Editor's Note: Leech of ACE Brigade Wildcats has come on board Popularairsoft.com as the chief reviewer of airsoft replicas thrown our way. He'll give us the lowdowns and takedowns in another upcoming publication which you'll know very soon. As my team has been playing more and more CQB/Urban type games I have been planning to get myself a reliable CQB type Rifle or SMG. My choices were the MP5-RAS, the G36 and the HK416. So on I dreamt about having one of these to use in CQB skirmishes then one day Popularaisoft.com (in Santa like fashion) contacted me about a shipment of JG HK416 that arrived from RSOV.com and needed to be reviewed. I immediately said yes.

REAL STEEL

The HK416 is an assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch (HK). HK is a German weapons company famous for such products as the MP5 series, G3s, and G36 series submachine guns and assault rifles. The 416 is said to be an improved version of the M4 Carbine. It is designed to be available as a complete firearm, or as an upper receiver kit that fits on any AR-15/M4 type lower receiver.

This weapon was originally called the HKM4. HK however had to change this due to a trademark infringement suit filed by Colt Defense. It is suspected that 416 is a reference to the M4 and M16 it has been designed to compete with. The HK416 has reportedly been tested by the United States military and some law enforcement agencies. As of the moment it’s only available to government and military organizations but there are plans for a semi-automatic civilian version to be released sometime in 2008. The real steel version comes in different versions (for barrel length) the D10RS, D145RS, D165RS, and D20RS. Popularairsoft supplied us with what appeared to be the equivalent of the D10RS which indicates that it has a 10.4in barrel. Perfect for CQB skirmishing.

FIRST IMPRESSION

The packaging box looks and feels like any other AEG box supplied by Jing Gong (JG). It is packed in a simple unbleached cardboard box. The lid has the usual white printed on box that contains the line drawing of the AEG it contains. It has the Eagle logo for JG on the left side and the text HK416 emblazoned on the lower half of the front of the lid. It also boasts of an all metal gearbox. There is also a warning that says users restricted to 18 years and older. This type of packaging is very reassuring and it adds support to the thought that JG manufactures everything in uniformity and that every AEG that rolls out from production is as good as the other.

Opening the lid I got my first glimpse of the AEG. It looked beautiful. It is packed in molded Styrofoam. As with all other JG AEGs it came with a cleaning rod, a 300rd hicap mag, an 8.4v 1500mAh custom battery, a trickle charger and a manual. Upon removing the AEG from the molded Styrofoam it felt and probably weighed almost like its real steel version. There is a little Hop Up tag attached to the trigger guard by an elastic. It also has the customary Warning sticker attached to the side of the upper receiver.

A CLOSER LOOK

After removing the tag and sticker I proceeded with a closer inspection of the AEG. It is impossible to miss the all metal construction and the overall hefty feel of the AEG. Starting from the front it has the usual M4 type flash guard then immediately aft is the foldable front sight. Then you will come across the trademark proprietary accessory rail forearm with replica MIL-STD-1913 rails on all four sides. This allows one to add more bling in the form of sights, lights, and grips used on M4/M16-type weapons to be fitted to this AEG. The rail forearm is of the 'free-float' variety; meaning it does not touch the outer barrel at all. This rail forearm locked to the outer barrel with an allen screw which was quite lose. Tightening it did not help as the “bolt” that it threads/tightens to is made of aluminum and quickly lost its thread/grip on the screw. Putting Teflon tape on the screw did not help one bit. I guess I need to use extra strength glue/adhesive to keep the screw in and the rail in place.

The upper receiver is the flat top rail version. On it sits the rear sight, which is also made of metal. The sight however is not the same as you would expect to see on an M4/M16 type rifle but rather that of the MP5 type rear sight, also made of metal of course. Aft of this you have the cocking mechanism, which pulls quite easily to open the flap that covers the hop up mechanism. Moving on to the lower receiver. The front of the mag well contains the text “Warning: Read operator’s manual before use”. The left side contains the HK logo as well as the markings HK416 D and cal 5.56mmx45. The selector switch is located on the left side as well (again as a show of power by the predominantly right handed universe). Instead of the usual M4 selection text markings by Colt of safe, semi, and auto we get the illustration/icons most commonly found in other HK weapons to stand for safe, semi, and auto modes. The right side of the mag well contains the marking which state “Heckler and Koch Defense Inc. Sterling Va.”. The trigger and the grip itself do not seem to be any different from other JG M4 type grips. This one supposedly houses a hi torque motor similar to an EG1000. Now, to the next distinguishing mark of the HK416 the clubfoot buttstock. Like its real steel brother the extendable buttstock can be locked in various positions, thus allowing adjustment to the individual, of length of pull and eye relief. The buttstock has a single metal loop for attaching a carrying sling. In the real steel version the buttstock has compartments for storage of spare batteries and tools. Here on its AEG cousin it houses the custom 8.4v 1500mAh battery that it came supplied with.

INITIAL VERDICT

Overall in terms of looks and feel I give this a rating of MUST HAVE. In terms of reliability and durability is still to be decided. However given JGs reputation for dependability I think this AEG won’t let you down.

ABORTED SKIRMISH

After I initially wrote the above section I took the HK416 to skirmish. I was somewhat hesitant to actually use it as JG AEGs are known to be HOT AEGs straight out of the box. My eagerness to use it got the better of me. I decided to use it and had it chronoed. Both the marshal and myself were well surprised. It initially chronoed at 450fps on the first shot. 420fps on the second, 430fps on the third and finally 438fps. Needless to say I did not get to play with it that day and had to settle for my old M4 instead.

More on this very soon.