The Heckler & Koch HK417 is a battle rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch in Germany. It is the larger caliber version of the HK416, and chambered for the full-power 7.62×51mm NATO
7.62×51mm NATO rifle cartridge. It is a gas-operated, selective fire rifle with a rotating bolt. The HK417 is intended for use in roles where the greater penetrative power and range of the 7.62×51mm cartridge are required. It has been adopted for service by a number of armed forces, special forces, and police organizations.

Contents

1 Design and features 2 Use 3 Variants

3.1 Military
Military and law enforcement

3.1.1 G28 3.1.2 M110A1

3.2 Civilian

4 Users 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Design and features[edit] The HK417 is similar in internal design to the HK416, although the receiver and working parts are enlarged to suit the larger 7.62×51mm cartridge. The bolt is a seven-lug rotating type, which sits in a bolt carrier and operates in a forged alloy receiver resembling those of the Stoner-designed AR-10, AR-15 and M16 rifles. Like the HK416, the HK417 is gas-operated with a short-stroke piston design similar to that of the Heckler & Koch G36. The short-stroke piston is more reliable than the original direct impingement operation of the AR-15 design because, unlike these weapons, it does not vent propellant gases directly into the receiver, which deposits carbon fouling onto the bolt mechanism as well as heating it up.[1] The early HK417 prototype used 20-round magazines from the Heckler & Koch G3 rifle family, which did not feature a bolt hold-open device. Later prototypes, however, switched to a polymer magazine with bolt hold-open. The magazine resembles an enlarged version of the G36's transparent magazine, except without the pins for holding more than one magazine together. Use[edit] Purchasers of the HK417 have typically intended it to complement lighter assault rifles chambered for less powerful intermediate cartridges (often 5.56×45mm NATO), for the designated marksman role. The HK417's greater accuracy, effective range, and penetration offset its greater expense, its lower rate of fire, and its smaller ammunition capacity both in magazine and carriage.[2] Variants[edit] Military
Military and law enforcement[edit] The HK417 models chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO
7.62×51mm NATO available to the military and law enforcement market are:

HK417 12″ 'Assaulter': carbine with 304.8 mm (12 in) standard barrel HK417 16″ 'Recce': "Recon" rifle with 406.4 mm (16 in) standard or accurized barrel HK417 20″ 'Sniper': "full size" rifle with 508.0 mm (20 in) accurized barrel

The HK417 A2 is the improved version. The design of the receiver, barrel interface, gas port and the bore axis alignment of the rifle have been further optimised to increase its accuracy and reliability.[2][3] The German Army
German Army uses the HK417 A2 - 13″ with the designation G27.[2][4] As of 2013, the HK417 A2 models chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO available to the military and law enforcement market are:

HK417 A2 - 13″: carbine with 330.2 mm (13 in) barrel HK417 A2 - 16.5″: rifle with 419.1 mm (16.5 in) barrel HK417 A2 - 20″: "full size" rifle with 508.0 mm (20 in) barrel

Accurized barrels provide 0.3 mil (1 moa) accuracy (with match grade ammunition). A barrel can be changed in under two minutes with simple tools. All HK417 barrels are cold hammer forged and chrome-lined and use a conventional lands and grooves bore profile with a twist rate of 1 turn in 279.4 mm (11.00 in). They are designed to function reliably with bullet weights ranging from 9.3 to 11.34 g (144 to 175 gr) and are threaded for a flash hider or sound suppressor.[2][5] G28[edit]

A G28 of the German Army

The civilian MR308 was used to develop the G28, a designated marksman rifle for the German Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr (Federal Army) deployment to the War in Afghanistan. The semi-automatic G28 is chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO and has a factory warrantied accuracy of 45 mm dispersion at 100 meters (0.45 mil or 1.5 moa) when fired with 10 rounds using OTM/HPBT/Sierra Match King ammunition. The G28 features STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rails that are backwards-compatible with the STANAG 2324/MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails. The upper receiver is made from steel instead of HK's aluminium alloy. Approximately 75% of the parts are interchangeable with the HK417. There are two different versions of the G28: G28 E2 (Standard) with a Schmidt & Bender 3–20×50 PM II (modified to Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr requirements) and the G28 E3 (Patrol) with Schmidt & Bender 1–8×24 PM II.[6] By October 2017, Heckler & Koch had renamed the G28 as the HK241, though G28 remains its Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr designation.[7] M110A1[edit] In April 2016 Heckler & Koch confirmed that a lighter version of the G28 had won the United States
United States Army's Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System contract to replace the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper
Sniper System.[8] It is designated as the M110A1 and uses an aluminum upper receiver instead of steel to meet weight requirements, weighing 8.4 lb (3.8 kg) unloaded and reaching some 15 lb (6.8 kg) loaded and with accessories; the M110A1 features a Geissele M-LOK
M-LOK rail handguard, Schmidt & Bender 3–20×50 PM II Ultra Short telescopic sight, Geissele optic mount, OSS SRM6 suppressor, 6-9 Harris bipod and mount, and a collapsible stock with adjustable comb.[9][10] In May 2018, the U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps will begin receiving the CSASS, also to replace the M110.[11] In March 2018, the Army announced that a version of the G28/M110A1 would be issued to infantry squads as the service's standard Squad Designated Marksman Rifle
Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR). Issuing a 7.62 mm SDMR is meant to increase individual squads' ability to defeat enemy body armor that standard 5.56 mm rounds cannot penetrate.[12] The M110A1-based rifle will replace the M14 EBR, in use by the Army since 2009, but because it was based on an operational needs statement it had to be turned in by units at the end of a combat deployment. Unlike the sniper configuration, the marksman version is fitted with a simpler rifle optic instead of a telescopic sight to make quick adjustments between 0-600 meters, and it fires M80A1 Enhanced Performance Rounds rather than sniper rounds; it will be fielded with a suppressor to make the marksman less identifiable with louder 7.62 mm rounds. Roughly 6,000 are planned to be fielded with one per squad in infantry, engineer and scout formations starting in late 2018.[13] Civilian[edit] The MR308 is a civilian variant of the HK417, introduced in 2007 alongside the MR223, a civilian HK416.[14] It is a semi-automatic rifle with several "sporterized" features. At the 2009 SHOT Show, the two rifles were introduced to the American civilian market as the MR762 and MR556, respectively.[15] Since then both were replaced by the improved MR762A1 and MR556A1.[16][17] Users[edit]

Country Organization name Model Quantity Date Reference

 Albania Special
Special Operations Battalion HK417 – – [2]

 Australia Australian Army
Australian Army acquired the 16″ 'Recce' paired with 6× ACOG for an interim marksman solution for use in Afghanistan, with permanent fielding expected in future 16″ 'Recce' – 2010 [2][18][19]

 Brazil Brazilian Army – – 2012 [20]

Federal Police
Police of Brazil – – 2012 [20]

 Croatia Croatian Army
Croatian Army uses it as a designated marksman rifle 12″ 'Assaulter' – – [21]

Special
Special Operations Battalion use it as a battle rifle. – – [21]

 Czech Republic 601st Special
Special Forces Group – – – [22]

 Denmark Royal Danish Army
Royal Danish Army uses it as a designated marksman rifle 20″ 'Sniper' – – [23]

 Estonia Estonian Special Operations Force
Estonian Special Operations Force uses it as a designated marksman rifle – – – [24]

 France Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (COS) – – – [25]

 Germany German Army
German Army uses the HK417 A2 - 13″ as the G27 A2 - 13″ – – [2][4]

German Army
German Army uses a modified MR308, the G28, as a designated marksman rifle G28 - – [26]

GSG 9
GSG 9 sniper teams of the German Federal Police – – – [27]

 Ireland Defence Forces Army Ranger Wing
Army Ranger Wing sniper teams – – 2010 [2][28]

 Italy Italian Army, Italian special forces, San Marco Marine Brigade – – – [citation needed]

 Japan Japan
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Special
Special Forces Group (Japan) – – 2014 [29]

 South Korea Republic of Korea Army, 707th Special
Special Mission Battalion G28 – –

 Malaysia Pasukan Khas Laut sniper teams of the Royal Malaysian Navy – – 2006 [2][30]

 Mauritius Military
Military of Mauritius
Mauritius uses it as a marksman rifle. – – 2013 –

 Netherlands Korps Commandotroepen
Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) of the Royal Netherlands
Netherlands Army acquired the 16″ 'Recce' paired with Aimpoint CompM2
Aimpoint CompM2 or Schmidt & Bender 3–12×50 PM II – – 2011 [2][31][32]

 Norway Norwegian Armed Forces
Norwegian Armed Forces uses it as a designated marksman rifle – – – [2][33][34]

 Poland Policja – – – [2][35]

 Portugal Special
Special Actions Detachment HK417 – – [36]

 Russia Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz snipers of law enforcement agencies MR308 – – [37][38]

FSB Alpha Group – – [39]

 Sweden Särskilda operationsgruppen – – – [citation needed]

 Turkey Gendarmerie Special
Special Operations HK417 – – [citation needed]

 United Kingdom United Kingdom
United Kingdom Special
Special Forces sniper teams HK417 – – [2][40]

Surrey Police
Police sniper teams – – [41][42]

West Mercia Police
Police sniper teams – – [citation needed]

 United States Joint Special
Special Operations Command – – – [43][unreliable source?]

United States
United States Army M110A1 3,643 (planned) – [8]

Gallery[edit]

An HK417 12″ 'Assaulter' model on display.

From top to bottom: a .338 Lapua Magnum
.338 Lapua Magnum Sako TRG-42, .308 Winchester MR308, .223 Remington
.223 Remington Schmeisser GmbH AR15 M5 and a 9 mm AR-15 on display at the 2012 ARMS & Hunting exhibition.

An MR308

Australian Army
Australian Army Pvt. Brent Rothwell patrols in Tarin Kowt with an HK417, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, July 26, 2013

Irish Army Ranger Wing
Army Ranger Wing airborne sniper team on a helicopter during the 30th anniversary of the ARW.

A sniper from the Norwegian Home Guard's task force "Bjørn West" armed with an HK417 designated marksman rifle.

Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy PASKAL
PASKAL operators on standby during the 59th National Day Parade of Malaysia
Malaysia at Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur. One is armed with a 7.62mm HK417 Sniper
Sniper Rifle.

See also[edit]

List of battle rifles Heckler & Koch G3 Heckler & Koch HK416

References[edit]

^ "Newer carbines outperform M4 in dust test". Army Times. December 17, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2011.  ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Heckler & Koch HK 417 Battle Rifle / Sniper
Sniper Rifle (2006)". Military
Military Factory. June 22, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2014.  ^ "HK417 A2 - Effective and versatile". Heckler & Koch. Retrieved November 15, 2014.  ^ a b "Entscheidung zur Zwischenlösung G36" (in German). Bundeswehr. August 27, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.  ^ "2008 Heckler & Koch Military
Military and LE brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-01-30.  ^ "HK241 Technical Data". Heckler & Koch. Retrieved 15 November 2014.  ^ "HK241 Product Overview". Heckler & Koch. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2014.  ^ a b Jahner, Kyle (April 8, 2016). "H&K confirms: This is the Army's new and improved sniper rifle". Army Times. Retrieved June 9, 2016. The gun will replace the M110 made by Knight's Armament as a culmination of the Army's desire for a shorter, lighter rifle that didn't sacrifice accuracy or performance.  ^ Nathaniel F. (January 18, 2017). "HK Shows Off the US Army's M110A1 CSASS Compact Sniper
Sniper Rifle - SHOT 17". The Firearm Blog.  ^ " SHOT Show 17 – H&K M110A1 CSASS". Soldier Systems Daily. January 23, 2017.  ^ The Marines just switched their main sniper rifle ― look what’s next. Military
Military Times. 9 April 2018. ^ Army Plans to Field H&K G28 as New Squad Marksman
Marksman Rifle. Military.com/Kitup. 6 March 2018. ^ Army to Begin Fielding Thousands of Squad Marksman
Marksman Rifles
Rifles by Oct. 1. Military.com/Kitup. 23 March 2018. ^ "Approving the MR223 and MR308 for civilian sale inside Germany". Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2014. CS1 maint: Unfit url (link) ^ "Heckler & Koch MR556 and MR762 brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. CS1 maint: Unfit url (link) ^ "New HK Products for 2012". Heckler & Koch USA. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2014. CS1 maint: Unfit url (link) ^ "HK-USA Rifles". Heckler & Koch USA. Retrieved September 3, 2014.  ^ "Contract Notice View – CN352591". AusTender. Australian Government. December 14, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2011.  ^ Juchniewicz, Nathan (July 21, 2011). "New weapon to go the distance". Army News (Australia). Retrieved August 4, 2011.  ^ a b "DefesaNet - Armas - PF - 200 novos fuzis de assalto HK 417 são distribuídos". DefesaNet. Retrieved 15 November 2014.  ^ a b https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/HK_417_080810_44.jpg ^ "Oficiální web 601. skupiny speciálních sil generála Moravce". www.601skss.cz. Retrieved 25 October 2017.  ^ "Geværer" (in Danish). Retrieved 7 April 2015.  ^ "FOTOD: Millega tegeleb eestlaste eriüksus Afganistanis?". delfi.ee. Retrieved 25 October 2017.  ^ "HK 417- fusil d'assaut de la firme Heckler & Koch" (in French). French Land Army official website. Retrieved 2013-07-17.  ^ "G28 marksman rifle technical data sheet specifications information description intelligence pictures". Army Recognition. October 22, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2012.  ^ "GSG9 German Special
Special Police
Police Weapons". Military
Military Factory. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2016.  ^ Thompson, Leroy (1 March 2013). "Ireland's Army Rangers (page 1)". Tactical-Life. Retrieved 19 November 2016.  ^ http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/gmcc/hoto/hkou/14hk093.pdf ^ Abas, Marhalim (2010-04-23). "DSA 2010 Part III". Malaysian Defence. Retrieved 2011-08-01.  ^ "SF Operator is a special profession". Dutch Defence Press (in Dutch). June 6, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2011.  ^ "KCT sniper teams using the Heckler & Koch 417". Dutch Defence Press (in Dutch). April 20, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.  ^ Offisersbladet nr. 3, May 2007: Heckler & Koch 416: Vårt nye håndvåpen ^ Kapten Trond Setså. " Sniper
Sniper Course". Defense Net (in Norwegian). Norwegian Defense. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2011. CS1 maint: Unfit url (link) ^ " Police
Police Headquarters Official Gazette No. 13" (pdf) (in Polish). September 25, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2011.  ^ Special
Special Actions Detachment ^ "YouTube". m.youtube.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.  ^ "Russian SPETSNAZ Weapons". Military
Military Factory. February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2016.  ^ "HK in Russia
Russia - Page 2". www.hkpro.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.  ^ Harding, Thomas (June 26, 2009). "SAS parachuted in to Baghdad". The Telegraph. Retrieved January 30, 2011.  ^ Middleton, Ashley (October 27, 2012). "Firearms unit". Flickr. Retrieved April 30, 2015.  ^ "All sizes - Throckmorton". Flickr. Retrieved April 30, 2015.  ^ "Navy SEALs Weapons". Military
Military Factory. May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015. 

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HK 417.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HK MR308.

Heckler & Koch page Heckler & Koch HK417 A2 page Heckler & Koch HK417 assault rifle at the Modern Firearms & Ammunition site

ArmaLite AR-10
AR-10 derivatives

Battle rifles

Standard

ArmaLite AR-10 Heckler & Koch HK417 MPT-76

Sniper
Sniper rifles

M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper
Sniper System Marine Scout Sniper
Sniper Rifle Mk 12 Special
Special Purpose Rifle SEAL Recon Rifle SR-25 United States
United States Marine Corps Squad Advanced Marksman
Marksman Rifle United States Army
United States Army Squad Designated Marksman
Marksman Rifle

Assault rifles

Standard

ArmaLite AR-15 M16 rifle

variants

Colt Advanced Piston Carbine Colt ACR Colt Canada C7 Adcor A-556 Barrett REC7 Barrett M468 Heckler & Koch HK416 KH-2002 Knight's Armament Company SR-47 LR-300 LWRC M6 Norinco CQ PVAR Remington GPC Safir T-series SOCIMI AR-831 T65 T86 T91

Carbines

CAR-15 M4 carbine Bushmaster M4-type Carbine Close Quarters Battle Receiver CMMG Mk45 G13 carbine Olympic Arms OA-93 SIG516 Special
Special Operations Assault Rifle

Submachine guns

Colt 9mm SMG CAR-15
CAR-15 Submachine Gun La France
France M16K

Personal defense weapons

Colt MARS AR-57 AAC Honey Badger PDW GA Personal Defense Weapon

Machine guns

Colt Automatic Rifle Ares Shrike 5.56 M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle

Semi-automatic rifles

Centerfire

Colt AR-15

variants

AR-15 style rifle

Bushmaster XM-15 Heckler & Koch MR223 Heckler & Koch MR308 Ruger SR-556 SIG MCX SIG Sauer SIG516 SIG Sauer SIGM400 Smith & Wesson M&P10 Smith & Wesson M&P15 CMMG Mk47 Mutant

Rimfire

Armi Jager AP-74 Smith & Wesson M&P15-22

Shotguns

Intrepid RAS-12 Safir T-series UTAS XTR-12

Pistols

Carbon 15 Olympic Arms OA-93

Other developments

M231 Firing Port Weapon CM901 Daewoo K2

v t e

Heckler & Koch firearms and cartridges

Handguns

HK4 VP70 P9 P7 MK23 USP P2000 P30 HK45 VP9

Service rifles

G3 HK33 G41 G36 HK416 HK417 HK433 M27 IAR G28

Sniper
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HK G3 SG1 HK 33 SG1 PSG1 MSG90 SL9D

Civilian rifles

HK41 HK43 MR223 MR308 SL6 SL7 SL8 SR9 USC

Shotguns

HK 512 FABARM FP6

Submachine guns

MP5 UMP MP7

Machine guns

HK21 MG4 MG5

Grenade launchers

HK69A1 AG-C/EGLM AG36 M320 GMG XM25 CDTE

Prototypes

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P46

Rifles

HK32 HK36 G11 XM29 OICW XM8

Shotguns

HK CAWS

Miscellaneous

P2A1 P