HK SP – Lasting Impressions

By Shane Oswald

The mark of a good design is often considered to be a recognizable silhouette. This
suggests that the unique shapes and angles have become ubiquitous and culturally significant.
Often, there will be copies that ride the coattails of the original, trying to share in some of the
success. This is no different in the world of firearms. It does not take a gun enthusiast to
recognize the outline of a Heckler and Koch MP5. Since its first adoption in 1966, the MP5 has
become prolific among police agencies, counter terrorist organizations, and militaries around the
world. This gun has redefined the role of the submachine gun and earned its place as a cultural
icon. Almost 60 years after entering the market, it is still considered the gold standard in its
industry due to its exceptional accuracy and minimal recoil impulse. Today, it is available for the
civilian population in the form of the SP5, a faithful semi-auto clone being produced by H&K
themselves.

The MP5 would truly come into the spotlight in 1980 when it was used to great effect
during the siege of the Iranian Embassy. After the hostile takeover and execution of one
hostage, the British Special Air Service would be called into action. Famous pictures would
emerge of SAS operators repelling down into windows, MP5 in one hand. Equipped with early
weapon mounted lights and lasers, the SAS would successfully save twenty-four out of the
remaining twenty-five hostages. In only seventeen minutes, the team managed to capture one
Iranian gunman and eliminate the other five. This impressive show of force was deemed
Operation Nimrod, and it would bring both the SAS and the MP5 into public view.
To understand what sets the MP5 apart from the rest, it is first necessary to understand
the history. The first adoption of submachine guns was in WW1, but this was only in relatively
small numbers. The guns of this era were generally heavy and expensive due to intricate
machining. They often more closely resembled rifles rather than a distinct class of their own.
During the Second World War, it became obvious that something cheaper and less
cumbersome was required. A paradigm shift occurred, and much of the submachine gun
production shifted to cheaper manufacturing practices. This new class of smaller and handier
guns was generally made out of stamped sheet metal parts and welded together. This allowed
for much needed cost savings and put more guns in the hands of soldiers, but many of the
quality of life features also disappeared. To simplify the mechanism, a vast majority of the guns
would be “open bolt,” meaning the bolt of the firearm stays locked to the rear, and pulling the
trigger both releases the bolt and fires the gun. While this does reduce the complexity of the
firing mechanism, it can also result in poor accuracy, ingress of dirt and debris, and even a
potentially unsafe firearm. Regardless, this became the standard for submachine guns for years
to come.

The firearm to break the mold of cheap open bolt sub-guns was, of course, the MP5. It
would seamlessly blend the fine machining of early submachine guns with the compact and
lightweight properties of the later generation. Utilizing stamped steel and polymer where
possible, and intricate durable parts where necessary, H&K managed to develop a handy and
exceptionally accurate firearm. Its highly controllable full auto coupled with the ability to fire
precise semi automatic shots made it a natural choice for professionals around the world.
Although there had been other closed bolt submachine guns, most of those were “blowback”
operated. Blowback guns utilize the mass of the bolt and the resistance of springs to slow down
the cycling action. While this is cheap and simple, firing these guns tends to be a bit jarring. The
MP5 would instead employ a roller-delayed system. Upon firing, two rollers are forced to retract into the bolt head before the bolt body can start its rearward cycle. This mechanical delay allows
for a lighter reciprocating mass that does not impact the rear of the receiver at such a high
velocity. In short, the result is an extremely pleasant shooting experience.

Despite the availability of more modern offerings, the MP5 remains in service today and
likely will be around for years to come. It could be argued that the MP5 ushered in the new
generation of modern sub machine guns. Today, several companies offer closed bolt, high
quality and compact SMG platforms. Guns like the Sig MPX, B&T APC9 and the new Springfield
Kuna come to mind. Additionally, companies such as Zenith, Century Arms, and PTR have tried
their hands at producing MP5 clones. While they may get close, they cannot compete with a
genuine H&K. The civilian-oriented H&K SP5 maintains the same build quality as the true MP5.
It retains all of the iconic features, lacking only in the ability to use fully automatic fire. The SP5
can also be retrofitted with accessory rails to bring it into the modern age. The addition of a red
dot, light and foregrip turns the SP5 into an extremely viable modern platform that would make
the SAS operators of the ‘80s blush. The only thing that might be considered outdated is the
loading doctrine, which features the infamous “HK slap.” This involves locking the bolt open with
the cocking handle, inserting a fresh magazine, and slapping the handle down to drop the bolt.
While this might not be as fast as a modern bolt release, nobody could deny that it is downright
cool.

Personal Story

I am proud to say that my first experience with an MP5 is also my first experience with
firearms. It was no doubt the gun that got me hooked and sent me on the path that I am on
today. It all started with an unexpected snow day when I was in the 4th grade. My mom had a
hair appointment so I was with my dad for the day. Since I was an unplanned addition to his
schedule, we had to go to the police department to drop something off. At the time, he was a
Captain in the narcotics unit. After stopping by the office, he still needed something to keep me
busy for the rest of the day. Naturally, we headed to the armory and I got to handle some of the
impressive firearms. Most other police departments would not have M14s, M4 carbines, and .50
caliber anti-material rifles to show off. At the time, some members of the SWAT team were
practicing in the small, underground range. Formally a member of the SWAT team, my dad
asked if I could come in and watch.

One thing led to another, and soon enough I was strapped into a three-point sling with a
full auto MP5SD in my hands. What I remember best was the insane controllability. I could keep
the sights on target and chug away in full auto, creating a tight pattern – for a nine year old, at
least. It was far easier than I anticipated, but it turns out I was just being spoiled by German
ingenuity. The M4 carbine and later, the Thompson (why did they have a Thompson?) would
prove to be far more difficult to control. The other thing that stuck with me was just how quiet the
gun was. In fact, at one point we even fired the gun without hearing protection. It was
surprisingly comfortable, even in the confined space of the indoor range. What I did not know at
the time was that the MP5SD has a clever gas-venting system that reduces the velocity of any
ammo type to subsonic levels, thus preventing the supersonic boom. It also has an integral
suppressor which sleeves over the entire barrel, giving the gasses plenty of room to expand and
dissipate. All I knew was that the MP5SD felt the way guns looked in the movies, and to me,
that was awesome. Still to this day, nothing has lived up to that first shooting experience.