HK SP5 (9mm)

irishshooter32 · 08-08-2022 8:37pm #1

a few weeks ago I made a post in reference to a .22lr HK mp5 legal pistol although after some investigation it seems they are made to a low standard and recently I found a genuine HK sp5 9mm in Germany for sale that I’m seriously interested in buying

https://www.theduke.de/en/produkt/long-guns/automatic-rifles/hecklerkoch-en/heckler-koch-sp5/

im not exactly sure weather this gun is legal though I read over the firearm laws and a “short firearms” means firearms either with a barrel not longer than 30 centimetres or whose overall length (including the length of any detachable component) does not exceed 60 centimetres;

now as far as my understanding of that a firearm with a barrel under 30cm could still be considered a “long firearm” so long as the overall length of the weapon is more than 60cm this particular gum is 67cm so as far as length to my understanding it would be legal the 9mm semi auto wil be justified under gallery shooting without issue and the I intend on only using 10 round mags what are your thoughts on this??

otmmyboy2 · 09-08-2022 9:22am

It's a short firearm, this part:

EITHER with a barrel not longer than 30 centimetres OR whose overall length (including the length of any detachable component) does not exceed 60 centimetres;

The either and or are the important parts there, meaning that if either of those parameters are fulfilled then the firearm is a short firearm, and being centrefire is thus restricted and not licensable.

Grizzly 45 · 09-08-2022 5:57pm

It's over 60 cms OAL, its a legal carbine. Both EU and Irish law. But I'd be holding off just in case there is some bulloney out of this FEC and the minister decides to ban your 2900 euro purchase.

otmmyboy2 · 09-08-2022 6:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119450932#Comment_119450932

Er, unless I am reading this section wrong(bolded for clarity):

“short firearms” means firearms either with a barrel not longer than 30 centimetres or whose overall length (including the length of any detachable component) does not exceed 60 centimetres;

From my reading there are thus 2 conditions:

1- Barrel length < 30cm

2- OAL < 60cm

If either of those conditions are met then the firearm is a "short firearm", and with a 22.5cm barrel the SP5 is well under the 30cm cutoff, making it a short firearm.

irishshooter32 · 09-08-2022 7:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119451121#Comment_119451121

Ok thanks you seem to be right I might look at trying to find a SP5 L witch has a 16” barrel although it kind of ruins the whole look

Grizzly 45 · 09-08-2022 10:47pm

You are right OTB...My bad.🤯

However

You could also just get a longer flash hider permanently mounted IE[solderd, etc]onto the barrel to bring it up to the length of 30 cms if you wanted to go this model. Barrel is already threaded for a silencer or muzzle break and HK makes a few that screw right on .

otmmyboy2 · 10-08-2022 12:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119452022#Comment_119452022

No worries, the law is so dumb in general, but arbitrary lengths especially where they are either or instead of the international norm of "and" is rather annoying.

I always wondered whether the permanently attached muzzle devices "counted" towards barrel length, but lacking a specifically Irish way of measuring barrel length including permanently attached muzzle devices does seem to be the international standard.

Grizzly 45 · 10-08-2022 12:56pm

Talked to ballistics in the park about that once. Their method is from the breech face to the muzzle end. Didn't say whether an internal measurement or external measurement. But as everyone else does internally.We'll ASSume they do likewise. Permanently attached with something like weld or solder seems to be acceptable by the UK, the EU in general and the US...So it should be good here.

otmmyboy2 · 10-08-2022 1:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119453921#Comment_119453921

Ah very cool, good to know :-D

Shooting Forum - Firearms licencing information

HK SP5 (9mm)

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