Are SL8s worth it if not interested in converting?

3877 Views 25 Replies 13 Participants Last post by HighCaliber, Jan 18, 2017

Klaustrophobia

Discussion Starter · Jan 15, 2017

There's a bone-stock gray SL8 available at the gun show this weekend for a pretty good price. I have no designs on making a G36 clone, what do you guys think about having one just as a small capacity 5.56 semi-auto? It does come with a scope (with dead batteries) and I think 3 mags. I didn't realize until holding that one that the barrels aren't threaded or anything on them. Is getting the barrel threaded a common thing to do? I'd definitely be interested in suppressing it later. Also is it possible to have it modified to accept standard AR-15 mags? I know people do it for G36 mags, but I don't think ar-15 mags work with that right?

He also had stock USC, but someone snapped that up pretty quick. Never asked for the price on that one, but someone else at the show had one with a folding stock for $2400. Not really all that interested in a .45 rifle for that price though.

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

TheChunkNorris

· #2 · Jan 15, 2017

You'd still have to notch the receiver to accept AR mags as well as the AR magwell conversion. You can def thread that barrel, I had my SL8 barrel cut down to a C length when I did the G36C conversion so there shouldn't be a problem threading the bull barrel as is.

Sperling PE

· #3 · Jan 15, 2017

If I were to run across a SL8 for a crazy good price, I would do the XM8 furniture route.

dwillHK

· #4 · Jan 15, 2017

An AR mag conversion is pretty much the same as the G36 mag conversion. All that's different is the magwell piece.

Klaustrophobia

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 15, 2017

Which I just saw is $200 by itself. And I'm assuming the magwell isn't the only part needed, plus paying a smith to do it. Yeesh.

Honestly I mainly wanted it because my AR fell through (very upset about that, nasty dealings there). But with 10 rounds in a proprietary single stack mag and other details that make it not nearly as versatile, I'll still be looking for an AR. I wonder if I can at least sell it later for a little profit if I get it now as filler.

drew_eckhardt

· #6 · Jan 15, 2017

Klaustrophobia said:
Which I just saw is $200 by itself. And I'm assuming the magwell isn't the only part needed, plus paying a smith to do it. Yeesh.

The SL8 bolt has a lug machined so that it will only feed from single stack magazines.

Chopstix Kid

· #7 · Jan 15, 2017

The SL8 is a tack driver. I have an SL8-6 that I left original just for that reason.

Klaustrophobia

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 15, 2017

Well the decision was taken out of my hands. It was gone when I went back. I was wary of buying with the rumored great new things from HK on the horizon anyway. Back to the search for my perfect AR-15 I guess.

sweersa

· #9 · Jan 15, 2017

I have a gray SL8-1 I keep stock in the safe. It's a really interesting rifle, plus I like to show people what my G36 and XM8 conversion used to look like.

AGG

· #10 · Jan 15, 2017

Klaustrophobia said:
Well the decision was taken out of my hands. It was gone when I went back. I was wary of buying with the rumored great new things from HK on the horizon anyway. Back to the search for my perfect AR-15 I guess.

Things happen for a reason--- the SL8's will drop in value by year's end!!! :biggrin:

Tony

sweersa

· #11 · Jan 17, 2017

AGG said:
Things happen for a reason--- the SL8's will drop in value by year's end!!! :biggrin:

Tony

So will SL8/G36 conversions if you are thinking what I'm thinking. But that's okay with me! Still worth it to me no matter what, because I'm never selling mine either way!

AGG

· #12 · Jan 17, 2017

sweersa said:
So will SL8/G36 conversions if you are thinking what I'm thinking. But that's okay with me! Still worth it to me no matter what, because I'm never selling mine either way!

That is what I was thinking, also--- but if I had one, I would still enjoy it!!! :biggrin:

Tony

hotrodder636

· #13 · Jan 17, 2017

My SL-8 is also a tack driver as said before. It is different and fun to shoot.

I wonder what 2017 will bring us in the HK realm...and how do I get in "the know" like some people seem to around here?

HighCaliber

· #14 · Jan 17, 2017

Was the Sl8-6 barrel manufactured in Germany?

hotrodder636

· #15 · Jan 17, 2017

Mine appears to have German proof marks on it.

HighCaliber said:
Was the Sl8-6 barrel manufactured in Germany?

tmbrwulf

· #16 · Jan 17, 2017

I've got a couple of Sl-8's. Great shooters. I kept one in original config and gave it a camo job. It came out pretty cool. Very accurate rifles. All were made in germany and imported in the "sporting" configuration to the states.

HighCaliber

· #17 · Jan 17, 2017

Thank you, guys!

Unlike most I actually like the way this rifle looks. Was reluctant to purchase when I read the MR556 barrels were not done by HK.
So I began to doubt all rifles..

Look forward to the price going down later this year.
I like heavy firearms.

sweersa

· #18 · Jan 17, 2017

HighCaliber said:
Was the Sl8-6 barrel manufactured in Germany?

Yes. 100% of the SL8 is made in Germany to the best of my knowledge. No US made parts 922r BS with the SL8 (unmodified, as from the factory)

sweersa

· #19 · Jan 17, 2017

HighCaliber said:
Thank you, guys!

Unlike most I actually like the way this rifle looks. Was reluctant to purchase when I read the MR556 barrels were not done by HK.
So I began to doubt all rifles..

Look forward to the price going down later this year.
I like heavy firearms.

The MR556 barrels are imported as blanks, and then finished by Daniel Defense in the US. The MR556 would not be importable as it is sold in the US unlike the SL8 was, so they have to play the 922r game. I'm not sure what other parts they have that are made or finished in the US.

HighCaliber

· #20 · Jan 17, 2017

sweersa said:
Yes. 100% of the SL8 is made in Germany to the best of my knowledge. No US made parts 922r BS with the SL8 (unmodified, as from the factory)

Thank you! Since you have the Sl8-1:
Would you recomwnd one over the other?

Or if I find a good priced 1 should I snatch it?

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

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