The other day I tried to explain to one of my friend what "Oxymoron" means and because the person happened to be an airsoft player my example was: "That is a mean looking MP5 you got there!". This sentence helped him understand what oxymoron means but at the same time it made me think what if I'm wrong here.

The most common accessories for an MP5 are: short top rail and a red dot or maybe a dual motorized magazine. You pretty much end with the version you originally purchased. While you can attach any ornament on an M4 or to an AK these days there are weapons you just cannot pimp even if you try hard and I am talking about guns like the FNC FAL for example where the only thing you can possibly add to your gun is a scope rail what wobbles under a heavier scope or red dot.

A Couple of years ago the only option you had to accessorize your MP5 was using parts made by Nitro.VO/Laylax but those parts were often more expensive than a decent JG MP5. I am sure everyone seen the pictures of a Swordfish MP5 before.......Yeah, now that's a mean looking MP5. A couple of months ago Chinese copies of those rails started popping up on the pages of one of my favorite retailers, Global Airsoft, so I thought now is the time to pimp my MP5.

The base gun is an SR5 from SRC. After my last visit in Taiwan I just had to try one of those well built-SRC guns and I got what I paid for. My choice was the fixed stock version because I had no idea that I will ever feel the need to pimp an MP5.  I haven't had much to do inside the gearbox because all the latest generation SRC guns come with quality gear and piston set (and do not forget the high torque motor as a standard feature). I didn't even change the spring to my usual SP120 because I wanted this one to be a straight out CQB gun and I quite like what Whistler did with the SR5.

Not only the rails made me start this project, there was one more important push what made me go down to "Pimping Avenue" and that was the ICS SFS stock which was love at first sight during my visit at the ICS factory earlier. The design is completely radical and the first of its kind ever made for the MP5. This nice looking piece has adjustable cheek weld and stock length. I always loved the marriage of form and functionality and with this I got it all because the stock can be folded and it also has a hole for quick detach sling loops. The cheekpad is rubberized for secure aiming so as the butt. The SFS is a pleasure to use and look at it as well.  Most manufacturers try to stay within the dimensions of the TM MP5 but SRC used the real steel H&K as a measuring stick and this gave me the first set of issues. The body of my SR5 is a little wider than a TM based MP5 so a little grinding was needed to fit the stock but this can be avoided using a non SRC made base gun. The ICS stock cannot hold any batteries so a front-wired gearbox is a must in this case and I had to do that myself which didn't scare me at all knowing that the SRC gearbox is ready to support both wiring schemes without issues. After I was done with the wiring and grinding I realized that it was all worth it. I hope ICS will make this stock for the airsoft M4 in the future.

The PRO&T rail and strike front I mentioned earlier came from Airsoft Global and it only took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to mount it. I can say I was surprised by the quaity of this rail and offers the same eye candy value as a Nitro.VO rail but for less $$$. The slots on the top rail aren't spaced evenly throughout the length but towards the back from the middle are spaced pretty much standard. Had no issues fitting real steel parts on the back of the rail (Magpul cover and Trijicon RX mount) but the first half of the rail will stay unprotected unless you fit it with an AN-PEQ box or other battery compartment.

I reject the idea of using an external battery compartment so I wanted to find the most spacious one and that's made by G&G but unfortunately I couldn't find a retailer who had this on stock. The G&G MP5 rail isn't round like the one I installed but it's rather wider on the bottom (sort of like trapeze shaped) giving more room for our battery cells. The handguard I installed was a Laylax one and choosing it really hurt my wallet but at the time this one was the only available at the stores where I ordered the parts from. Mounting a TM-based handguard on an SR5 requires modifications on the body and on the rail as well but I was determined so I didn't mind rendering the rail useless on other MP5s. The body only needed one small threaded hole to secure the rail through the bottom with a longer screw. Then again choosing a different base gun will save you from these troubles.

I have tried several loadouts once the gun was fitted with the rails realizing the limitations of the MP5. The magazine is curved which will limit either the length of your forward grip or the distance of the grip from the body. Shorter grips can be mounted closer to the body longer ones have to be mounted close to the front of the rail unless you use a short magazine. I ended up using a Colt Lasermax  grip under the barrel firmly mounted with a quick detach mount. The Lasermax has a weaker white LED for navigational purposes and an adjustable laser powered by two AA batteries. While I don't use lasers during the game it's still useful to dial in or zero the red dot before the game saving BBs and time.

Entering a CQB dungeon requires a torch and if you know me then you know that I am a flashlight freak so my loadout has to have one. Because of my choice of forward grip I cannot use an MX3 type of light under the handguard so I went with my good old buddy: Viking Tactics Flaslight Mount, which is a cheap solution to mount anything what has light coming out of it regardless the tube diameter. I wanted this little MP5 to be mean so I've picked the earlier reviewed INFORCE 9V what provides enough light for a whole day of CQB games. The 9V also adds some weight with its radiator fins and three batteries plus sticks out an inch in front of the gun but nothing's for free.

I prefer single point slings and this Blue Force Gear sling gives me quick access to my optics and enough freedom when I reach for the side arm or climb over a pile of zombies.  My rails are protected with rubber rail covers made by TDI arms. The plain MP5 grip got an extra HUGE rubber cover for firmer grip.  Speaking of rubber: Magpul also makes magazine loops for MP5 and not just for AKs and M4s. Unfortunately the grey ones are hard to find. The optics is my all time favorite Trijicon RX-30 that provides lightning fast target acquisition with it's huge aperture.

I don't think I can possibly attach anything else to this poor little guy. Maybe a motorized magazine or a grenade launcher.............:) I took a picture that shows a smaller grip and red dot attached using the original stock and maybe this is a more realistic setup and it has little bit lower profile but I still cannot use it explaining what oxymoron means (at least the way I tried) so I can say I reached my goal and I got myself a mean looking MP5.

With all these licensing issues going on in the EU and in the US hopefully manufacturers will be forced to design different looking receivers, grips and rails just like ICS did it with the SFS stock and at the end of the day this will bring variety to everyone who wants to spice up their MP5.