zenith

Zenith MKE Z-5P SB | Subgun second to none

Manufactured by MKE of Turkey and imported by Zenith Firearms, the Z-5P SB is the closest thing you can get to an authentic Mp5 without buying an HK directly. The Z-5P (and its roller-delayed brethren) are manufactured on the same machines and in the same factory as licensed Turkish-made HK guns. I’ve written about my early impressions with this clone of a legend, but now that I’ve been shooting it for a couple of months, it’s time to revisit this gun.

In case you missed the quick look article, it covers the tech specs in detail. For a brief primer (to those unfamiliar to the Mp5 family of guns) the Z-5P is the descendant of the original short-barreled submachine gun chambered in 9mm which uses rollers on the bolt to delay blowback. The benefits of the roller-delayed recoil system are decreased recoil and comparatively greater accuracy when measured against open-bolt submachine guns.

This Z-5P SB is a 4.6lb clone of the Mp5K, with the K denoting the shorter version of the Mp5. We’re looking at a ~14″ overall length and a 5.8″ barrel that features both threading and HK’s three-lug suppressor mount. This version with its short barrel, lack of buttstock and under 26″ overall length is legally defined as a pistol. An arm brace and receiver endcap are both included, depending on your preference. The receiver is topped with a length of Picatinny rail for optional optics attachment.

I used the 1/2×28 threading to affix one of my AAC TiRant 45 suppressors. While this adds a bit of length, the weight of the suppressor is pretty negligible and it lends a fantastic balance to this little shooter. While the stock iron sights are more than adequate, who can resist the temptation of tossing a little red-dot on a gun such as this? When not shooting with the irons, I’ve been using a Vortex Venom micro sight (review here), which takes the Z-5P’s natural point-and-shoot ergonomics and combines them with the speed of a reflex sight to devastating effect.

While this gun handles silky smooth and shoots like a dream, there is one rub. The Z-5P (just like my old Mp5SD) runs flawlessly with brass cased ammo. Steel cased ammo provides the same level of dependability. So where’s the problem? Aluminum cased ammo. The violent nature of HK designed extraction/ejection leaves poor aluminum cases not knowing what to do or where to fly. Some did circles inside the receiver. Some stovepiped. Changing back to brass or steel cased ammo totally and immediately eliminated the issue. Again, this has been true for me when shooting legit/original HK Mp5’s as well as American-manufactured clones and this Turkish made Z-5p.

The universal aluminum case issue aside, this is a flawless recreation of HK’s legend. MKE licensed the HK designs and has followed the plans to perfection. Unlike some other “cloners” (*cough* SW/Cohaire *cough*), MKE has stayed true to the blueprints and has made the closest thing you can get to an HK produced gun. This Z-5P shoots as well as any Mp5 derivative I’ve shot. German or otherwise. The price tag is $1844 for the base pistol (which includes 3x 30 round mags, a plastic carry case and a cleaning kit) and $2104 for the big package, which includes everything from the base model as well as a discreet carry case and the arm brace. While this is a steep price, it’s the cheapest I’ve seen for a quality replica of the legendary Mp5. Check it out!

-Rex Nanorum

The Little .380 Gets a Big Champion: Enter the Girsan MC 14

Caliber arguments are older than arguments over sports teams so let’s nip that right here with this maxim: a well-placed shot of any caliber is better than a miss with any other caliber. With that settled we can move on to the real subject which happens to be chambered in another of Browning’s calibers, the .380 ACP.

In today’s buying trends, most people go to the .380 as a means of achieving a smaller handgun that is easier to conceal. What about those who for whatever reason such as health, age, or hand size are actually looking for a good gun in .380? The industry has largely forsaken us to a list of handguns that are so small they are almost laughable, have limited capacity and generally limited features. This was started by the micro-gun craze that eventually morphed into the popularity of single-stack 9mm guns and the idea of a shootable .380 was lost.

The Beretta 84 was available once but is no longer listed on their US site. Recently Zenith introduced us to the Girsan MC 14. The MC 14 is strikingly similar to the Beretta 84 and offers a full list of features as well.

To start the MC 14 is a double-stack which not only offers 13+1 capacity, but also means there’s actually enough handgun to hold on to. While still a small gun, the width fills the hand nicely and tames the already mild recoil of .380 ACP to a gentle nudge. New shooters will find this less intimidating and easier to learn with while experienced shooters will think they’re shooting a grown up .22.

Serrations on the front and rear strap aid in grip as do classic serrations on the rear of the slide while the pinky rest on the three included magazines accommodates most shooters of average to small hand sizes. The safety is ambidextrous and the slide release has a nice contour making it comfortable for use in reloads and definitive in the upward motion as a slide stop.

Zenith rounded out the comfort for newer shooters by turning the case into a sort of starter kit. In addition to the obligatory cleaning rod are both nylon and brass brushes, three total magazines, a soft cloth, and a small oil bottle. They even cut holes in the foam for ammunition; a nice spot to store your defensive rounds while using the magazine at the range.

They really make use out of space in the case.

Three included magazines. White grips were aftermarket.

All counted the red box delivers a great package for introducing a new shooter or offering a defensive option for those looking for something gentle to shoot but that will still deliver the force needed. Modern ammunition has revived the potential of the .380 ACP and it’s nice to see a handgun able to help us take advantage of that.

For Complete shooting impressions and table-top review see the video here:

“You Like Guns That Nobody Else Wants”

Just Because a Gun is in a Magazine Doesn’t Mean it’s the Right One For You

I like to cover a lot of guns that aren’t seen in grocery-store magazines, and for a couple of reasons. First, common guns bore me. If I can go to three gun shops and see the same firearm at the same price, or covered in more than one magazine it simply doesn’t excite me. I’ve handled a lot of handguns over the years and have several dozen at home. Each new firearm has to try harder than the last to interest me.

A gun also needs to provide more for less money than its predecessor. Firearms like the Taurus 709 Slim have proven it doesn’t take much to offer a lot of features for relatively little money and still accomplish the same as guns costing more. Don’t get me wrong, the 709 Slim is far from a favorite of mine, but does offer a lot of features and function for about half the cost of others.

Grand power's XCalibur — Grand power’s XCalibur

We recently had a comment on the channel by user Tom Johnson who said, “You have the largest collections of guns that nobody has ever heard about nor wants”.

I took that as a compliment and actually you something different. I’m willing to bet there are plenty of drivers who have never heard of a Königsegg, but if given the chance they’d drive one. The handgun equivalent might be the Grand Power Xcalibur we reviewed. Neither the cheapest nor the most conventional handgun, but an incredible machine of undeniable performance. Hand-fitted and purpose-built.

Another that surprised me pleasantly was the MC14 imported by Zenith. At under $400 some would skip over it assuming it’s cheap. Seeing it on display or shooting it you’d think it costs a lot more.

This beautiful little piece is a double-action/single-action with an external safety. Each of the THREE included magazines hold 14 rounds of Browning’s mini-banger, the .380 ACP. A few years back when guns started getting small again the .380 was all the rage because it was compact and could be used in blow-back designs.

Defensive ammunition makers got on board and as early as 2012 the NRA proved that Browning’s 78%-scale miniaturization of his venerable .45 ACP was….wait for it….78% as effective! Sure that’s not 100%, but for the weight and space savings it’s impressive. Those who believe the .45 ACP is more than enough can’t deny that makes the .380 ACP definitely adequate. For others it’s not entirely about the power.

Ironically those least comfortable with firearms are probably those most likely to need one. Elderly or smaller hands and weaker arms, or those intimidated by recoil have a use for .380. These characteristics also add up to the personification of easy prey for the wicked, and thereby also more in need of a defensive tool to level the playing field.

I once heard a quote along the lines of “God created man, Samuel Colt made them equal,” and believe it applies quite well, or in this case John Browning. The best caliber is the one you carry and the worst is the one you leave at home. The Girsan MC-14 offers a very pleasant-to-shoot and well-made firearm with a lot of features at an affordable price and in a rather-complete package. What’s not to like about that?

So just because it’s not in a magazine, or isn’t all the rage at the gun shop doesn’t mean it’s not the right gun for you. That’s why we seek out firearms like the Xcalibur and MC-14, because there are incredible values out there quietly awaiting recognition. And if it’s recognition you’re looking for trying taking one of these to the range and just wait for the barrage of questions and faces as other realize that you found a better firearm for less money than they did.

Photo courtesy of gunmartblog.com