GSG-5, a good 22 LR plinker?

[flakbait]

I'm contemplating a GSG-5 22 LR replica of the classic MP5 for a plinker. Does anyone have any experience with this gun? Does it seem as reliable as a standard 22 LR semi-auto such as the Ruger 10/22 or Marlin?

The manufacturer is a German company which hasn't been importing firearms into the US very long so that make me a little nervious about pulling the trigger.

 

[docnyt]

I love mine. Pretty accurate too. Mine loves CCI mini mags and very rarely has any FTF's. I don't know how it compares to the other 22s you mentioned as I don't have them but it's been pretty reliable thus far.

GSG is primarily an airsoft manufacturer but they've built a pretty solid rifle in the GSG5, and a great 1911 in .22 as well.

One other .22 you should consider is the SIG 522.

 

[Rembrandt]

Excellent plinker.....was pleasantly surprised at how accurate they are with their small diameter barrel. Fun gun to shoot.

 

[nwilliams]

The are excellent guns.

Personally I like the original look of them better than the new ones, however pre-HK lawsuit models are still widely available and inexpensive.

 

[Gtone]

Yeah, its a lot of fun, and pretty accurate. I fed mine CCIs during break in, and it'll run just about anything now.

 

[messer262]

love mine

I love mine. I picked up a pre-HK suit one for less than $300 and absolutely love it for a plinker. I have both 10/22 and Marlins, and it is a blast. Their .22LR 1911 are very well made as well. I would take one of them over my Kimber conversion at this point. I have a Kimber .22 kit for my Custom Eclipse and have feed failures all the time. everyone I have talked to about the GSG 1911 have not had any issues with them (and before anyone says it, I have tried all of the top end ammo, CCI minimag, and everything that Kimber has recommended.)

back to the GSG-5 I would say they are a lot of fun and surprisingly accurate.

 

[M2 Carbine]

GSG-5, a good 22 LR plinker?

I have the GSG-5 rifle and pistol, the SIG 522 and the S&W M&P 15-22.

GSG-5


GSG-5 Pistol


Sig 552



S&W M&P 15-22 with Red Dot and Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light





I bought the GSG first.

I like all the guns but I'd rate them GSG-5 last, then the SIG, with the Smith a distance in front of both.

Although the GSG is a right good gun it is a PITA to clean, so since I got the SIG and Smith and they take just a couple minutes to clean, I seldom shoot the GSG anymore. The GSG doesn't come with a rail.

There's a lot of reasons I favor the Smith but if you have a chance check one out one before you buy the GSG, or even the SIG.

 

[flakbait]

Is the GSG field stripping complicated, i.e. requires tools or fancy manipulation?

I sold a Ruger 22/45 pistol because I couldn't deal with all the twist and turns required to field strip it for cleaning. Not to mention needing a rubber mallot to disassemble the barrel from the frame...what kind of gun needs a rubber mallot?

 

[nwilliams]

Is the GSG field stripping complicated, i.e. requires tools or fancy manipulation?

It's not really complicated it's just a little tedious.

The nice thing is that the GSG-5 requires very little maintenance, they seem to run just as well dirty as they do clean. My friend has over 6,000 rounds through his rifle so far and hasn't cleaned it in over 2,000 rounds.

 

[M2 Carbine]

When looking at the GSG check to see that the ejector is held in place with a couple brass rivets. You can see it through the ejection port. The earlier ones (mine) didn't have the rivets and the ejector is loose and no doubt will fall out one day.



A note about the Smith M&P 15-22.
The controls are exactly like the AR. So anyone that shoots the Smith can pick up a AR and be immediately familiar with it.

At the time I bought my Smith there were several new shooters that wanted me to teach them to shoot the AR. I checked them out on the Smith and just kept handing them a lot of magazines as they kept operating the gun and having a ball shooting it.
When I handed them the AR they were right at home with the gun from the first shot.

Mostly I give new shooters the ammo they shoot at my place.
So the S&W 22 paid for itself in a couple months in .223 ammo savings.

 

[Ronsch]

I have two GSG-5 (the K version and the carbine) (pre-HK lawsuit as well)...The are definitely fun little guns to shoot, and get some comments and attention at the range.

 

[nerfsrule2]

I have the GSG (With the Fat Ribbed Fake can). EO tec 512....and the S&W mp 22 (Performance Center) Luepold 4x14.. I shoot rim fire three gun matches. and 22 cal steel plate matches....One for close and one for far away.. Great shooters..

 

[61chalk]

I have a pre lawsuit GSG-5, always used Federal HV bulk packs from wally world, runs great, an fun plinker....accuracy goes to the 10/22 though...put a short scope for mine, if you get a scope mount don't buy the 100.00 ones..go to ebay an buy a 10.00 one, they are strong an perfect. Also have the GSG 1911 .22LR , works an performs perfect, a guy I know has over 8000 rounds through his....they need a high capacity mag though...can we please sell off CA....I like the ideal of 49 states....maybe a few less even!!

 

[ultradoc]

There are alot of goodies you can put on this. And it's a bit teadeous to strip down. Be carefull of the little spring in the chamber. It can get lost easily.

 

[Whiskey11]

GSG is primarily an airsoft manufacturer but they've built a pretty solid rifle in the GSG5, and a great 1911 in .22 as well.

They are what? I've been airsofting for 6-7 years and never heard of GSG making an airsoft gun. If they DO make them, then they are not well known or that high of quality because they simply are not in the serious side of the market. Not to derail the thread, but I've not even heard of them making accessories either... and if they do then they are not of any quality...

The one GSG-5 I've seen, shot pretty nicely, and the owner had it fairly tricked out. Of course, the owner was pretty enamored by it, but I didn't have any desire to shoot it. That said, his target was fairly nice considering he just kept on pulling the trigger and it kept on hitting within a fairly nice group in the center of his target at 50 yards.