Cut MP5 front sight hood for red dot?

[Mike Miller]

I have an MP5 clone (Z-5RS) with an aimpoint micro. When transitioning between targets, I find that the top of the front sight hood usually matches up pretty close to where the red dot is, and that slows me down when picking up a new target because I temporarily doubt myself.

I've never had a problem with irons throwing me off with my AK/ultimak or my AR with DD fixed sights. I'm thinking of cutting the top of the MP5 front sight hood, as I have seen on some other forums. I've never seen it discussed here.

What is the opinion of the board, is this merely a training issue that should be worked through, or is cutting the sight acceptable if a red dot is going to always be my primary sight with this weapon? I heard that it shouldn't matter, that it should really be possible to just black out the front of the aimpoint completely since your left eye will pick up the target, but I'm having trouble with the partial view.

[interfan]

You have run into the classic problem with HK 9X/5X series. The standard LOP is long and the cheek weld is too low for optics and irons interfere. There are some novel approaches to this, and some ingenious ones. Today there are some good options, as opposed to 30 years ago where it was "suck it up, that's the way it is".

I can't speak for others, but it is more of a personal preference than training. I have seen some experience the problems you mention, and just cut the top hood off of the front sight and call it a day. That seems to suit those that do it well. Others get used to the obstruction and train around it.

Others, myself included, just use a tall riser on the Aimpoint Micro that puts it higher than the front sight and don't worry about co-witness with the irons. You have to adopt a more upright head and shoulders, but there's not much recoil or control issues with 9mm to worry about (the A3 stock doesn't exactly give a good cheekweld anyway). For my own purposes, I look at the reliability of an Aimpoint T1 and hedge my bet with a QD optics mount. This way, in the unlikely event that it does go down, I can go back to irons in about the same time than it takes to change a magazine.

[SteyrAUG]

Others, myself included, just use a tall riser on the Aimpoint Micro that puts it higher than the front sight and don't worry about co-witness with the irons.

Pretty much. Most foreign rifles such as HKs, AKs and SIGs just don't co witness like an AR.

[Joe R.]

This is an issue that we found when Red Dots really started to become prevalent. I have gone the route of cutting off the top of the front sight ring. Others like a higher mount but then you run into even more of an offset issue than you really need to deal with and the lack of ability to co-witness. Personally I want to be able to use the iron sights if necessary.

MP5 hrt mod 2.jpg

[contax_shooter]

Run a larger 30mm red dot such as the Aimpoint Comp/Pro, you can catch the dot above the front hood and it won't be so much of a bother. I switched from a micro H1 to the ACO.

[Renegade]

I cut mine to 416 style, that way I still have irons if I need them.

[SteyrAUG]

This is an issue that we found when Red Dots really started to become prevalent. I have gone the route of cutting off the top of the front sight ring. Others like a higher mount but then you run into even more of an offset issue than you really need to deal with and the lack of ability to co-witness. Personally I want to be able to use the iron sights if necessary.

MP5 hrt mod 2.jpg

But are you actually getting a co witness? As for offset I've run optics on AR carry handles for so long I don't even notice. Completely agree with having irons as a back up, but I'd rather just us a QD mount than start cutting sight hoods. I think a few folks even make a flip mount where you can dump your optics to the left and run iron sights.

[Bogartino]

OP, check out the group buy going on now on HKPRO for custom mount for HK SP5K and MP5. There are 2 options, one for RMR and the other a pic rail for Aimpoint.

[Mike Miller]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I really like the rail and stock combo that I have (MFI ultra low mount, B&T folder). I get a real cowitness with cheek weld between the two, so I don't want to swap out either.

I have an Aimpoint PRO, but I sacrificed the qrp2 ring to make a cowitness mount for my FAL. I'll see if I can find another to try out. I'll also try moving one of my aimpoint risers for the micro over temporarily.

[Joe R.]

But are you actually getting a co witness? As for offset I've run optics on AR carry handles for so long I don't even notice. Completely agree with having irons as a back up, but I'd rather just us a QD mount than start cutting sight hoods. I think a few folks even make a flip mount where you can dump your optics to the left and run iron sights.

Yes. I can use the irons through the optic.