The MP5 sub machine gun is one of those guns that even non gun enthusiasts can easily recognize. It was a trailblazing cutting edge serious piece of military hardware when it was released in the mid 1960’s. Even though over 40 years has passed and it’s been largely replaced by reliable short barreled rifles like the AR15 based MK18 rifle by Daniel Defense, it still holds a special place in the gun community.

The MP5 has been a service rifle for more than 80 countries, including dozens of the worlds premier Special Operations Forces. That’s not including the endless numbers that have been issued to Police and other law enforcement agencies. British Special Air Service, U.S. Navy Seals, German GSG 9, US Army SFOD-D, France’s GIGN anti terror teams and even the Vatican’s Swiss Guards have used the MP5 to guard the Catholic Popes. Anyway you slice it that’s an impressive list of users.

I happen to own an MP5 clone, it’s a legally owned and papered short barrel rifle. The only downside to mine is it’s a semi auto. The purists and haters out there will say I should have gotten a fully automatic MP5  but I don’t have an extra $25,000 and a Federal Firearms License. I did however have a little less than that and decided to have this D54 variant built by Dakota Tactical of Canton, Michigan. Yes you read that right, a U.S. Made MP5.

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