Talk:Heckler & Koch HK53

Untitled
Some small errors:

"Although Heckler und Koch states that the Heckler und Koch 53 (short: HK 53) should be considered an assault rifle because it fires the 5.56mm NATO round, many consider it to be a submachine gun because of its small size - virtually identical to the MP5 submachine gun"

-Although would suggest that H&K are wrong to call it an assault rifle, and that it isnt considered as such. While admittedly compact, it fits the same category as AK47SU, M4, the SCAR-L etc and I have never heard it authoritavely labelled a SMG.
 * I'm a little confused about that. It's the HK53, which according to HK's old numbering system means a submachine gun in 5.56x45mm. But then, maybe they called it that simply because there already was an HK33K weapon. ~BobBQ

If you actually look at the MP5's overall length(660mm), you will see quite a lot of "normal" assault rifles that are withing 10% of that.

"The two weapons' dimensions are so similiar, in fact, that many parts are interchangeable between them." -The 53 has a shorter barrel, but is approx 20% longer then the MP5A3. Also, the dimensions have no impact on whether or not specific parts would be interchangeable(although it would help to know which) The MP5A3 only whens 120g lighter then the HK53, the loaded weight, and weight of extra ammunition increase this quite significantly.

"The gun is useful because it combines the power of an assault rifle, including the ability to penetrate body armor, with the handling characteristics of a submachine gun." Last part is ambiguous. Handling characteristics could be it's short size(i.e. for urban combat & indoors use), it's characteristics while firing(which are significantly different from the MP5, firing a much heavier cartridge while having a short barrel)

Comments? Bastion

Change 'handling characteristics' to 'ergonomics'? That clears it up a little. Geoff B 02:21, 30 October 2005 (UTC)

It's ambiguous. The gun is not a rifle or assault rifle design, but it doesn't fire pistol caliber ammunition. Maybe an assault carbine? --Philip Laurence (talk) 14:03, 22 November 2007 (UTC)