HK 416 PRODUCTION HALT add to the thread that was closed

[recon72]

the primary US Army unit that currently uses the HK416 has encountered the same problems that Colt M-4 has in both OEF and OIF. this problem has more to do with the manufacturing of the barrel and not the operating system itself. they have found hair line cracks in the barrel extension of the weapon. All of the hairline cracks were found during recent barrel inspections prior to deployment overseas on weapons that have fired well over 35000 rds a piece. some viewers of this thread will say that is impossible those barrels would have been replaced. barrels are not replaced until they no longer function accurately or no longer guage correctly. other wise the HK416 has performed perfectly.

[Greg Bell]

What unit was this?

[LCSO264]

I don't want any part of the mud slinging going on regarding this/these threads... That said, I really want more info regarding the bolt lug issue and the barrel fractures? I will likely never shoot my 416 (upper) hard enough to encounter these issues, but none the less I am want to know about them.

thanks

[Greg Bell]

35,000 rounds is a heck of a lot of rounds. Isn't that well past the normal life of the barrel?

[F22_RaptoR]

35,000 rounds is a heck of a lot of rounds. Isn't that well past the normal life of the barrel?

IIRC the service life of a 416 barrel was 15,000 rounds, but its been a while since I looked into it.

So if that is true information, that is over 2 times the service life of the barrel.

[RyuNoKai]

I thought 20,000 was the average for HK and it's barrels. Either hoo, 35,000 rounds is still exceptional, especially in a piston system. The lugs, and by that token, the barrel extension should be taking a beating. And it's easy to ruin a gun at the temps we get over here. 135 degrees + no wind = hell for a gun. Just a few shots, and the gun is technically overheating.


Recon 72 - I'm not sure how smart it is to post a thread like this. I've never posted in a thread that was closed on this forum before, so I've never had any experience myself. Hopefully, no one gets too pissed off. I'd like to know the unit as well, but secrecy is about not telling ;) Either hoo, welcome to the boards!

[ITD1944]

Recon 72, Do you know anything specific about the weapons seeing the problem, average fire cadence, % of rounds suppressed, etc?

[waRANGER]

My ARMY recruiter just got back from Iraq, he is a fellow Infantryman, and he says that individual DELTA team members were using the HK 416 as their primary weapon while out on patrol and while conducting raids, and seemed to love them when he asked about the rifle. I also know that the SEAL teams have had access to the HK 416 since it was demonstrated to DOD.

I have heard nothing but rave reviews about this weapon system only complaint is price accross the board. All my friends that have returned from either afghanistan or Iraq say they would gladly trade in their issue M4 for the 416 any day!

I love HK weapons but I cannot stand their lack of customer service my only complaint lol.

[ITD1944]

I love HK weapons but I cannot stand their lack of customer service my only complaint lol.

What type of issue did you have with your gun and how was it handled?

[KBAR04]

The 416 is pretty much a dead issue now that the SCAR has been adopted, at least for USSOCOM tasked and supplied units. Ive not heard any real complaints about the 416 in testing, it just wasnt what USSOCOM was looking for.