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Reviews
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Date of last review
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1
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10246
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28/6/09
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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£55.00
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6.0
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Pissin' people off one post at a time
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Ranger_Captain
Pissin' people off one post at a time
Registered: July 2005
Location: West Point, New York
Posts: 1,229
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Review Date: 28/6/09
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £55.00
| Rating: 6
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Positive aspects of the product (pros):
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Light VERY light, Small, Fairly Solid, Fun to Hold, High ROF, Low FPS to allow for CQB ranges, Durable as heck
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Cons:
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Light (depends on what you want), Paint wears fast, Very low range, Medium Accuracy, Toy-like Feel
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Classic Army MP5A3 Sportline
Introduction
I’ve never been a big fan of the MP5 series, both toy and real steel for numerous reasons, most of which have to do with the size of the weapon not justifying it’s lack of barrel length and firing strength. I would normally choose an M4A1 over an MP5 due to relative size similarity while the M4 has a much longer barrel and, in real steel, much better performance.
But alas, one cannot go for 12 years of airsofting and not ever get an MP5 and about two months ago I took the plunge and picked up a Classic Army B&T Sportline MP5A3. Once again, as I had with the CA M15A4 Sportline, I needed a gun that had a lower (sub 350) FPS stock, decent build that if dropped on concrete wouldn’t shatter, and could handle getting wet better than my Zinc alloy friends. Thus a CA Sportline (having been a long time CA Fanboy) seemed an obvious choice and on top of that, finding an MP5A3 Sportline, unused, on the Arnie’s forums (kudos for massoh2 http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showuser=27454 for great communication and service)
Real Steel History
*Taken from Modern Firearms a.k.a. world.guns.ru
“The Heckler und Koch submachine gun, MP-5, is one of the most famous and wide-spread firearms of its class, developed since the Second World War. Its development began circa 1964 under the company designation HK MP-54, or simply HK 54. In the 1966, German police and Border Guard adopted the HK 54 as the MP-5, and it was originally available in two forms - MP-5 with fixed buttstock and MP-5A1 with retractable buttstock. Some years later HK slightly upgraded the design of MP-5, replacing the sights (from flip-up open notch rear and blade front to drum-type diopter rear and hooded post front) and the muzzle (replacing the two-slot muzzle compensator to the tree-lugs QD silencer mount without compensator). Other improvements made over the time concerned the magazines (early type magazines were of straight box type, latter - of curved box type for improved reliability). The trigger units also were upgraded - from original stamped steel with plastic grip to the all-plastic units, integral with grip, and with various fire modes and marking. Over the years MP-5 were adopted by the huge numbers of police, security and military forces around the world, including the German police and border guard, British police and elite Army SAS units, American police, FBI, Navy and Marine Corps, and many, many others. MP-5 is still manufactured in Germany by the HK itself, and also licensed to Greece, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico. The only real rival to the MP-5 in the terms of proliferation across the world is the famous Israeli UZI submachine gun. Most interestingly, the German Army (Bundeswehr) did not adopted the MP-5, most probably due to the economical reasons, and turned instead to the... UZI submachine guns, made under license in Belgium.
The success of the MP-5 is outstanding. It is based on the high quality and reliability of the gun, great single-shot accuracy (thanks to its closed bolt action), great flexibility and, of cause, good marketing. It seems that no other modern SMG at this time can rival the MP-5 in popularity (UZI is not manufactured anymore).
The MP-5, basically, is no more than the scaled-down version of the Heckler-Koch G3 battle rifle. It shares the same basic design with stamped steel receiver and the same roller-delayed blowback action, derived from the post-war CETME rifles. The trigger units are hinged to the receiver and are now available with various fire mode options, including 2 (Safe, Semi-auto), 3 (Safe, Semi, Full Auto) or 4 (Safe, Semi, Limited burst of 2 or 3 rounds, Full auto) position levers, ambidextrous or not, and marked with letters, digits or icons. The MP-5 is always fired from closed bolt for improved accuracy, but this limits the amount of sustained fire due to the barrel overheating and resulting cook-off problems. To avoid this, MP-5 cocking handle could be locked in the rear position in the special slot, leaving the bolt in the open position, with no cartridge in the chamber. To commence the fire one must simply release the cocking handle from its notch and then pull the trigger. Modern MP-5 submachine guns are equipped with three-lug quick detachable silencer mounts on the barrel. Sights are similar to other HK models, and consists of the front hooded post sight and the adjustable for windage and elevation drum-type diopter rear sight. Special quick-detachable clamp mounts allows for installation of night, optical and red-dot sights if required. Standard magazine capacity is 30 rounds, but shorter 15 rounds magazines are available. Special versions were developed and manufactured in limited numbers during 1980s-90s for the US Law Enforcement market, chambered for more powerful 10mm Auto (10x25mm) and .40S&W (10x22mm) ammunition. These guns can be easily distinguished from more common 9mm models by straight box 30 rounds magazines, made from plastic”
Now my personal experience with the real MP5 was not positive. I was at a class on Body Armor and I was shown that the formally standard issue PSGT vest, a vest that actually has a manual that comes with it that states:
“This vest will not stop a bullet”
was able to stop not one, not two, not three, but four 9mm rounds shot from an MP5, at about 50 meters. Meanwhile a 5.7 round, 10mm, .45 round, 5.56, and 7.62 round all easily penetrated. While this is more of a commentary of the 9mm round, given that the MP5 is primarily chambered in the 9mm, and the weapon’s overall length at 660mm, the M4A1 being 757mm with the stock retracted, seems like a sad compensation for roughly 100mm. As a personal preference I’d take the extra 4 inches!!! and be able to penetrate even a IIIA at modest engagement distances.
Similarly in airsoft the lengths are very close and yet the barrel of an M4A1, 363mm, is a full 130mm longer than the MP5’s at 229mm, which is another 5 inches missing. In airsoft 5 inches makes a big difference… mind out of the gutter naow!
First Impressions
Anyway, despite my personal misgivings I figured I would give the MP5 series the BOTD and welcome not one, but two MP5’s into my collection with open arms; this Sportline A3 and a Galaxy MP5K PDW (whose review will follow this one’s).
Upon receiving the package I was greeted with the familiar cardboard cutout sight of a Classic Army Sportline box. In it contains the gun with highcap, a small bag of bb’s, catalogue, battery, small type, charger, sling, and shooting glasses. All relatively normal. Well the bb’s aren’t great, the shooting glasses are useless, and the sling broke before I got both sides attached. This isn’t out of the ordinary but it’s kinda sad that CA even wastes it’s time including them (this was identical with the M15A4 Sportline I got a year ago).
Regardless of that though the MP5A3 itself is actually a nice piece. At first glance my only complaint was the big honking orange flash hider that comes attached to it.
Appearance
Well it looks like an MP5… I like saying things like that… anyway yes it looks like an MP5, although made out of plastic. The plastic body is quite nice but no matter what angle you look at it from it’s clearly plastic. There are few mold lines that are noticeable, really only on the front of the mag well. The plastic itself has a nice matte black finish, textured on the A3 lower and “metal” textured on the upper.
As far as markings go there is the TM’d B&T mark on the right side of the gun’s mag well with a “Kal. 9mmx19 on the left.
On the top of the receiver it reads:
32569 and (Mark)210(Mark)
I don’t know if the serial numbers are unique on the Sportline series but I would assume not since it’s molded into the gun rather than laser engraved.
The replica properly shows the unique style of the A3 MP5 type in the A3 trigger group, the classic style MP5 sliding stock, and the thinner type foregrip. About the only thing that’s inaccurate is the flash hider, which is the later type introduced with the “J” type MP5, but baring that this MP5 A3 looks great for what it is and its price.
What little metal is on this gun, the rear and front sight, pins, selector switch, trigger, and stock arms starts off looking nice but the paint on it wears off relatively fast if you’re a heavy user as I am.
I should note at this point, this gun, aside from being bought as a low FPS/CQB gun, it is also replacing my previous swamp gun, a JLS F2000. For those who don’t know a swamp gun is a gun that you can drop, break, submerge, rust, and basically do anything to that would normally have you cringe if you did it to your normal primary AEG but with this, it’s okay. Usually a cheap gun that’s either easily replaced or not holds a terrible attachment, if the externals wear you’re not torn really at all.
So with that in mind the externals more than please me. Now if I had bought this gun with the intent of using it as a primary that’s a perfect replica of an MP5A3, I would be sorely disappointed, but then I doubt that’s how it was designed in the first place.
Look Grade: 7/10
I give it a seven based on it being pretty average in looks. Nothing to write home about but at the same time better than some of the shoddier renditions *cough* UTG *cough* of the MP5 that I’ve held.
Feel/Aesthetic
I happen to like some plastic guns. Despite feeling like a toy, and don’t misunderstand me, the Sportline MP5A3 does feel like a toy, it is fun to hold. I will give credit where credit is due; the Sportline is very solid. All the major parts of the gun, from handguards, outer barrel, upper and lower receiver, are all very tight fitting and have no play at all. The sliding stock, which notoriously is hard to make solid on MP5’s (even the real steel has play) is pretty solid as well. There is a little vertical play, but not nearly as bad as I’ve seen in other models and not much worse than the real steel.
Aesthetics wise this gun has a few things to play with. As mentioned there’s the sliding stock, which is the old, pre-J Type (IE no sling hole) which I found to be very useful when storing it as a secondary in my camel back.
The charging handle works and seems like it can take a few HK slaps but probably will break if this is done enough times as there is a bit of wear on the front of the handle’s pipe.
The older A3 type body is a bit better in my opinion, as the selector switch is a bit beefier and seems to remain capable of actually make audible clicks when you move it verses the A4 which seems to work sporadically.
About the only aesthetic complain I have with this gun is the flash hider. Instead of putting the old, short type flash hider, they put the oversized barrel type, which moreover is basically non-removable with shattering it and you can only use CA replacements. Personally I would have rather changed it out but since I’m using this as a swamp gun I’ll deal with it, but I do feel it detracts from the gun just a tad.
One other item of note is that that the hopup adjustment arm is located under the foregrip, as opposed to under the ejection port cover, which on this model, does not move when the charging handle is cocked and locked back. A little of a sad thing but one less moving part to break or get clogged up with dirt and grime.
One final thing of note is the sling points. While I don’t know this for all models, I do know on the UTG and the ICS MP5’s, the sling points will weaken over time and shear off. After damn near torturing the points over two matches and personal use, they seems to be holding just fine and show no signs of weakness or wobble.
Feel Grade: 6/10
Aesthetics: 8/10
I gave it a six because it does feel like a toy and to some older users might feel a bit to light and I gave an eight aesthetically because what’s on this gun is very functional and very well built and should last the gun’s operational life with little to no issues.
Shooting
Well…. well it’s a good CQB gun. Anything past 100 feet though just isn’t happening. I didn’t take out my laser range finder yet with it but I would guess, using a conservative estimate, of about 80 feet of true, you can see it, you can hit it, accuracy, and 110-115 feet max range of a chest sized target (All assuming you use .25g’s). Therein lies my personal dislike for the MP5, but be not afraid! This gun does have something in spades: ROF.
I’ve had few stock guns that shot as quickly as this did. I would easily put it on par with my Star M249 w/ 11.1v LiPoly. You can easily empty a 100 round midcap in one or two medium bursts. A plus or minus depending on how you plan to use it. I found it to be quite nice at its first game, as using it full auto in doors allowed me to put a good spray right across the center of a room very quickly.
FPS is an expected 310 (w/ .20g’s) of a stock Classic Army gun, and is pretty consistent. Thus it should not be an issue on almost any field for close range, CQB shots. Its impressive ROF makes it very MP5-like and should make you feel good when turning a corner.
If one were interested I would suppose a tightbore of a plus length could add a little range and accuracy, as the current barrel doesn’t extend into the oversized flash hider. Additionally a new hopup chamber and/or rubber would likely be a good thing to change on this gun (true of really all airsoft guns) as adjustment on this weapon does next to nothing, even at max setting (shooting with .25’s.). It’s a trait I’ve noticed with most Classic Army guns so this doesn’t comes as much of a surprise to me.
Other than ROF though, I would say this is a very average airsoft gun, looking at the full AEG spectrum of LPEG to the high end KWA’s and TM’s.
From a use point of view this is a good gun. As mentioned it’s good for a secondary but it’s also, so far at least, very durable. Banging into and against concrete, tosses, banging on fire escapes, and being completely soaked/immersed in water, WHILE firing and using multiple days in a row and the gun is still performing like it did when I received it. Time will tell if it keeps up that performance but it seems like a good choice for a newbie or someone looking for a swamp gun.
Shooting Grade
Accuracy Grade: 6/10
Range Grade: 4/10
Power Grade: 7/10
Use Grade: 8/10
Accuracy is just good enough to say it’s but it leaves much to be desired, and range, as mentioned, is very low. Power’s just average for a Classic Army gun and use I found to be quite nice when used either in doors as a secondary back up to a sniper or heavier, long ranged AEG when stuffed into one’s camel back.
Conclusion
Pros:
Light, VERY light
Small
Fairly Solid
Fun to Hold
High ROF
Low FPS to allow for CQB ranges
Durable as heck
Cons:
Light (depends on what you want)
Paint wears fast
Very low range
Medium Accuracy
Toy-like Feel
Overall Grade: 6
I would grade this as a six mainly because, using a proline CA M15A4 as the “standard” of average, this falls a bit below in basically all counts. That isn’t unsuspected in a Sportline AEG but it is what it is.
To say something nice about it though it makes an excellent sidearm if one wants something a bit beefier than a pistol or a great secondary to a sniper (I used it with the M82A1 Barrett which allowed me to at least feel safer when moving with the Barrett building to building). Value wise you can’t go wrong averaging about $150 USD for the whole kit it’s a good deal and I would say for newbies or project/swamp guns, the Classic Army MP5A3 is a good choice.
Credits:
http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg14-e.htm
http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showuser=27454
http://www.classicarmy.com/
------------------------------
Never argue with a gun, it may argue back...
United States Corps of Cadets, USMA
Cadet, United States Army
2012 "For More Than Ourselves"
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Registered: July 2005
Location: West Point, New York