MP5 9mm clones

[islandermyk]

Since the day I thought about shooting cheaper ammo (22lr) I had my eyes on an MP5 I was first thinking about getting a .22lr and was pretty much determined to getting one. I posted a "Want to buy" MP5 .22lr on here and Ridge threw a monkey wrench in my plans, SOB (Thanx Ridge)... Now I see that it is possible to purchase a 9mm version.
I see that you can buy and build one from Demilled HK MP5 kits, but for a starting price of $1600 and up without the receiver.
Then they have MP5 clones from coharie-arms, Special Weapons, Vector, MKE, etc.. that start from $1200 and up, and the internals are not HK parts, but are interchangeable with'em HK parts...
Does anyone here have any experience with these clones?
I would like to know if it would be worth saving up the money to just build one up off a Demilled HK kit or should I just go with a clone MP5 and just change out parts as time goes by?
I've been dwelling on this for sometime now, and I am really close to committing on buying a Cohaire-arms MP5 clone. Only thing stopping me now is that I'm really just waiting for Iron Ridge to respond to my email that I sent'em.
Here's a Coharie-arms MP5 on Gunsamerica that is actually the same model I'm leaning on getting.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/976048921...E_VERY_RAR.htm
So I need some help... Should I get this MP5 clone? Or should I just build one up? And why?
Thanks!

[Gunner]

I would go 9mm for the cool factor and go SBR

[dmo]

I've had a lot of experience with this particular subject. I would definitely get a 9mm first.

I have bought a special weapons SW5 when they first came out. I still own that piece. Ive got a vector V53 .223 and a coharie arms (SP-89) MP5K clone. Ive also had an HK SP-89 with S&H auto sear. The .22s are pretty cool pieces but I prefer the real thing.

Here are some of my opinions. I know mine stink just like everybody elses.

If you have the money I would get an HK 94 first as it is a factory gun. Everything is going to run fine. Typically you will not have to fix anything.

Second choice would be to get an LSC flat and a factory MP5 parts kit. I would have Ralph at RDTS build it. He's one of the best at building and working on HKs. It is pricey to have it built but you will be getting a very nice piece. The reason I would go this route is all of the parts are factory german and in spec. He can also have the magwell of the factory HK put on the flat so you have a clone that looks and is marked like a factory piece. If thats important to you.

If you do get a clone (coharie, bobcat, special weapons, vector etc) plan on replacing the bolt carrier and bolt. When I first got my special weapons sw5 it was a hunk of crap. I spent so much money trying to get to run properly and look like a real mp5 that I could have bought an HK94. Every clone I get now the first thing I do is replace the bolt carrier group. They just seem to run better. German parts are becoming very expensive these days. RCM manufacturing is making a nice bolt carrier. I've got that in my coharie.

Hope this helps.

[islandermyk]

I've had a lot of experience with this particular subject. I would definitely get a 9mm first.

RCM manufacturing is making a nice bolt carrier. I've got that in my coharie.

Hope this helps.

Right on.. thanks for your insight on this subject.

I'm not to worried about having the HK cosmetics done up... well not yet anyhow But I just want a nice 9mm platform to go shooting with. I figure it can also be a long term (2 to 5 years) project if I do decide to go out all HK parts with full-auto and such.

How different is your Coharie with what you put into it already compare to an actual HK MP5?

And by the looks of things... Does it look difficult to change out barrels on it? The Cohraie I'm looking at comes with a 16 inch barrel with the ca93 hanguard. I will eventually get an SBR tax stamp for the receiver and then turn it into a... hehehehe.. a lil fun one

And with the ammo selection? No Walmart Winchester 9mm ammo? Does your Coharie have any troubles with ammo?

Man.. sorry for all the questions... I have more, but I think this would help me ease my mind a little... Thanks again!

[dmo]

no such thing as to many questions right.

The coharie is pretty nice. It has the proper cocking tube support which some of the earlier clones didn't. The receiver is pretty nice thats one of the reasons I got one.

Ive shot 115 gr. ultramax ammo through with no problems. Once I changed out the bolt carrier group. I think the ammo were reloads but im not sure. Ive shot american eagle 147 gr out of my SW5 with gemtech raptor suppressor and they worked pretty good. (once again changed out the bolt carrier and bolt.) None of my clones like hollow point ammo at all. If you use a good brass cased round nose bullet you should be good. Most of the problems that occur with the clones are with failure to eject spent cartridges. Everyone advises against using winchester white box for some reason so I stay away from it.

If you're gonna sbr it, I would get a 3 lug german hammer forged barrel. A qualified gunsmith will have to do it as it requires a press to get it back in.

[dmo]

By the way. If you really want a cool piece. RDTS is offering a MP5SD built on a turkish MKE gun. The turkish guns are made using HK licensed machinery. RDTS builds some of the best SDs out there. Price is like 4000.00. Im saving my pennies to an SD at some point. Its a lot of scrilla but its pretty damn cool.

[islandermyk]

By the way. If you really want a cool piece. RDTS is offering a MP5SD built on a turkish MKE gun. The turkish guns are made using HK licensed machinery. RDTS builds some of the best SDs out there. Price is like 4000.00. Im saving my pennies to an SD at some point. Its a lot of scrilla but its pretty damn cool.

I saw this on Atlantic Arms http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct863.aspx

So between the 2 (Coharie and MKE) which one do you think I should go with?
My way of thinking is whatever I get... it will eat whatever I feed it I'll let you know how them Winchesters perform when I get mine
Very good stuff

[dmo]

If both are stock I would probably go with the coharie. The MKE has some different features that can limit you on modifying it later. I don't know what the differences are but I think the way the lower mounts. The MKE SD that RDTS is offering has some significant modifications. I think they had to make it a certain way to get them imported.

[islandermyk]

If both are stock I would probably go with the coharie. The MKE has some different features that can limit you on modifying it later. I don't know what the differences are but I think the way the lower mounts. The MKE SD that RDTS is offering has some significant modifications. I think they had to make it a certain way to get them imported.

Coharie it is... I thank you greatly for all that you've shared with me!
By the way... I'ma still gonna try out that Winchester Walmart ammo... I'll post a range report on that and share how it turns out when I get it. Thanks again!

[oinco]

islandermyk, welcome to the darkside! I don't know if you stumbled across it- but the hkpro forum has quite a bit of info which may help you get a coharie/SW/BMP to run ok.

i think that dmo nailed it when he suggested get a real hk94 if the budget can be stretched- in the end (maybe not even that far down the road) it will be cheaper and an increasing value item vs a clone.

some have good luck with coharies, vectors, special weapons- but it does seem to be a game of figuring out what is out of spec and replacing it. i sold my coharies and sw's, keeping my vector and the hk's. I would also take a strong look at dakota tactical (hkparts stocks them) or have a very good builder build off of a flat and a parts kit.

from my observations, the builders with the best turnaround and quality seem to be rdts, dakota tactical, and pcs in no particular order. (possibly turner fab but idk?)

take a look at what a hk replacement bolt carrier, bolt head, ejector lever, extractor and locking piece costs and compare to what a very nice parts kit complete costs- all of a sudden a cheap clone can be as expensive or worse than the real thing.
esp if you get one with a crooked or out of spec cocking tube or the locking piece is wrong for your ammo and you dimple the receiver etc. etc.

I have run tons of wwb 9mm thru my 94- it is as dirty as (insert metaphor here) but makes holes in paper in pretty decent sized groups. favorite snack though is the hirtenberger L7A1.....try it- you'll like it.