The
HK416 Assault Rifle is similar in
appearance to the various SOPMOD variations of the M-16 and M-4. The
handguards have four MILSTD-1913 rails for accessories, and the top of
the receiver has another such rail for optics or other accessories.
Heckler & Koch’s first step was to dump the Stoner direct gas
operation system, which basically contributes to the fouling of the
rifle (it has been described as the system which “craps where it eats”).
It was replaced by a HK G36-style of operation, which uses a sort of
two-stage method of gas tapping known as “short recoil piston and
pushrod,” that prevents most of the carbon from being dumped in the
barrel, and which can be cleaned by the operator, unlike the M-16’s
system. This operating system also comes in a kit which can be used to
modify existing M-16s and M-4s. The locking system and bolt carrier
group have also been improved, as has been the recoil spring system, the
barrel attachment system, and the buffer group. The rifle is also
deliberately made heavy to further reduce barrel climb.Despite the suit by Colt, and despite its having been disqualified from
the SCAR competition, the HK-416 is being used by US and even some
British and Australian special operations units in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Most of these weapons were bought by the members of those units with
their own money, and they say they are worth every penny. Though Heckler
& Koch has been aggressively marketing the
HK416 Assault Rifle in the 5.56mm NATO chambering, they were also for a time quietly testing an
HK416 Assault Rifle
chambered for the 6.8mm SPC cartridge. Though their work with the 6.8mm
SPC-chambered HK416 has apparently put on hold (they are possibly
investigating different weapon designed to fire the 6.8mm SPC
cartridge), the rumor mill says that there is some interest in this
version of the
HK416 Assault Rifle from members of the special
operations communities of several countries, and especially of the US.
Figures are given below for this possible future version of the
HK416 Assault Rifle,
but they are provisional, educated guesses on my part, and should be
used only for the Twilight 2000 game and
The HK416 Assault Rifle is similar in
appearance to the various SOPMOD variations of the M-16 and M-4. The
handguards have four MILSTD-1913 rails for accessories, and the top of
the receiver has another such rail for optics or other accessories.
Heckler & Koch’s first step was to dump the Stoner direct gas
operation system, which basically contributes to the fouling of the
rifle (it has been described as the system which “craps where it eats”).
It was replaced by a HK G36-style of operation, which uses a sort of
two-stage method of gas tapping known as “short recoil piston and
pushrod,” that prevents most of the carbon from being dumped in the
barrel, and which can be cleaned by the operator, unlike the M-16’s
system. This operating system also comes in a kit which can be used to
modify existing M-16s and M-4s. The locking system and bolt carrier
group have also been improved, as has been the recoil spring system, the
barrel attachment system, and the buffer group. The rifle is also
deliberately made heavy to further reduce barrel climb.Despite the suit by Colt, and despite its having been disqualified from
the SCAR competition, the HK-416 is being used by US and even some
British and Australian special operations units in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Most of these weapons were bought by the members of those units with
their own money, and they say they are worth every penny. Though Heckler
& Koch has been aggressively marketing the HK416 Assault Rifle in the 5.56mm NATO chambering, they were also for a time quietly testing an HK416 Assault Rifle
chambered for the 6.8mm SPC cartridge. Though their work with the 6.8mm
SPC-chambered HK416 has apparently put on hold (they are possibly
investigating different weapon designed to fire the 6.8mm SPC
cartridge), the rumor mill says that there is some interest in this
version of the HK416 Assault Rifle from members of the special
operations communities of several countries, and especially of the US.
Figures are given below for this possible future version of the HK416 Assault Rifle,
but they are provisional, educated guesses on my part, and should be
used only for the Twilight 2000 game and 
