Airsoft Action - December 2023

RED CELL
MP5 UPDATE
but something I’m looking to pass on to a teammate
to free up gun wall space - both of the WEs have
been languishing in my underbed storage since
newer equivalents have come along. If you can
still find them, they’re economical great fun, but it
seems they’re increasingly rare these days and out of
production, and the licensed VFC offerings are worth
stretching your budget for more in my opinion.
Personally, aside from my earlier use of JG’s MP5J
(Japanese police variant), MP5A4 (solid stock) and the
Galaxy MP5k PDW (short, folding triangular stock)
variants, all of which served me very well for personal
use and loaning out to numerous guest players; I
recently ran the MP5’s again at Linkou CQB having
neglected them for a good while due to all the other
new guns getting in the way, and I had forgotten just
how much I loved running them.
Bill: I also love the classic MP5, and like Stewbacca
I also love the GBB models! Mine though was
developed by VegaForceCompany under the H&K
licence held by Umarex, and I am going to come
straight out and say that their GBB take on the classic
MP5 is probably the best I’ve ever seen, and that’s
why I still own it!
The UMAREX MP5A3 GBB shows the result of
all the labours put into creating a first rate replica
as it is simply stunning. Everything, and I do mean
the lot, is truly 1:1 scale and it weighs in at 2.59kg
unloaded, just 0.4g heavier than the real thing! Unlike
any battery powered electric replica there is no heavy
motor and gearbox adding weight to the design but
just a cleverly designed bolt which relies purely on the
gas in the magazine for operation; if you weren’t told
that this is a replica I believe you’d be hard pushed to
know this wasn’t the real deal; in fact you can field
strip it for cleaning as you would the original firearm.
The entire upper assembly is of a pressed metal
finish just like a real MP5. In addition to the enforced
fibre frame which incorporates the pistol grip and
the removable handguard, everything is finished to
an extremely high standard. Going right down to the
legend “Kal.9mmx19” on the left hand side above the
magwell and an individual serial number this replica
looks extremely real with just a small “6mm BB”
notation appearing on the top of the receiver.
In operation the MP5A3 is very straightforward and
intuitive. Safe, Semi, and Full Auto modes are clearly
indicated by the traditional H&K “bullet pictograms”
on either side of the body, and the safety catch is fully
ambidextrous. Sights are simple too with an enclosed
post at the sharp end and a fully adjustable dioptre at
the rear. The sliding stock is essentially a one position
affair, either open or closed but this is true of the real
thing as well so you can’t knock the replica in this
respect.
There’s a couple of models that “make the cut” for
our list of noteworthy MP5 models, and we covered
off the TM NGRS version back in Issue 131, and you
can find that full review in the Back Issues section on
www.airsoftaction.net. However, Dan has had “some
experience” now with this newer platform…
Dan: The TOKYO MARUI MP5 NGRS series is
perhaps TM’s best recoil shock effort to date; without
question, it also stands as the most exquisitely detailed
and replicated version of the legendary MP5 we have
seen in my opinion. From the perfect finish, fake
welds and weight, and nary a creak, wobble or flex in
sight, It’s almost indistinguishable from the real MP5
save for the absence of H&K trademarks. Currently
these are available in two configurations, the standard
A5 version and the SD6 with its iconic integrally
suppressed barrel. Both versions come equipped with
the classic A3 retractable stock and Navy style grip
frames with 4-position selector switches offering safe
/ semi / burst / auto. Speaking of the selector switch;
this is by far the best feeling, most crisp and durable
MP5 selector made as it follows the design of the real
version in form and function. Interestingly, the grip
frames and forearm appear to be made from a nylonfibre
blend as opposed to TM’s usual ABS plastic. On
the SD6 version, the tubular handguard covering is
made of an aggressive rubbery texture which greatly
enhances its feel.
As with the real version, one must operate the
cocking handle after inserting a fresh magazine to fire
the replica. Similarly, when the magazine is empty,
the gun will stop firing. After reloading it with a fresh
magazine you can rack the cocking handle again
to resume firing. This has been advertised as being
durable enough for the famous “HK slap” that often
shears handles off many lesser airsoft MP5’s, but I
have some doubts as to the long term durability of the
“THE UMAREX MP5A3 GBB SHOWS THE RESULT OF ALL THE LABOURS PUT INTO
CREATING A FIRST RATE REPLICA AS IT IS SIMPLY STUNNING. EVERYTHING, AND I DO
MEAN THE LOT, IS TRULY 1:1 SCALE AND IT WEIGHS IN AT 2.59KG UNLOADED, JUST
0.4G HEAVIER THAN THE REAL THING!”
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