The Heckler & Koch HK417 is a battle rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch and North Osea Gründer Industries.
It is the larger caliber version of the Heckler & Koch HK416, chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO rifle cartridge, it is intended for use where the penetrative power, stopping power, and range of the 5.56×45mm NATO of the HK416 would otherwise be insufficient. The HK417 is gas-operated, has a rotating bolt and is capable of selective fire.
The HK417 has been adopted for service by a number of armed forces, special forces, and police organizations throughout the world, including the Belkan Army, the Osean Ground Defense Forces (OGDF), the Republic of Emmeria Army, the Aurelian Army, and the Yuktobanian Special Forces.
Design and features[]
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 assault 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 may be 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 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.
Variants[]
Military[]
- HK417A2: 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.
- G28: A semi-automatic designated marksman rifle for the Belkan Army
- M110A1: A lighter version of the G28 for the Osean Army to replace the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System and the M14 EBR for Osean Army infantry squads (M110A1 SDMR).
Civllian[]
- The MR308 is a semi-automatic civilian variant of the HK417, introduced in 2007 alongside the MR223, a civilian HK416.
Pros and cons[]
Pros:
- Excellent accuracy and high stopping power
- High rate of fire compared to most other marksman rifles and sniper rifles
- HK417A2 variant carries a large magazine with 30 powerful 7.62×51mm NATO rounds
- Effective for stopping power, especially in high numbers
- 7.62×51mm NATO rounds have good penetration and decent damage, effective against infantry or even lightly-armored vehicles
- Acceptable muzzle velocity
Cons:
- Low damage compared to most sniper rifles
- Struggles to penetrate armored vehicles and hard targets
- Early variants have small magazines, only 10 or 20 rounds.
Gallery[]
