After not shooting a single round of anything since January, I was at the point where I was thinking about dropping $500 for 1000 rounds of 9mm.
Then I saw a P5 on Armslist.
Negotiated a semi-decent price and picked it up. I've always wanted a P5 and I figure the price on these things is only gonna go up--ammo will come down. I mean, that's a solid justification for a flagrant impulse buy, right?
It's dated 1984 with a crossed-out "BMI" marking (which is the German Ministry of the Interior, I think). It's in good shape overall, though it does have the requisite "furrow" in the feed ramp finish.
I scrounged up 100 rounds of UMC and took it to the range today--along with its bitter rival, the Sig P6. Both guns competed against each other in the 1970s to earn German police contracts (along with the HK P7--which I'm confident I'll never own). So, of course, I figured it warranted a vague, unscientific, completely subjective comparison.
Here goes...
I put 80-some rounds through the P5. Love the way it shot. Once I got my grip and my rhythm dialed in, it was fairly easy to keep shots at the same POI at 10 yards--even when shooting fairly fast. I also ran a mag through it at 25 yards, and mostly kept them in the head (except two on the upper neck). That's honestly decent for me, at 25y. Especially with stock bar-dot sights. The only issue I had was one FTFeed when loading from slide lock; the round actually nosed-up going into the chamber. No stoppages while shooting or when slingshoting. So, the wear on the feed ramp didn't seem to affect function... I tend to think the slide lock issue was probably due to weak recoil springs; didn't seem to be getting a lot of "oomph" from slide lock. I Also used one of the ProMag mags that came with the gun... it worked fine. Locked back.
The P5's ergos suit me well. Perhaps better than the P6. The grip seemed to be a bit more hand-filling and the trigger reach was just right. The SA "wall" was easy find between shots and the gun responded well to a very firm, high grip. I felt completely in control of the pistol and it still felt accurate when I was shooting somewhat rapidly. Seems to have a bit less muzzle rise than the P6--but also a slightly sharper recoil impulse overall (the P5 is a bit lighter than the P6). The DA is okay. It's fairly heavy and it stacks... but... there's an overtravel stop. So the sights don't fishtail, even when you're mashing through the last bit of stacked trigger travel. I found it very useable and it shot to POA.
As for the P6... I've owned two, so I've shot them a fair amount. The one I've got now is a BKA-marked example, '82 dated--that's the Bundeskriminalamt, which is more or less the German equivalent of the FBI. Which is cool. I found the gun languishing in my LGS for $299 a few years back. It had some minor scuffs on the slide, but it literally didn't seem like it had been shot. It's still tight as a drum and there's hardly any wear on the rails.
Anyway...
I tend to think the P6 is just as accurate as the P5; I put the first few rounds through same damn hole. Though, for me, shots tend to slip low-left more easily. I think that has a lot to do with the thinness of the grip. I have Hogue G10s on this one (which I honestly don't love--too thin, no contour) but I replaced the mainspring housing with the new-style setup (HUGE improvement to the DA pull) so the stock grips don't fit. Had to be a little more conscious with my grip pressure... and everything, really... to get shots to stay exactly on my POA. But I can't say I shot it poorly. Especially after 5 months. It's a very nice shooting gun--especially now that the DA pull is actually manageable.
Overall, the P6 feels like a "tougher" piece of machinery. Maybe that's just because it's a little heavier and has a little less recoil. But the frame's finish, and overall construction, seems more robust. Plus, the Sig has a steel feed ramp. After 50,000 rounds... I'd put my money on the Sig. Not that I'll put half that through either of these. But, I feel like the P5 is a more intuitive shooter; like, "shootability" was more of a design consideration. The trigger reach is better. There's less muzzle rise. Less overtravel. It's a great shooting gun.
Anyway...
Just thought was kinda fun and interesting. I dig classic pistols and I know others here do too.