Originally Posted by
Geezer
I’ll disagree with you on the MP5. It’s a really good SMG, especially in the CQB/HR role that became the SMG’s niche after the introduction of assault rifles. Like all HKs of its variety, it has some issues, but it gets the job done.
(As you mentioned 10mm, the short-lived MP5/10 was particularly impressive when I shot it.)
I will completely agree with you on the Sterling “Small Metal Gun”. Slightly over-engineered (stock, mag follower), but an absolutely excellent SMG for the WW2/pre-assault rifle Cold War era. Up there with the Uzi (which, like you, I think is overrated), the Beretta M12, the Swedish M45, the PPS43, and the much-overlooked Star Z62 and successors.
Thing is, once you have assault rifles and take the SMG out of the infantry section, the requirements for SMGs change. You end up, depending on role/requirement, with a combination of some or all of short assault rifles (very good for overt CP duties), accurate SMGs for CT/HR, and compact to small SMGs for non-infantry personal defence, and covert stuff, some of which are actually replacements for pistols rather than for long guns (eg PM63, Skorpions).
I also completely agree with you on the HR air rifle, as you may have gathered. My only nuance was that while they clearly didn’t listen to real enthusiasts (all HW/FWB users at the time), the wider market might actually have thought that a combination of fixed barrel, British-made, new, etc sounded just right - you know, the kind of people who bought Airsporters.