Uzi or MP5 (full or semi-auto)

[leadcounsel]

Price aside, which full/semi auto platform do you prefer, and why?

The venerable and efficient Uzi?

The versatile and popular MP5 in it's variant conficturations?

Accuracy, reliability, ease of use... which would you choose?

 

[Loosedhorse]

I've fired both: MP5 in full auto (with fixed stock), Uzi in semi (with long barrel and folding stock).

Preference would be MP5/10, fixed stock, 3-round burst, suppressed. Very effective cartridge x 3 (to keep shots on target and the magazine not so quickly emptied). MP5 in same configuration is a close second.

Uzi has in its favor in-the-grip loading, very natural for a handgunner.

NB: Suppressed, short-barrel (semi) AR-15 might be better than either.

I've heard that if you REALLY like to rock'n'roll, HK also has an MP7...

 

[boricua9mm]

For me, the MP5 wins by a large margin.

-Roller Delayed Blowback action soaks up the blowback energy and then delivers a smoother bolt cycle when compared to the large moving mas found in the UZI.

-Ergonomic grip angle is much more comfortable than the 90 degree UZI grip. Also, you can choose/tailor the MP5s grip housings to your liking (Original thumbrest style grip, finger groove grip, ambidextrous "Navy" style grip and even AR type grip housings that let you run any grip for the AR15).

-Rotating selector lever of the MP5 is much more familiar and comparable to other military style weapons compared to the horizontal sliding selector of the UZI.

-The MP5 has many more stock options than the UZI (collapsable, folders, fixed, AR adapters)

-Familiar, forward-placed magazine well found on most military rifles & scarbines rather than the "through-the-grip" UZI design.

-MP5 Diopter sights are extremely fast and accurate for me. I have no problems quickly hitting a man-sized steel plate at 100 yards starting from the Low-Ready position. It feels intuitive for me. Diopters are a beautiful thing.

There's room in my collection for an UZI, and I would like to have one SBR'd someday, but a properly configured MP5 really is the Cadillac of subguns & 9mm SBRs.

 

[Mp7]

since the Uzi was dumped by many military & police units in favor of Mp5 or now Mp7 .... the answer is clear.

i think police always considered it too unsafe.
(Friend of mine, who carried one as an airfield crewman said
he wouldn´t load the chamber while carrying it.)

 

[dprice3844444]

both are very good for what they were designed for.mp5 is made stateside,where the full uzi's were made in israel and shipped .the uzi is better in a sense that with extra barrels and bolts could be had,where if you had to defend yourself,drop in a new barrel and bolt in a few seconds,and dispose of the old ones.hk is a fixed barrel that needs fixtures to remove and replace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzi developed in the 40's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_MP5 developed in the 60's

 

[Sam1911]

i think police always considered it too unsafe.
(Friend of mine, who carried one as an airfield crewman said
he wouldn´t load the chamber while carrying it.)

Wait...your friend wouldn't load a round in the chamber of his full-auto Uzi while carrying it?

That's probably wise.

 

[Gordon]

In some nameless country in South America I had an Uzi fire thru the bottom of the truck I was seated in when I removed the magazine. Seems the bolt was not locked to the rear somehow and as I pulled the mag out to clear the gun the bolt ran forward and stripped a round and the fixed firing pin fired it! so much for the grip safety ect. Thank goodness the barrel was down and away from feet and all that suffered was a 3/8" hole in the floor of the Datsun truckand into the gravel below. Nobody heard the discharge but me and after I cleaned my britches and had a drink I rethought the UZI as the ultimate personal defense weapon!
I had some training on an MP5SD and that is pretty kewl but just big enough I'd go with a 5.56 platform instead, My $.02

 

[rugerdude]

I've put about 60 rounds through each on full auto in a side by side setting.

MP5A2: Smooth handling gun, well balanced if a little cheap feeling as far as the stock and hand-guard. Fire rate was a bit on the high side. Sights were good, and the rotating diopter is neat and useful. Safety selector is a little awkward (compared to an AR) even for my large hands. I feel like it's too far away from the thumb. On a short gun like this, the forward cocking handle works well, a much better choice on this platform than on the G3.

UZI w/ wood stock: HEAVY, but in a good way. Fire rate and weight let the weapon do a steady bounce and stay on target without running away from you. Magazine-well placement is better than on the MP-5, mag release is really a toss-up. Fire selector IMO was a little better because I could reach it easier, but it is less familiar to most people. Sights were good (aperture rear). Open bolt comes with its own set of problems so great care should be taken to learn the ins and outs before you use it. Cocking handle placement is great, but not as comfortable to operate as the MP5.

Shooting them both side by side, I prefer the UZI due to its ability to stay on target. I also really like the beefy, short feel of it a lot.

 

[Capybara]

I own an Uzi and have shot most of the HK subgun variants. Big difference that nobody has mentioned is cost.

Full Auto Uzi or Uzi Mini = $7k to $8k
Semi-Auto Uzi clone = $800.00

Full Auto HK MP5 = $17k to $20k
Semi-Auto HK clone = $1,200.00 to $2,200.00

If someone were to just give me whichever I wanted for free, I would choose the HK. If have to pay, hands down, the Uzi a superior value. The Uzi aftermarket is huge, lots of parts and accessories available everywhere, HK parts and accessories, much more expensive and harder to find.

Both are great guns, overall, the HK is more sophisticated but I think the Uzi is better for most people, short of professionals who are in combat.

As far as accidental discharge, I own the semi-auto Uzi, which fires from the closed bolt, the gun is quite safe. You could research the basic variants of the model A, model B and any issues with accidental discharges at www.uzitalk.com If you practice safe gun handling, you will not have any issues, Uzis are pretty popular in subgun competitions and are great guns.

 

[dprice3844444]

open bolts are always prone to accidental discharges and dirt accumulation in the open chamber area.that is why they have gone to the closed bolt system.safer and cleaner

 

[leadcounsel]

I've fired the MP5 and variants several times, and really love the weapon. Controllable, accurate, no kick, the cocking handle and safety felt perfect, the sights were great... it made me really wish I could own a full auto one or even a semi auto one in the SBR configuration. I would snap one up in a heartbeat if they were reasonably priced...

 

[leadcounsel]

I've had trigger time on a full auto uzi and, as mentioned before, MP5s. I just bought a semi-auto, and haven't yet fired it.

I really like the heaft of and "solid" feeling of the gun. I felt it was very controllable and purred like a kitten on full auto. It's slightly less ergonmical than the HK, but the mag location in the handle is very natural ala handgun style. The mag release button is in an odd location. I think either the Uzi or MP5 mag changes are about equal; the nod goes to the Uzi for loction of the mag, but to the MP5 for the thumb release...

The safety lever goes to the MP5, charging handle a tie, sights a tie, versatility of configurations goes to the MP5 in it's various forms, folding stocks probably a tie, controlability to the Uzi in full auto, but practically a tie...

 

[dprice3844444]

the uzi has advantages of switching from short bbls to long bbls by unscrewing the bbl nut.with short bbl,it can be collapsed and worn under the right arm in a mac scatter type desantis holster,etc.

 

[el Godfather]

I have both.
I kept uzi for its asthetic imi value. It is very reliable, but also very heavy and less accurate compared to MP5.

 

[BBDartCA]

Uzi, just for the history and its origins.

 

[leadcounsel]

The sad irony is that Brady was shot, and thus founded the Brady campaign...

 

[Jim K]

Actually, the Bradys did not found the organization.

This from Wikipedia:

"The Brady Campaign emerged from Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI), originally the National Council to Control Handguns (NCCH), and the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence (CPHV). NCCH was founded in 1974 by Dr. Mark Borinsky, a victim of gun violence, and became HCI in 1980.

On June 14, 2001, Handgun Control, Inc. was renamed the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in honor of Sarah and Jim Brady. On October 1, 2001, it incorporated the Million Mom March."

The Bradys were very influential in the organization and brought in many large contributions, but they did not found it. There have been a number of chairpersons, including Ms. Brady; a full list is in the Wikipedia article.

Jim

 

[JTW Jr.]

Been shooting an UZI in local competitions for about 10 years now , every month. Uzi has never let me down, I have seen enough Mp5 ( both sear guns and receiver guns ) choke to not have any interest in owning one. I have fired plenty of them from SDs to MP5K's. Just doesn't do anything for me.

Not having a bolt hold open on the last shot , slow to reload, I will pass.

The Uzi is controllable, reliable and efficient.

But like everything, everyone has a preference, good thing is we still have the availability to own these marvels with a giggle switch.

I just hope they will be around for my grandkids to own.

At the range, the UZI guys kid the MP5 guys when their guns choke... the standing comment is " H&K... Hand Klear....MP...Mostly Problematic......5.... # of designs they scrapped before they got one sellable "

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've only handled an MP-5, never got to shoot one. It certainly handles 'more like a rifle' than other SMG's.

I have fired an Uzi and it was a heck of a lot of fun. Easy to convert calibers (with a22 upper and magazine you can shoot ALL day.. loading the .22 mag is a chore), heavy for an SMG, robust. Lots of parts available, inexpensive compared to a real deal MP5.

 

[Quiet]

If price was not an issue... MP5.

If price was an issue... Uzi.

 

[DesertFox]

If the choice was for MP5/10mm, I'd go that route due to bolt staying open on last round fired. I concur with what has already been generalized about the 2 platforms in this thread. Both are excellent with a nod toward the Uzi for robustness.

 

[leadcounsel]

Those pics from that assassination attempt are interesting, looking back on the President's security detail in the 1980s... Thinking that he had mild mannered men dressed in suits with Uzis is pretty awesome.

The first picture shows an average briefcase on the ground, opened to what appears to the case for an Uzi. Very slick...

It's also interesting that the President wasn't wearing any type of ballistic armor. He was injured in the chest/lung by a small caliber pistol round.

 

[zignal_zero]

neither, i'd stick with the one i have - "MAX 11" (no, the X is not a typo)

 

[737Driver]

I have shot both, the full size and mini Uzi and the mp5k and sd variants all in FA. I like the Uzi better. It's slower and heavier which lets me stay on target a whole lot easier during full auto fire. Mag dumps in the Uzi are very easy with little or no muzzle rise at 600 rpm. The mp5 runs closer to an 1,100 rpm cyclic rate and is lighter so I find it a lot more prone to muzzle climb.

I do love my Max11 too!