The HK416 is an assault rifle from the German firm Heckler &Koch, an improved version of the M4 carbine.
Origin of the name
Originally it was to be named HKM4, but it was changed due to legal action by Colt's Manufacturing Company, which claimed to hold the commercial rights to the M4, and an amicable settlement was reached. agreed. However, Colt subsequently lost in a lawsuit brought by Bushmaster on the same grounds; M4 has been recognized as a generic term by the American justice system.
The term HK416 is derived from Heckler &Koch USA's internal referencing system.
Features
The HK416's gas-operated piston system is similar to that already fitted to the HK G36 rifles and replaces the direct gas-operated system used by the M4 and M16. This system was taken from Eugene Stoner's AR-18 and "improved". It is produced with French steel from the Aubert et Duval company designed on the Les Ancizes-Comps1 site.
The HK416 is only available to government agencies and military organizations. It can be purchased as a complete gun or as a kit including the upper receiver for converting a Colt M4/M16 family gun. It is not intended for sale to civilians so far, this role being devolved to the recent MR223 which is closely derived from it.
Notable features (differences from the M4 carbine)
Short recoil gas system piston:
No direct gas return into the receiver;
The receiver and the cylinder head do not heat up no;
Less cleaning required (no powder combustion residue, no clogging due to combustion gases);
Improved damping system;
Improved steel magazine:
Improved feed, reliability, life and service;
Barrel, breech, breech lock and stroke corrected;
Corrected shock absorber, extractor and spring:
Cold forged HK barrel;
HK floating modular rail system with attachment fast;
Safety blank firing cap and specific magazine.
Evolution
The HK 417 is a model based on the HK416 but designed to use 7.62 x 51 mm NATO caliber ammunition. Equipped with a 20-round capacity polymer magazine, it is otherwise similar in appearance and handling.
The MR223 (called MR556 in the North American market) is the civilian version of the HK416. It is equipped with a 16.5 inch barrel and only works in semi-automatic mode. The displacement of the rear receiver locking axis prevents the replacement of the lower receiver with a model capable of firing in bursts.
Users
Albania :The HK416 is used in Albania by special forces.
Germany :The HK416 is used by the GSG9 and KSK special units.
Canada :The GTI (Tactical Intervention Group) of the city of Longueuil, the GTI of the city of Laval as well as the GTI of the Sûreté du Québec, of the city of Quebec (Quebec) use the HK416. It would seem that the HK 416s of the GTI (Quebec) are equipped with two sights:a red dot for short-range engagements and an ACOG sight for longer-range engagements. A Surefire lamp is attached to the right side rail.
United States :The weapon has already been tested by the American armed forces who were planning to make it their new assault rifle as a replacement for the XM8 project. It is also tested or in use in some police units. Several US Army Special Forces units use the HK416. The Delta Force has used the HK416 exclusively since 2006 as a replacement for the Colt M4s. Its reliability was the main reason for the switch to the HK416 for US Special Forces. Only certain elite units have been authorized to use HK416s despite the fact that the American army is under contract with Colt. It is also widely used within the DEVGRU in particular with a 25 cm barrel and an EOTech red dot sight coupled with 3x magnification, as well as a 35 cm long barrel with a silencer and a night sight 2, 5x10. The HK416 has however been present since 2011 within the USMC under the name M27 IAR, in the role of support rifle replacing certain M249 SAW.
France :The HK416 is currently the regulation rifle in a majority of the units of the special forces. It has become regulatory in the BFST, in the CPAs, at the GIGN, as well as in the marine commandos. It will equip the 3 armies (Air, Land, Navy) from 2017, and this gradually over a period of 15 years, replacing the FAMAS. The order is for 102,000 weapons.
Indonesia :Detasemen Jala Mengkara (Denjaka) is equipped with the HK416.
Norway :On April 11, 2007, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense signed a contract for an initial order of 8,200 rifles to become the new regulation rifle of the armed forces. The HK416 will replace the AG-3 which has been in use since 1967. The new rifle has been slightly modified with a different stock and grip. This contract also includes the purchase of 6,500 MP7 submachine guns. The delivery started in March 2008 and the rifles are distributed to the first soldiers at the end of 20088 up to 40,000 rifles.
Netherlands :The Dutch special forces Korps Commandotroepen selected the HK416 after several tests of different assault rifles to replace their Diemaco C8 carbine. The weapon was seen in several photos during the recruitment day. The HK416 has been the unit's standard assault rifle since 2008.
Poland :Polish Armed Forces, Wojska Specjalne (special forces), GROM, JW Komandosów, JW Agat. The D10RS, D14.5RS, D16.5RS &AG-C/EGLM grenade launcher variants.
Turkey :The Turkish Armed Forces are planning to adopt a version of the HK416 produced in cooperation with Heckler &Koch, called Mehmetçik-1. The Turkish arms factory MKEK produced just over 9,000 Mehmetçik-1 for tests and evaluations which, in the end, proved to be below the needs of the Turkish army. The Turkish army planned to replace all of its Heckler &Koch G3 rifles with the Mehmetçik-1 in 2012. Production was expected to be approximately 500,000 rifles. Subsequently MKEK developed an assault rifle inspired by the HK417, the MPT-76.
On order
Flag of France France:September 23, 2016, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announces that the HK 416 F will replace the FAMAS within the French armed forces9,10,5, at a rate of 101,000 units deliverable from of 201711 over a period of 14 years, within the framework of the program on the future individual weapon (AIF). The total production of up to 120,000 weapons.
Presentation
Country Germany
Type Assault Rifle
Ammunition 5.56×45mm NATO
Manufacturer Heckler &Koch
Period of use 2005-present
Service life 2005-present
Weights and dimensions
Mass (unloaded) 3.02 kg (D10RS) 3.490 kg (D14.5RS) 3.560 kg (D16.5RS)
3.855 kg (D20RS)
Length(s) Stock unfolded:781 mm (D10RS) 881 mm (D14.5RS) 933 mm (D16.5RS)
1,017 mm (D20RS)
Barrel length 264 mm (D10RS) 368mm (D14.5RS) 419mm (D16.5RS) 505mm (D20RS)
Technical characteristics
Mode of action Reloading by borrowing gas with short recoil of the piston, rotating bolt head, Rotary bolt
Practical range 300 m
Rate of fire 700-900 BPM (HK416) 850 BPM (HK416A5)
Muzzle Velocity 788 m/s (D10RS) 882 m/s (D14.5RS) 890 m/s (D16.5RS) 917 m/s (D20RS)
Capacity 20 or 30 cartridges
Variants D10RS D14.5RS D16.5RS D20RS HK416C MR223 HK417