The SAS G3 – Heckler & Koch MC51
I have never shot one myself, but I have heard rumors that short-barreled Heckler & Koch G3s are quite nasty to shoot.
The firearm in focus today is the Heckler & Koch MC51. All of the pictures are taken by Håkan Spuhr, who managed to collect one.
These were made for the British SAS in the 80:ies and possibly into early 90:ies.
It was never a sucess, but a few hit the civilian market
The MC51 was originally made by Flemming for FR Ordnance International Limited for the British SAS.
These are HK G3 rifles shortend down in barrel length considerably!
It was designed as a short, highly manuverable rifle with good effect on Ballistic armour.
Here is one kitted with our stock, MP5 forend and a converted Mp5 toprail together with our QD Trijicon mount.Look forward to test it!
From Wikipedia (Source):
Below: The Spuhr MP5 forend fits!FR Ordnance MC51 Machine Carbine: Produced by the United Kingdom firm FR Ordnance International Ltd. The MC51 weighs 3.1 kg (6.8 lb), has a folded overall length of 625 mm (24.6 in), a barrel length of only 230 mm (9.1 in), which produces a muzzle velocity of approx. 690 m/s (2,263.8 ft/s) and a muzzle energy of 2215 J.
Another UK-based company called Imperial Defence Services Ltd. absorbed FR Ordnance and continues to market the MC51 standard variant.
According to the website Elite UK Forces, the SBS (Special Boat Service) had what could best be referred to as a G3 SD, with reference to the HK MP5 SD.
It was an MC51 with an integrated suppressor was made in limited numbers only. There were complaints about reliability and hard recoil, so it didn’t last long.
Below: 0…1….or…20….
Above: The markings say “G3 A4 9828 4/90”. Possibly made in the early 1990s?
It’s like a grown-up, but bad behaving and swearing MP5. The one you only let out of the safe once a year when you want the flames from the muzzle to burn off a few of your eyebrows. I love it!
Thanks to Mr. Spuhr for the pictures.
Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.
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I did one with a PTR pistol. Kind of had buyers remorse, the blast is so unpleasant--and I am pretty used to short barreled rifles. However, seeing that picture makes me want to update it some. I might dust it off and see. It is very reliable and I personally do not find the recoil that bad.
I thought about making my PTR-91 into an SBR when I saw 6' 5" beef cake do a full auto magazine dump one handed. Then I realized I was not a beef cake and my PTR was not select fire.