I am about to make the jump to my first roller lock firearm. I have decided on the MP5 SD. Of course I cannot afford the original HK version, I wish I could....
Anyway, I have looked for information and I have seen offerings from TPM, Omega, Coharie, DakotaTactical (can't find one of those for sale). What is the best place to start?
The Coharie version I have found has the Coharie can, which seems to be very heavy and I am not 100% familiar with the quality. Nice price.
TPM has a nice version but it is 50% more expensive than the Coharie.
Omega looks nice, but I do not want to deal with having the upper engraved, I would rather it all ready be ready for my stamps. Again, nice price. Not sure about reliability.
Can someone sway me in the correct direction?
Thanks
Congratulations on your decision to start collecting roller locked guns. They can be very addicting. So we are clear, most all of these clones are sold a pistols. I'm guessing the "engraving" that you are referring to is to register the pistol as a Short Barreled Rifle via a Form 1. If so you are filing the Form 1. As the "maker" of the firearm your name (or that of the entity you create like a trust or corporation) city and state needs to be on the barrel or receiver of the firearm. BTW roller locked guns don't have "uppers" and "lowers". The proper terms are "barreled receiver" or "receiver", and "trigger groups". That is the nomenclature the original manufacturer (HK) came up with.
I am guessing you would like to have a stock to shoulder the firearm? If so that firearm must be registered as a SBR with the National Firearms Branch of the BATF&E. If you are not interested in engraving the barreled receiver with your information, then you can have a Special Operational Taxpayer (SOT) manufacturer file a Form 2 and they engrave their information on it. If you don't want any additional information on the barreled receiver then you could have the original manufacturer file the Form 2. That SBR like the SD can would need to be transferred to a NFA dealer in your state, then transferred to you. Coharie Arms is no longer in business so they can't file a Form 2. You could have TPM, Omega, or Dakota Tactical file a Form 2. You can check with Joe at DT about when the next run of SDs will be.
As far as the SD can, the Coharie Arms and early Omega use stainless steel internals and registered tube. TPM, Rim Country Machine, and newer Omega SD cans use aluminum. I know RCM uses anodized aluminum. I think TPM also anodizes their SD parts. I am not sure about Omega. RCM sells the parts but doesn't make the guns. But there are several builders here that will build the gun for you from a flat or receiver.
To me a SD is designed to work with a can or a dummy sleeve (a solid piece of aluminum in the shape of a SD can with a change of locking piece) so this is more of a NFA firearm. There has been extensive threads on the NFA forum with more detailed information of the SD platform there. I own a CA SD pistol and can. I also had Jeff make me two 9mm SDs (one with welded rails at 3 ,6, and 9 o'clock and one with the standard rubberized hand guard) using the RCM/US made front end using Special Weapons full size 9mm receivers. The RCM and the CA SD cans are of the same design. I had RCM "upgrade" my CA stainless steel can with their anodized aluminum internals and shaved off over one and a half pounds off the weight off the CA SD can. I'm sure using the search feature will get you additional information. Good luck with your SD project.
Scott
