The HK416 Enhanced Carbine

[Pier Carlo]

Is it back to the drawing board for the M468 and XM-8? Heckler & Koch's newest creation -- the HK416 -- is a worthy opponent, and a serious contender to be the next generation of assault carbines


"With many of our M16/M4 rifles reaching the end of their service lives, we have to find an affordable, acceptable solution, now. Utilizing this inspiration, Heckler & Koch (HK) has been working on an enhanced carbine that would outperform all current competition grade 5.56mm carbines in effort to provide superior performance after the incredibly successful mid-life upgrades to the British SA80 (L85/L86) Weapons System. And now, HK has stepped up to the plate with their newest enhanced carbine -- the HK416......After evaluations by both German and U.S. forces, it has been determined that the HK416 is definitely a contender to become the next generation of assault carbines. There are reports that a number of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are already using HK416 carbines. Initial reports from the field show the HK416 performs superbly. The HK416 made its first appearance at the Armed Forces Journal's 2005 Shootout at Blackwater (http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/blackwater/?s=2005_comments#416)" by Michael Merrill

http://www.military.com (http://www.military.com/)

[Cpl K]

http://www.hkdefense.us/pages/military-le/mil-leimages/416newsm.jpg


http://www.hkdefense.us/pages/military-le/mil-leimages/416postersm.jpg

Only For Military and Federal LE purchase only

THE HK416 SYSTEM

Inspired by the resounding success of the mid-life improvement program of the British SA80 (L85/L86) Weapons System, Heckler & Koch began a development program to create the HK416 Enhanced Carbine. Working with current users from around the globe, HK set out to produce an Enhanced Carbine that would outperform competing 5.56mm carbines and provide the high degree of performance required by the user community, particularly those within the special operations arena who demand more and expect no compromise when lives are at stake.

High-speed video assessment and extensive live-fire testing in extreme operational environments such as the U.S. Army Desert Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona revealed multiple areas for improvement of the 5.56 mm carbine. Improvements were made to the internal operating system and miscellaneous component parts to improve reliability in best and worse case scenarios, with all types of ammunition, with all barrel lengths and with and without sound suppressors attached.

An innovative free-floating 4-quadrant rail system designed by HK allows all current standard accessories and sights to be fitted to the HK416 and can be removed without tools. The HK-proprietary gas system does not introduce propellant gases and the associated carbon fouling back into the weapon’s interior. This reduces operator cleaning time, increases the reliability of the weapon and extends the interval between stoppages.

To improve reliability, service life, and operator safety during obstructed bore occurrences or after extreme extended firing sessions, HK has produced its famous cold hammer forged barrel for the HK416 in various lengths to include 10, 14.5, 16.5, and 20 inches.

The highest quality steel is used in this unique manufacturing process producing a barrel that provides superior accuracy for greater than 20,000 rounds with minimal degradation of accuracy and muzzle velocity.
In addition to the improvements in the baseline weapon, HK has produced a high reliability magazine and a proprietary buffer to improve functional reliability.

An add-on single shot 40 x 46mm AG416 enhanced grenade launcher module can be quickly attached to the rail system of all models without tools.
Heckler & Koch has applied its proven and fielded Safety Blank Firing Attachment and Live Round Excluder Magazine technology to the HK416 Carbine, eliminating the possibility of live rounds being loaded into and fired through a standard issue weapon outfitted for blank firing only.

A “drop-in” HK416 upper receiver module and a complete carbine are both
being offered with deliveries beginning in February 2005. The full potential of the 5.56mm carbine has now been realized with the introduction of the HK416.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unique Features:

• Short-stroke piston gas system--
--Improved reliability
--100% function
--No fouling directed into weapon
--Less cleaning
--User removable/exchangeable components
--Insensitive to barrel length or ammunition changes

• Improved buffer system

• Improved steel magazine:
--Improved feeding reliability, durability, service life

• Refined barrel/bolt locking recesses/lugs:
--Improved function

• Improved extractor and spring, buffer:
--Improved function

• Enhanced AG-C add-on 40mm grenade launcher
• HK cold-hammer forged barrel
--Extended service life
--Improved accuracy and user safety

• HK free-floating modular rail system

Additional ongoing work:

• Improved surface finish, ambidextrous controls
• Safety Blank Firing Adapter and live round excluder magazine
• Integrated reflex sight with nested IR laser aimer and illuminator

[BobW]

Bonjour Pier and Kieron,

There was a lot of material on the new H&K carbine - except what I was looking for; the cost. The Armed Forces Journal mentions "affordable" but is H&K putting out any pricing for large purchases?

The BIG thing now is the small budgets for the military. For any increase somewhere, there is a decrease somewhere else. This includes medical care for the wounded. Thus, my interest in the cost of the carbine.

Personally, small arms are going the way of horses - leaving the scene. Older versions of rifles and pistols can meet basic requirements. The pending battlefield will be empty of combatants. Any life present on the new battlefield will be destroyed. Witness the effective use of depleted uranium ammo and the armed UAVs. Soon lasers will enter the arsenals.

It's a whole new forward edge of the battle area ("FEBA").

Saluations,
BobW

[Cpl K]

Not going to be cheap !

http://www.energyradio.fm/gallery/uploads/0/HK.jpg

Looks Ok though.

With many of our M16/M4 rifles reaching the end of their service lives, we have to find an affordable, acceptable solution, now. Utilizing this inspiration, Heckler & Koch (HK) has been working on an enhanced carbine that would outperform all current competition grade 5.56mm carbines in effort to provide superior performance after the incredibly successful mid-life upgrades to the British SA80 (L85/L86) Weapons System. And now, HK has stepped up to the plate with their newest enhanced carbine -- the HK416.

The HK416 operates on a short-stroke piston gas system that does not introduce propellant gases back into the weapon's interior, therefore reducing carbon fouling and cleaning time. This gas system is not sensitive to barrel length or ammunition changes, and has user-removable components. The HK416 also has a free-floating fore end with an innovative 4-quadrant rail system designed by HK. This enables all current accessories to be fitted to the weapon. The fore end can be removed and reinstalled without tools, and with no loss in zero. This weapon utilizes one of HK's famous cold hammer-forged barrels, which provides a substantial increase in reliability, service life, and operator safety. These barrels are forged with the highest quality steel in a unique manufacturing process. This produces a product that provides superior accuracy for greater than 20,000 rounds with minimal degradation of accuracy and muzzle velocity.

HK has produced a new high-reliability steel magazine, which is designed to fit any of the STANAG-compatible rifles. Originally developed for the British L85 and L86 weapons, the performance of this curved, 30-round magazine was tested by select U.S., UK, and German forces in three different environments during the firing of more than half a million rounds. These tests showed a 30 to 50 percent improvement over the existing aluminum and polymer magazines currently in the U.S. inventory.

After evaluations by both German and U.S. forces, it has been determined that the HK416 is definitely a contender to become the next generation of assault carbines. There are reports that a number of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are already using HK416 carbines. Initial reports from the field show the HK416 performs superbly.

The HK416 made its first appearance at the Armed Forces Journal's 2005 Shootout at Blackwater. Evaluators were nearly unanimous in their praise for HK's newest creation. One evaluator had this to say -- “I was amazed at the cleanliness of the bolt and chamber. It's a solid, reliable platform -- a combination of tried-and-true technology with new innovations … keeps the gun cooler, reducing prospects of an inadvertent full auto. And the new MP5 sights are adjustable for range -- a long-overdue improvement.”

It was also noted by another evaluator that after one and a half cases of ammo, there was very little heat transfer to the bolt and the bolt face was still clean. Yet another evaluator commented, "An absolute joy to shoot. More reliable, accurate, clean, cool -- what is there not to like? This upper and this magazine should be the replacement for the M-16/M-4 right now. The steel magazine, closed gas system, and short-stroke piston solve many of the current problems with the M-16/M-4 series, and represent a more effective, better and much less expensive solution to our weapons needs than the XM-8 ... At a time when many of our rifles and carbines have reached the end of their service lives, replacing the uppers and magazines with H&K's M416 components would seem to be a very logical move."

One evaluator paid the HK416 the ultimate compliment -- "Fantastic. If I could take any weapon out of here today to combat, it would be this one."

[Cpl K]

Just had a look down in my basement no HK416 left.

If I can interest you in a can of Fanta (Not selling it to Flash)

have a bus load of them that were confiscated in the Legion

http://www.stick2itgrafix.com/images/fanta-d-out.JPG

[flash010]

Just had a look down in my basement no HK416 left.

If I can interest you in a can of Fanta (Not selling it to Flash)

have a bus load of them that were confiscated in the Legion

http://www.stick2itgrafix.com/images/fanta-d-out.JPG
can i lick the paint man
:cool:

[michigan]

Sorry Bro. I'm more of a Cola fan myself.:D

Just had a look down in my basement no HK416 left.

If I can interest you in a can of Fanta (Not selling it to Flash)

have a bus load of them that were confiscated in the Legion

http://www.stick2itgrafix.com/images/fanta-d-out.JPG

[samrocks]

the main problem i'm seeing here is people still want to use 5.56 vs 7.62 :P.......

http://www.waffenhq.de/infanterie/g3.html <----should be the future of assault rifles.

[MOONPLAYER]

I preefer the 5.56.....its more lethal
and you carry more ammo on you

[pegasus]

I preefer the 5.56.....its more lethal
and you carry more ammo on you

Yer but you must admit yer can't beat 7.62 for stopping power and longer range.

[joette]

Just had a look down in my basement no HK416 left.

If I can interest you in a can of Fanta (Not selling it to Flash)

have a bus load of them that were confiscated in the Legion

http://www.stick2itgrafix.com/images/fanta-d-out.JPG
hahaha ..K you have such a humor!!! Good one tho!!:D