Heckler & Koch needs no introduction. Many of us grew up dreaming of one day owning the legendary MP5 or MP5SD but had to settle for Call of Duty or Counterstrike. Some of us grew up and bought SP5 or even MP5 clones but now H&K is giving us a 22LR option to make our childhood dreams a little more attainable.
Right: Pistol Configuration
A few years ago, H&K had a sleeper hit on their hands with their dedicated 22LR HK 416 and they’re now expanding their 22LR offerings with the MP5 chambered in 22LR. This version of the MP5 comes in both rifle and pistol configurations, made to H&K’s specifications by UMAREX. At Primary Arms Range Day 2021 I managed to get my hands on the rifle configuration that features a 16.1″ barrel shrouded in a faux suppressor that looks and feels pretty damn close to the 9MM original.
Most companies cut corners on their dedicated 22LR versions of popular firearms, opting to substitute polymer for otherwise metal components. True to form, H&K maintains comparable form and function to the 9MM version.
Controls are the same. The 10 and 25 round magazines are comparable dimensions and load the same way. The metal iron sights are the same. Even the classic “slap & go” charging handle remains intact.
I can’t overemphasize how similar to the MP5 this felt. I think this is best reflected in its 7-pound weight. While the exterior feels almost identical to the MP5, the internals are obviously different from the 9MM classic. Featuring a blowback action instead of the famous roller-delayed system found in the MP5, the 22LR variant cycled flawlessly and was incredibly fun to shoot. Guilt-free mag dumps for days.
The pistol configuration comes with an 8.5″ barrel and comes stockless but features a rear butt-cap. After speaking with the H&K rep, he confirmed that the 22LR MP5 is compatible with aftermarket accessories designed for the MP5. It launched this week and both versions retail for $479.