Semi-auto MP5 Variants

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giggitygiggity

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What is your experience and preference with respect to the semi-auto MP5 variants available. From what I can tell, HK, PTR, and Century have offerings currently. Zenith had offerings in the recent past that occasionally appear on the secondary market.

What are the pros/cons and similarities/differences between the MP5 offerings from HK, PTR, Century, and Zenith?

Do parts interchange seamlessly between all of them (ex: If I buy an MP5 stock or another part, will I experience any fitment issues?)?

What would you pick and why?

In your response, please indicate whether you have first-hand experience with any of them. Thanks!
 
I have the PTR 9CT. It's been a good gun with no hiccups. I have several hundred rounds through mine. I got the PTR because it's a US company and it came with a rail which I promptly used to mount a red dot.

Stuff like stocks, forends will easily transfer. Trigger groups may not. The PTR has only one pin for the stock and trigger group the MKE has 2 pins.

Allot of people want an MP5 with a so-called military heritage like the HK or the MKE.

I thought the finish and the welds on mine were great. Very happy with the purchase. It's fun to shoot, has a little more recoil than a 22lr.
 
Here's mine.
index.php
 
As I recall, roughly two years ago, didn't Palmetto State Armory announce they were bringing a MP5 clone to the market? Whatever happened with that?
 
PSA killed the MP5 project. The Century AP5 clone is made by MkE who also made them for Zenith w the original HK machinery and design prints. Very well made firearm that cycles flawlessly and digests any ammo it is fed.
 
I used the MP5 extensively in the mil, and was a HK certified armorer. If I was to get one, it would be HK, but I have no desire for one. I'm kind of "MP5'd out". In fact, the last one I was issued I took to the range after I outfitted it with rails/light/RDS, zeroed it, and never fired it again. I ended up taking it out of my pelican a few months later since I never used it. A friend got one of the semi models made by POF. I fired it some, and it seemed like a "real" MP5 on semi.
 
The Century AP-5, made in Turkey by MKE, is a little bit different in how the gripframe attaches to the receiver. It uses the pushpin in the front, like a full auto MP5, instead of just a shelf like most others, including the HK-94 and SP5. It uses a block in the receiver to prevent the installation of a full auto bolt carrier. This means that gripframes configured for the HK-94 shelf don't work well, but those set up for the MP5/military push pin work without modification.

The fit and finish was excellent on the AP5 (Ap5-p is MP5k style), but I had some feed issues with JHP, which I was able to remedy fairly easily.
 
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Go big and go for the HK while they're available. A few years from now you'll be glad you did. My SP5 has been flawless as has the HK MP5 22 by Umarex. You also won't have any fitment issues.
 
I used to own a MKE Zenith. It was a well made gun and it shot everything I ran through it. I only sold it because I got a deal on a SP5. I still have a Zenith K gun which I love. The problem with the MKE guns is that there are sometimes small issues like off center cocking tubes or loose fitting magwell. Zenith used to take care of those issues under warranty. They knew what they were doing. I don't trust Century to be able to fix the gun. They can't put and AK47 together properly I don't trust them to work on a roller lock.

The PTR guns are great if they run. When they don't PTR can't seem to fix them. There are numerous stories over on the HK forum of people sending them back in multiple times with a proper resolution. If you have the coin get the HK. If you can't the other two are a bit of a roll of the dice. IMHO
 
I have the MKE (currently imported by Century, previously by Zenith) and love it.

I think the 3 versions mentioned will all do fine. In my opinion, get the MKE if you want a 70s/80s era version. Get the PTR if you want US made or if you like their modernizations. Get the HK if you appreciate the HK perfection and are willing to pay for the non-clone version.

I have no intention of using it for anything serious and I wanted a more historic version so I went with the MKE built on original HK tooling. You won't go wrong with any choice.
 
I went through buying an MP5 end of 2021. I was prepared to drop the money on a real HK. My reasoning is the HK will only go up in value whereas the clones not so much. But to recoup the value on an HK it would need to be in excellent condition and I was wanting a gun I could use and abuse. So that ruled out the HK to me. I ended up finding a MKE AP5-P on sale and bought it.

It looked great in the box. But when I got it home the selector broke off, the front site was canted and was difficult to retract the charging handle. No big deal as I was planning to replace it with an ambi selector and put an optic on it anyways. Took it to the range and I could not get through a single magazine without a FTE. The manual said to expect a break in period of 200-300 rounds so I kept shooting it and it did get better but the stoppages got worse. Some cars would get stuck between the receiver and bolt that requires disassembly to clear. After the 300th round I reached out to Century and told them my problem and emailed photos and videos of the issue and they decided to replace my pistol.

It took about 3 weeks to get my replacement and all the things I reported were not a problem. I liked it so much that I SBRd it because I wanted a stock and VFG. It is now my favorite gun to shoot. I’ve since added a Aimpoint T1 to my MP5K clone. I’m such a sucker for PCCs.
J5SmhxR.jpg
ipmUmUP.jpg
 
Mac Attack said:
I went through buying an MP5 end of 2021. I was prepared to drop the money on a real HK. My reasoning is the HK will only go up in value whereas the clones not so much. But to recoup the value on an HK it would need to be in excellent condition and I was wanting a gun I could use and abuse. So that ruled out the HK to me. I ended up finding a MKE AP5-P on sale and bought it.

It looked great in the box. But when I got it home the selector broke off, the front site was canted and was difficult to retract the charging handle. No big deal as I was planning to replace it with an ambi selector and put an optic on it anyways. Took it to the range and I could not get through a single magazine without a FTE. The manual said to expect a break in period of 200-300 rounds so I kept shooting it and it did get better but the stoppages got worse. Some cars would get stuck between the receiver and bolt that requires disassembly to clear. After the 300th round I reached out to Century and told them my problem and emailed photos and videos of the issue and they decided to replace my pistol.

It took about 3 weeks to get my replacement and all the things I reported were not a problem. I liked it so much that I SBRd it because I wanted a stock and VFG. It is now my favorite gun to shoot. I’ve since added a Aimpoint T1 to my MP5K clone. I’m such a sucker for PCCs.
View attachment 1069492
View attachment 1069493
Click to expand...

That’s an excellent looking SBR. That’s good to hear that Century took care of the issues.
 
I've been thinking about an MKE AP5 recently also. I believe Century is offering a $200 rebate on the AP5 guns currently if that helps sway anyone.
 
I got an MKE AP5 and it worked great from the first shot on. I filed the paperwork three weeks ago and can't wait to mount the original HK retractable stock. It shoots pretty well with just using the sling, though.

MKE_AP5.jpg

I just got back from the range. It still works like a charm on POA = POI. Still, I cannot wait for that eForm to be approved. I already have the laser engraver ready.
 
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PzGren said:
I got an MKE AP5 and it worked great from the first shot on. I filed the paperwork three weeks ago and can't wait to mount the original HK retractable stock. It shoots pretty well with just using the sling, though.

View attachment 1072782

I just got back from the range. It still works like a charm on POA = POI. Still, I cannot wait for that eForm to be approved. I already have the laser engraver ready.
Click to expand...
Ooooooh that's purty. Please post a picture when you add the stock! Pics or it never happened
 
I shot a real HK MP5 at a small town range once. The owner ask if I was interested in buying it. He was asking $14,000 and I could have probably talked him down to $12,500.

Dang! I bought a Motorcycle instead
 
They are a good bit more then $14K these days, :)

I sold mine, a Fleming converted HK94 to MP5 back when Obama got in for $15K. Should have waited, as last I saw, they were close to $40K now.
 
trackskippy said:
They are a good bit more then $14K these days, :)

I sold mine, a Fleming converted HK94 to MP5 back when Obama got in for $15K. Should have waited, as last I saw, they were close to $40K now.
Click to expand...
I always say, hindsight is 20/20
 
I just ordered a full size AP5 from Family Firearms in Troy, AL. I didn’t want to lose out on the $200 rebate. I went with the Century/MKE offering because 1) it is half the price of the H&K and 2) I am not super fond of the pic rail on the PTR.

I will form 1 it into an SBR. Between the Safety Harbor stock and the soon-to-be released Magpul MP5 stock, which would you recommend?
 
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