Frag Out! Magazine

The recent version of the Heckler & Koch HK416 shows several marked enhancements, compared to the previous generations. The least important of these is the one, that leaps out at you at the first sight – the Teutonic Black Rifle gone Flat Dark Earth, into what Germans call the RAL-8000 in their own version of the FS shades. Initially at least, this color is Nur für Amerika, though – the European deal- ers would have to contend with selling them in all colors available to the buyers of the Ford Model T, which means black only. The HK416A5 is available with four barrel lengths: 11" (actually 279 mm), 14,5" (368 mm), 16,5" (419 mm) and 20" (actually 505 mm). The first meaningful enhancement is the new sliding stock, which is again smaller and has a new rubber shoe – of now uniform thickness, and thinner than previously. The buffer tube has been rede- signed to strengthen the tube-receiver interface. The HK416A5 has also got a new pistol grip (a new standard one for all HK's ARs – the 416A5, 417A2 and G28 DMR), with a folding, bicycle multi tool- styled keys and wrench kit stored inside. The most important of these is the Allen wrench needed to take down and re-install the handguard. The trigger guard is also new – it was enlarged and arched downwards to make more room for heavy duty gloves. The cocking handle is also redesigned, more ergonomic. For the left-handed and all those tactical situation, when rifle has to be fired from left shoulder, the most important feature of the HK416A5 is that it is made totally ambidextrous. All controls are dou- bled. The magazine release is ambidextrous, as is the bolt release. The right side bolt release handle is much improved over the previous iteration, and is within an easy reach of the firing hand. The left side bolt release is also altered, but operates in the familiar fashion. At the same time the protective fences guarding the controls against unintentional operation have been enhanced as well. All those who suffered from previous 416s being in- compatible with P-MAGs, can breathe a sigh of relief now – the magazine well has been redesigned and all generations of P-MAG would operate in the new 416, just as MAGPUL introduced a new 416-com- patible 4 Gen magazine... Anyway, HK says the new mag well can take „most" AR-15 magazines (all conforming the milspec, or NATO-STANAG-DRAFT 4179), and no longer guarantees operation ONLY with HK-manufactured magazines. ON THE OUTSIDE...

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