[Oicani]

Bought new production MP5 mags from HK a couple of months ago and getting varying array of rust on them. Three have light rust from handling them. I noticed something strange about them when I first opened them out of the factory sealed bag. The other five look similar to the one below and have be used during 2 range trips. It's not a storage issue. Either way, I've cleaned and oiled them since, but I find it interesting and figured I'd share.

 

[NORCIMMUS]

Ouch, I'll have to keep a constant eye on the ones I have in storage.

 

[fargo007]

I expected a couple small brown dots but DAMN dude.....

 

[Teufelshund Tactical]

It is a sad, but true issue with the original finish on HK MP5 mags.
That's why I've sent all mine to Birdsong and had them refinished in their Black T finish.

 

[Oicani]

It is a sad, but true issue with the original finish on HK MP5 mags.
That's why I've sent all mine to Birdsong and had them refinished in their Black T finish.

Is this a new production issue only?

What did the Black T finish run you per mag?

 

[Saab95v6]

I had the issue after the last class , I think we had a light drizzle and they got wet. Came home noticed the rust and re lubed all of them . All of mine were the older generation mags 15 to 18 years old.

 

[bastardsonofelvis]

Well, I hate to be that guy but for the price of these magazines they should come with a finish that doesn't allow that to happen. That's total BS.

 

[Teufelshund Tactical]

Is this a new production issue only?

What did the Black T finish run you per mag?

Always been an issue with MP5 mags.
I am a dealer with Birdsong, so I get better pricing then if you called. I'd have to look to confirm, but probably about $20 per mag. Well worth the money.

 

[SudS]

Always been an issue with MP5 mags.
I am a dealer with Birdsong, so I get better pricing then if you called. I'd have to look to confirm, but probably about $20 per mag. Well worth the money.

I've had dozens and dozens of MP5 mags, everything from brand new direct from HK to well used department mags with very worn finish. Many of these mags were stored in an un-air conditioned garage in hot and very humid condition for years. NEVER had any of my mags look ANYWHERE that bad. Now, 93 mags, that's a different story.

 

[Oicani]

...so naturally I'm wondering why this happens to some and not others. I will say that the second I took one out of the sealed bag I noticed my hand print on the mag body and noticed a few days later discoloration in the paint.

 

[LRM19k]

I've had a couple of my older mag get some light surface rust on them from my fingerprints, just by leaving them in my safe for a couple of days after a range session. It wiped right off with some oil, but I couldn't believe how quickly they rusted. I keep a light coat of oil on all my mags now and I haven't had a problem since. This issue seems to be sporadic, as only a few mags in my collection seem to rust.

 

[K5GHOST]

I had the issue after the last class , I think we had a light drizzle and they got wet. Came home noticed the rust and re lubed all of them . All of mine were the older generation mags 15 to 18 years old.

Not sure what you mean by "last class", but do you think this might include the ones I bought from you Saab95v6 a while back. Mine are still in the packaging but just want to be on the look out.

What this Birdsong Black T finish people are talking about?

 

[K5GHOST]

Well, I hate to be that guy but for the price of these magazines they should come with a finish that doesn't allow that to happen. That's total BS.

something is not right that's for sure. Those pics are ridiculous.

 

[SudS]

...so naturally I'm wondering why this happens to some and not others. I will say that the second I took one out of the sealed bag I noticed my hand print on the mag body and noticed a few days later discoloration in the paint.

Oh, and I'm not cleaning my mags off after I shoot. I shoot them, throw them in a bag when they are empty, then eventually I'll reload them and shoot again. Repeat. Once in a great while I'll wipe them down if and when they start to get dirty. In other words, my hand prints and powder residue sit on these mags for many months at a time. No rust.

 

[Oicani]

Oh, and I'm not cleaning my mags off after I shoot. I shoot them, throw them in a bag when they are empty, then eventually I'll reload them and shoot again. Repeat. Once in a great while I'll wipe them down if and when they start to get dirty. In other words, my hand prints and powder residue sit on these mags for many months at a time. No rust.

So what are your thoughts? Something I'm doing wrong? I've done the same as you with all my HK mags and this is the first time I've ever had this problem. Especially like this.

 

[Oicani]

Not sure what you mean by "last class", but do you think this might include the ones I bought from you Saab95v6 a while back. Mine are still in the packaging but just want to be on the look out.

What this Birdsong Black T finish people are talking about?

Actually these were bought from a supporting vendor here on Pro and it's not their fault, so not mentioning names.

I also bought MP5 Mags from Saab95v6 and no issue there.

Birdsong is the company HK USA uses to refinished some of their guns. Their work is top notch.

 

[SudS]

So what are your thoughts? Something I'm doing wrong? I've done the same as you with all my HK mags and this is the first time I've ever had this problem. Especially like this.

Something isn't right. If those mags are truly direct from HK Germany, then they did something differently. They changed something.

 

[Teufelshund Tactical]

So what are your thoughts? Something I'm doing wrong? I've done the same as you with all my HK mags and this is the first time I've ever had this problem. Especially like this.

Miguel, as you know well, Ben doesn't clean. After our last class, I forgot to pull the three mags he had been using out of the bag when I cleaned the MP5 he had been using. When I did a week later, they look just as bad as yours. These, of course, were the only three that I had not had refinished.
Of course, a good cleaning did the job, but I have to keep them lubricated much more than I would prefer.
Its also why all of the magazines issued with the MP5-N contract also came with the same extra "Navy" coating that the weapons did.

 

[Saab95v6]

Not sure what you mean by "last class", but do you think this might include the ones I bought from you Saab95v6 a while back. Mine are still in the packaging but just want to be on the look out.

What this Birdsong Black T finish people are talking about?

I did a MP5 class, we had light rain or dew for shooting late , so I threw them in a bag without wiping them , and had some light rust on 2 mags out of 14 I took . I use some G96 CLP to wipe the light rust off , now they are good as new.
The new one I sell are all sealed in individual packaging from HK with no visible problems . Maybe wiping them down with quality CLP would be prudent . This is the HK finish problem , not who you bought them from or which batch them came from .
My personal ones ,actually were bought like 15 years ago.

 

[Oicani]

Something isn't right. If those mags are truly direct from HK Germany, then they did something differently. They changed something.

They are German MP5 mags. You know me well enough to be truthful. There could be a chance that one of HK OEM suppliers is the cause of the issue. Either way, it's only rust. It happens. As always, thanks SudS!