Heckler & Koch HK417
Heckler & Koch HK417 | |
---|---|
Heckler & Koch HK-417 12" "Assaulter" model on display | |
Type | Battle rifle |
Place of origin | Germany |
Service history | |
In service | 2005 - Present |
Used by | See Users |
Wars |
Iraq War War in Afghanistan 2013 Lahad Datu standoff |
Production history | |
Designer | Heckler & Koch |
Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
Variants |
Assaulter (12" barrel – standard) Recce (16" barrel – standard and accurized) Sniper (20" barrel – accurized) G28 (16.5" barrel) MR308 (16.5" barrel) HK417 A2 - 13" (13" barrel) HK417 A2 - 16.5" (16.5" barrel) HK417 A2 - 20" (20" barrel) |
Specifications | |
Weight |
Assaulter: 3.870 kg (8.53 lb) Recce: 4.050 kg (8.93 lb) Sniper: 4.230 kg (9.33 lb) G28 E2 (Standard): 5.800 kg (12.79 lb) G28 E3 (Patrol): 5.150 kg (11.35 lb) HK417 A2 - 13": 4.220 kg (9.30 lb) HK417 A2 - 16.5": 4.400 kg (9.70 lb) HK417 A2 - 20": 4.740 kg (10.45 lb) |
Length |
Assaulter: 885 mm (34.8 in) stock extended / 805 mm (31.7 in) stock collapsed Recce: 985 mm (38.8 in) stock extended / 905 mm (35.6 in) stock collapsed Sniper: 1,085 mm (42.7 in) stock extended / 1,005 mm (39.6 in) stock collapsed G28: 1,082 mm (42.6 in) stock extended / 965 mm (38.0 in) stock collapsed HK417 A2 - 13": 904 mm (35.6 in) stock extended / 824 mm (32.4 in) stock collapsed HK417 A2 - 16.5": 994 mm (39.1 in) stock extended / 914 mm (36.0 in) stock collapsed HK417 A2 - 20": 1,082 mm (42.6 in) stock extended / 1,002 mm (39.4 in) stock collapsed |
Barrel length |
Assaulter: 305 mm (12.0 in) Recce: 406 mm (16.0 in) Sniper: 508 mm (20.0 in) G28: 419 mm (16.5 in) HK417 A2 - 13": 330 mm (13.0 in) HK417 A2 - 16.5": 419 mm (16.5 in) HK417 A2 - 20": 508 mm (20.0 in) |
Width | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Height |
HK417: 213 mm (8.4 in) G28 E2 (Standard): 340 mm (13.4 in) G28 E3 (Patrol): 280 mm (11.0 in) |
| |
Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
Action | Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | 600 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity |
709 m/s (12 in) 742 m/s (13 in) 750 m/s (16 in) 775 m/s (16.5 in) 789 m/s (20 in) 817 m/s (20 in) HK417 A2 - 20" |
Feed system |
10 or 20 round detachable box magazine Optional 50 round drum magazine |
Sights |
accessory diopter/rotary or optics G28 E2 (Standard): Schmidt & Bender PMII 3-20x50 G28 E3 (Patrol): Schmidt & Bender PMII 1-8x24 |
The Heckler & Koch HK417 is a battle rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch in Germany. It is a gas-operated, selective fire rifle with a rotating bolt and is essentially an enlarged HK416 assault rifle. Chambered for the full power 7.62x51mm NATO round, instead of a less powerful intermediate cartridge, the HK417 is intended for use as a designated marksman rifle, and in other roles where the greater penetrative power and range of the 7.62x51mm NATO round are required. It has been adopted for service by a number of armed forces, special forces, and police organizations.
Design Details
The HK417 is similar in internal design to the HK416, but the receiver and working parts are enlarged to suit the larger 7.62x51mm NATO 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 that of the G36. The short-stroke piston is 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 as well as heating it up; such carbon fouling leads to more 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 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.
Role
Purchasers of the HK417 have typically intended it to complement lighter assault rifles chambered for less powerful intermediate cartridges (often 5.56x45mm NATO), for the designated marksman's role. The HK417's greater accuracy, effective range, and penetration offset its greater expense, its lower rate of fire, and its smaller ammunition capacity both in magazine and carriage.[2]
The HK417 is available only to such government agencies as law enforcement, security forces, and the military.
Variants
Military and law enforcement
The HK417 models chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO available to the military and law enforcement market are:
- HK417 12" 'Assaulter': carbine rifle with 304.8 mm (12 in) standard barrel
- HK417 16" 'Recce' or 'Recon': rifle with 406.4 mm (16 in) standard and accurized barrels
- HK417 20" 'Sniper': full size rifle with 508.0 mm (20 in) accurized barrel
As of 2013, the HK417 A2 models chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO available to the military and law enforcement market are:
- HK417 A2 - 13": carbine rifle with 330.2 mm (13 in) barrel
- HK417 A2 - 16.5": rifle with 419.1 mm (16.5 in) barrel
- HK417 A2 - 20": full size rifle with 508.0 mm (20 in) barrel
Accurized barrels provide 1 MOA accuracy (with match grade ammunition). A barrel can be changed in under two minutes with simple tools. All HK417 barrels are cold hammer forged and chrome-lined and use 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 hider, muzzle compensator, and sound suppressor attachment.[3][2]
The HK417 A2 is the improved version. The design of the receiver, barrel interface, gas port and the bore axis alignment of the rifle have been further optimised to increase its accuracy and reliability.[4][2]
Small caliber
- HK416: smaller caliber variant chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO
Related developments
Civilian
Civilian variants of the HK416 and HK417 introduced in 2007 were known as MR223 and MR308.[5] Both are semi-automatic rifles with several "sporterized" features. At the 2009 SHOT Show, the two firearms were introduced to the American civilian market renamed respectively MR556 and MR762.[6] Since then both were replaced by the improved MR556A1 and MR762A1.[7][8]
G28
The civilian MR308 was used to develop the G28, a designated marksman rifle for the German Bundeswehr (Federal Army) deployment to the Afghanistan war. The semi-automatic G28 designated marksman rifle is chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO and has a factory warranted accuracy of 45 mm dispersion at 100 meters (1.5 MOA) when fired with 10 rounds using OTM/HPBT/Sierra Match King ammunition. The G28 features STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rails that are backwards-compatible with the STANAG 2324 or MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rails. The upper receiver is made from steel instead of HK's aluminium alloy. Approximately 75% of the parts are interchangeable with the HK417. There are two different versions of the G28: G28 E2 (Standard) with Schmidt & Bender PMII 3-20x50 and the G28 E3 (Patrol) with Schmidt & Bender PMII 1-8x24.[9]
Users
Country | Organization name | Model | Quantity | Date | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Special Operations Battalion (Albania) | - | - | [10][2] | |
Australia | Australian Army (acquired the 16-inch variant paired with 6x ACOG for an interim marksman solution for use in Afghanistan, with permanent fielding expected in future) | - | - | 2010 | [11][12][2] |
Brazil | Brazilian Federal Police | - | - | 2012 | [13] |
Denmark | Danish Army uses it as a marksman rifle. | 20" Sniper | - | - | [14] |
France | Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (COS) | - | - | - | [15] |
Germany | German Army uses the G28, a modified version of the Heckler & Koch MR308, as a designated marksman rifle. | - | - | - | [16][2] |
Ireland | Defence Forces Army Ranger Wing sniper teams | - | - | 2010 | [17][2] |
Japan | Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | - | - | 2014 | [18] |
Malaysia | Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) sniper teams of the Royal Malaysian Navy | - | - | - | [19][2] |
Netherlands | Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) of the Royal Netherlands Army (acquired the 16-inch variant paired with Schmidt & Bender 3-12×50 or Aimpoint CompM2) | - | - | 2011 | [20][21][2] |
Norway | Norwegian Armed Forces uses it as a marksman rifle | - | - | - | [22][23][2] |
Poland | Policja | - | - | - | [24][2] |
Sweden | Särskilda operationsgruppen | - | - | - | |
United Kingdom | Special Air Service sniper teams of the British Army | - | - | - | [25][2] |
Turkey | Gendarmerie Special Operations Command | HK417 G28 | - | ||
See also
References
- ↑ "Newer carbines outperform M4 in dust test". Army Times. 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 "Heckler & Koch HK 417 Battle Rifle / Sniper Rifle (2006)". Military Factory. June 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
- ↑ "2008 Heckler & Koch Military and LE brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ↑ "HK417 A2 - Effective and versatile". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ↑ Approving the MR223 and MR308 for civilian sale inside Germany Retrieved 2014-09-03
- ↑ HK MR-556 and MR-762 rifles for the American market
- ↑ New HK Products for 2012 Retrieved 2014-09-03
- ↑ HK-USA Rifles Retrieved 2014-09-03
- ↑ "G28 – A DMR-System – far more than just another rifle with a scope". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ↑ Special Operations Battalion (Albania)
- ↑ "Contract Notice View – CN352591". AusTender. Australian Government. December 14, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ↑ Juchniewicz, Nathan (July 21, 2011). "New weapon to go the distance". Army News (Australia). Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ↑ "DefesaNet - Armas - PF - 200 novos fuzis de assalto HK 417 são distribuídos.". DefesaNet. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ↑ "Geværer" (in Danish). Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ↑ "HK 417- fusil d'assaut de la firme Heckler & Koch" (in French). French Land Army official website. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
- ↑ "G28 Marksman rifle Heckler & Koch". armyrecognition.com. September 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
- ↑ Tactical Weapons, May 2010 Issue. Guns of the Elite: Multi-Mission Warriors, page 92.
- ↑ http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/gmcc/hoto/hkou/14hk093.pdf
- ↑ Abas, Marhalim (2010-04-23). "DSA 2010 Part III". Malaysian Defence. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
- ↑ "SF Operator is a special profession" (in Dutch). Dutch Defence Press. June 6, 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ↑ "KCT sniper teams are using the Heckler & Koch 417" (in Dutch). Dutch Defence Press. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
- ↑ Offisersbladet nr. 3, May 2007: Heckler & Koch 416: Vårt nye håndvåpen
- ↑ Kapten Trond Setså. "Sniper Course". Defense Net (in Norwegian). Norwegian Defense. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ↑ "Police Headquarters Official Gazette No. 13" (PDF) (in Polish). September 25, 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ↑ Harding, Thomas (June 26, 2009). "SAS parachuted in to Baghdad". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HK 417. |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HK MR308. |
- Heckler & Koch page
- Heckler & Koch HK417 A2 page
- Heckler & Koch HK417 assault rifle at the Modern Firearms & Ammunition site
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