Compared to a handgun: 25 rounds, short stock, longer barrel etc. Is there anything out there similar to a real MP5 in 9mm for civilian use?
I've owned a Marlin Camp 9 and an AR in 9mm. Have tried the Beretta Storm and the Uzi. To be completely honest, there is nothing out there that compares favorably with an MP5 pattern gun. The roller-delayed blowback action of the MP5 eliminates most of the recoil, whereas a direct blowback 9mm AR kicks as much as a 5.56mm carbine. The Marlin Camp 9 also has a good bit more recoil than the MP5. With an MP5 in a standing position, I can put three rounds into a torso-sized target at 25 yards in about 1 second. I haven't been able to do that with any other 9mm carbines. I attribute it to the roller-delayed action of the MP5 that practically eliminates muzzle rise and recoil.
If budget is a big concern/focus for this project, then I would go with a Vector Uzi to the tune of about $700. I have heard good things about the Century/Wiselite Sterling carbines, but I have heard of some problems as well.
If we want to get picky, I'd venture to say that the vast majority of MP5s on the market are clones....aka...copies and not the real weapon.
No matter what..a clone is not a MP5.
Owning both real HK roller-locked rifles and clones, I'll break the news that from the materials and design standpoint, there is little or no difference for most parts, and in some cases, some of the the "clone" features can even be superior. With the real, mystical HK you get a nitrided barrel made from magical mystery steel. You also get some ugly welds and a scratch-prone, epoxy based painted finish. On an older HK with a metal grip housing, you usually have some fore and aft play that doesn't bode well for consistency and accuracy. In the clone world one can choose a stainless barrel, or a nitrided one, fluted chamber or no flutes. A lot of the current builders are executing much better looking welds with the same penetration as factory HK. Current finishes are (more often than not) superior to what HK was spraying and baking. The stainless steel cast receivers that Special Weapons put out are highly sought after as they are extremely tough and even stronger than their folded and welded stamped steel counterparts.
There's as many clone "haters" out there as there is misinformation about them. The biggest problem with them is since they are more of a boutique production item, the buyer/owner needs to know a lot about them to be able to identify & correct any potential issues and not completely rely on the "send it back" school of thought. Sure, a factory HK is more of a battle-ready firearm than a clone whose quality has not yet been proven, but there are a lot of clones out there than have proven to run like sewing machines.
