Heckler & Koch HK416

HK416
Norwegian Army Heckler & Koch HK416N with 419 mm (16.5 in) long barrel, an Aimpoint CompM4 red dot sight and a vertical foregrip.
Type	Assault rifle Carbine Squad automatic weapon (M27 IAR)
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	2004–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War Northern Mali conflict 2013 Lahad Datu standoff
Production history
Designer	Ernst Mauch
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	2004–present
Variants	D10RS, D14.5RS, D16.5RS, D20RS, HK416C, MR223, HK417, M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle
Specifications
Weight	HK416C: 2.950 kg (6.50 lb) D10RS: 3.020 kg (6.66 lb) D14.5RS: 3.490 kg (7.69 lb) D16.5RS: 3.560 kg (7.85 lb) D20RS: 3.855 kg (8.50 lb) M27 IAR: 3.600 kg (7.94 lb)
Length	HK416C: 690 mm (27.2 in) stock extended / 560 mm (22.0 in) stock collapsed D10RS: 797 mm (31.4 in) stock extended / 701 mm (27.6 in) stock collapsed D14.5RS: 900 mm (35.4 in) stock extended / 804 mm (31.7 in) stock collapsed D16.5RS: 951 mm (37.4 in) stock extended / 855 mm (33.7 in) stock collapsed D20RS: 1,037 mm (40.8 in) stock extended / 941 mm (37.0 in) stock collapsed M27 IAR: 940 mm (37.0 in) stock extended / 840 mm (33.1 in) stock collapsed
Barrel length	HK416C: 228 mm (9.0 in) D10RS: 264 mm (10.4 in) D14.5RS: 368 mm (14.5 in) D16.5RS: 419 mm (16.5 in) D20RS: 505 mm (19.9 in) M27 IAR: 420 mm (16.5 in)
Width	78 mm (3.1 in)
Height	HK416C: 236 mm (9.3 in) HK416 and M27 IAR: 240 mm (9.4 in)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700–900 rounds/min (cyclic) HK416 850 rounds/min (cyclic) HK416A5
Muzzle velocity	Varies according to barrel length: 788 m/s (10.4 in) 882 m/s (14.5 in) 890 m/s (16.5 in) 917 m/s (19.9 in)
Effective firing range	300 m (11" model) point targets
Maximum firing range	400 m (11" model) area targets
Feed system	20, 30-round detachable STANAG magazine, 100-round detachable Beta C-Mag
Sights	Rear rotary diopter sight and front post, Picatinny rail

The Heckler & Koch HK416 is a assault rifle/carbine designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. It is based on the AR-15 platform, and was originally conceived as an improvement based on the Colt M4 carbine family issued to the U.S. military, with the notable inclusion of an HK-proprietary short-stroke gas piston system derived from the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle.

The United States Army's Delta Force, at the request of R&D NCO Larry Vickers, collaborated with the German arms maker Heckler & Koch to develop the new carbine in the early 1990s. During development, Heckler & Koch capitalized on experience gained developing the Bundeswehr's Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle, the U.S. Army's XM8 rifle project (cancelled in 2005) and the modernization of the British Armed Forces SA80 small arms family. The project was originally called the Heckler & Koch M4, but this was changed in response to a trademark infringement suit filed by Colt Defense.

Delta Force replaced its M4s with the HK416 in 2004, after tests revealed that the piston operating system significantly reduces malfunctions while increasing the life of parts. The HK416 has been tested by the United States military and is in use with some law enforcement agencies and special operations units. It has also been adopted as the standard rifle of the Norwegian Armed Forces and the French Armed Forces.