Wow, I finally own a Heckler and Koch MP5! Perhaps not the one I always wanted, but it is a very good one just the same. Moreover, the HK MP5 A5 .22 Long Rifle is easy on the pocketbook, for firing and feeding. Walther not only manufactures the MP5 A5 .22 but also distributes it.
The neat little carbine is well finished in flat black with excellent red and white enamel on the right places to make it look just like the legendary 9mm SMG. While designed for the war on terror, my MP5 .22 version gives you an affordable and fun rifle. The MP5 has many good features and merits far beyond its appearance.
The Walther-made rifle exhibits a high level of reliability and accuracy that, frankly, I did not expect. That is not a trick or gimmick. It is a well-made trainer if you will, the Ferrari of plinking rifles.
I have to say the MP5 .22, complete with a fake suppressor, is an awesome look-alike. In fact, the carbine was leaning against the wall a few days ago, along with other items being checked for images and range work, and it fooled an intelligent young man. My son-in-law is a fine young man not well versed in firearms—yet, but he knows a suppressor when he sees one. “Pop,” he said, “is that a suppressor?”
We previously had a great discussion about the inventor of the sound suppressor, Hiram Maxim. His patents still stand, and the family has made a tidy sum on his patent for the vehicle muffler. I explained that the HK is a fake. He did not quite get it. So I told him it is made to mimic an anti-terror SMG I could not own easily, at least without a ton of paperwork and considerable expense.
Now, I love black guns and all that but probably would purchase another truck first. He simply said OK. Well, the .22 is not loud and is not suppressed, either. It just looks like it would be an SMG with a “can.” Sort of like the fake can that used to be on MAC-10 copies so you could hold them properly.
This one neatly sidesteps the problem of making a legal-length carbine version of the SMG look off-balance with a long barrel. After all, the real SMG is also a short-barrel firearm. With the fake suppressor, it does not look gawky. It looks cool. And in many ways, the Walther .22 looks cooler than the HK 9mm rifle with its long-for-the-size 16-inch barrel.
While it is fun to have a look-alike of the real thing, we could buy a fake or a dewat for an outrageous price and hang in on the wall. The Walther MP5 .22 is useful. It is more accurate and reliable than quite a few .22 rifles intended purely for sporting use.
The pistol grip, cocking handle and outline are all HK.
- I was surprised to find the sights are genuine, rotating-diopter rear sights with four apertures—pure HK and very similar to my PTR 91 rifle.
- The sight is fully adjustable and makes for excellent hit probability.
- The front post is ideal for practical accuracy.
- The front sight is about 0.65 inches thick, and inside the packing carton is a spare front-sight blade for fine adjustment. Simply use an Allen wrench to change the sight, backing it out—a neat trick—and the HK .22 is accurate enough that you will wish to precisely sight it.
The stock is high quality and folds neatly into the receiver. There is only one adjustment, in or out, but it is not as if the rifle kicks. It does not kick at all. The MP5 .22 is only 27 inches folded and 32.5 inches overall with the stock fully extended and locked. The release is a neat little lever that you twist to release the stock. Unlike a number of entry-level .22s, AR look-alikes and the rest, it is tight and solid without any rattle or play.
At more than $400, it is not an entry-level .22, so it should be tight and well made. Operation of the MP5 .22 is simple. Insert and lock in place a loaded magazine. The cocking handle is on the upper left side of the barrel. To cock the rifle, you move the cocking handle to the rear and then release it. The handle does not move when the rifle fires and can be used to open the action and lock the bolt in place. The safety is on the aluminum receiver, well located and positive in operation.
The sights, pistol-grip handle and fore end are all very ergonomic and easily used. The sights are particularly well made and useful. Trigger compression is not bad for a .22 rifle, breaking at just more than 6.5 pounds. The trigger feels like a military two-stage. For safety and instructing young shooters, that is a good trigger.
When firing the rifle, the trigger and push-button magazine release are more than manageable. The rifle weighs just more than 6 pounds, so firing is not a chore, and it handles quickly. I fired the MP5 .22 extensively with Winchester M22, designed especially for self-loading rifles, and the CCI Mini Mag. I also used the Remington 40-grain high-velocity loading. I have enjoyed good luck in feed and accuracy with those three choices.
There are others that probably work well, and any of those runs well in my self-loading rifles and handguns. After firing some 450 rounds between cleanings, I have experienced no malfunctions. That is something of a benchmark for any self-loading .22-caliber action.
The real surprise was accuracy. After one afternoon of emptying the 25-round magazine and finding I hit just about everything at which I aimed, I decided I would bench rest the next morning. After giving the rifle a good cleaning and lubrication, I rested it across the sandbags and test-fired at a long 50 yards.
A short-barrel .22 at 50 yards is not always a success story. Firing three different loads, I achieved an average of 2 inches at 50 yards. However, on one occasion, the three-shot group of Winchester M22 settled into 1 inch, and the CCI Mini Mag’s best effort was a satisfying 1.2 inches. This dog will run!
I do not recommend the .22 for personal defense, although the caliber and rifles that chamber it are often pressed into service against predators and members of our protein-fed, ex-con criminal class; 25 rounds of high-velocity .22 may make a favorable impression on our behalf.
There even may be a certain intimidation factor with this carbine. It looks bad to the bone. When all is said and done, the HK MP5 .22 is one great rifle that is a very desirable addition to my modest battery of .22-caliber firearms.
So what is your dream rifle? Do you have an HK MP5 .22? Plan to get one soon? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
I recently purchased the same MP5 .22. (different handguard) I was told it’s now a rare firearm considering that it was the last of its kind to be made by H&K. Is their any marking that can back that up. I’m trying to make sure I didn’t purchase one by Umarex. I’m finding conflicting info on line. Need some clarification.
Does any person know where to get one of these rifles
I own one of these. Given the relatively minimal size of AR15 223 vs 22lr rounds themselves, I trust my eye and if necessary for personal protection, would release a tight three-round grouping to anything that I truly felt was threatening my life. The notion then is to disable, not kill. If that were the goal (hunting) a larger caliber packed with a lot more powder, would be the choice. So yes, I would consider this rifle for personal protection, in addition to my other options.
Im confused on the silencer statement, can you not get a real one for this gun?
I just bought the same gun, but it is missing its rear sight. Where could I find such a part? I already tried HKparts.net, but they only offer the rear sight for the non-clone mp5.
I own this same rifle. It has become my tacticool rifle and serves well on varmint duty. It has an aluminium tri rail, light, bushnell t-reticle red dot, forward grip. Lots of accessories. As far as reliability, I have put over 3000 rounds through this rifle with no failures to function except when I tried running subsonic rounds through it. Obviously being a blowback action it prefers standard velocity or higher ammunition. Besides that, it has never failed to cycle. My friends own the “famous-22” rifle and spend more time jacking with failures to feed or eject than they should have to. If you are on the fence on this rifle, buy it, you will never regret it. Accessories are a little high but are well made.
I have owned one of the MP-5 .22 LR’s since 2012. I have several 10-22’s, some heavy barreled and tricked out. They serve their purpose well but the little MP-5 is quite simply a lot of fun to shoot. I purchased a picatinny rail sight mount from HK and then put a red dot on it. They also have a fixed stock to replace the slider that I am thinking about. It is quick to sight and deadly to small game. I would hate to face It in the wrong way with a full clip and competent operator. It always draws a few questions at the range. I agree with Mr. Campbell’s assessment. It is a great little .22 well worth owning.
Anyway I am very happy with this little lead spitter.
Great rifle. Impossible to find extra internal parts for the gun though.
Hi, just wondering what internal parts you were talking about. I picked up an MP5 .22 a couple weeks ago in a trade. Man, you talk abou accurate! I hope if something goes wrong with mine, I can get parts. Where do you get parts for it? Thanks. Ron
I have one these and really enjoy it. I had a trigger job done which really helped. The only issue is they gum up really bad internally to the point of non function after about 5000 rounds. Cleaning is a PAIN. Funny because you void your warranty taking it apart but it’s the only way to keep it running. But unless you stockpiled ammo it’ll take you 10 years to shoot that much anyways I guess haha.
Spray your MP5 bolt area with Walmart non-chlorinated brakes cleaner
I’m on good terms with the folks in the ammo/sporting goods department at our Walmart and they claim they haven’t received any 22 lr ammo in months! When Walmart, Turners, Bass Pro and Cabella’s can’t get it what are our chances?
I spoke with the Wal Mart guy in sporting goods and he said the same two guys come in every Thursday morning at 5:30am and buy the limit of 3 boxes. His opinion was they are selling them to local pawn shops for a profit.***holes!!
I believe it. A local pawn shop sells 22 shells in baggies 15 rounds for $12. I said **** that.
I will not purchase another .22 gun (like I need another one) until I can go to a store and buy ammo for it whenever I want. I stocked up before America showed it’s stupidity the first time, maybe we just have to wait till the stupidity is over (if ever).
Mike
Great site thanks. Unfortunately I randomly checked 5 of the in stock brands at different stores that atleast priced the sale reasonably (sorry but 40 cents per round is not worth discussing) They made up their fair price by charging outrageous prices for shipping. I had one that the ammo was $347 and the shipping was $119. For $119 I can get an entire bedroom delivered from Oversock.com or the like. The ammo is about what 5 maybe 10 pounds at most in bricks to charge $120 is why or how they can charge 16 to 20 cents a round. Point is you really want to have 22LR badly to use online companies with in stock supplies. Most that charge a fair price and fair shipping are all out of stock bummer. Still their way around supply and demand issues. Eventually the supply will come back around when we realize that we are not going to civil war or national catastrophe and having 1 or 2 million rounds in the basement isn’t all that necessary or even a moderately poor investment.
Clearly y’all aren’t looking for .22lr ammo in the right places. Don’t look in local stores. Look online, use search tools.
http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/rimfire/22lr/
It seems like a cruel irony that .22 lr is the least available round, just as every manufacturer and his sister-in-law are offering every platform under the sun in that caliber. The prices of all these neat firearms is bound to be artificially suppressed until ammo to feed them becomes more affordable and available, so now is probably the time to invest. Believe it or not, .22 lr prices will eventually reach something close to equilibrium after the historic first half-white Affirmative Action president leaves office – if not in 2016, then surely within our lifetimes. Some enterprising manufacturer will step up if the big dogs won’t. Acquiring another fun rim-fire plinker is vote of confidence in happier days. I will not be dismayed.
Bob
As usual you convinced me. It is on my list of “to buy soon” I LOVE the look and I bet with the fake silencer if you used it for self defense someone might just think it is a larger caliber but silenced ready to blow them apart.
As far as 22LR e have none around here either and shipping costs more then the ammo to be delivered from national companies that do have some.
It is not a conspiracy it is simple economics. At the price of 22LR vs. say 380 or 40 cal or even 45 they make FAR more for a LOT less effort. Think about how much work and materials goes into a box of 22LR vs. any other caliber. We are used to and willing to pay a few dollars per 50 where we are willing to shell out boku bucks for a small box of 223. So where do you think the ammo companies are going to invest their efforts and potential profits.
Same cost to make 22LR as I bet for a 223 only difference is a TINY amount of raw goods and at the price they pay it matters VERY little. So the profits on self defense calibers vs. plinking ammo is so extremely different that they forgo the toys in favor of the bigger stuff. Not saying they don’t make ANY obvious they do because every week Wally World gets their shipments but then the hoarder/prepper/paranoids buy them clean out and none left for the rest of us
I know of some of these guys who literally have 2 and 3 hundred THOUSAND rounds of ammo. Talk about paranoia but its their dollars tied up in lead and brass.
Thanks Bob for the great analysis of the weapon looks like a TON of fun and might even be a good marksmanship practice as well
Dr D
Bob:
If you’re waiting for Walmart I hope you’re not holding your breath. Every source I used to frequent has dried up like a Texas creek in the middle of summer. Bass Pro, Cabella’s, and a few others I have catalogues for don’t even list it anymore. I smell fish.
Scotty:
I don’t believe in the tooth fairy or the BS ammo shortage as anything but contrived. They’ve lost about a hundred dollars a month of my business but at this point I don’t think they care. We used to warm up with 22’s now it’s right to the 9mm and 45’s which I can reload..
This is MY gun, not a test gun, not something from the CTD warehouse. My local gunshop had 500 rounds, I have my favorite M 22 and CCI loads put up. The gun, thank God, runs with anything.
I do not have an answer to the shortage other than the gents waiting for Wal Mart, etc, to get a shipment and buying the whole thing!
Bob Campbell
Excellent point here. 22 ammo cannot be found anywhere so why buy a 22 chambered weapon?
We need a HONEST discussion here as to the reality behind the non-existence of this ammo! I don’t want to hear this BS about over demand and little supply. When there is a demand companies, seeking profits, up supply. OR is this another behind the curtain scheme by the Bolshevik lapdog we have for a president and his frothing minions to further restrict our Second Amendment rights?
Something is not right here. Bloomberg probably knows the real truth, perhaps we should ask him??
This year I’ve turned down a couple of great deals on both pistols and rifles because of the scarcity of 22 ammo. Without ammo what are we going to use them for clubs? No body has it unless you want to pay ridiculous prices. I’m through getting scalded at the register.