GSG-5 SD: The story behind the gun
American Tactical Imports will be selling the GSG-5 rifle in an SD configuration. The SD is patterned after the MP5-SD, a suppressed variant of the MP5. The main difference between the SD and the standard GSG-5 lies in the bigger stouter fore grip which is patterned after the MP5-SD integral suppressor and a fake over-barrel suppressor. It will be available in April/May as a complete rifle and later in the year as a conversion kit.
What is really cool is how the gun came into existence. Chris from ATI told me that last year after the original GSG-5 was introduced they noticed many people on the ar15.com GSG forum voiding their warranty to achieve the SD look. Late last year they flew to the GSG HQ in Germany to discuss these modifications. They worked out a plan.
This is a fantastic example of a company listening to it’s customers. I wish more gun companies would do this.
MP5SD3. Photo from Wikipedia.
ATI’s been great on the GSG forum on Arfcom, they respond pretty well to questions and like you said, pay attention to what’s going on with their customers. I wouldn’t doubt that’s part of why sales of the GSG-5 are still through the roof despite the relatively high cost for a .22lr. I know I love mine and can’t wait for the conversions to start coming in.
The GSG5 and the pistol variants are great firearms. We have a whole site dedicated to them and their accessories at http://www.gsg5forum.com.
The GSG-5 forum is a great idea, but the one on ARFCom just has a lot more traffic. I think I asked a question about something on the GSG-5 forum when I bought the rifle back in November and it’s still unanswered, but on ARFCom it was answered in about a half hour.
I so want the rifle version, with a real suppressor and a good optic, but alas, I’m a republican with a genuine voting record. Folks can’t hear me anymore. Boo freakin’ who. Such an Obamanation. Cheney should have been wearing one on a sling when he rolled for the inauguration. Just to make the point.
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Little Jerry
I’d love to get one of these eventually but every time I think about it $500 for a 22 throws me off. Sure it’s tacticool but For $150 I can get a Remington 597 in 22 that will do whatever this will do it just won’t look as cool.
It’s a personal taste thing I guess. I’ve got a 10/22 with Tech-sights that’s more accurate, just as reliable with factory mags, but that doesn’t turn heads at the range. Plus 10/22 high cap mags are more often crap than good.
I figured that if I were to take a 10/22 and build it up to be ‘tacti-cool’ it would end up actually costing more than $500 on top of that, and I’d still be stuck with trying to find reliable hi-cap mags. So I took a chance and picked up a GSG-5, insanely cool looking right out of the box, and a handful of extra mags, and it’s been running just as reliable as my 10/22 as long as you’re using consistent ammo.
$500 is a little more than I would normally think of paying for a .22, but hell, I’m already contemplating the Sig 522 if they’re any good.
In the past 15 years I haven’t seen a new product that I saw and said “I’ve got to have one of those.” And this is after owning over 300 guns in my life, so far.
As mentioned you can buy a cheaper 10/22 and add stuff to make it “tacticool” but it’ll still look a 10/22 plus look dorky.
I love my GSG-5 and are are amazed at the number of other shooter how know what I’m talking about when mentioning the rifle model.
Can’t wait for the SD conversion kit …..AND….>>other neat .22 rifles from ATI like a .22 AUG.
The fully suppressed version is enroute Little Jerry.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=41&t=269171
Has Obama changed any laws yet? I know everyone is worried about it, but cut the self pity act.
Are there any plans that anyone knows of for a 9mm conversion kit for the GSG’s in the future. Is it even possible. I just got mine and was thinking if I could convert it to 9mm for a few hundred dollars, I would essentially have an MP5 (less full auto obviously) for under a grand. Is there anything on the horizon in regards to this issue? Thanks!
Can’t wait for the conversion kit. You guys at GSG/ATI need to offer this soon!
I want a GSG-5 Beta Mag.
The bolt assembly top cover of my GSG5 broke. It’s that piece of metal below the serial number in the bolt assembly. I could not find any parts. I e-mailed ATI and hoping they could help. I heared they are really helpful. Has anybody got the same problem? How was it resolve?
The GSG-5 platform is basically just an ICS Airsoft body modded to fire .22LR rounds. That said, it is ripe for customization and a blast to shoot.
Naysayers who claim that out rival .22 platforms such as the Ruger 10/22 are a better choice for the shooter may find themselves in the minority once the GSG-5 becomes more available for consumers.
This weapon is not designed for rigorous use in any way, but for what it is (a fun plinker), it leaves the fun-factor competition in the dust.
Do yourself a favor–before you pass on a GSG-5 in favor of a Ruger or WASR-22, grab one from your friend (who purchased it without hesitation) and run to your nearest range. The only way you could have more fun with $500 is a blissful 15 minutes at the Bunny Ranch. Guaranteed.
Today a purchased a GSG-5 as an 18th bday present. yay for me =) anyways, I bought the gun, cuz it looked cool, (I know its breaking a golden rule, so sue me.) I just would like to know what i got myself into with my $475 investment. some user comments would be really appreciated. you can e-mail me at g.ensley ( a t) yahoo dot com if you wanna talk guns. Thanks guys.
the umarex m4 22 made by walther is 600 or less dollars for a little horsey on the m4 rail standard and m16 size is availiable check it out
its not an airsoft conversion it built from the ground up as .22 mp5 carbine……both the hk and gsg are blow back except that hk has delayed form of blow back…..a .22 does not need a delayed blow back so that soundnt be held against the design…in fact its problerly debateable wheather hk mp4 even needs a delayed blow back system……its problerly more a selling thing rather then any real improvement then a simple blow back
I’ve had my GSG since June. I get tons of looks. It does fail to eject (FTE) on crappy dirty rounds. I’ve found that the golden something by Remington are very reliable. 550 rds for $20 at Dick’s. I want to put a sling on it, but not sure which one yet.
$500 is a tough pill to swallow, but this gun is so much fun. And now that there’s been a lawsuit against ATI… look for the value to increase.
I finally got my gsg5 I bought 5 mags for it and I can’t keep my hands off this gun. ATI is a great gun maker I’ve owned a few of their pistols (better than glock). And you can’t beat the German quality of the gun. Do some research on .22lr HV rounds they perform better than .223! I know that’s going to make some .223 carbine lovers mad but the truth is hard to swallow! Read ballistics charts and test fires and compare the both you’ll be amazed! I’m buyin two more of these rifles! The titanium anniversary and the SD model. Great job ATI! By the way mine cost me $400.
I have owned a gsg5p for about 6 months and I have to say its a great gun as long as you’re using reliable ammo. A couple of things I’d like to pass on to other/future owners… If you ever remove the rear sight, be very careful not to lose the spring and ball bearing under the sight drum. They are extremely small and without either one the sight drum can spin freely and won’t lock at any aperture settings. The other is to use the correct size screwdrivers when disassembling your gun for cleaning. The flat head design of the screws are easily binged up. P.S. GSG, why not make these screws hex head since you already include a hexhead driver in the kit?
I’ve had more fun with this 22 than any other I’ve owned and there’s been a few. GSG keep up the good work and think about that 9mm version…
I just took my new GSG-5 out for the first time yesterday and loved the way it performed. However, after I cleaned it and ressembled it, I could only get the bolt to slide back halfway. I carefully followed the instructions in the manual, doing it over and over again 30 times. Is the rifle defective or am I doing something wrong? Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance.
Has anyone tried to use H&K parts on the GSG-5? Just trying to figure out if an H&K lower will fit on the GSG.
You can’t put a lower H&K on a GSG 5 but you can use the H&K accessories.
I have to agree that $500 is a bit much for a plinker, but consider this. I have a REAL MP5SD3, and there is NO WAY that I would be able to afford the 9mm ammo to keep the thing fed if I practiced continually. Particularly since I shoot H&K nickel steel cased loads designed for the thing that come in fast load bricks of 30 at 1200 rounds per steel can. Fortunately I bought 3 cans worth when I got the MP5SD, so I won’t run out quickly, but the cost of an HK .22LR conversion kit can run $1500, so $500 for a .22 lugalike that i can practice room entries with, etc, with lower power .22 rounds, well . . . aside from the utter lack of full automatic fire, it works.