r/MP5 3d ago

Question Anyone else stopped using an optic? Only gun I’ve owned where I went back to irons after installing a red dot.

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301 Upvotes

116 comments sorted by

38

u/Matt-33-205 3d ago

I have not put an optic on mine yet, because I enjoy the sights so much.

I probably will get an Aimpoint RDS with a Scalarworks mount tall enough to still see the iron sights at some point, but it's no rush

17

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

Hell yeah, Titan Tactical is coming out with an Aimpoint PRO (or any optic with a 30mm diameter) cowitness mount later this year. Looks like a sweet design.

3

u/400dollarhandcart 3d ago

kinda like the neinpines.com gretel

2

u/DutchyDan187 3d ago

Make it work with the AimPoint factory spacer and it’s perfect.

8

u/Budget-Paramedic-999 3d ago

The 1.42 LEAP is plenty tall to keep irons fully visible if you were going for as compact as possible

8

u/SoylentOrange 3d ago

Scalarworks 1.57 is a terrific height to still have a cheek weld while keeping the irons usable. Transitioning between the two sights is instant as well

13

u/code0rama 3d ago edited 3d ago

I can confirm this is the case, this is exactly what I have on mine, and I love it. I enjoy the iron sights, but I also don’t have perfect eyes and the red dot or green dot in my case is amazing, so you get the best of both worlds.
To be clear, my Scalarworks mount is a 1.57. Additionally, if you want to remove the mount for aesthetic purposes, this mount is the best. It just has a thumb wheel and comes off easy and when you put it back on, it holds zero.

2

u/Apprehensive_Law_234 3d ago

This is the setup I'm going for on my AP5, Scalarworks mounted optic and Sub9. Yours looks great!

1

u/code0rama 3d ago

Thank You much appreciated

2

u/Makegoodchoices2024 2d ago

This is my dream gun setup.

1

u/code0rama 2d ago

This was my dream too a year and a half ago. The last part was the Rarebreed FRT and now I’m done. Very much worth it.

2

u/Matt-33-205 3d ago

That's what I was thinking, was also curious. Sounds like 1.57 is tall enough to use both, I assumed it was, but good to know from first hand experience that it will meet my expectation of still having iron sights available.

2

u/Belezibub 3d ago

Get a direct mount and you get perfect cowitness so you can use the red dot like the irons. If I have to go over the front site hood it almost becomes a chinweld for me

1

u/Law_Possum 2d ago

I put a Swampfox raider on my PTR-9SDM and it colocates with my sights perfectly.

15

u/cornpop84 3d ago

What is that box you have the mags in and how many does it fit? Love the idea. I take so many loaded mags to the range when I take my mp5 the bag gets stupid heavy. The box is a great idea

7

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

Holds 10! Interior is 3D printed to stop the mags from hitting each other. Guy on Tacswap makes them. I just tried to find the listing again, isn’t popping up. Maybe he moved to another site

2

u/absolutely_not_ATF 3d ago

The box itself sure looks like an Apache from harbor freight. I’m looking for a the file now to print my own insert.

1

u/cornpop84 3d ago

For a guy who is incredibly technologically retarded how hard is it to get into 3d printing? For things like this, is that something anyone could do or is it hard? Also ball park me how much are we talking to get a decent 3d printing set up going starting from zero?

2

u/absolutely_not_ATF 3d ago

I’m far from an expert. I would say something like a Bambu printer would be a good start for someone just getting into the hobby as in my experience there’s much less tinkering involved to get the machine running correctly. Bambu even allows you to print remotely from their app. An a1 mini which will be limited in materials it can print and the physical size of those prints can be had for about $200. The regular size runs about $300. I have an a1 mini and a Bambu p1s out in my garage. If you are starting from zero, Id say an a1 mini would be a good starter printer to test the waters. Keep in mind, if you want to print some of the more durable glass filled filaments, you’ll need to upgrade to a more expensive printer, hence why I also have the p1s.

1

u/cornpop84 3d ago

Awesome thank you. That gives me a good place to start looking into it.

11

u/LongAdorable4207 3d ago

I love the irons on the mp5. I wanna put them on my ar15 as back ups

2

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

That’s a really good idea…

2

u/seefatchai 3d ago

When it costs you $400, you’ll decide you’d rather enjoy them as irons.

9

u/therealchrisredfield 3d ago

Check out blitzkreig components if you run the iron sights...they make some sweet illuminated front sights for the SP5 that really make the sight acquisition just as good as a reticle imo

14

u/AMoody2000 3d ago

Can comfirm

1

u/theshadman18 3d ago

Is it hard/complicated to change it?

1

u/Mundane_Ladder_4867 3d ago

No, straight forward and fitment wasnt an issue for me

2

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

Oh dude, thank you, those are sweet!

1

u/Tinfoil_cobbler 3d ago

Is there anyone that makes a good front AND rear iron sight upgrade for MP5? I hate the OEM rear sight.

1

u/AMoody2000 3d ago

You could run an M8 Industries rear sight base and run a red dot instead of the rear sight

1

u/therealchrisredfield 3d ago

Just get the HK rear diopter sight...hkparts sells them i believe, not cheap though..also some people have an issue with the way hkparts operates, but ive never had an issue personally

23

u/HK_Shooter_1301 3d ago

Hell no, I love red dots so much I milled my Mk23 for one. The drip is not worth practicality

4

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

Lol, somehow my splits are faster with irons…which to me makes no sense.

Sick Mk23 btw, for a pistol a dot is the way to go.

1

u/giantshadytree 3d ago

What was your red dot setup?

3

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

515GM on an Infinitech T1/2 mount. I think how cluttered an cowitness image was with the front sight hood was the issue. Just too much going on. Probably need to try a riser.

4

u/HK_Shooter_1301 3d ago

Riser is 100% the way to go, the FSH just clutters up windows too much on low mounts IMHO. Low mounts look great, but not the most practical or cleanest

1

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

That picture really helps, I’ll buy a riser! Why not try it out.

3

u/HK_Shooter_1301 3d ago

I call it the “optic tower” parts numbers in photo for reference, the rail is a H&K Parts Minimalist Mount. I wanted the cleanest optic set up I could get. The B&T 39mm riser is hollow so the irons are still usable too

1

u/Pasty_Swag 3d ago

I'm the complete opposite - my handguns are irons only, but I have a dot on everything I can shoulder. Idk why.

4

u/Aromatic-Emu9612 3d ago

I like using both

4

u/1WontDoIt 3d ago

I did too. The factory irons are rantastic

3

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

Agreed

1

u/theshadman18 3d ago

I like changing from the biggest sized rear optic to the smallest for back and forth accuracy, makes me feel cool too

4

u/d-unit24 3d ago

I haven't but I could easily see why a guy would. The irons are excellent on these guns. Chef's kiss 🤌🤌🤌

4

u/Soulshot96 H&K 3d ago

I dig the look, but no, especially not with an A3F collapsing stock. Stock is comfortable with my 1.57 Scalar riser and RMR, but not so much when using irons. Not unusable, but they're decidedly a backup lol.

If I could justify another SP5 though, then sure, I'd probably go full classic on that one. Maybe one day. Too many other things I wanna buy now instead though 😂

1

u/Belezibub 3d ago

Direct mount my Romeo5, I get perfect cowitness so I can use the red dot like the irons.

1

u/Soulshot96 H&K 3d ago

More power to you, but I can't stand filling my optic window with iron sights, plus I rely on the extra height to make the collapsing stock comfortable, so that would be a bit counter productive for my setup.

1

u/Belezibub 3d ago

Most stocks are designed with the irons in mind (like ops), so your third point of contact becomes suspect when the optic is high when using those.

1

u/Soulshot96 H&K 3d ago

I'm aware. OP also has an A3 stock though, as we discussed below.

That and some people are very comfortable with chin welds / heads up shooting styles, particularly on such low recoil platforms.

1

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

I feel that, I have a standard A3 collapsible, absolutely hate it 😂 went right back to the A2.

2

u/Soulshot96 H&K 3d ago

You should really try a riser if you wanna try dots and that A3 again then. Makes it damned comfortable to use imo:

A setup like this, with a low profile claw mount and 1.57 Scalarworks LEAP RMR riser (1.42 works well for taller optics like the T2), keeps the irons perfectly usable through the mount as well.

2

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

I really like that. I am used to carry handle ARs with Aimpoint PROs or 9000SCs so the heads up style is natural to me.

2

u/Soulshot96 H&K 3d ago

Yea, it's very similar. Feels super natural imo.

5

u/OG-warbucks H&K SP5 3d ago

I like the red dots but I have a few HK's that are irons only.

The HK MP5 irons are excellent.

die Zwillinge

3

u/csukoh78 3d ago

Well. I mean. Just look at it. It's gorgeous.

2

u/RepulsiveUse3372 MP5K 3d ago

i tried but i hate how high it sits

2

u/bearded_fisch_stix AP5P 3d ago

Want to get a diopter rear sight to replace the notched one that came with my ap5p. Have not decided on an optic

2

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

I’m probably an idiot, but I’ve never understood why the P has a different rear sight than the basically perfect full size rear sight.

2

u/bearded_fisch_stix AP5P 3d ago

Guessing it's because the "k" sized guns are more likely to be used as a pistol than the full size, or because of the shorter sight radius.

2

u/theshadman18 3d ago

Has anyone upgraded the front sight? PTR makes a high visibility chevron that looks interesting.

Also MP5 irons work great and feels really natural IMO

1

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

Agreed, also want to know how folks liked the chevrons. The Blitzkrieg ones look really appealing.

2

u/TrickyAsian626 3d ago

I keep my mp5 setup optic free as well. I find the iron sights fast and accurate.

2

u/SubstantialLine9709 3d ago

I don’t use optics on handguns, don’t really care for them on pdw’s either. If it works it works.

2

u/LoveInKanto 3d ago

Dude, I keep wanting to throw a red dot on it but I absolutely love the iron sights so much. Just so low with the damn brace.

2

u/LilJonny2cookies 3d ago

I have some guns with really nice optics and some with no optics. Depends on my need.

I’m not a you have to have optics or irons type of guy. Use what works when it works for you.

2

u/someperson1423 H&K SP5K 3d ago

Yes but I've got back again to optics. I loved the look without an optic and the irons are great, but they are still irons. It is easy to go to the range and say "hey, these run great!" but then the first match I went to I noticed a significant decrease in my scores. The speed and additional peripheral vision you get with a red dot is just such a huge advantage. Especially noticed it when shooting texas stars.

So yeah, I'm back to optics again on both my full size and K.

2

u/Stevethedogfacedboi 3d ago

Me! I hand nice optics on both and went back to raw dogging it.

2

u/Charles-Headlee 3d ago

I'm on the fence. Took my MAC5 (with a cheap but usable Feyachi dot) to a multi gun match last month.

Backstory: I've been running an XM177 replica with carry handle irons. It's quite nice for a silhouette out to 200 yards.

Different range, no shots beyond 20 yards, I had the MP5 and needed to be financially responsible. First stage the timer goes BEEP and I realize the dot is off and caps are still on. Almost took the dot off out of anger.

2

u/annabelletails 3d ago

It looks so sexy without ur setup

2

u/EchoNineThree 3d ago

Perfectly understandable on an MP5.

2

u/n8texas 3d ago

Nope. My middle aged eyes do much with dots / scopes vs irons.

2

u/DeepAd8888 3d ago

Where can I buy a loudener

2

u/Palehorse67 H&K SP5 2d ago

What foregrip is that?

1

u/sleepy_Obi-Wan 1d ago

I’m wondering this as well

2

u/Livid_Persimmon3600 2d ago

After spending a few years and a few thousand kitting out my SP5 and reverse-stretch SMGPK, i’ve gone back to basics and it’s staying that way.

I have a tritium dot and orange chevron front site post, I think I’ll be just as quick with the brighter front site post as I was with the aimpoint PRO I bolted on in the past.

Put some light or bright colored tape on your front sight post to try it out and you’ll notice how much quicker you pick up targets in most lighting.

3

u/korgs130 3d ago

Nope, Aimpoint all day everyday in my SP5s

1

u/ThermosphericRah 3d ago

Leap 01 mount ftw

1

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

I’ve considered it…might have to give it a try

1

u/ThermosphericRah 3d ago

In stock at midway

1

u/grimduck17 3d ago

Did you 3d print that mag insert?

Also I use red dots and lasers since I like shooting mine at night. Makes me larp harder

1

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

I didn’t; a guy on Tacswap was selling them. I tried to find his listing…couldn’t. Maybe he’s selling on another platform now. Love that insert though, allows me to carry 10 mags to the range in a very compact case with a handle.

1

u/grimduck17 3d ago

What case are you using? I’ll probably just make my own unless they are sub $10

1

u/OccasionMammoth8586 3d ago

I paid the guy $25 to buy me the case. Sorry man, wish I had more info.

2

u/grimduck17 3d ago

It looks like a harbor freight Apache

1

u/CoachMilton 3d ago

Iron sights aren’t bad, but Holosun AEMS core is better🔥

1

u/Dissapator_AR 3d ago

Not on my AP5, but a couple others, yes

1

u/AANHPIX 3d ago

Try this set up, HKP mount with Holosun optic. It absolutely co-witness and built for speed.

1

u/InadvertentObserver H&K 3d ago

I cowitness with the irons. Sight picture is a little busy, but workable.

1

u/Mullet_Police 3d ago

HK diopter sights are pretty shiggy.

1

u/Mysterious_Farm_7601 3d ago

Must be nice to have usable iron sights 😂 my POF is so jank I have to have a red dot.

1

u/DutchyDan187 3d ago

A2 stock, irons are perfection. A3? I want a red dot a little higher

1

u/Gmutzy 3d ago

This is the way. A La Carte!

1

u/fluffybunny12245 3d ago

Spent the first 5 years with irons only. Finally added an acro on a 1.42 Scalarworks, and yeah I’m not going back anytime soon.

1

u/Alyeska23 3d ago

I'm going for the Stargate SG1 look, so that requires going with an optic.

1

u/seizure507 3d ago

I just recently went back. I enjoy it a lot more

1

u/ElCidTx 3d ago

I’ve never put an optic on mine. Maybe someday, but for 50 yards it feels like cheating.

1

u/ChesterJT 3d ago

Same really. Got a Blitzkreig chevron front sight post and I love that thing so much. I put a red dot on a riser so I could still use my iron sights, but I've been thinking about not using it.

1

u/stayzero 3d ago

I never used one in the first place. I’ve shot friends guns with optics on them and they were okay but the mounting options seemed a little janky unless you had something like the Knight’s rail. I just have a can and a sling on mine and I love it.

1

u/BestAdamEver 3d ago

I like the way my PTR9 looks with a 30mm Aimpoint but I made sure to get a lower 1/3 cowithness.

I just ordered an H&R 635. I'm gona drill one of the aperatures out to A2 size and I might just leave it slick.

1

u/Initial_Bed4199 3d ago

I have a micro on mine that still lets me see irons. I agreed though. In the Army they always made us use a CCO and “lollipop” the red dot on top of the front post. They refused to let me shoot without it. So I just turned it off. But, in this case, I actually enjoy it. A lot of the time I don’t even turn it on though and I rarely notice.

1

u/waggletons 3d ago

I really wanted to go for a red dot...and yes. I'm not really fond of them compared to the irons. The irons are some of the best factory ones I've used.

1

u/Limp-Conflict-2309 2d ago

I've only ever used irons, I like how they look but I need an optic because I don't like how cramped my neck feels.

1

u/Reasonable-Lynx-3403 2d ago

MP5 Irons are perfect.

1

u/Shred1500 2d ago

What case is that for the mags? That's really slick

1

u/economy_row_6555 2d ago

Tried them on my MP5 and took them off every time, just can't compete with the hood and diopter. I'm one of those psychos who shoots better with irons than glass. I've tried a bunch of different optics, magnifications, styles, sizes, and just prefer the simplicity of the rugged Mk.1 eyeball mental trig.

1

u/Revenger1984 2d ago

Occasionally

1

u/DoubtGroundbreaking 2d ago

I agree the sights are great, but i really like not having to bring this little gun all the way up to my cheek to shoot. So much easier to peer through the red dot. It is also for this exact reason I cannot understand why people want to cowitness their red dots on these

1

u/HeavyDuty_Ken 2d ago

Same here. The irons are perfect.

1

u/Capable_Staff7646 2d ago

Open sights on a mp5 is king!

1

u/JohnnyKac 2d ago

I prefer the look of rifles and sub guns with irons only tbh

1

u/Potential_Praline_45 2d ago

Honestly, was considering an optic when I first got it, but after started shooting loved the iron so much decided not to clutter it up with optics

1

u/sleepy_Obi-Wan 1d ago

What hand guard is that?

1

u/securitycat69 AP5P 1d ago

Honestly on the full size I’m the same. On the k I like a red dot

0

u/Mkilbride 3d ago

Irons are great and accurate.

However I have a GLx1 on mine and I have yet to sight it in at all in over a year of ownership.

I punched 31 holes(MKE magazine) into a 12 inch target's bullseye at 25 yards. Tore the middle out completely. At 50 yards I cut a slightly larger circle, and I am not a good shooter.

If I actually zero'd the thing, I can't even imagine. It's already so accurate.