Originally posted by Nilsen
Anyone know anything about this weapon?
Was announced today that this is going to be our standard assault rifle, but i have never seen or held one.
Um? Who's getting the H&K 416 as a "standard assault rifle", and WHERE did you hear this?
The H&K 416 has made the news cycles in Army Times and other places recently. SOG have been using them for a while in OIF and OEF, among other operations, but SOG get to try out and purchase pretty much whatever equipment they want to use, and many pick H&K and FN Herstal products.
The H&K 416 is similar to the Colt M4 carbine and M2 Rifle, but the biggest difference is it use a gas pistol recoil, rather than straight gas recoil. Does not foul the weapon with carbon anywhere as bad as the Colt. Does not subject the bolt to the wear and temperatures that the Colt does. Tends to be more reliable and lasts longer. H&K fit and finish tends to be among the best in the arms industry as well.
As the U.S. Army and DoD are looking for a quantum leap in small arms improvements, rather than incremental, I'd be very surprised if they were switching over. I'd expect Colt to lobby to get their specs changed to be closer to the H&K design if it came to that (Colt doesn't get final say in Colt design FWIU...... Pentagon does) in order to keep their contract.
They run about $1,400 for one off purchases, but H&K can sell them in bulk for a bit over $800 each.
H&K 416 Link
