In what can only be seen as a real “mic-drop” movement, Heckler & Koch just announced their new SP5, a semi-automatic pistol version of the indomitable MP5.
This is about as close to an authentic MP5 many people will get in a generation. Manufactured by HK in Germany, the SP5 has all of the look, feel and controls of an MP5 in a consumer-friendly commercial version.
There have been many attempts by a string of companies to bring a semi-automatic version of the MP5 to the American market including Heckler & Koch, but everything from questionable manufacturing overseas to deliberate action by U.S. officials has largely prevented this product from making a strong showing outside of movies, TV shows, and video games.
While it still has a couple of small, but telltale signs of being a civilian-oriented pistol, the SP5 is, for all intents and purposes, the most real version of a semi-auto MP5.
The main thing about the SP5 is that it’s made by HK, the original supplier of the MP5, and not a licensed replica or post-patent clone or knockoff. The receiver and grip module are slightly altered to make them incompatible with full-auto components, but unlike early HK semi-autos, have ambidextrous controls including the paddle magazine release.
Another small change is that the SP5 comes with a pistol rear sight turret, not a submachine gun sight. It is compatible with factory and standard aftermarket rear sights, though. Also, the SP5 comes with a modified 3-lug suppressor mount with 1/2-28 threads under a knurled thread protector.
The SP5 comes with a single point sling end cap and not a stock or pistol brace. While it seems like for now, HK isn’t interested in offering the SP5 with a brace or a stock sold separately, there is tons of aftermarket support already in place for people looking to install either, all NFA rules withstanding.
There is one catch. The SP5 is no budget range toy. Sure, it’s built to the same time-tested standard as the iconic MP5 and it will take a beating, but that doesn’t mean the SP5 is a cheap gun.
See Also: Heckler & Koch Unveils Semi-Auto SP5K
The suggested retail price for the SP5, with two 10- or 30-round factory magazines, a sight tool, a sling, and a carrying case is $2,799. While oftentimes pricing online and in stores is less, this is an authentic HK product and it will be in huge demand, especially at first, and prices are sure to be all over the map.
That is to say, if you see an SP5 available for sale, it’s probably going to sell to someone, and if you want one you’ll have to pay up. In time, when some of the new hotness of the SP5 wears off, better deals may be found, but at least for now, expect prices to remain high.
Additional 10-, 15- and 30-round magazines carry an $80 sticker price. The good news is that there’s a strong aftermarket for magazines, too.
So if you’ve been asking for a commercially available MP5 from HK, well, they listened. For more details and information visit the Heckler & Koch website.
Do you have any HK SP5’s in stock. I would like to buy one, Eric
Glad my father purchased a real mp5a3 for me the year I was born . My favorite man toy over my m16 , 780hp E92 M3 etc .. point is nothing like 800rpm with no recoil. Wouldn’t take nothing for it . Thanks H&K!
Your paying an extra $1200.00 to have the HK label on this weapon, yes it is a great gun, but should be more like $1500.00 to $1700.00
Total rip off due to the name . In the 1990s I was a sec5 prohibited firearms dealer and bought the MP5 Turkish made under licence variant which was as well made if not better as it came with two 30 round mags sling and detachable flash hider for £300 each which is about $360 each thats before we all got screwed here in the UK.
We are a FREE COUNTRY UNLIKE YOURSELFS ! You could become FREE too if you all had any backbone to get rid of the Queen Monarchy ! Why don’t you all create a Constitution like ours?
Im no expert, but this looks like a waste of cash. for that price id rather have a semi like a SL-8. HK still has beautiful toys!
I’d buy a PTR 9CT instead. I’ve seen the inside of the gun industry too many years. The PTR guys invested in the best tooling and systems a couple years ago and have more experts and have been producing this product longer than HK. No, there aren’t any old HK guys from the 1980s who are helping crank out this SP5 in Germany. This is the HK dudes trying to ease the financial situation they are in. Go with the PTR, it’s made in the USA.
I wonder if H&K will tease us with the SP5 like it did with the SP5K a couple of years ago. They “released” the SP5K for general civilian sale for only for a short time, and they stopped shipping it within a few months. If H&K goes bankrupt by ignoring the largest civilian firearms market in the world, I won’t shed one tear.
1960s ergonomics, 12 LBS trigger and $2800 are the down side.
The SP5 is a cool grail gun for many people.
I think most are waiting on the PSA MP5 clone.
For these reasons, the SP5 is dead on arrival.
You got that right. I will also be waiting for a PSA clone. That is way too much for that gun.
Negative. HK94’s, SP89’s, and SP5K’s still have great resale. Or should I say, had great resale. This release kills the market on the old HKs.
The new HK isn’t too far off in price from Zenith, which are really hard to get right now because we aren’t friendly with Turkey. And the PTR is hit or miss while going through it’s break-in/broken period.
At this point who knows if we will ever see the PSA. They started talking about it 2 years ago. With a 2020 gun rush coming, they will probably focus on increased AR and AK production. Get a high quality MP5 while you still can
I can get a used UZI and still feel the 9mm sub gun love for a lot less $$$
This MP5 is way out of price range of average gun owner, who when deciding between paying the mortgage or buying an HK will……………….pay the mortgage of course.
I’m pretty sure that they aren’t producing MP5s anymore, which means this is an assembly line that may have been disassembled and is now reassembled. At that point, is it really an authentic MP5? Ask anyone in manufacturing how hard it is to start a line back up and have the same quality after a dozen years have passed since you’ve made something (and the old guy who was skilled at something in the line has retired or died off). I suspect that the Zeniths are actually going to be of higher quality since they have continuously made MP5s for their countries police and military.
For 3X the money, you can buy a real (transferable) M11 submachine gun, and still have $ left over to buy a new HK VP9.
This looks great, but I just got an American-made PTR 9CT, which is a fantastic clone of this. It has a more modern M-Lok handguard for installing a light, etc. It also has a top rail for installing a red dot. And it’s full auto drop in sear ready. With a side folding brace package, and an awesome hard case, it goes for over $1100 cheaper than this. I’m sure the HK version is nice, and I’ll probably get one when prices come down just for collectibility, but I’d be hard pressed to see how it would be better than the PTR, which has an outstanding fit and finish, runs like a top, and is from a US manufacturer with an easy lifetime warranty.
I’ve seen vids where they do not like the steel case stuff, but for $1K-1300 left in the bank i’ll still be looking at getting a PTR or a used Zenith. Love most of HK products, but unless your arsenal is already full $2800 buys alot of firearms.
Hello. The 1960’s are calling.
Haha! If you’ve ever shot one of these antiques the way they’re meant to be shot (suppressed) you’d know that you’d rather put your face in front of a diesel exhaust. They spit back smoke and gun powder grit right into your face. Go modern, save money, get a clean shooting rock star in the Sig PCC and be done with it. Oh and save a grand for the suppressor.
@Logan – Either you feel the need for a terrorist weapon, or you don’t fully understand that they HAD to build it that way. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be reading this column at all …….
My suggestion, stick to your shoot-em-up games and leave the real world of weapons alone until you are old enough to understand the laws that we are being inundated with in this country by the libs ……. we are lucky that the SP5 made it through the gauntlet as a semi auto at all if the Dems had their way.
True. HK has had to mod their firearms a ton since the 80’s in order to sell practically anything in the USA. This pistol is 35+ years in the making to be here.
What? Not in 10mm???
Yeah we don’t get anything nice. I think there is only one company even assembling 10mm variants.
Dear Santa,
This year I only want one thing for Christmas….
Not sure I get all the hype? Looks like a a rather unattractive piece of hardware to me! (IMHO)
Kind of like the prima donna arriving at the party after the band has packed it up.
Thought HK hated us, what changed?
They do still hate us…
“The receiver and grip module are slightly altered to make them incompatible with full-auto components”
I’m guessing they’re talking about the standard receiver shelf and clipped lower grip that all HK 9x pattern guns have to have, but they also probably neutered the bolt carrier too.
PTR has been eating HK’s lunch for years. Twice the quality of product and service, half the price, better accessories included and fully registered sear ready.
In a world of compromise, HK demands more for less.
Facing bankruptcy, that’s what changed
More than whether HK hates us or not, I think it has to do with two things. 1) HK’s financial situation. They have been fighting their red numbers for a while now and coming out with this may help a little to turn those numbers black. And 2) German regulations on exporting certain weapons.
Just think, HK can re-introduce a product that they have been producing for 40+ years with little to no new engineering costs. That should eliminate a lot of the overhead cost associated with coming out with a new product. And to top that off, it is a product that people have been clamoring about for years, so there’s a lot of pent up demand and it can be sold at a premium price and a great profit.
Germany has very stringent laws on just what weapons can and cannot be exported. Combine that with the complicated US regulations on imported firearms and it was probably a huge effort to get past the legal aspect of this.
I’m just glad that the SP5 is finally back, whatever the reason for it.