| Heckler & Koch HK417 | |
|---|---|
HK417, 20" and 16" barrel versions, 2008 Shot Show |
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| Type | Battle rifle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Heckler & Koch |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Variants | Assaulter (12" barrel - standard) Recce (16" barrel - standard and accurized) Sniper (20" barrel - accurized) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.87 kg [8.5 lbs] (12 inch barrel), 4.05 kg [8.9 lbs] (16 inch barrel), 4.23kg [9.3lbs] (20 inch barrel) |
| Length | 805 / 885 mm (12" barrel, stock collapsed/extended), 905 / 985 mm (16" barrel, stock collapsed/extended), 1005 / 1085 mm (20" barrel, stock collapsed/extended) |
| Barrel length | 305 mm (12 in) standard 406 mm (16 in) standard 406 mm (16 in) accurized 508 mm (20 in) accurized |
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| Cartridge | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 709 m/s (12 in) 750 m/s (16 in) 789 m/s (20 in) |
| Feed system | 10 or 20 round detachable box magazine
Optional 50 round drum magazine |
| Sights | accessory diopter/rotary or optics |
The HK417 is a battle rifle designed and manufactured in Germany by Heckler & Koch. It is a gas-operated, selective fire rifle with a rotating bolt and is essentially an enlarged HK416. Chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round, it is intended for use as a designated marksman rifle, and in other roles where the greater penetrative power and range of the 7.62mm round are required. It has been adopted for service by a number of armed forces, special forces, and police organizations.
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The HK417 is similar in internal design to the HK416, but the receiver and working parts are enlarged to suit the larger 7.62mm round. The bolt is a 7-lug rotating type, which sits in a bolt carrier and operates in a forged alloy receiver resembling those of the Stoner-designed AR-10, AR-15 and M16 series weapons. Like the HK416, the HK417 is a gas-operated, with a short-stroke piston design similar to those found in the HK416, G36 and ArmaLite AR-18. The short-stroke piston is claimed to be more reliable than the original direct impingement operation of the AR-10 and AR-15 designs because, unlike these weapons, it does not vent propellant gases directly into the receiver, which deposits carbon fouling onto the bolt mechanism and is thought to induce malfunctions.[1]
The early prototype HK417 used 20-round magazines from the H&K G3 rifle family, which did not feature a bolt hold-open device. Later prototypes, however, switched to a polymer magazine with bolt hold-open. The magazine resembles an enlarged version of the G36 series transparent magazine, except without the pins for holding more than one magazine together. In addition, a well proven 50-round, low profile drum magazine developed by HK for the HK21E machine gun can be fitted to the HK417 for use in support and sustained fire applications.
The HK417 is designed more for use as a "designated marksman" rifle than an assault rifle, with its increased cost, accuracy, penetrative power and effective range weighed against decreased rate of fire and magazine capacity (although fully automatic fire is selectable).
The HK417 is currently only available to government and military organizations.
The HK417 is currently available with three different barrel lengths (all in 7.62x51mm NATO):
Accurized barrels provide 1 MOA accuracy (with match grade ammunition). The barrels are able to be changed in under two minutes with simple tools. All HK417 barrels are cold hammer forged and chrome-lined and utilize a conventional lands and grooves bore profile with a 279.4 mm (1 in 11 in) twist rate. They are designed to function reliably with bullet weights ranging from less than 9.3 to 11.34 g (147 to 175 grains) and are threaded for flash hiders, muzzle compensators, and for sound suppressor attachment.[2]
The HK416 is a smaller version of the HK417 chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO round. The HK416 is designed for military and law enforcement use. Civilian variants of the HK416 and HK417 were announced in 2007, named MR223 and MR308.[3] Both are semi-automatic rifles with several 'sporterized' features. At the 2009 SHOT Show, these two firearms were introduced to the American civilian market renamed respectively MR556 and MR762.[4]
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