H&K MP5
From Gunpedia
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HK MP5, designed by Heckler und Koch, is one of the most famous modern submachine guns. Featured in many movies and computer games, for many people it's a staple of what is SMG. This distinction is entirely deserved - MP5 is known as a reliable and flexible weapon throughout the world.
The MP5 was first conceived in 1964 as the MP54 (a.k.a. HK54). The prototype was first released in 1965. It was adopted by the Deutsche Polizei (German police) as the MP5.
At the current time (in May 2007), MP5 is probably the most popular SMG in the world, now that the Uzi is no longer in production. While a great deal of popularity comes from MP5 merits, skillful advertising must be also accounted for.
Technically, MP5 is a scaled down version of the G3 rifle, chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum. It retains basic principles of the G3 action, and fires from a closed bolt. This presents a bit of a problem with barrel overheating during sustained fire, but the MP5 was never designed as fire support weapon in the first place.
All MP5 SMGs are fitted with fire control/safety. There are two main versions of control - three-positional, which has safe, single shot and full auto positions, and four-positional, which has safe, single shot, burst and full auto positions. Burst mode fires two or three rounds at a single trigger pull (2 or 3 - depends on the exact model).
MP5 uses 9x19 mm Parabellum ammunition, as a rule, but there are specialised versions chambered in more powerful .40S&W (10x22 mm) and 10 mm Auto (10x25 mm). These versions can be spotted by different, straight magazines. There are 30 round and 15 round proprietary magazines for each type of ammunition.
There is also a version of the MP5 that uses an integrated suppressor, named MP5SD. "SD" is the abbreviation of "Schalldämpfer" (silencer). It has an integral silencer, and vented barrel, which allows to use normal ammunition at subsonic speeds. However, standard versions of MP5 can be outfitted with suppressor just as well.
MP5 can be fitted with fixed (MP5A2; MP5SD2) or collapsible (MP5A3; MP5SD3) stocks.
To sum it all up, MP5 is a reliable efficient weapon, available in a large number of modifications and able to take many accessories, including such exotic things as suitcase for concealed carry/shooting. It is widely spread around the world, and just as widely acclaimed.
