Heckler & Koch MP5SD
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Barrel
- 146 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.39 kg
- Introduced
- 1974
About
What it is, and why it matters
The MP5SD is an integrally suppressed variant of the MP5 submachine gun, introduced by Heckler & Koch in 1974. It uses a 146 mm ported barrel housed inside a two-stage suppressor that bleeds propellant gas to reduce muzzle velocity below the speed of sound, allowing standard supersonic 9x19mm ammunition to be fired with subsonic ballistics. The result is one of the quietest, most reliable suppressed submachine guns ever fielded.
The MP5SD's clever ported barrel/expansion chamber design lets shooters use any standard 9mm ammunition while still achieving subsonic muzzle velocity, eliminating the logistical headache of stocking specialized subsonic loads. It became the signature weapon of British SAS counter-terror teams after its televised use during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege.
Six SD sub-variants (SD1-SD6) differ by stock type (none/fixed/retractable) and trigger group (S-E-F vs S-E-3-F burst).
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Heckler & Koch
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1974
- Variant of
- Integrally suppressed
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 146 mm
- Overall length
- 807 mm
- Height
- 230 mm
- Width
- 67 mm
- Sight radius
- 340 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.39 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Roller delayed blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- 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
- 285 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 320 J
- Effective range
- 100 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.
Integral suppressor
Ported barrel
Diopter sights
Closed bolt operation
Subsonic velocity at muzzle
Fixed or retractable stock options
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 | 3.39 kg | 3.18 kg | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 200 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 807 mm | 723 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 202 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 146 mm | 213 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 204 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 30 | 32 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the Heckler & Koch MP5SD
How much does the Heckler & Koch MP5SD weigh?
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD weighs 3.39 kg (7.48 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Heckler & Koch MP5SD?
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the Heckler & Koch MP5SD hold?
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Heckler & Koch MP5SD?
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD is 807 mm (31.8 in) long overall, with a 146 mm (5.75 in) barrel.
Who makes the Heckler & Koch MP5SD?
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD is made by Heckler & Koch (Germany). It was designed by Tilo Moller.
When was the Heckler & Koch MP5SD introduced?
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD was introduced in 1974.
How does the Heckler & Koch MP5SD operate?
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD 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
- United States Navy SEALs
- United States
- British Special Air Service
- United Kingdom
- GSG 9
- Germany
- Kommando Spezialkrafte
- Germany
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
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-mp5sd' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "hk-mp5sd", "name": "Heckler & Koch MP5SD", "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": 1974, "barrel_length_mm": 146, "weight_empty_g": 3393, "action_type": "roller_delayed_blowback"}