[Handgun] Zenith ZF5-K Essentials Package - $1000 + ship (No tax in NC, maybe some)

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IXVanity@reddit

I'll preface this with YMMV, you could get an absolute RUNNER.

Zenith has had huge QC issues in the last 2-3 years which has impacted their 9mm and the newer 556 variants. Two of my LGS have had ZF5s in stock that all have piss poor welds, receivers that look warped and blem-esque marks in the finish.

I'd recommend also watching some of the more recent videos to see what issues have plagued the most recent production (since I'm unsure of how long those ZF5s have been on the shelf) but Joel Park did a video talking about some similar experiences he had.

That said, I'd probably buy a Century/MAC5 at this price before this. $1000 for 1 mag, no trilug/threaded barrel and a $5 soft case?

I think gone are the days of these being a "Decent" turk import and now they're mostly floating the name.

Joel's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2EoImu5D9w

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J_Nelson_Machining@reddit

So “piss poor welds”, receivers that “looked warped” and “marks in the finish” as in the guns still work fine? Or they don’t function. Sometimes terrible bubble gum welds will hold up a tractor implement for 10 years before it breaks and those weigh 800 lbs. surly the welds on these guns will hold them together? I want a zenith but I’m just seeing a lot of bad stuff.

Problem is I feel like people expect to get museum art pieces that they can set up on a glass case an stare at. I just want want to throw in the jeep and in the tractor on the farm. Bottom line question is Do these guns work? I don’t care about blemishes and welds or rivets looking imperfect, it’s gonna get thrown in the truck bed with shovels and post hole diggers anyway

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IXVanity@reddit

As in your optics don’t face the same direction as your barrel. If you want one, buy one. Nobody said you can’t spend your money how you want. I especially wouldn’t be buying a K variant with no threaded barrel, no tri lug and no reasonable way to make it suppressor ready.

If you had bothered to watch the video I linked, or the 20 other recent videos about their guns, there are lots of issues that shouldn’t be getting past QC even from an assembly workers perspective. But, go to your nearest LGS that stocks Zenith (getting harder to find) and pick one up for yourself.

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J_Nelson_Machining@reddit

Yeah these things don’t even work it seems. Not at all interested anymore in any of these clones. I watched a ton of videos and they get send back 2-3 times and still don’t work when customer get it back. Il stick with a pump action shotgun

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2MGR@reddit

I think gone are the days of these being a "Decent" turk import and now they're mostly floating the name.

I believe these are now American made.

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

I'm not Zenith, just sharing. No threaded barrel/tri-lug sadly, but if you don't plan to suppress, it's a good deal on a Zenith product (you can get the Century AP5-M cheaper usually).

If you want to be super safe, you need:

AR-15 FCG MP5 lower - Polymer Pew or SkoPrints sell them. Lee Sporting is less recommended due to the FCG location.

AR-15 FCG + Super Safety - AS Designs, DeezNutzTactical, Grey Market Research, etc. sell SS.

MP5 SS Slip Trip - Polymer Pew, SkoPrints, and a few others sell them. DO NOT use the old V1 heavy metal trips, make sure it's a V2 or V3 trip if it's metal.

Modified ejector lever - My recommendation is to get the jig (or print it yourself) and cut the original one. Buying pre-modified ones is very overpriced for how simple the mod is.

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freeto_bandito@reddit

ELI5 what all this means? I keep seeing on this sub super safety this and super safety that. I’m intrigued. I recently bought a ap5p and just finished breaking it in. I’m still waiting on delivery of the AP5lt that was all over last week. I want to do some mods buy not sure about all this terminology. Any help would be appreciated.

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

YouTube has videos that explain more in-depth, but essentially a FRT that with the parts I mentioned can run in a MP5. Save yourself $45K on the Fleming sear.

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freeto_bandito@reddit

Just checked out skoprints lowers and they have options for addons. If I added all the options, what extra parts would I need? Also I checked out Hoffmanns YouTube and explained pretty well. But it seems terminology is all over the place. Thanks again.

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

The only part Sko doesn't have in the add-ons is the slip trip and the buffer (full size only, not the K).

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freeto_bandito@reddit

Buffer? I’m guessing you only need buffer on full size? I’m planning on working on my k.

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

Correct

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freeto_bandito@reddit

Thank you so much

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teflon16@reddit

Why are the Lee sporting ones bad? I’ve been eyeing one

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

They move the FCG 3mm and that makes it less friendly to the super safety. Plenty of people have success, but plenty of people don't.

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PartialFed@reddit

Thanks for this, I was also looking at Lee Sporting. Of the other 2, what’s your opinion on them?

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

I use both, they're both good. Polymer Pew isn't as behind on orders though, so that's my current choice.

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jfrye2390@reddit

idc about super safety i'd just like to run a G$ SSAE. Will it work for that

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

Yep, that works fine in any of the lowers.

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nope_noway_@reddit

Mine were a nightmare. I highly suggest to wait 2 months or so for the Leber V2 lower to release

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lilcoold12345@reddit

I've been wanting to get an SP5 just to throw a super safety in there but just a little worried about some dick head cop causing me problems. Is this even something to worry about or yall think I'm just being dramatic?

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

I mean, it's certainly possible. I haven't experienced anything like that and had a variety of cops buy super safeties, lol. I would just educate yourself on how to explain the basic function so that they understand there is one round fired per action of the trigger, regardless of fire rate.

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BENboBEN@reddit

Curious. Why should we not use the old style trips?

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Winnah9000@reddit (OP)

The V1 trips were not designed to be made in metal so when they are they're far too heavy and will snap the SS lever.

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AC130aboveGetDown@reddit

The real ~~deal~~ advice is in the comments

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Fun_Refrigerator_442@reddit

I wish we could own stuff like this in NJ

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NFA_Cessna_LS3@reddit

Mac is associated with century right?

Zenith was made in turkey and now made in the us and it's closer to ptr than it is to Mac right?

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yourmommaisaho@reddit

ATI/Zenith - first importers of MKE MP5 firearms Century -current importer of MKE SDS - importer of MAC branded Mertsav MSG-9 made in Turkey Zenith and PTR - US produced MP5 clones

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NFA_Cessna_LS3@reddit

Zenith and PTR are using the old HK milling right, I know at least PTR is.

Are Zeniths out of the box as reliable at PTRs or is Zenith closer to Century?

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yourmommaisaho@reddit

PTRs were reverse engineered from what I remember. That is why a lot of parts have to be fitted or are PTR specific. They seem to be a solid company with decent product but they are their own gig. No licensing from HK.

Zenith were given(or stole, I forget the details) the TDPs from someone at MKE on a few firearms and ended up completely copying everything. It's all new production and to HK original specs, but they are still learning how to produce these items that other companies have perfected over the last 40 years or so.

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NFA_Cessna_LS3@reddit

ahhh so its a trade off between the possible ptr fitment issues vs the standardization of zenith but growing pains

Unless I somehow come up with HK cash its between Zenith and PTR

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sputsputputput@reddit

A friend of mine got a Zenith last year and had tons of issues with feeding. He ended up selling it.

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ReclaimUr4skin@reddit

If I was told correctly, Zenith’s state side tooling is new production

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Subverto_@reddit

Imagine buying an MP5 clone and not suppressing it.

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PhotoQuig@reddit

Cant you just get it threaded?

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Dmte@reddit

The short answer is: absolutely not lol.

There's no barrel extending beyond the front sight post to thread, you can't thread inside it cause the barrel is inside the post. And MP5's, and really lots of guns out there, are not like AR's, you can't just go ahead and replace a barrel. MP5 barrels are pressed in, replacing it is a bunch of work, and I believe Zenith might be welding the trunion to the receiver so you'd be even further up shit's creek.

Zenith does sell the threaded barrel by itself for about $250. But with labor, frustration, and all the other things that come with this... just buy a threaded one if you want one.

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PhotoQuig@reddit

Damn. Thanks for the info though.

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IXVanity@reddit

You'd have to buy a replacement barrel. There is not enough barrel to be threaded. At that point you're better off spending money on a threaded/trilug ready model

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Knee_High_Cat_Beef@reddit

This is good for a matrix MP5

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mmiski@reddit

K Essentials Package

If this doesn't also come with a Potassium tablet I'll be disappointed.

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