Heckler & Koch MP5
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Barrel
- 225 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.60 kg
- Introduced
- 1966
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a select-fire submachine gun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, produced by Heckler & Koch GmbH since 1966. This German-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this submachine gun offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 8.9-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 2600g (91.7 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The MP5 became an icon of counter-terrorism after the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in London, where millions of television viewers watched SAS operators storm the building with MP5s. Its roller-delayed blowback system, borrowed from the G3 battle rifle, gives it accuracy unusual for a submachine gun.
The MP5's roller-delayed blowback system is unusual for a submachine gun and contributes to its legendary accuracy. The weapon originally featured a gray phosphate finish, with matte-black lacquer introduced for export models in 1977. The polymer 'Tropical' handguard was added in 1978. While some units have transitioned to carbine platforms like the M4A1 for primary CQB roles, the MP5 remains in widespread use for personal protection, covert operations, and specialized applications. The MP5 designation stands for Maschinenpistole 5 (Machine Pistol 5). The MP5K variant features a shortened 115mm barrel and increased rate of fire (900 rpm), while the MP5SD features an integrated suppressor and 146mm barrel with reduced rate of fire (700 rpm).
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Heckler & Koch
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1966
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 225 mm
- Overall length
- 680 mm
- Height
- 210 mm
- Width
- 50 mm
- Sight radius
- 340 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.60 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 2.82 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Roller delayed blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Select fire
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 400 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 596 J
- Effective range
- 200 m
- Maximum range
- 1500 m
- Rate of fire
- 800 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Roller delayed blowback
Closed bolt firing
Cold hammer forged barrel
Select fire
Modular trigger group
Interchangeable stocks
Iron sights
Picatinny rail capable
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 201 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 2.60 kg | 3.18 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 200 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 680 mm | 723 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 202 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 225 mm | 213 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 204 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 30 | 32 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the Heckler & Koch MP5
How much does the Heckler & Koch MP5 weigh?
The Heckler & Koch MP5 weighs 2.60 kg (5.73 lb) empty and 2.82 kg (6.22 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Heckler & Koch MP5?
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Heckler & Koch MP5 hold?
The Heckler & Koch MP5 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Heckler & Koch MP5?
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is 680 mm (26.8 in) long overall, with a 225 mm (8.86 in) barrel.
Who makes the Heckler & Koch MP5?
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is made by Heckler & Koch (Germany). It was designed by Tilo Moller.
When was the Heckler & Koch MP5 introduced?
The Heckler & Koch MP5 was introduced in 1966.
How does the Heckler & Koch MP5 operate?
The Heckler & Koch MP5 uses a roller delayed blowback action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- German Federal Police
- 1966
- GSG 9
- 1977
- British Special Air Service (SAS)
- 1977
- United States Navy SEALs
- 1980
- United States Delta Force
- 1985
- United States FBI
- 1994
- United States Secret Service
- United States
- French GIGN
- France
- Spanish GEO
- Spain
- Italian NOCS
- Italy
Provenance
Confidence in this record
88%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/hk-mp5' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "hk-mp5", "name": "Heckler & Koch MP5", "manufacturer": { "id": "heckler-koch", "name": "Heckler & Koch", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 1949, "website": "https://www.heckler-koch.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "ae60994f5b45d604da21fcd14b728cfa9d2e62000c92e596de4c48c4be768979" }, "category": { "id": "submachine-gun", "name": "Submachine Gun", "description": "Automatic firearms chambered in pistol calibers" }, "country_of_origin": "DE", "year_introduced": 1966, "barrel_length_mm": 225, "weight_empty_g": 2600, "action_type": "roller_delayed_blowback"}