FEATURES
Authorized by H&K as the only .22 LR version of the original 9mm submachine gun, the MP5 .22 LR HV is a simple blowback-operated .22 rimfire. This is a good, simple action. The HV stands for “high velocity,” and only high-velocity ammo should be used for the best results. The 16-inch barrel is shrouded by the false suppressor. This is the optimum barrel length for .22 LR ammo and will make the carbine more accurate than shorter pistol versions.
My favorite operating control of any MP5 is the slap-down forward bolt release. Along with being fun to operate, it also shows whether the bolt is locked back or not. The collapsible stock is simple and effective. When collapsed, the gun is much shorter and can be fired from the hip easily.
Magazines for the .22 MP5 look much like the 9mm versions but are made from tough polymer, holding 10 or 25 rounds each depending on the version supplied. The staggered cartridge storage is effective and aids in feeding. The followers have external finger grooves to make loading much easier.
The safety selector has two positions clearly marked in white and red. The magazine release is located just behind the magazine housing on the left side of the receiver. It locks positively and securely.
Being a faithful reproduction of an old design, there is no picatinny rail on the MP5. Aftermarket and authentic H&K claw mounts are available for adding a red dot sight or scope, which would make acquiring the sight picture much easier and faster.
My THOUGHTS
This is my kind of .22 carbine. Its shape, weight, and feel are difficult to distinguish from the submachine gun version.
The .22 LR MP5 is hefty and well balanced. Release and extend the stock, then slap that bolt release down on the forend to hear the reassuring sound as the bolt slams forward, loading the first round from that 30-round magazine. I know how Bruce Willis must have felt while acting in “Die Hard.”
Although the extended stock is a bit short, I can obtain a sight picture by choking up on the rear sight. The diopter rear peep sight aligns with the front post circle sight to give a well-defined picture for aiming. I like the pistol grip and the easy-to-operate safety selector switch.
The forestock is well corrugated for a good grip, and the false suppressor closely imitates the MP5SD silenced version. Overall, it is a slick, mean-looking carbine that will show well at any rifle range.
SHOOTING TIME
I shot the MP5 several times with various kind of ammunition over the course of a month before taking it to my sunny Area 52 range for this test. The gun prefers CCI high-velocity Mini Mags and Velocitor hollow points, and reliability with standard velocity and subsonic ammunition is spotty. To avoid failures to eject or feed, I only used high-velocity .22 LR for this test.
Although the 9mm MP5 was originally issued to the military and law enforcement officers, the H&K MP5 .22 LR has great potential as a fun gun. Who wants to shoot boring bullseye paper targets when soda jugs are so much more fun?
My first test was a simple 10-shot group fired at the steel gong at 10 yards. All shots from the 10-round magazine hit center reliably. There are no magazine restrictions in Arizona, so I use the supplied 25-round polymer magazine next to explode some 2-liter soda jugs. At distances less than 10 yards, they exploded dramatically, spraying soda everywhere. What fun! The 10 and 25-round magazines are exceptionally well made and aid in reliability.
Despite the too short 12-inch length of pull, the diopter rear sight and circle-post front sight help make the carbine accurate at close range. Head shots on the steel gongs were easy with the MP5 .22. The sights and crisp single-stage trigger build confidence for first-shot hits, and the final three soda jugs at 25 yards went down with three well-placed shots.
Field Notes
So, what is it like to shoot the H&K MP5 22 LR HV? I have only one word: fun! This iconic European design is not encountered often here in the U.S.. Clearly designed for training, it is fun to imagine this semi-auto version as the real deal. After all, it shoots double and triple taps with ease, it’s accurate, and it’s reliable. The recoil is near zero.
No toy, this H&K feels solid and a bit heavy for its size. I like a slightly heavier gun, which aids in accuracy and quick repeat shots. Despite a short stock and length of pull, it is intuitive to shoot, and I can adapt to its length. With the stock collapsed, it may be concealed easily and stored out of sight until needed.
I shot a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C 12-inch target at 10 yards for a formal accuracy test. Shooting from a tabletop reflecting a real-world barricade shot, I was amazed by the small shot group fired from this improvised position. At under 2 inches, the 10-shot group showed great accuracy for a training carbine.
There were no failures to fire, eject, or feed in today’s test. Both magazines securely locked the bolt back after the last shot was fired.
Ron Calderone
Ron Calderone is a national record holder and recognized NRA competitor with a legendary background in Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette. A certified match director and former board member of the Tucson Rifle Club, Ron now enjoys retirement quail hunting with his French Spaniel and sharing his decades of competitive expertise.
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