HK417

Heckler & Koch HK417
HK417 and accessories in service with the Australian Army.
Type	Battle rifle
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	2005–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	See Conflicts
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	Assaulter: 3.87 kg (8.5 lb) Recce: 4.05 kg (8.9 lb) Sniper: 4.23 kg (9.3 lb) G28 E2 (Standard): 5.8 kg (13 lb) G28 E3 (Patrol): 5.15 kg (11.4 lb) HK417 A2 13": 4.22 kg (9.3 lb) HK417 A2 16.5": 4.4 kg (9.7 lb) HK417 A2 20": 4.74 kg (10.4 lb)
Length	Assaulter: 885 mm (34.8 in) stock extended/805 mm (31.7 in) stock collapsed Recce: 985 mm (38.8 in) stock extended / 905 mm (35.6 in) stock collapsed Sniper: 1,085 mm (42.7 in) stock extended / 1,005 mm (39.6 in) stock collapsed G28: 1,082 mm (42.6 in) stock extended / 965 mm (38.0 in) stock collapsed HK417 A2 13": 904 mm (35.6 in) stock extended/824 mm (32.4 in) stock collapsed HK417 A2 16.5": 994 mm (39.1 in) stock extended/914 mm (36.0 in) stock collapsed HK417 A2 20": 1,082 mm (42.6 in) stock extended / 1,002 mm (39.4 in) stock collapsed
Barrel length	Assaulter: 305 mm (12.0 in) Recce: 406 mm (16.0 in) Sniper: 508 mm (20.0 in) G28: 419 mm (16.5 in) HK417 A2 13": 330 mm (13.0 in) HK417 A2 16.5": 419 mm (16.5 in) HK417 A2 20": 508 mm (20.0 in)
Width	78 mm (3.1 in)
Height	HK417: 213 mm (8.4 in) G28 E2 (Standard): 340 mm (13.4 in) G28 E3 (Patrol): 280 mm (11.0 in)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Caliber	7.62mm
Action	Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	709 m/s (12 in) 742 m/s (13 in) 750 m/s (16 in) 775 m/s (16.5 in) 789 m/s (20 in) 817 m/s (20 in) HK417 A2 - 20"
Feed system	10 or 20-round detachable box magazine Optional 50-round drum magazine
Sights	Accessory diopter/rotary or optics G28 E2 (Standard): Schmidt & Bender PMII 3-20×50 G28 E3 (Patrol): Schmidt & Bender PMII 1-8×24

The Heckler & Koch HK417 is a battle rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch in Germany. It is a gas-operated, selective fire rifle with a rotating bolt. It's chambered for the full-power 7.62×51mm NATO round, instead of the less powerful 5.56×45mm NATO intermediate cartridge. The HK417 is intended for use in roles where the greater penetrative power and range of the 7.62×51mm NATO round are required. It has been adopted for service by a number of armed forces, special forces, and police organizations.

The HK417 is similar in internal design to the HK416, but the receiver and working parts are enlarged to suit the larger 7.62×51mm NATO round. 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 rifle series weapons.

Like the HK416, the HK417 is a 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.

The early prototype HK417 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 series transparent magazine, except without the pins for holding more than one magazine together. In addition, a 50-round, low profile drum magazine developed by HK for the HK21E machine gun can be fitted to the HK417 for use in support and sustained fire applications.