Zenith Firearms ZF-5 American MP5

[brasst]

Excited to be a new member here. Looking for some feedback on a gun I am interested in purchasing. Is called the ZF-5 from Zenith Firearms. Is basically an MP5 clone but is made here in America. Decent price of $1400ish... I have never owned a roller back type of gun and was wondering how difficult they are to maintain? Any feedback on the platform or the company would be appreciated.

 

[DesertFox]

$1400 is high for an MP5 clone right now. Easy to maintain, a blast to shoot. Of course the HK SP5 is highly sought after and pushing $3k. The new(ish) round of clones are priced right with few klunkers. Beware: you WILL start spending a lot more money and time shooting... Then you'll want a K version, then you'll decide a reverse stretch is in your future, then you join HK Pros forum... Hope your checkbook is well-funded!

 

[brasst]

Can you explain what a K version is?

 

[trackskippy]

My buddy has a couple of the Zenith MP5's and has had nothing but good to say about them. My understanding is, they are the cream of the crop of the clones. The price youre quoting seems pretty good. I think he paid a tad more for his.

The MP5's are great guns and easy to maintain. Keep it cleaned and lubed and youll have no troubles.

When you load the first round you need to either pull the charging handle fully to the rear and release it, or from the lock notch, "slap" it and let it go forward on its own. If you ride the charging handle down to close the bolt, the gun will not cycle properly.

If you want to zero the sight, youll need a proper sight tool. You can try and do it with other tools, but its frustrating and aggravating, and you can damage the sight. If you know someone who has one, it will save you some bucks, as they are pricey, and once set, you wont likely ever use it again.

There are Korean mags available for them at a much more reasonable price and work just as well.

As far as the K version of the MP5, they are just a chopped down version. This is an actual MP5K, the semi auto versions dont have the forward grip, as that would put it in the NFA realm. "Handguns" cant have a forward grip.



I had this HK94 to MP5 conversion up until Obama got in. Should have held on to it as its doubled in price now in the decade since I got rid of it.

 

[Riomouse911]

The Mp5 series is by far my favorite pistol caliber long arm. I’ve used them for almost 30 years, 9.5 with the Mp5k as my primary long arm on our SRT.

Mp5k: Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) Semi and Full Auto.



Mp5A5: Semi, Burst, Full Auto with surefire light fore end.




If the Zenith is as reliable as these H&K guns are, you’ll have a lot of fun with it!

Stay safe.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I've shot zeniths, they are extremely well made, and I'd buy one if I didn't have PCC's already. They're worth the money for sure.

 

[MAKster]

Just so people understand Zenith used to sell MKE built guns. They had a falling out with MKE and are now selling USA built models. Are the people saying they have a Zenith talking about the old model or new ones?

 

[MikeInOr]

So many PCC's are straight blowback which have annoying recoil. The roller delayed and other locked breach 9mm PCC's are a joy to shoot in comparison.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Just so people understand Zenith used to sell MKE built guns. They had a falling out with MKE and are now selling USA built models. Are the people saying they have a Zenith talking about the old model or new ones?

This!!!

They went from importer to manufacturer.

Century now imports the MKE (old zenith) as far as I know

 

[giggitygiggity]

This!!!

They went from importer to manufacturer.

Century now imports the MKE (old zenith) as far as I know

This is accurate. I got the Century AP5 (imported by Century and manufactured by MKE) this past year when Century offered a $200 rebate. I added an HK A3 stock and triangle handguard (and other US parts to comply with 922R) after my tax stamp was approved. It’s incredibly fun to shoot. You can now find the AP5 Core versions (only 1 mag, no muzzle brake, no cleaning kit) for about $1100 now, which is the way I’d go since the flash hider and cleaning kit don’t interest me and extra mags can be had for $40-100 so you’re still below the cost of the non-core variant.

I don’t have personal experience with the USA-made Zenith. A USA-made MP-5 clone is appealing because you don’t have to worry about 922R.

 

[Frankl03]

Here is my PTR 9CT I got it before the MKE's started to sell for around $1100

Mine has never missed a beat. Super reliable with KCI II mags. Never even tried the ETS mags it shipped with. Its a joy to shoot!

The built in rail is great too!

I have the HK Mp5 22lr that is a hoot to shoot too!

 

[halfmoonclip]

I'm fond of PCCs, but not anxious to start another platform/magazines. Mine are blowback, but they haven't proved shoulder or cheek pounders.
But this does look pretty darn neat. Never say never!
Moon

 

[CajunBass]

I had never heard of the company until recently, when I purchased a used Tisas Fatih 13, a stainless/alloy "clone" of the Beretta 84BB, 380 DA/SA pistol. It was marked as imported by Zenith Arms, of Afton, Virginia. The black plastic grips, were marked with a "Z" for Zenith I suppose. Since I had never heard of the company, and Afton, Virginia is just sort of a hop, skip, and a jump up I-64 I did a little research and read up on their MP-5 clones. Pretty cool. I wouldn't mind having one myself, but they are a little out of my price range these days.

The Fatih 13



I didn't see these listed on their website, so I assume they no longer import them.

 

[Frankl03]

Classic Arms has the Ap5 M (short version) for $899.00
Link: https://www.classicfirearms.com/century-arms-hg6036a-n-ap5-m-45-30rd-no/

This may be the time to pick one up.

 

[halfmoonclip]

All of these 'pistols' simply need a buttstock of some sort or another. No matter how badass they look, it's tough to really hit anything smaller than the inside of a barn.
Moon