Heckler & Koch has truly ruled the roost when it comes to subguns deployed by SWAT teams and military units. For decades it was the HK MP5 in 9mm, with versions in 10mm and .40 S&W to follow. Variants ranging from PDWs (personal-defense weapons) to integrally suppressed (SD) models were the primary entry weapons for any team that could afford them. The 9mm variants remain some of the most reliable and robust subguns on the planet. MP5s were a bit harder to keep maintained, however, which led the next-gen HK subgun, the Heckler & Koch UMP, which author David Bahde test-fires in the upcoming April 2014 issue of Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement.
Bahde writes, “Introduced in 1999, the UMP integrates a robust operating system and polymer construction. The MP5’s complex roller-delayed system was replaced with a simple blowback design, where recoil operates the bolt via a return spring returning it to battery. Moving parts are kept to a minimum, ensuring the UMP will work under adverse conditions. The UMP’s manufacture is simple, and no gunsmith is required for assembly. The system’s modular trigger mechanism is designed to simply be replaced in its entirety when it becomes worn out. A folding stock replaces the extending, skeletonized design of the MP5. The UMP’s folding stock is more solid yet keeps the platform extremely compact.”
To learn more about the HK UMP and how it fared on the range, check out the April 2014 issue of Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, available on newsstands and digitally January 7, 2014. To subscribe, go to https://www.tactical-life.com/subscribe/guns-weapons-for-law-enforcement
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