Heckler & Koch SL8
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Heckler & Koch SL8-1 | |
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 HK SL-8 |
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| Type | Semi-automatic rifle |
| Place of origin |  Germany |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Produced | 1998 - Present |
| Variants | SL8-1, SL9SD |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 8.60 pounds (3.9 kg) with magazine |
| Length | 38.58 in. (980mm) |
| Barrel length | 20.80 in. (528mm) |
| Height | 9.84 in. (250mm) with magazine |
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| Cartridge | .223 Remington, 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Action | Gas operated, short stroke piston, rotary locking bolt |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Feed system | 10-round single column, detachable polymer box magazine |
| Sights | adjustable Iron sights and detachable MIL-STD-1913 rail. G36 sighting systems optional. |
The Heckler & Koch SL8 is a sporting rifle manufactured by Heckler & Koch. It is the civilian version of the Heckler & Koch G36.
The rifle fires the .223 Remington or 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge and feeds from a 10 round, clear, detachable magazine (although non-U.S. versions can accommodate 30-round magazines from the G36, as seen in the picture at right). Unlike earlier types of HK rifles, it is not a roller lock bolt but rather a lug type rotating bolt system as seen on the AR-18. The SL8 was originally developed for the German Bundeswehr, to provide a weapon for training reservists similar to the G36 and able to be provided to reserve organizations not able to provide military grade armaments.
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[edit] Design
To adapt the SL8 for the civilian market, the pistol grip and folding stock of the G36 have been replaced by a fixed stock with a thumbhole, and the receiver has been modified to prevent attachment of the G36 folding stock. In addition, to comply with the 1968 Gun Control Act (as presently construed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms or BATF) SL8 rifles exported to the United States have been modified so that they will not accept staggered, high-capacity G36 magazines. U.S. SL8 rifles accept only a single-column, 10-round magazine. Other modifications have been made to the SL8 including a lightened trigger pull, adjustable cheekpiece and buttplate to customize the fit to the user, and a heavier, more accurate barrel. The SL8 does not come with the carry handle and built in optics of the G36, although these can be purchased aftermarket and fitted to the weapon.
Many parts from the G36 series can be fitted to the SL8, but the pistol grip and folding stock cannot be used without modification. At least one U.S. company [Black Market Parts] has manufactured a folding stock that will fit the SL8, and another U.S. company manufactures a specialized mounting block that allows the attachment of the original G36 folding stock.
Many American SL8 owners have modified their SL8's to accept high-capacity magazines and/or to resemble the G36 by incorporating a pistol grip and folding stock. American SL8's will not accept high-capacity magazines unless the single-lug SL8 bolt head is replaced with a double-lug G36 bolt head, the magazine well is replaced, and the receiver is modified to permit insertion of a wider magazine body. However, such modifications to SL8 rifles (or indeed to any imported rifles) have significant implications under the 1968 Gun Control Act, which prohibits (inter alia) the assembly from imported parts of rifles that could not themselves be imported. Persons contemplating such modifications should consult the Firearms Technology Branch of BATF, located in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Knight's Armament Company has a line of other parts available for the SL8.
At HK forum there is unconfirmed list of known modifications:
- SL8(no -#) Canada/Europe, gray, double stack mag, long sight rail w/iron sights.
- SL8-1 is US import, gray, single stack mag & receiver, long sight rail w/iron sights.
- SL8-4 is Canada/Europe, black, double stack mag, short sight rail.
- SL8-5 is Canada/Europe, black, double stack mag, long rail w/iron sights.
- SL8-6 is US import, black, single stack mag & receiver, short sight rail.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] SL9SD
There is a 7.62 mm version of the SL8 under development from H&K.
Type & Operation: Semi-automatic rifle, gas-operated bolt with rotary bolt head.
Calibre & Ammunition: 7.62x37mm (.300 Whisper - a subsonic round made by necking-up the .221 Remington Fireball case to .308" and using a 240gr Sierra MatchKing bullet.) The cartridge will fit and feed from all standard 5.56x45mm NATO magazines. The Whisper has effectively the same power and weight as a standard .45 ACP, but the lower calibre greatly increases armor penetration.
Capacity & Feed: 10, 30 rounds (box magazine)
Dimensions: 1150mm (O/A length), 270mm (height), 58mm (width)
Weights: 4.6kg (with suppressor)
[edit] HK R8
A modified version of the SL8, known as the R8, is manufactured with a straight-pull bolt action and uses either a 5 or 10 round magazine. These changes were made to allow the rifle to be marketed to sporting shooters in countries with tough gun control laws such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
It retains the general appearance of the SL8 though has a similar sight and carrying handle to the G36 rifle, and is available in black or grey.
In April 2008, the Victorian Government moved to ban the HK R8 in the state, claiming that the rifle may be easily convertible to semi- or fully-automatic. Heckler & Koch disputed this claim, stating that the rifle was built from the ground-up as a bolt-action firearm[1].
