Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/901315
German procurement agency Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) announced at the 19th April 2017 the procurement program for System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr or SSB in short. During Enforce Tac in March 2017, HK433 was presented to the general public, but in well locked and secured glass showcase. By the end of July at the Güstrow Special Forces Workshops few chosen had opportu- nity to put hands on new assault rifle from Oberndorf. Heckler & Koch HK433 combines solutions known from both G36 and HK416. The HK433 is gas oper- ated firearms with proprietary short-stroke gas pis- ton system, that transfers the energy to bolt carrier group. From the very beginning weapon was designed as fully modular and ambidextrous. The primary version is chambered for 5.56 NATO rounds. HK433 even that its design looks very similar to „classy" AR-15 – it has no buffer tube with buffer and recoil spring inside, that allows the engineers to use right- side folding adjustable stock. This assault rifle will be available in two colors: black and olive-tan RAL8000. On top of the aluminum receiver there is full-lenght NATO Accessory Rail (STANAG 4694) for mounting different types electro-optics. Short NAR rail is locat- ed on the bottom of Slim Line hand guard and on the 3 and 9 o'clock position there are Hkey mounting slots similar to Keymod. HK433 lower receiver can be configured in two differ- ent styles: G36 or HK416. Piece that was presented in Güstrow was built in G36 design. For the German user that configuration makes training process eas- ier, because all manipulators are placed exactly like in the standard issue G36 assault rifle. Safety and fire selector lever are doubled (safe, single fire, con- tinuous fire), and magazine release lever was placed under the trigger guard what makes it possible to operate it with both hands. Innovation is placement of bolt release lever from back position when it locks there after last shot – it is placed above magazine release lever, obviously on both sides of receiver. You can use index finger to operate it. Charging handle is placed in the slit on the left side of the rifle and it's similar to previous designs from HK such as G3 or MP-5 and it is non-reciprocating. There is simple and quick way to change it to the oth- er side and it does not require any tools. HK433 is fed from standard 30 round steel STANAG magazines. . Total weight depending on configura- tion; vary from 3.25 kilograms (11" barrel) to 3.65 ki- lograms (20" barrel). HK433 showed at Güstrow has 14, 5 inch barrel and ELCAN Specter DR 1-4x sight Shooting was conducted to steel targets on the dis- tance from 20 to 40 meters, also with bursts and full-auto fire. Ammunition that was used was with soft slug. All shooters praise ergonomics of the weapon and worth of the trigger with resistance force of 24N. Representatives of Heckler & Koch informed that works on future improvements for HK433 constructions are still ongoing. www.fragoutmag.com