HK416 or M4?

[Revalos]

Any military folks have any reason to prefer the M4 over an HK416? I just qualified on the M4 last week for my upcoming desert adventure but was also briefed on the HK416 and was told that it was superior in a lot of ways. I can request either weapon, and I'm leaning towards the HK because of the cleanliness and magazine reliability.

Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm not planning on shooting anyone, this is a requirement from the government for me to carry one or the other while I am over there. But I'm not a gun aficionado so I really liked the maintenance benefits of the HK model (cleaning the M4 was a bitch!). But if there is a good reason to stick with the M4 I'd like to hear it.

[Sean of the Thread]

Hands down go with the HK416 it's far superior in many ways. I've shot an M4 but I did just see an episode of future weapons featuring the HK416.

[Bokertal]

The H&K is an improvement over the M4. The upper is supposebly more reliable but it hasn't seen enought time in the field IMHO.

It's another M16 variant, infact the H&K upper fits right on the M4 Lower.

The only con I can think of going with the H&K is that 95% of the guys over there have M4s or M16A2s. I like the idea of everyone on my team or in my coloum to have the same weapon.

EDIT: I have not been on the ground over there since AUG 06. Military.com is a great resourse with a forum with loads of active duty.....active posters.

[Proxy]

Screw the H&K and the M4. Get a mini-gun and grenade launcher. Then go Duke Nukem on their ass.

Oh, and I thought all the M16A2's were retired from service?

[Bokertal]

Screw the H&K and the M4. Get a mini-gun and grenade launcher. Then go Duke Nukem on their ass.

Oh, and I thought all the M16A2's were retired from service?

I can only speak for the Navy, we still have M16A2s in the armory though many groups have switched to M4s or 727s.

M16A1s and M16A3s those are history.

[Sean of the Thread]

HK is far superior. That particular model came in third out of a test of 10 for failures in a dust enviroment from one article I read. It had something like 220 failures compared to the distant m-4's near 900 failures.

I'm surprised they're not offering more of a PDW for civilians to carry.

[AnticorRifling]

Haven't fired the HK but I do have a pair of HK91s that I love. I would say shoot whatever your squad is shooting just in case you've got to make ready with parts and pieces or a hot swap needs to happen.

[Sean of the Thread]

No squad involved from what I can tell. He's a private contracted civilian me thinks.

Personally I'd take the HK. /shrug

[Warriorbird]

Nothing like what I ever shoot. My cousin recommends the HK though, 'if they're paying for it.' He also said something about how you can reduce barrel weight with some option. Nothing I really followed but I'm sure the more experienced folks could explain that.

[Revalos]

You can request the HK416 at three different barrel lengths. That's what your cousin is probably thinking of. I'm going to go with the shortest one possible. since this is really about defense, not about distance accuracy.

And I'm not a contractor, so I don't have to pay for any of this stuff, so that's why I want whatever is the best.

[Sean of the Thread]

Found the video. This should give you piece of mind on the HK416.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZpZryZEiY4