HK MP5K

The MP5K (German: Maschinenpistole 5 Kurz, Machine Pistol 5, Short) was designed and is manufactured as a submachine gun by Heckler & Koch a German arms manufacturing company.

By: Quinton Posted: May 5, 2007

The MP5K was first officially introduced in 1976. The gun is basically a cut-down, modified version of HK's MP5 series of weapons, which in tur is based on HK's G3 series. The most notable differences in the MP5K include the replacement of the MP5's handguard with a vertical foregrip, the lack of shoulder stock, and the weapon's overall reduced size.

The MP5K is considerably smaller than the MP5, while retaining almost all of the MP5's features. The only significant notable disadvantage is a drastically decreased effective range (only 50 m), this due to its laok of shoulder stock and shorter barrel(which for many users makes the weapon more difficult to aim). Sighting on the MP5K is achieved through the stock adjustable diopter iron sights, or by using any of various optical sights compatible with the common HK claw mount system.

Like its larger parents, the G3 and the MP5, the MP5K utilizes the roller-locked delayed blowback system. This system in the MP5K delays the weapon's minimal recoil until after the bullet is fired from the gun. This method drastically increases accuracy when firing in the semi-automatic mode. The MP5K usually has a S-E-F trigger group - S standing for sicher (safe), E standing for einzelfeuer (single shot) and F standing for feuerstoss (full-auto). A newer model of the MP5K is the MP5KA4 which features a pictogram-based Safe-Semi-Burst-Auto trigger group and the standard choice of between a 2-, 3- or 4-round burst mode. The MP5K accepts all standard MP5 magazines.

Size and Equipment

The MP5K's low weight and small size allow it to be very easily concealed under common clothes, in a suitcase, or in a car, and allows for high mobility especially in crowds. A special suitcase and bag have been developed and designed, to fire the weapon from and carry the weapon in. Both the suitcase and the bag have a hole for the weapon's muzzle to fire from. The suitcase comes equipped with a secondary trigger in the handle, however when using the bag, the operator must stick his hand inside the bag and manually fire the weapon as he would normally.

Common Uses of the MP5K

Because of its low profile and small size, the MP5K and its variants are extremely popular with VIP protection and counter terrorism units, law enforcement agencies, and many other paramilitary forces throughout the world. The MP5K is used by many members of the elite protection detail of the United States Secret Service who are assigned the task of protecting the president of the United States and first family, the vice president of the United States and second family, and all visiting foreign heads of state.