended the 5.7 Fest and had invited me to the event, if I could get a PX-5.7 to test and evaluate for a review. SDS Arms is the sole importer of this pistol. No, he said. 

“We have a new version arriving soon,” Gamez explained. “The PX-5.7 OR, an optics ready model, and I’d like to send that one to you. Okay?”

Okay!

The PX-5.7 OR is manufactured in Turkey by Tisas and imported exclusively into the United States by SDS Arms.

Chambered in 5.7x28mm, the pistol featured a 4.80-inch steel barrel with a sleek black finish, and a carbon steel slide. Poly framed and striker fired, the pistol sported both an accessory rail under the barrel and a beavertail at the rear for comfort and control while shooting. Black, interchangeable backstraps were included for a more tailored fit.

Optics ready, but the open sights worked fine for me at the 5.7 Fest. The fiber optic front sight provided quick target acquisition, while the rear blade notch was generous and lined up with the fiber optic dot quickly.

Ammunition capacity is 20+1. With an extra magazine on hand, that’s 41 rounds. Need more ammo? Better get a SAW.

The PX-Tisas magazines were steel, with round cutouts along the sides.

An OR model pistol required an optic.

I selected the Thrive HD 1×21 Micro Reflex Sight made by ZeroTech Optics. The Thrive HD featured a 3 MOA red dot and 10 brightness levels, operated on one CR2032 battery and was built on the RMSc optic footprint. Waterproof and fog-proof, the optic’s elevation and windage controls provided 60 MOA of adjustments each.

To mount the ZeroTech, I removed the optic cover plate at the rear of the pistol slide using the Tisas-provided torque wrench. This revealed the RMSc cut to the slide; the Thrive HD fit right onto the cut.

Of note, Tisas also supplied an adapter plate for an RMR foot-printed optic.

I used a variety of 5.7×28 ammo brands. 

I ran Federal Ammunition American Eagle loaded with a 40 grain, full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet. Plus, I used Fiocchi USA Hyperformance, and a 35-grain jacketed frangible, and Fiocchi USA Hyperformance and a 40-grain tipped hollow point.

Also included were Hornady Critical Defense, 40 grain FTX poly tipped bullet, and Speer Ammunition Personal Protection, 40 grain Gold Dot hollow point. 

At my outdoor range, the Thrive HD zeroed quickly.

For my accuracy testing, I shot at seven yards offhand and at 20 yards from a rest. At the seven-yard mark, all of the 5.7 ammo brands pegged five shot groups at 1.0 inches and under. There were larger groups, of course, up to 1.5-inches, and I credited those to myself.

While the pistol and the various ammo brands all matched up nicely, the PX-5.7 OR and the Fiocchi Hyperformance 35 grain loads loved each other. My best five shot groups with this load came in at just .60 inches.

At one point, I had the first four rounds of 35 grain Hyperformance touching, later measured at .40-inches, and then I choked and pulled shot #5 for a total group of .85-inches. Damn!

The Hornady Critical Defense and the 40-grain Hyperformance made .90-inch groups, too.

At 20 yards and a rest, all of the ammo brands produced five shot groups of 2.5- to 3.0-inches. I had nine rounds of Hornady Critical Defense left in one box, shot off all nine at this distance and they made a 2.4-inch group.

Once again, Fiocchi’s 35-grain round topped all others, with 10 shots at just 1.9 inches.  

Obvious conclusion: with these 5.7×28 ammo brands, the PX-5.7 OR is more than accurate enough for self- and home-defense, plinking and varmint control.

As centerfire handgun rounds go, recoil shoving back into the hand and hard is not a concern with the 5.7×28. But given its relatively high velocity, in the neighborhood of 1,800 feet per second at the pistol’s muzzle, snappy muzzle rise occurs, especially when hammering out shots.

The PX-5.7 OR handled this muzzle rise potential fine thanks to deep texturing on the poly grips and a nicely undercut trigger guard. The pronounced beavertail at the rear of the frame added to my stability while shooting.

The striker-fired trigger had a spongy feel, but the flat-faced trigger did smooth out the 3.0-pound trigger pull.

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The pistol incorporates an accessory rail for lights and lasers. The magazine well sports a wide opening for easy magazine insertion, too.

Gamez tells me SDS Arms is importing an even newer version of the PX-5.7 OR soon, this one with a threaded barrel for use with a suppressor. Which should provide another quality option for this caliber and at a reasonable price.

SPECS: Tisas PX-5.7 OR Pistol

Importer: SDS Arms
Caliber: 5.7x28mm

Capacity: 20+1
Barrel Length: 4.80″

Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
Barrel Finish: Black

Frame: Polymer
Frame Finish: Black Tenifer
Slide Material: Carbon Steel
Slide Finish: QPQ Tenifer Cerakote
Grips: Textured Poly, Black w/Interchangeable Backstraps
Sights: Fiber Optic Front, Notched Rear Blade
Trigger: Flat Face

Safety: Trigger Style

Length: 8.6”

Height: 5.6”

Weight: 26.5 oz, Unloaded
MISC: Accessory Rail, Slide Serrations, Optics Ready, Owner’s Manual, Cable Lock. 

MSRP: $445.99

SDS Arms

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