View Full Version : Any MP5 shooters?
How do you deal with the short safety/fire selector switch? I was trying an MP5K PDW the other day and I noticed how difficult it is to manipulate the lever without breaking my hold on the pistol grip. I have small hands and my right thumb can't reach the left side lever. Using my right thumb on the right side lever was unreliable as I kept going through semi-auto to 3 round burst, or slowed me down so much it took away the other attractive features of the weapon. Folding the stock meant that I couldn't use either lever with my right hand and I had to use my supporting hand just to use the lever!
I think you are meant to use your offhand to change firing modes on the MP5 line. The early versions had a button on the right side of the fire selector that you had to press and hold while you moved the lever to auto.
to hear it ain't just me that feels that way.
Back when I was shooting the MP5 or other HK shoulder arms fairly frequently, I had the same problem--especially in drills when engage, safe-on, and then move while occupying the off hand (IDC, backup gun, etc.).
The Colt SMG was lots easier in this respect; one team that came through had short metal tubes welded onto the safety lever as extensions. their guns were quicker/easier to manipulate at least for me.
RenegadeGlocker
08-26-2005, 16:34
This is a known problem, that HK has not fixed.
Solutions used are to cant the weapon, or add a homemade extension.
The official explantion from Heckler and Koch is that their levers are exactly the right length. The problem is that 95% of the people who shoot their guns have thumbs that are too short.
...guess our contract won't be going to H&K then...;Q
BlackBelt
08-29-2005, 18:16
I never really thought about it much until this thread. I just cant mine to the left a little and hit the selector with my thumb. Hasn't ever really been an issue with the S-E-F housing. I don't know about the Navy housing because I haven't used one of those in a long time. Isn't the navy selector lever shorter?
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
