Airsoft SpecOps: Revision: Adding Rails to MP5 Handguard

Older Revision of Adding Rails to MP5 Handguard

Revision: 20130909_220313 | All Revisions

Adding Rails to MP5 Handguard

The H&K MP5 is a reliable and popular gun used by many enforcement agencies in various countries, thereby increasing the appearance in movies and TV shows. Hence, it is also a popular airsoft gun. However, the H&K MP5 is designed and manufactured in the 1960's, when the technology is no where close to where we are today. Back then, there are less need for tactical attachment on rails.

Today, we have numerous technology that can be mounted onto standard Picatinny weaver rails. Without rails on the MP5, it's difficult to mount these new gadgets. This article provides instructions to adding a rail to your MP5 handguard and ideas for other possibilities.

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Parts You Need

There are many different rails that you can get for this purpose. We decided to go with the UTG MNT-P501 Handguard Picatinny Rail (see "Related Links" below). It comes in set of two rails, one for the left side and one for the right side. The photo below shows the packaging for the rails.

The UTG MNT-P501 Picatinny Rail is just long enough to cover the flat part of the MP5 handguard, but not long enough to overshoot the handguard. It is made out of metal and, therefore, more durable than plastic. It comes with five hex screws (four screws are needed to mount the two rails. A hex wrench is included for the screws (see photo below).

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Installation

For the purpose of this article, we are going to mount the rails to the Cyma CM.023 MP5 airsoft gun. The Cyma CM.023 MP5 is a low power electronic gun (LPEG) and is made completely out of plastic. We will mount the metal rails to the plastic handguard.

First thing to do, on a project like this one, is to test fit the rail on the gun. The photo below shows our ideal position of the rail on the handguard. Depending on the gun, the rail, and your application, you may want to test fit multiple locations.

Once you find the ideal spot, make a mark to drill the hole. The smallest drill bit can help you make a mark and an indention on the plastic handguard. You may need a punch for harder surfaces, like a metal handguard. Once you've made a hole big enough for the screw, tap the thread using the screw itself (see photo below). On metal handguards, you'll need to use hex nuts, rather than tapping the metal hole.

When you are done tapping the hole, remove the screw and install the rail with the screws. You can make precise alignments, then fasten it down. The photo below shows the rail installed on the handguard.

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Rail on Rail Riser

Another idea for rail placement is on the rail riser (see photo below). The Cyma CM.023 comes with a top rail raiser for the MP5. It's a fairly standard top rail. You an add two more rails to both side of the raiser to make it a tri-rail system.

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