Everyone wants an MP5. And honestly, who can blame them? It’s the subgun by which all others are measured. The problem has always been the price tag (and the availability). Fortunately, the MP5 is also one of the most widely cloned firearm platforms on the market.
A quality MP5 clone delivers the iconic look, feel, and performance of the original—without completely draining your wallet. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I was able to get my very own MP5 clone, the MAC 5 from SDS Arms, to review, and it did not disappoint.
The MAC 5
The SDS Arms MAC 5 is a roller-delayed blowback pistol built with original HK specifications so you can enjoy the full MP5 experience without paying three times as much. The MAC 5 is fully compatible with MP5 and SP5 aftermarket parts. Modifying and upgrading this platform with more modern parts is what makes it so fun to shoot. I knew exactly which Midwest Industries parts, what optic, and which suppressor I would add to this gun the second it arrived at my FFL.
There is no better way to shoot an MP5 or clone than with a suppressor. It makes the experience fun, and with subsonic ammunition, you don’t necessarily need hearing protection. SDS Arms understood the assignment when they designed the MAC 5 with a machined tri-lug suppressor mount.
The tri-lug system is one of the most popular mounting methods for PCCs and submachine guns. HK invented it in 1966 to make it easy for operators to rapidly attach and detach muzzle accessories. If you don’t have a suppressor yet or prefer a flash hider, the MAC 5 ships with a QD-style flash hider.
Upgrading the MAC 5 with Midwest Industries
There is nothing wrong with the stock configuration of the MAC 5 carbine. I just love modernizing guns to make it easy to mount accessories and because, frankly, it looks cool. These are the three parts I upgraded on the MAC 5:
1. M-LOK Suppressor Handguard
The Midwest Industries MP5 suppressor handguard brings the MAC 5 forend into the modern era. It fits both A1 and A2 models of MP5 variants. It doesn’t interfere with the fixed front sight and extends intentionally to cover whatever suppressor you plan to mount to the gun. This handguard is specifically for use with suppressors only and not for use with a flash hider or muzzle device, as that can cause damage to your hand.
The handguard is a one-piece design and comes with the tools needed to install. It takes no time at all and is easy to do at home. The end of the handguard features a Picatinny rail top designed for mounting accessories, such as a pressure pad for a light. Before mounting anything on top, ensure it doesn’t interfere with your optic & optic mount or iron sights.
2. Tall 9 Slot 1913 Optic Mount
The next upgrade I made was adding the Midwest Industries MP5 Tall 9 Slot 1913 optic mount to the MAC 5. I went with this longer slot rail as it gives me the widest array of options for mounting optics to the gun. You could add a dot-and-magnifier combo, just run a red-dot optic, or potentially mount something small like the EOTECH 3-9x riflescope.
Midwest Industries also ships this mount with the tools needed for a quick installation. One pro tip for installation is to tighten the set screws in increments instead of torquing them down one at a time. I recommend placing a level on top of the mount and ensuring it stays level as you tighten each set screw. The high-mount configuration is ideal, as it clears the front sight and is high enough that a pressure pad or a light mounted on top of the handguard wouldn’t interfere with my line of sight either.
Midwest makes other optic mounts for the MP5 platform, including one specifically designed for people who need Night Vision-compatible height setups. This optic mount has a pass-through channel that allows you to use your iron sights as a backup option.
3. Triangle Side Folding Stock
The final piece to the build was the Midwest Industries Triangle Side Folding Stock. Choosing the right stock for you is a personal choice that requires knowing what you like and why. I knew I wanted to be able to collapse the MAC 5 into a smaller configuration, so a folding stock was a necessity. But more importantly, I wanted a stock with a cheek riser height that would allow me to create a solid cheek weld when looking through my optic. Without the right cheek piece, I would’ve had an inconsistent mount each time I picked up the gun to shoot.
Midwest Industries got everything right with this design. The side-folding mechanism is heavy-duty, constructed from 4140 heat-treated steel. It can be configured for right- or left-side folding. The stock itself adds 9.25 inches to the overall firearm length, and the cheek riser height is perfect for use with a red dot optic and its mount. I did have to order the 1913 End Plate Adapter to mount the triangle folding stock to the MAC 5.
Holosun Optics ARO EVO SPR
The Holosun ARO EVO SPR optic is an enclosed rifle sight with a unique reticle for shooting targets at further distances than a red dot is usually capable of. The SPR has a 1.5 MOA center dot with 1 MOA holdovers, 65 MOA circle, and ranging references for faster decisions at distance. While this reticle might be more intentional for use with 5.56 NATO, you can zero a 9mm carbine at 25 yards and use these same holdovers for targets at 50 yards, 100 yards, and beyond.
Holosun ships this optic with a 1.63-inch lower 1/3 and a 1.05-inch low mount for flexibility in mounting. It’s equipped with Shake Awake technology, Automatic Brightness adjustment, and the Solar Failsafe Power System. The side-loading tray makes it super simple to swap out the CR2032 battery when it needs replacing.
Rugged Alaskan 360 Suppressor
I’ve had the Rugged Alaskan 360 suppressor for almost three years now, and it’s one of my favorite subgun suppressors. While I primarily use this suppressor on PCCs and MP5 clones, it is a multicaliber suppressor compatible with 8.6 BLK, .338 Lapua, and .300 RUM, to name a few. The suppressor ships with the Rugged Universal Mount (RUM), which will mate with most industry-standard mounts.
The weight of the suppressor with the RUM is 11.8 ounces and without it, 9.4 ounces. That’s the real benefit of this suppressor: it doesn’t make the gun front-heavy. Just like any suppressor, the Alaskan 360 sounds better when paired with subsonic ammunition. I chose specific Super Vel Hush Puppy loads and subsonic ammunition to test through the MAC 5 to gauge how the suppressor performs sound-wise.
Range & Accuracy Test
The MAC 5 turned out to be a little picky with ammunition, but that’s to be expected with some roller-delay carbines. I had several malfunctions with the Federal Gold Medal ammunition because its bullet has a flat nose.
The first round would feed and fire, but the second round would not feed into the chamber. The flat-design bullet would create a perfect flat angle against the inside of the gun instead of going into the chamber. This momentum would cause the bullet to push inward into the case, shortening the overall length of the cartridge.
For my accuracy test, I shot 5-round groups at 25 yards using five different ammunition loads. I used the Garmin chronograph to chrono each load. The accuracy suffered with the Federal Action ammunition, as I think a few of the crushed rounds made it into the chamber, which threw off the internal pressure on the ammunition load. I would recommend avoiding this bullet profile if you plan to shoot it with a MAC 5.
Federal Gold Medal Action 147 Grain Total Metal Jacket Flat Nose – Top Left
Accuracy: 4.306 inches (Did NOT feed correctly, with the flat nose getting crushed and ultimately shortening the overall length of the cartridge)
Velocity: 967 fps
Remington Subsonic 147 Grain Flat Nose Enclosed Base – Top Right
- Accuracy: 2.995 inches
- Velocity: 1,032 fps
Super Vel Hush Puppy 147 Grain FMJ – Middle
- Accuracy: 0.991 inches
- Velocity: 1,018 fps
Remington Golden Saber Defense 147 Grain JHP – Bottom Left
- Accuracy: 3.145 inches
- Velocity: 1,122 fps
Super Vel Subsonic Hush Puppy 158 Grain FMJ – Bottom Right
- Accuracy: 1.910 inches
- Velocity: 1,010 fps
Final Thoughts
The other loads I chose did not have flat-nose bullets, and they fed and fired without issue. I used only 147- to 158-grain ammunition, and all the loads ran close to 1,000 feet per second. The Alaskan 360 Suppressor sounded great with all of them. The tone of the shots varied between each load, but that’s more subjective to the shooter. Overall, I had a blast shooting the MAC 5. Especially suppressed, it has little felt recoil, is quick to fire, and shoots 30 rounds from the magazines it ships with. This is a fun plinking gun, and one I love to bring out of the safe with friends and family who come over to shoot!
MAC 5 Specifications
- Action Type: Semi-Auto
- Operation: Roller Delayed Blow Back
- Caliber: 9mm
- Sights: Adjustable – Drum Aperture Rear – Hood Post Front
- Optics Ready/Cut
- HK® Claw Mount Compatible
- Capacity: 30-round magazines
- Barrel Length: 8.9 inches
- Thread Pitch: 1/2×28
- Overall Length: 17.9 inches
- Weight (Unloaded): 5.5 pounds
- MSRP: $1,329.00
I like the stock choice.
Yeah, I like that stock too.
I can’t post
I kinda want one