SB Tactical SBT5 MP5 Pistol Brace Review
When I purchased my Zenith Firearms Z-5RS around two months ago, I was ecstatic. After years of thinking I’d never own an MP5 variant, I managed to secure a fantastic deal on one. The only problem was that thanks to U.S. import restrictions and the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA), my poor MP5 arrived sans stock, lest it be considered a short-barreled rifle (SBR). While I was well aware of the laws going into the purchase, I wasn’t quite sure how useful the now-pistol MP5 would be. In past experience (with my Zastava M92), I found that removing the stock from a firearm that otherwise is meant to have one can severely limit its utility. At the same time, the MP5 uses 9mm pistol rounds, not 7.62x39mm rifle cartridges, so maybe it would be a different story. As it turned out, the Z-5RS was more useful than the M92, but certainly less functional than one with a full set of furniture.
Fortunately, the folks at SB Tactical recently released the folding SBT5 arm brace for MP5 pistols. Made to resemble a stock, the SBT5 looks the part, but is made largely of flexible rubber and is intended to be strapped to a shooter’s dominant arm for added support. Curious to see how well the whole thing worked, I reached out to the folks at SB Tactical. They were kind enough to offer me a solid discount and with that in tow, I grabbed an SBT5 as soon as I could.
Aesthetically, these braces have come a long way. When the original SB15 came out, I remember thinking, “hmm… that’s interesting, and ugly.” The SBT5 is, at least visually, a totally different beast. Designed in partnership with Swiss gun and accessory maker Brügger & Thomet, the SBT5 is made to look like a typical MP5 side-folding stock, and that it does. Both companies did a fantastic job of keeping the brace functional while also improving upon its looks.
Installing the Brace
Installing the SBT5 took some force. There’s no question that a tight fit is a good thing and as a result, the brace doesn’t wobble at all. Moreover, the end cap that it replaced on my Z-5RS also fits snugly. Fitment will vary from gun to gun, so take this data point for what it’s worth.
Build Quality
The construction of the piece can be broadly described in two major parts. The part that attaches to the MP5 is mostly hard polymer, including the hinge and button. Then, the boot of the brace is stiff rubber. I was frankly surprised by the rigidity of the rubber. While the brace is totally usable as intended, it also provides solid cheek weld and acceptable stability if shouldered on an “incidental, sporadic, or situational” basis (the ATF’s words, not mine). In all seriousness, while a small amount of wobble can be felt at the hinge and where the rubber parts meet the polymer pieces, the brace offers better than adequate support for really any reasonable use case.
When I first mounted the brace to my Z-5RS, I was surprised to find that the locking mechanism of the SBT5 is almost entirely polymer. I expected steel or at least aluminum for the latch and button, but both are polymer, as is the hinge. In testing, I found that a firm enough smack to the left side of the brace may cause it to unlock and partially fold. This is probably due to flexing in the polymer. I don’t necessarily feel like the brace will break, but it’s worth noting that most of the unit is either plastic or rubber.
At the Range
I don’t have a whole lot of experience with pistol braces, so I was quite surprised to find that the SBT5 works very well, even when deployed as intended. It’s easy enough to wrap the Velcro-lined strap and split portion of the brace’s boot to your dominant arm. With the strap tightened down, the gun isn’t going anywhere. It’s very secure and the brace does work to make the pistol feel lighter as it distributes much of the firearm’s weight to your forearm. It also reduces the already-minimal muzzle flip present with the MP5. Aiming while using the brace this way can be just a little awkward as there isn’t really a natural way to aim down sights that are perfectly aligned with your arm. As a result, you must either tilt the pistol (not ideal) or use more of a modified Weaver stance in lieu of now-common isosceles. It isn’t a huge change, but it does take some adjustment if you’re used to a more squared stance. Alternatively, I think having a red dot would make a world of difference here to bring the sights more naturally in line with the shooter’s eyes.
Pressing the button on the left side of the brace unlocks the unit to fold to the right of the gun. When folded, it doesn’t lock into place and stays put only due to friction at the hinge. Surprisingly, the brace stays in place quite well when folded, but it is clear that this position is merely intended for travel or transport. It won’t cause any problems when shooting, but moving around, it tends to swing open on occasion. Let’s be honest, though. How many people actually plan to keep the SBT5 folded while shooting?
The SBT5 is a fantastic brace. It doesn’t quite satiate my desire to turn my Z-5RS into an SBR, but it does make the gun far more useful prior to submitting my NFA paperwork and receiving approval. If you’re the type of person who would prefer to avoid dealing with the ATF, the SBT5 gives you 90% of the SBR experience at a fraction of the total cost and with zero wait. Indeed, even at the full MSRP of $250, the SBT5 is still cheaper than the cost of a tax stamp and a stock. Moreover, it’s remarkably stable and rugged enough for most reasonable uses. It also looks like a proper B&T stock and folds for convenience. All in all, there’s a lot to like about the SBT5 and I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to squeeze the most out of an MP5 pistol.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.