The original German HK MP5 and variants, with their high-quality components and roller-delayed blowback actions, deliver pretty solid performance. If that weren’t the case, these SMGs wouldn’t have been in production (and in such wide official use) for as long as they have been.
But if you have an MP5, some variant, or a sort of American-made MP5 clone like a Zenith Firearms ZF-5, here are some practical (and cool) upgrades you can make, all from the collection at ZenithFirearms.com.
The Barrel
Chambered in 9mm, you will likely never put enough rounds through your original barrel to shoot it out or adversely affect accuracy.
All the same, if you want to do everything you can to turn your MP5 into a tack-driving machine, one of the first places you should look is the barrel.
Zenith Firearms’ MP5 barrel is cold forged from mil-spec 4150 CMV steel and finished with a ferritic nitrocarburized treatment to protect it against corrosion and wear.
It features 6-groove, 1:10, RH rifling and the barrel is also RH-threaded at the muzzle (1/2×28) and features 3 lugs (perfect for mounting a 3-lug MP5 flash hider or another muzzle device).
The Stock
Smooth-shooting as the action of an MP5 is, if you feel your platform could benefit from greater stability, consider one of the MP5 A3 stocks available at Zenith Firearms.
This stock is made to genuine A3 design specifications, features a 4-position locking system, and is completed with a steel-reinforced polymer shoulder pad.
This stock is compatible not only with the ZF-5 and MP5 but a wide range of variants.
(Take note: currently, on ZenithFirearms.com [1/5/23] all purchases of full-size ZF-5 premium packages come with an SB tactical folding brace while supplies last. Visit their website or contact them for details.)
The Magazines
Zenith Firearms has also re-engineered the MP5 magazine. Their version features all steel construction, with a stainless steel follower, reinforced feed lips, and a high tensile strength compression spring.
Their 30-round magazines (available in packs of 1 and 6) also feature round-count indicators and are finished with a durable black electroplate to protect against wear and corrosion.
MP5 Firing Pin
While this is not necessarily true of the MP5, firing pins are common points of failure in many firearms. Poor heat treatment or sloppy metallurgy (or both) can cause nearly any firing pin to snap or mushroom, incapacitating the action of the gun.
Zenith Firearms’ MP5 firing pins are made in the USA from premium steel and finished with a ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC) treatment (similar to the barrel mentioned above) which gives them excellent durability and wear resistance properties.
Like the other accessories mentioned here, they’re not only compatible with the MP5 and ZF-5, but with variants.
High-Quality MP5 Parts and Accessories
Whether you own an MP5, a variant, or an American-made version like a ZF-5, these MP5 parts and accessories represent substantial upgrades that can potentially improve both the value and performance of your gun.
