Century AP5 9mm CORE Pistol from MKE — The HK MP5 Clone Built on Turkish Military Heritage
The question we hear often: "How does the AP5 compare to the real HK SP5?" It is a fair question, and it deserves an honest answer — not a marketing pitch. MKE (Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi) is Turkey's state arms manufacturer, operating since 1950 and supplying firearms to the Turkish Armed Forces. Their MP5-pattern tooling carries genuine lineage from the HK licensing era when Turkey produced G3 and MP5 variants for military use. The AP5 is not a distant approximation. It is the product of a manufacturer with deep institutional knowledge of the roller-delayed platform.
The Honest Comparison: AP5 vs. HK SP5
The HK SP5 is manufactured in Oberndorf, Germany by Heckler & Koch itself. It carries HK's internal quality standards, German materials specifications, and the provenance of the original manufacturer. CCC carries both, and we will not pretend they are equivalent — they are not. The SP5 is the source. The AP5 is an excellent tribute from a manufacturer who understood the platform deeply enough to build military rifles with it. At roughly one-third the price of the SP5, the AP5 delivers the roller-delayed operating system, the 9mm ergonomics, and the MP5 handling characteristics that made this platform iconic. For shooters who want the MP5 experience without the SP5 investment, the AP5 is a legitimate choice.
Roller-Delayed 9mm: Why the Platform Still Matters
The MP5's roller-delayed blowback action delivers a shooting experience that blowback 9mm pistols simply do not replicate. The delayed cycling is smoother, the bolt velocity is better controlled, and the felt recoil impulse is distinctly different — more a push than a snap. Law enforcement and military units who trained on MP5s for decades developed muscle memory around this action. The AP5 preserves that operational feel. Whether you are a competitive shooter, a collector, or someone who appreciates what the MP5 meant to tactical operations over the past 50 years, the AP5 gets you there at an accessible price point.
Compare Your MP5 Options at CCC
→ HK SP5 — German-made, HK-manufactured, the original source
→ PTR 9CT — US-manufactured roller-delayed 9mm with threaded barrel
Charlie's Custom Clones has carried the full MP5-platform ecosystem since 2017 — the German original, the American-made clone, and now the Turkish-manufactured option. We can walk you through the real differences so you make the right choice for your collection and your budget. Contact us.
THIS IS A SERIALIZED FIREARM. It must ship to a Federal Firearms License holder. No civilian exceptions.
Buying and shipping through Charlie’s is easy, but there is some information you need to know. Only a federally licensed firearms dealer may receive a firearm or federally regulated serialized item (like a receiver or suppressor). We cannot ship these items directly to you. Please follow these steps to process your transaction:
1) Check your state laws to make sure the federally regulated item you want to purchase is legal in your state. Your FFL dealer should be able to give you all of the necessary information regarding your state specific laws. But, if we ship to your FFL, and there is a legal issue, we cannot accept a return. So please make sure that you know and follow your local and state laws.
2) A quick google search will show you what Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealers are in your area. When you are ready to purchase, contact the FFL dealer you would like to use and get their shipping address. During the check-out, put YOUR address in the “billing” section and the FFL DEALER’S address in the “shipping” section. If you don’t know your FFLs address, that’s okay. You can send the information later.
3) After check out, make sure to contact your FFL dealer to ensure they will receive your shipment for you (most do this for a small fee, but you should always double check).
4) Have your dealer send us a copy of their FFL to FFL@CharliesCustomClones.com. Charlie’s does not reach to your FFL (MAKE THEM EARN THEIR FEE!!!)
5) Be patient! In order to ensure we remain compliant with all federal laws, our compliance department is kept separate from our sales and operations team. Please allow a few days for our compliance officer to verify all of your dealer’s documents and ensure all federal laws are being observed. You should hear from our compliance department within 3-4 business days. If not, feel free to reach out for a status update.
That’s it! We try to make this process as simple as possible for our customers, but if you are unfamiliar the process or have any other questions, please visit our How to Buy a Firearm page for more details.
California and New York residents please, click here. The process may be different due to state specific laws.
NOTE: The free shipping option does not apply to full rifles, unless purchased with a riflescope. If you choose free shipping at check-out, we will bill you for shipping later.
Century Arms
Century Arms
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Century Arms