#HecklerAndKoch

Following on the heels of last year’s SP5 release, H&K has just announced the release of the SP5K PDW – an MP5K PDW for those of us without deep pockets or OP orders from Uncle Sam. Like the SP5, the SP5K PDW is about as close as you can get to owning the real thing. Released in 2016, the SP5K was a new hope for H&K fans that were pleading for near clones of classic fully automatic German hardware. Although without features like a paddle mag release and traditional trigger housings, traditionalists were forced to either have a quality H&K gunsmith make the needed changes to a brand new $2,500 gun, or continue to wait.

During SHOT 2020’s industry day at the range, Heckler & Koch unveiled the new Optics Ready VP9.  The new VP9 uses the existing full-size VP9 while adding a couple notable improvements.  As the name implies, the optics ready VP9 accommodates a wide variety of red dot sights (RDS).

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday proudly brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine – home of the Turbo and Resonator suppressors. Last week we brought you a writeup on suppressing the new GLOCK 44 rimfire pistol – a setup I believe will be in every rimfire aficionados rotation.  This week we are going to run through some recent NFA news and then take a peak at my latest purchase – the H&K SP5. I’ve submitted my Form 1 application, payed my “tax” mailed my prints, ordered a stock and eagerly await the Crown’s blessing to shoulder my authentic German roller-delayed silencer host. Until then, we’ll have to play the SP5 vs MP5SD game as pistol versus short barreled rifle.

Check out TFB’s earlier articles for more information on the HK433 here.

In 2003, I was a young shooter and really my only other experience with a handgun was with a 2nd generation Glock 17. Prior to owning my first gun, I spent a lot of time on Glocks and a Smith and Wesson 686 I loved. I researched for a couple months and still couldn’t figure out what I’d rather purchase between an H&K USP Compact or a SIG P229. At the time, I was only around 13 and saved up working to have my dad buy one. I wanted a handgun so I could start competing in IDPA and steel competitions.

At the Military and Law Enforcement section of the Heckler and Koch booth at SHOT Show 2019, there were a number of firearms rocking a new weapon laser with HK markings on them. Later I found out they are made by Brolis Photonics in collaboration with H&K. The Brolis M3 Laser is a European version of a PEQ or DBAL laser.

The HK416 is somewhat of an icon in the firearms industry. Due to the fact the HK416 is the military/LE designation they are typically select fire and not available to civilians. Heckler & Koch has the civilian version MR556 and MR223 and are semi-auto versions of the HK416. But ask any HK fan, it is not the same. Hurricane Butterfly has imported a small batch of HK416 semi auto pistols but be prepared for some sticker shock.

The French Army is set to adopt Aimpoint’s CompM5 red dot rifle optic. The CompM5 will be paired with the French Army’s new service rifle, the Heckler & Koch HK416 F, which is currently being rolled out. Aimpoint introduced the CompM5 in September last year.

Last week, Hrachya posted a sneak peak of the Umarex HDR50. I happen to attend IWA 2018 while I was in Germany last week and got a chance to take a closer look at it along with some of Umarex’s other offerings.

During my trip to Germany last week, I took a special trip up to Hamburg, Germany to visit Zib Militaria. Zib is a surplus dealer in some rare gun parts. Heiko, the owner, has acquired some rare machine gun parts as well as stock piled a bunch of HK goodies. Among them are piles of HK 416 and 417 parts along with guns minus the barrels and bolts. This is due to the laws regarding firearm components in Germany. While I was there, I learned that Brownells has bought a majority these components and is planning to import them for sale in the US.

In the comments section of my recent Brief Thoughts article regarding caseless ammunition, there was a discussion about whether the cookoff issues of caseless would also be problem for LSAT-style polymer cased telescoped ammunition. Based on conversations I have had with subject matter experts regarding polymer cased ammunition in general, I noted that a lower cookoff threshold is one of the challenges I would expect CT ammunition developers to face. However, after some back-and-forth in the comments, I decided to contact LSAT/CTSAS program officer Kori Phillips regarding this issue (as it was not something I covered in my three-part interview with her), and she kindly agreed to allow her comments on the matter to be published here on TFB. They are below:

The US Army’s embattled CSASS program has moved forward slightly with a sources sought notice posted to the Fed Biz Opps website, seeking manufacturers who can make many of the accessories that equip the M110A1 rifle. The notice isn’t itself for a contract, but will help determine which manufacturers are able to provide a second source production capability for CSASS accessories.

Caseless: The ammunition designer’s holy grail, and the engineer’s worst nightmare. It would obsolete the cartridge case overnight, resulting in cheaper, lighter, and more compact ammunition. Weapons would be able to carry 50, 60, or more rounds in slim, inexpensive magazines, and expel them at a rate of fire much higher than current weapons are capable of – not only because the ammunition is lighter and therefore more could be carried to feed such thirsty guns, but because the extraction and ejection cycles of the weapons themselves could be eliminated.

DefenceWeb recently released a video overview of the new Steyr / Rheinmetall RS-556 assault rifle. The rifle, a sort of hybrid between an AR-15 and a Steyr AUG, was submitted to the Bundeswehr’s System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr trials, competing against both Heckler & Koch’s HK416 and the new HK433 assault rifles. The RS-556, mechanically, is substantially different from a basic AR-15, and therefore occupies an interesting spot in-between being an AR-15 variant and a completely different weapon. The upper receiver is a single piece forged unit, with an AUG-style fixed extension/trunnion and quick change barrel. An AUG-style short stroke tappet gas system and connecting operating rod replace the AR-15’s direct impingement system. In the upper, a steel insert, rather than the aluminum receiver itself, guides the bolt carrier group. This feature is supposed to increase upper receiver life, and improve its maintenance characteristics, although it does make the rifle significantly heavier.

Last year Altra Firearms came across a collection of H&K MP5 parts. One of which was a genuine H&K MP5K briefcase. Now Rusty S. posted up a lightning review of his MP5K briefcase about two years ago. I had always wanted an MP5K Briefcase and there was one for sale very close to me. My friend Scott had posted it up on various groups so I contacted him and I bought it from Altra. The briefcase cost me $2,000. I have heard people say they are $1500 but I have not see them go for that cheap. I knew of one other person near me who had one and he spent $4,000 for his briefcase. Sadly he sold it before I acquired mine.