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Escort MP5A5 'Do It Yourself' Kit


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Haven't seen a photo-based review/guide/how-to on this gun, so I figured I'd put one together. If you spot any factual or technical errors, please email me at dmlincoln@@@gmail...com (one @, one .) and I'll correct them.

 

Those of you who know me can attest to the fact that I'm a sucker for blowback gas long guns. Last year I owned a Sun Projects M16A1 Carbine into which I poured a great big chunk of time (both mine and Mike's), stomach acid and money. I never did get it to shoot like I thought it was capable and I finally sold it to another Classic gun enthusiast over at Alameda Airsoft.

 

I had kept track of the Escort MP5 release that SniperX and Escort had been promoting, but I wasn't a big fan of MP5s and was never really tempted to spend 600+ on a submachine gun platform that I really didn't care for. For those of you not familiar with the Escort MP5, the short story is that Escort purchased the old inventory of a company called Youth Engineering, a now-defunct japanese company that built the original iteration of this MP5. This gun used proprietary 'classic' type magazines and a gas blowback action engineered (I believe) by Escort/Tawada.

 

In any event, Escort converted the inventory they acquired to accept AEG magazines, added their own adjustable hop/barrel/hop rubber system and made some other design changes and relaunched the gun a year or so ago as the Escort MP5.

 

The default configuration is an A5 variant with a sliding stock which is built, tuned and shipped out for 636.00 USD. SD front ends and fixed stocks can be had at increased cost and/or with a donor gun in the case of an SD front end.

 

In April of 2007, SniperX began advertising the 'DIY' Escort MP5 kit. For 390 shipped, you got a box of parts to assemble into an Escort MP5. Escort saves money on labor and tuning the guns prior to shipment and the savvy user gets a pretty damned good deal. I ran into some issues with the build and am very satisfied with the tech support that SniperX provided via AIM and email (he's in Japan, so catching him while we're both awake on AIM is a bit of a trick, but nothing impossible).

 

I received the box from Japan after about a week without incident. Here's a photo of the contents of the carton:

 

mini-IMG_1717.jpg

 

The major/tricky components (lower receiver/trigger box and the bolt/bolt carrier assembly, pictured below) of the gun are pre-assembled. The only bit that was confusing to me was the magazine latch assembly. SniperX walked me through it and that was that.

 

Bolt and Bolt Carrier Assembly:

mini-IMG_1726.jpg

 

Trigger Group/Trigger Mechanism:

mini-IMG_1729.jpg

 

There are zero step by step instructions that tell you how to put the thing together. If you know what the finished product looks like, however, it's pretty straightforward. If you expect the sliding stock to be mounted into the magwell and the flash hider to stick out of the ejection port, this isn't the project for you.

 

After examining all of the parts, I jumped right in and mounted the barrel block/trunion/chamber. This is a T shaped brass fitting with large threads at the muzzle end, the BB feed tube at the bottom and two large orings at the opposite end of the fitting from the large threads. The bolt reciprocates over the butt end of the trunion, the air nozzle strips a bb from the magazine and loud GBB death results. Sorry, no photo of the trunion as I don't fancy tearing the gun down that far...maybe another day.

 

Once you get the trunion in place (it's aligned properly when it bottoms out against the front wall of the receiver and the feed tube is aligned vertically), tighten the hex head set screw located at approximately 2 o'clock on the receiver. Then, install the brass nut over the large threads and tighten the nut down snugly.

 

Installing the inner barrel and hop up rubber is straightforward as well and, unlike a Marui, can be done without taking every friggin nut and screw out of the front end. Slide the inner barrel/hop rubber into the trunion and gently press it into place. Take a look through the butt end of the trunion to align the hop rubber nub and then thread the outer barrel into the trunion. A 'C' clip mounted on the inner barrel gets pressed rearward against the lip of the outer barrel as you snug it up into the trunion. Make sure that the inner barrel hasn't been twisted off center as you tightened the outer barrel.

 

One of the critical parts of the build is adjusting the stamped aluminum receiver to house the bolt and bolt carrier without rubbing/binding. The one-page technical information sheet included with the kit warns the user to fit the receiver with the bolt installed. Basically, the bolt moves back and forth under recoil. If you do not take the proper measures to fit the bolt to the receiver, the bolt will beat the snot out of your receiver and will likely crack it in certain areas.

 

Minor bending and filing on the bolt carrier were required on my kit to ensure smooth cycling. From what I have read, each build will be slightly different due to individual receivers being slightly different. Also, SniperX told me to adjust the angle of the spring guide rod. The airshaft and the spring guide rod were misaligned and were creating more binding issues. Also, the spring guide rod is supposed to be loose. Do not tighten it. Here's a photo of the Airswitch/Airswitch Mounting Bracket and spring guide rod/recoil spring:

 

mini-IMG_1728.jpg

 

To fit my bolt/receiver, I installed the barrel block/chamber, slid the bolt down the back of the receiver into its position, stuck a flashlight into the magwell and moved the bolt rearward slowly to see where the binding was taking place. If I saw/heard/felt contact, I would CAREFULLY bend the receiver apart a bit by hand until the parts moved freely. In the photo below, you can see the bolt and carrier inside the receiver. The red hue is from the camera/flash so that I could get it to focus on the bolt.

 

The bends took just a minute to accomplish. Basically you open up the inside of the receiver so that the bolt can move freely, then adjust the angle of the two tangs at the bottom rear of the receiver back to vertical so that the trigger group and airswitch/spring guide mount smoothly.

 

mini-IMG_1723.jpg

 

 

Receiver, Airswitch/Airswitch mounting bracket, Trigger Group fit together like so:

mini-IMG_1731.jpg

 

Side view of the same process. Note that the brass pin seen below the rear sight holds the airswitch in place. Have fun getting the spring guide rod in there against the BEEFY recoil spring, heh:

 

mini-IMG_1730.jpg

 

After the initial fitting and build, you'll need to cycle the gun many times to get the various parts to work in. I use 10 weight Silicone Shock Oil available at RC car shops for lube. Apply lubricant on the airshaft, the feed nozzle, both parts of the bolt/carrier, the entire silver portion of the bolt carrier and on the large orings at the rear of the trunion.

 

Mine did not cycle smoothly until I addressed some of the minor fitment issues (recoil spring guide rod, bolt carrier rubbing on left side of receiver). Until these things were addressed, the gun either would not cycle smoothly or it would not trip the semi auto bar and would fire only in full auto.

 

As for range testing and so forth, that'll have to wait for a bit. During the initial testing, I managed to kill my hop up rubber with a chopped BB. Soon after I learned that the airshaft collar had slipped out of its slot and was causing this problem. I will need to wait for the replacement hop rubbers to show up from SniperX to report on range potential. As of right now however, with a damaged hop rubber (it has a chunk torn out right at 12 o'clock), it still gives about 50-70 feet or range and feeds perfectly in both semi and full auto. Once I have a replacement hop rubber in there that'll actually...you know...apply HOP UP, I expect the range to increase substantially. I'll update with chrono information and effective ranges if there is any interest.

 

So, was it worth it? Sure it was, to me. I like tinkering and fiddling with projects, though. If you want something unusual, fun to use and very effective for CQB/night games, you won't be disappointed. The report alone will take players out of their usual state of mind during play.

 

You WILL have to tinker with this gun to get it going - it's not just a 'slap it together in an hour and head out to the field' proposition. Here's mine finished up:

 

mini-IMG_1732.jpg

 

mini-IMG_1734.jpg

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Great Review,

 

I too bought one of these kits a few months ago, and just want to repeat almost everything that was said. It's a great gun but does require some tuning to get right. I had some minor issues too and found SniperX very quick to deal with my problems.

 

Mine is without the A-Spec spring, and chrono's at 320fps at 120psi. Range on mine is on par with 1 Joule AEG's, accuracy is not quite as good as a sorted AEG, but that's due to the blow back and ROF is appox 900 (guess), which feels about right to me, I think that the A-Spec spring increases your ROF as well and FPS.

 

Now I rarely use any other gun, the Escort MP5 has changed the way that I Airsoft and I am very happy with my purchase. The only downside is the external tank, which you get use to very quickly and can be well hidden in a water carrier, or backpack.

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The tank can even be hidden in a magazine pouch if it comes down to that. The 74 gram Sun Project bulbs are 40 mm by 140 mm, and the regulator doesn't extend it too much. One of these bulbs shoots easily over 1000 rounds, possibly closest to 1500 or even over that mark.

 

Basically you can use the smallest CO2 tank you can find, and still use it for a good days worth of gaming.

 

-Sale

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TBh - the only things that keep me from getting one is the fact that it requires tinkering - but doesn't take many aftermarket parts, and it requires an external gas rig - which requires more cash for an air rig.

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LOL,

 

In my case tinkering took about 30 minutes, once SniperX had told me where I had made a silly mistake. I didn't need to do any of the bending on the body like the review above, I did require alot of force to get the sliding stock to work correctly. As for aftermarket parts I think it'll take just about anything, with a few mods.

 

The gas tank and reg you just have to accept, yes I know it's a pain and cost a bit of money but I think that if you are interested in these guns it's well worth it.

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AEG front end furniture fits with minor - and I do mean MINOR - dremelling/filing. I had my dremel on for about 30 seconds total to sand down two tabs found at the rear of the G&P flashlight foregrip.

 

Real steel stocks can also be made to fit with some modification. How much exactly I'm about to find out - I've got an A2 stock on its way.

 

As for the rest of the aftermarket parts, what else would you be interested in? A tightbore? Doable with a lathe/mill, but not necessary according to many reports. The Guarder low mount will fit the upper receiver without modification if you're into mounting optics on an SMG.

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DarkLite is right. Any HPA/CO2 stuff here is rare as rocking horse poo. The only tanks you see are for the RAP system, and no-one knows where to fill them.

 

On a positive note, I did manage to buy some Sun Project CO2 bulbs from DEN for testing.

 

-Sale

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47 CI is about 0.77 liters, right? I get so many shots out of a 1 litre tank filled to 3000 PSI that I can't even count them. It's in the ball park of 2500-3500 rounds easily, could be more. The Escort system is phenomenally economical when it comes to gas usage. I'll have to get a smaller tank.

 

-Sale

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It took around 3500 shots to empty my 20 oz co2 tank. For those wondering about how much gas it takes. I dont have any experience with hpa, but my understanding is that it isnt as super efficient as its hyped too be.

 

These guns are a blast. The first time you wonder out to a game when you get one, and dont warn anyone, all your team mates turn around and look at you when you first start shooting it. The sound of it is amazing and sounds nothing like a sewing machine. And the blow back is amazing.

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Received mine from Zero One in the UK last Friday. Seems to be the last one as it's not advertised in their site anymore.

 

For UK users : after some research, it's a real pain to find a place to refill CO2 bottles, so I'm gonna go for HPA. There's a guy who sells aluminium 48cu bottles at 3000psi for £40 + £6 shipping.

My regulator is still on the post from Palmers Pursuit in the US, so I still can't use the MP5, which is a bit of a pain...

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