History
The weapon is a successor of the selected project XM8. It is designed as a replacement for the M16 and M4 rifles.
The idea for this weapon was Heckler & Koch after the revision of the British weapon SA80 of the Royal small arms factory, at a time when both companies were among the Group British Aerospace / Royal ordnance. The development and the testing took place in cooperation with the U.S. special forces unit Delta Force.
The original name of the weapon was probably "HK M4" - an allusion to the M4. After a lawsuit from Colt gun was renamed "HK416" - again alludes to the M4, as well as on the M16.
Technology
The HK416 is the the HK G36 similar to a gas operated rotating bolt head, whose drive rod is connected - not directly related to the closure. This has the advantage that the powder gases pollute very little rifle. The weapon also has a cold hammered barrel. Picatinny rail for mounting sights and other accessories are located on both sides, as well as up and down.
The buttstock is retracted to 10 centimetres, so that the weapon can be adapted to the arm of the shooter or is less an obstacle in spatially close environment.
For the weapon, double-sided controls, a trigger, as well as other barrel lengths are available on request. An AG36 grenade launcher calibre can be attached to the weapon under the barrel 40 × 46 mm.
An additional economic incentive to obtain this weapon offers Heckler & Koch with the so-called "minimum upgrade package". This integrate existing components of other assault rifles.[1] So it would be possible, for example, to take over the buttstock of a M4 along with the trigger Group during the rest of the gun is replaced by the technique of the HK416.