Target Sports

RIFLE REVIEW: GSG-5: GERMAN SPORT GUNS'WUNDERKIND?

Created on 20th May 2009

RICHARD ATKINS tests the new semi-automatic rimfire sport rifle and finds it a sure-fire winner on all counts

HECKLER & KOCH makes what is probably the best-known sub-machine gun of modern times. This is of course the model MP5, which is the choice of many armed forces around the world. Its factory designation is actually the H&K Model 54, but when adopted by the German Army it was designated as its Maschinenpistole 5 and that, soon abbreviated to MP5, was to become its adopted title. The H&K is the fullbore rifle chambered for the 9mm Parabellum round.

It's a ergonomically well-designed firearm, and one of the easiest semi-autos to fire accurately. It's also a very compact design, being more of a carbine length. Its inherent accuracy is in part a result of its breech design, in that it fires from a closed bolt and with a H&K patented roller-locked delayed opening breech, perfected originally in the firm's G3. The MP5 is noted for the accuracy it can provide, hence it's also the choice of many Special Forces units like our own SAS.

Ergonomics do the rest and the steeply-angled pistol grip combined with a full forend hand guard make for a very slick firing platform. When the butt is pulled into the firer's shoulder the top of the stock has a nicely shaped angular forward portion leading to the rear of the breech block. The rearsight is of the open ‘battle' type - an angled rotary device offering three different apertures depending on the target type and the speed with which the gun must be brought to bear. There is also one full open battle sight for very rapid target acquisition. The front sight is again of battle-type. It's a sturdy upright post set within a metal ring that both protects the blade from knocks and also guides the eye naturally to the sight post.

Of course we're no longer able to possess the MP5 fullbore firearm type in the UK, but we are allowed semi-automatic small calibre rifles. The GSG replicates the feel, balance and ergonomics of the rifle it mimics and has been so warmly received that supply just cannot keep up with demand. As we struggled to obtain one for review the importers had more than 200 on back order! Have no doubts - this is a sure-fire winner from the off. The new GSG-5 very closely follows the H & K MP5 fullbore's design. Instead of a roller-locked breech, though, it uses a simple blow-back system that is almost universal with - and perfectly adequate for - rimfire semi-automatic rifles (just like the ubiquitous Ruger 10-22). This works fine for such small energy rounds, where the bullet will have exited the muzzle before the bolt moves sufficiently rearward to unseal the breech. The mass of the breech block itself will provide all the delay required in the breech's desire to open on firing and to cycle the action.

GSG stands for German Sports Guns and the GSG-5 is intended as both a sport and training firearm. Its ergonomics so closely mimic those of the gun it imitates that it would be both a pleasant and cost-effective means of familiarising oneself with the H&K MP5.

The design feature of the MP5 responsible for its easy controllability, in particular when firing rapidly, is its very low barrel line. When looking at the rifle side-on you can see that the barrel line follows through the receiver's centre part and projects to the top of the stock. This means there is very little tendency for the muzzle to rise when fired because unlike most designs - where the barrel is somewhat higher than the top of the rifle's comb - here there is very little tendency for any rotation around the shoulder. The muzzle therefore stays on aim with very little help from the forward hand. A reasonably firm hold on the pistol grip, combined with the face contact on the stock, is enough to ensure that the target remains properly locked in one's sights. This makes double-tapping and repeated double-tapping straightforward and a lot of fun.

The 9mm MP5 models are available in various versions, including a sound-moderated model. This GSG-5 mimics one of the sound-moderated versions in that it appears to have a sound moderator fitted to the forward portion of the barrel. Indeed, from the sight-mounting ring forward there is no plain barrel visible at all. However, when one unscrews this larger diameter metal sleeve the much slimmer barrel inside is revealed; there are no gas vents or baffles within to make it act as a moderator. Its function is mainly cosmetic and it does improve the appearance as the barrel looks a tad spindly when the sleeve is removed. It also adds a small amount of additional forward weight and no doubt some protection for the barrel and its crown.

The rifle features a rotary safety switch conveniently positioned just above the thumb. This is repeated on both sides of the receiver, making it fully ambidextrous. It does lack the real thing's burst fire capability; that, of course, is something we neither want nor need in a sports firearm. The magazine well, situated directly forward of the ample trigger guard, is nicely chamfered to allow swift and easy location. The magazine itself is robustly constructed from polymer and holds 22 rounds of .22 long rifle ammunition. It is easy to load, having a knurled face on either side of the magazine follower which can be gripped between first finger and thumb when holding the magazine to insert rounds. This means that the long steel spring within can be compressed with the fingers of the holding hand, making it easy to just feed rounds in without having to push against the spring. Care must be taken not to get too carried away with this and pull the follower too low when loading rounds into the magazine. If you're not careful, they can to rotate and tip, without falling into the correct position, which takes some fiddling to correct. Once you have discovered this it is easy to apply just the correct amount of pressure on the magazine follower to allow rounds to be easily inserted without them tipping.

The magazine clicks positively into position, being held by a substantial metal tag that locates into its side to hold it securely. It can be readily released by pushing forward on the sizeable release lever between the forward edge of the trigger guard and the magazine itself. This has a fairly firm spring to be overcome, which ensures that accidental release is very unlikely. The GSG-5's receiver is of aluminium alloy metal die casting - unlike its bigger brother's which is made from steel. This outer receiver shell is neatly made in two halves pinned and bolted together to form a solid receiver.

Both the hand guard and butt are made of a sturdy polymer material with a textured surface to give it a nice matte appearance and good feel. The butt comes supplied separately from the action and is readily fitted by slipping the front edge - contoured to mate with the rear receiver profile - over the rear of the receiver, with which it mates quite closely. A two-part bolt then passes through a hole in its base and when the threaded bolt head is screwed tightly from the opposite side to bolt's main body, the butt is then clamped securely to the receiver body.

A similar type of screw arrangement keeps a forward hand guard in position and a third two-part screw locates and retains the pistol grip and trigger group housing (which is another moulded structural polymer part) in position. The GSG-5 has precisely the same cocking lever arrangement as the MP5: a sturdy rod set in the tube above the barrel with a finger-grooved knob protruding from its left forward section. This is spring-loaded and is racked briskly back to cycle the bolt. It can be lifted slightly when fully rearward to engage a locking tab that keeps the breech bolt locked open.

Stripping and cleaning

Stripping the GSG-5 for cleaning is a simple matter. The stock is removed as easily as it was attached by taking off the screw with which it was originally fitted. You then remove a bolt stopper plate fitted just inside the rear of the receiver. This is retained by a single Allen head screw, included in a small multi-tool kit supplied with the rifle. Once this Allen screw is undone and removed, re-insert the tip in a similar hexagonal recess in the plate itself; use the multi-tool supplied to slide the stopper plate from its groove in the receiver and then carefully withdraw it.

Remove the forward trigger group screw and trigger housing/pistol grip by sliding the grip about 20mm rearward. You can then pull it away from the receiver body, giving access to the trigger unit for cleaning. You should do this from time to time on most semi-autos as residues from the burnt powder or brass and lead shavings can build up and cause malfunction. Always ensure the firearm is unloaded before stripping down.

With the trigger housing (called a ‘frame' in the parts book) removed, the breech assembly can be slid from the receiver body's rear. The latter is a beautifully engineered assembly with a substantial steel bolt that has evidently been precision-machined to tight tolerances. The extractor claw and ejector are very robustly made, too. To ensure smooth cycling and no tendency to twist and bind, the bolt is supported by two large recoil springs that fit around guide rods. These springs control the bolt's rearward motion upon firing and then reassert it back into battery, picking up a fresh round on the way. This attention to detail mimics the MP5 but without the roller locking arrangement; it works very well indeed.

Function

We gave the GSG an airing on the range: nothing too demanding, as the ‘battle sight' sighting arrangement is not designed to extract the very best from the little rifle. The sights did prove surprisingly useable, though, and for many of the ‘Action'-style events accuracy is well up to what most can achieve, allowing fast target acquisition and shooting. The gun is so smooth to shoot that you can do repeated double-taps and at 25yd just watch the group building up on the target. No time is lost in re-acquiring the target before the next shot can be fired. The GSG-5's 3kg weight makes recoil almost imperceptible. We fired all groups shown fairly rapidly, trying a series of double-taps too.

The gun showed good accuracy potential even with the basic sighting arrangement. The trigger is rather soft, with a slightly spongy feel but is light and smooth to pull through with no roughness at all. It is ideal for the ‘rolling' pull that allows raid follow-up shots, as when double-tapping on targets.

Various accessories are on their way, with 11 listed in the catalogue. One is a claw-type Weaver rail that will enable a scope or red-dot to be fitted, which should help bring out the accuracy I'm sure this little gun is quite capable of.

The calibre stamped on the receiver says .22 Long Rifle and adds the suffix ‘HV'; this is reinforced in the user manual which makes a case for using High Velocity ammunition to gain best reliability. This is common enough with many semi-autos and the faster ammunition just ensures the bolt is thrown back fast and hard enough to ensure faultless feeding. It is certainly a good idea to put a few hundred rounds of something like CCI Blazer or Remington Thunderbolt through to settle things down and give the springs a chance to lose their initial newness. Then you will probably find it works perfectly well with lower-power ammunition too.

A slightly faster round is a good idea to ensure reliability. We did get a few light strikes with some ‘soft' target brands, but not many. With a few more hundred rounds through it would probably resolve itself and, if not, those wanting only to use target ammunition could have a gunsmith soften the springing very slightly (though that shouldn't be a first option and may affect the guarantee).

In conclusion I can honestly say this gun proved immense fun to shoot with. It's easy to see why it has been an immediate success. Frankly it will be no surprise at all if some sort of Action shooting circuit springs up around it. It is a joy to use - be prepared to fire a lot of ammunition.

Technical Specification

Make: German Sport Guns GmbH
Model: GSG-5
Calibre: .22LR
Type: Blow-back semi-automatic
Capacity: 22 round stick magazine
Barrel length: 414mm
Rifling: Six groove R H twist
Sight radius: 340mm
Overall length: 855mm
Pull length: 355mm
Trigger weight: 1.9kg (4.1lb)
Weight: 2,930g (without mag)
SRP: £443

UK distributor: Centra UK
T: 01483 756969