Century Arms AP53 5.56 NATO Pistol with Magpul Brace, 2x 30rd Mags

Description

For decades, getting your hands on an HK53 meant deep pockets and a lot of patience. The Century Arms AP53 changes that. Built by MKE, the Turkish manufacturer that has been producing licensed HK-pattern firearms since the 1980s, this 5.56 NATO pistol is a faithful take on the compact roller-delayed classic the British SAS made famous. The stamped steel receiver, Navy-style polymer trigger housing, and four-prong flash hider all stay true to the original, and the whole platform has been tested to NATO environmental standards for salt, humidity, temperature extremes, sand, and dust.

What Makes the AP53 Worth a Hard Look

The heart of this gun is its roller-delayed blowback action, the same operating system that made the MP5 a legend, here running full-power 5.56×45 through an 8.3 inch cold hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel with a 1:7 twist. The muzzle is threaded 1/2×28 under the flash hider, so suppressor and muzzle device swaps are simple. Century also included both a paddle magazine release and the push-button release, a genuinely useful upgrade over older roller-lock imports where reloads were a chore. The selector is ambidextrous, sights are the classic hooded front post and drum-style adjustable rear, and the receiver has proper recoil lugs for claw-style optic mounts, with a 1913 Picatinny claw mount included.

Range Time with the Century AP53

This version ships with a Magpul brace mounted on an AR-style buffer tube at the rear, which makes the compact package a lot more manageable. Recoil is surprisingly soft for a short-barreled 5.56, with that distinctive two-stage roller-lock impulse HK fans know and love. The handguard is MP5-compatible, so popular MP5 forend accessories bolt right on, opening up a big aftermarket for lights and grips. Feeding comes from HK33-pattern magazines, and two 30-rounders are in the box along with a sling, cleaning kit, and hard case. If you have been waiting for an affordable way into the roller-delayed world with rifle-caliber punch, this is one of the best tickets going.