Last week I had opportunity to check out new version of HK416, called HK416A5. I have more detailed write on this on my blog, but wanted to share some pictures and info here as well.
HK claims that A5 is attempt to put some changes made for different projects (M27, Norway carbine, IC) and requirements form 416 users. Most prominent change is new, adjustable gas block. There is also new stock, pistol grip, safety (with ability to put on safe with dropped hammer), triggerguard, handguard cross bolt, castle nut, front sight base and well as new color scheme (for now pink version is not planned :jester: - I asked about it!). I was told that A5 is not last word and more upgrades are in work but due to ongoing patent process they did not want to show it prematurely.
Too bad we’ll never see them, over here. (Unless H&K wins the IC competition and beats out the improved M4. And possibly somebody other than H&K gets part of the contract.)
Why? Those will be avaliable for LE or military purchase in USA, same as current HK416. Hopefully upgrades will also make it into civilian version. Actually HK thinks that those are not neccesary for semi-automatic rifle, but I was trying to convince them that it does not matter and civi versions should follow closely it’s LE/mil older siblings.
Receiver extension nut (castle nut) - one of easily spotted additions is big castle nut. When HK developed G28 DMR rifle, they had problem with Bundeswehr drop test. G28 is very heavy rifle, with bull barrel and steel upper receiver and receiver extension interface with lower receiver was weak spot. Developing larger (longer) castle nut helped to reinforce this area, as new nut takes some stress of receiver extension. For sake of uniformity and to not make several kind of same part HK incorporated this solution to HK416A5 and to HK417A2.
BTW Colors look much better in real. I was struggling with white balance in my really old Sony camera.
Is the dust cover plastic? If it is there a reason they moving to this? As I understand they are on the MR556 but not the pre A5 416s. Trigger pins also look different, like they are mushroomed on the side photographed. Are they held in place by the trigger and hammer springs or some other way?
