Question on the HK 416

[Legbreaker]

Any chance we can get one of our gunsmiths to chime in on this. It's all well and good to hear what the user has to say about it, but often the user is really only able to relate the technical details they were taught rather than give a good, solid opinon of the mechanism based on actually working on them and dealing with the problems.

Personally I've used both the M16 and L1A1 SLR which is a gas piston type weapon. Based purely on being able to adequately clean the gas system, the L1A1 is head and shoulders above the M16. Never had any heat issues with either weapon, but then I haven't had to fire either on a sustained high rate of fire for any length of time.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

Any chance we can get one of our gunsmiths to chime in on this. It's all well and good to hear what the user has to say about it, but often the user is really only able to relate the technical details they were taught rather than give a good, solid opinon of the mechanism based on actually working on them and dealing with the problems.

Actually I am a Gunsmith. Graduated from Trinidad State. I just don't work as one.

Do you know what the difference is between a cheese pizza and a Gunsmith?

A cheese pizza can feed a family of four.

I have never worked on a piston driven AR. But the carbon has to go someplace. That is on the head of the piston and the gas block were gases are tapped from the barrel.

In this case I think you may see the problems a Garand or M-14 would have.

Good ammo and cleaning your not going to have any trouble.

Some copper solvent as you may find copper obstructing the gas ports (takes thousands or rounds) but, you need a bore scope to see it to to remove the gas block.

Copper on the piston head creating greater OD and drag.

One advantage is the weight of the piston rod operating in conjunction with the force of the propellant gasses versus just the propellant gases working on the BCG.

Two ends to the same means, you still have to clean them.

Actually I have seen more M4s and M16s when I was in from the methods meant to clean them.

Cleaning from the muzzle with the steel cleaning rods being one of the worst methods. Second being polishing off all the parkerizing off the internals.

[Brother in Arms]

I do work as a gunsmith and I am a graduate of the Colorado School of Trades. It pays my bills pretty well,perhaps my standard of living is lower than some. But then again I don't know how much one gets paid to suck the governments cock.

I have only worked on one 416 and it didn't seem to have any major problem with carbon buildup. But civillians rarely shoot there firearms as much as soldiers do can't say for sure if it would be an issue.

What I do know is that the most reliable firearms decade after decade are those that have pistons.

BIA

[Schone23666]

Thanks for the all comments guys, much appreciated. However, I was still wondering about the accuracy of the HK 416. How does it compare to the M4A1 and M16A4? Is the accuracy effected in any way by the design and placement of the piston rod system on the HK 416?

[ArmySGT.]

The Standard for most any Military is 4 MOA for a stock Standard issue Rifle.

[Legbreaker]

That's unacceptably inaccurate in my book. 2 MOA should be the absolute limit - at least then you have a chance of hitting a target at 250-300 metres reliably.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

That's unacceptably inaccurate in my book. 2 MOA should be the absolute limit - at least then you have a chance of hitting a target at 250-300 metres reliably.

It is the Machinegun and Artillery that is supposed to cause the casualties, the Infantryman with a rifle is supposed to protect them.

4 MOA is good enough for suppressive fires.