If you have an MP5 (or an American-made MP5 lookalike like a ZF-5), and the gun goes “click” when you pull the trigger, it might not be firing because you need a new MP5 firing pin.
So let’s talk about how to get to the bottom of this.
First, Clean the Gun
The biggest culprit here is probably an accumulation of fouling.
Open the action and clear the weapon. Inspect the chamber and bolt face.
If there is an accumulation of fouling on the bolt face, especially inside the bolt where the firing pin rests, well, it just might be preventing proper contact with the primer.
So clean your MP5 and try again.
If it still clicks, you need to go deeper.
Make Sure It’s Not the Springs
If the gun “clicks” then there shouldn’t be an outright failure of any internal component. It should be operating as it’s intended.
But the most likely culprit is a spring somewhere, not the MP5 firing pin itself.
Unload and clear the MP5 and remove the bolt carrier group.
Disassemble the bolt carrier group and place all of the dissected components in a magnetic tray.
(If you have a ZF-5, consult this ZF-5 manual from Zenith Firearms for more information on disassembly.)
Inspect the springs that actuate the firing pin. If any of them is fatigued, that’s your culprit.
If you can rule out a spring, then it’s time you take a closer look at the MP5 firing pin itself.
Problems with Firing Pins
While 99% of the time, the gun isn’t firing because it’s dirty or because there’s a fatigued spring somewhere, it is possible the firing pin needs to be replaced.
If the firing pin is the problem, it may be due to faulty metallurgy. A firing pin that is too hard is liable to crack when fired.
It could also just be metal fatigue. After several thousand (or tens of thousands of) rounds, a firing pin can fail.
So inspect it for cracks. Also, if the point of the pin is mushroomed (peened) it won’t ignite the primer either.
In either of these cases, it will need to be replaced.
Zenith Firearms MP5 Firing Pin: Why It’s Better
If you do determine that the firing pin is the issue, what you need is an MP5 firing pin that’s built for the long haul.
That’s Zenith Firearms’ MP5 firing pin, about which you can learn more at the previous link.
Their MP5 firing pin is made in the USA, constructed of premium steel, and finished with an FNC (ferritic nitrocarburization) treatment.
This treatment is a form of nitriding that causes the surface of the steel to react with nitrogen and carbon, leaving an extremely hard, scratch-resistant finish. It’s highly resistant to fouling, too.
And, the best part is this MP5 firing pin is compatible not only with their ZF-5, but also with the MP5, SP5, HK94, MP5K, SP5K, and other roller-delayed blowback platforms.
In short, it’s the replacement you need.
And, while it may be a very specific, niche repair, if you don’t have a firing pin that fires, you can’t shoot – so if you think that’s the problem, check out ZenithFirearms.com above today.
