These are pictures of the „new“ service rifle of the German army, the HK416A8.
A short thread on the gun, and how it is a good(and bad) procurement.
#miltwitter
Starting from the muzzle, the first positive item:
the muzzle device is the (formerly) optional one, that was made specifically for QD mounting Surpressors built for NATO flash hiders. The grooves aid mounting and prevent carbon seize up, an excellent choice.
Next up, we can see that the barrels have a bajonet lug.
Not really useful for bajonet mounting, but still useful for other accessories.
Next up is the adjustable gas block, very good choice, but sadly covered by a horrible choice: a HKKey Handguard.
This is a proprietary locking mechanism, that should have been done in MLOK. There is NO HKKey ecosystem, so all you get is adding picatinny bits.
Horrible .
On the side of the handguard, we see another terrible idea of a procurement project. Why have this horrible HKKey Slingmount. No QD anywhere, mlok would allow for direct slinging.
Very bad choice, unnecessary weight.
The only good things on the bastard Handguard: a very crisp flip up BUIS, and a QD Lock for the Handguard. OTOH you never need to clean under the Handguard or short stroke piston, I believe QD will last longer than a bolt, as recruits would kill the threads. Probably wise.
Upper: very good BUIS, no problems here.
Lower:
416 have a “modern” pistol grip that is very steep. This very old school, high angle grip is proof of “traditional” thinking with the evaluation team.
It is painful to see such an outdated grip angle on a modern gun.
The “winter” trigger guard is great, it was wise not to remove it. The 45 degree safety is also good.
Now to the shoulder side of the gun: it’s horrible, the old adjustable stock is too heavy and “wrong”.
Whoever evaluated the gun did not know that you shoot the AR NOtCH.
As I have ~ 20 k rounds through my gun (semi ver of a5) in the past years, I hope this context helps. Will add@more info later, if you have questions, just ask.
I can also disassemble and post pics.
Some more points:
The Isoceles based "Kontaktstellung" is taught, and this is where a steep grip is far superior. Yet they procure a very old school grip angle.
Understanding that they do not get this, is just "wow".
See picture from
augengeradeaus.net/2018/02/schies…
This picture from HK itself shows the far steeper Grip on the "non Bundeswehr" gun, a far superior design.
Hint for the individual Soldier: it is a simple swap, the more modern "V7" Grip is only ~45 EUR.
Also visible on the gun above is the "Slimline Buttstock", it is far nicer to use than the bulky one with the "adjustable cheek".
The adjustable cheek is another "odd" choice, as AR-15 allow for a perfect cheek weld close to the system, which makes for a very stable platform.
The last of the "three items", after Stock and Grip, to make the gun significantly better, would be swapping the Handguard for a Geissele.
Super light weight, very very comfy to hold, and with a QD tab and "Rails where you need them", MLOK on the rest.
geissele.com/hk416-super-mo…
Thats all, hope it can be some inspiration for my Dscherman "soon to be 416 users" aka @Ausb_Eins @EinstEinAdler @einsteinradler @JPW_FIDES @gepardtatze @Grnfink2 @HalibutAngry
Probably also interesting for @TheAKGuy @firearmblog @HecklerAndKoch @HKshooting :o
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