This is the MP-5 Mid-Life Improvement. While they haven’t changed the weapon mechanically, they’ve upgrade to a new three position collapsible stock, the Modular Slim Line Handguard and Mounting Rail with STANAG 4694 Profile. All three of these items can be retrofitted to existing MP-5s.
For SHOT Show 2015, H&K is debuting several new products: the MR556A1 Competition Rifle, the USP9 Tactical pistol, and new color variants of the HK45 and HK45 Compact.
The HK416 A5 is Heckler & Koch’s latest iteration of the popular HK416 weapon system. It was on hand at AUSA and SHOT Show but we don’t feel it’s gotten enough attention. The most noticeable change is the addition of the new green-brown RAL8000 color scheme, which provides camouflage in many environments. This also offers a lower IR visibility when compared to traditional black finish.
The Picatinny-railed forend on the 11″ barrel carbine model features an integrated foldable front sight; on the extended barrel models – 14.5″, 16.5″, 20″, a front sight adapter allows a flip-up front sight that’s attached directly to the barrel (not pictured). The rear sight is a proprietary quick release model with a foldable post.
The new two-stage gas system can be adjusted without tools, and allows the shooter to easily switch between the ‘normal’ and ‘suppressor’ settings. Also pictured is the grenade launcher module adapter, standard with the HK416 A5 which facilitates figment of the HK grenade launcher adopted here in the US as the M320.
The HK416 A5 features H&K’s new slimine lightweight buttstock. It, along with the pistol grip, are shown in tan RAL8000 finish, which offers low observability.
The lower receiver sports many improvements in addition to those already featured on previous HK416 models. They’ll be familiar to those of you who followed the now cancelled US Army Individual Carbine program.
The new magazine well profile makes the A5 compatible with a wider variety of AR-15 compatible magazines, including Magpul Pmags. The large “Winter trigger guard” is designed for use with heavy gloves. Both the magazine release and bolt catch release are ambidextrous, and both are sized for improved manipulation. The modified trigger system allows the safety to be engaged at any time, and the selector switch is ambidextrous.
The HK416 A5 also utilizes a proprietary charging handle and dust cover.
The HK416 A5 is also available in traditional Black finish, and is restricted to Military and Law Enforcement.
Also on display was a HK417 outfitted with the G28 buttstock. The buttstock features an adjustable cheekpiece, with fine and course length-of-pull settings, which can be locked into position.
I had a chance to shoot an H&K MR556 equipped with an OSS Inc suppressor about a year ago. The guys at OSS brought me in, showed me behind the curtain – opening up its unique innards for me to peruse, and then let me try it out for myself in a room that is about 8′ x 6′. I was amazed at how quiet the weapon was and how I didn’t experience any blowback of gas.
Fast forward to late last week and we saw the first glimpse of the new MR762A1-SD. For those of you unfamiliar with the SD suffix that is German (Schalldämpfer) which means suppressor. In addition to the suppressor, the rifles also integrate a new Modular Rail System that looks to be related to the open source KeyMod system. Although, the ‘keyholes’ face the wrong direction for KeyMod. As with KeyMod, the MRS is said to have indentations at the rear that lock accessories in place so that they won’t walk under fire. A couple of other things we now know about the MRS. It’s octagonal like the suppressor it shields. This helps with mitigating the effects of mirage. Additionally, we now know that the 556 version is offered in 9″ and 14″ variants and the 762 model boasts 14.7″.
40 years after the after the introduction of the HKMP5 SD, HK introduces the NEW MR556 SD and MR762 SD. The new SD design incorporates OSS suppression technology on the combat proven 416/417 Operating Systems. The OTB “over the Barrel” and “flow through” design aspects of OSS suppressor integration maintains the legacy SD aspects of maximizing the tactical aspect of suppression while minimizing an increase to the weapons overall length. In addition to these HKSD benchmarks, the new SD’s add; caliber and configuration modularity, individual suppressor component sustainability, greater than 90% reduction in blowback and bolt velocity increase, unprecedented accuracy, repeatability and durability. Welcome to the next generation of weapon suppression.
In this photo of an HK417 from Operators Suppressor Systems you can see 4″ of suppressor sticking out the business end if the rifle’s 16″ barrel. Interestingly, the H&K hand guard features a KeyModesque system. It’s backward from what we normally see in the KeyMod standard. While this isn’t PCAP! you have to remember that H&K came up with a negative space attachment system during the XM8 trials. You can also see H&K’s unimount.
Look for this setup and more at SHOT Show.
H&K is always rolling something new out but we thought this new holster for the MP7 might pique your interest as much as it did ours.
But, let’s start with the MP7 itself. You may notice a few differences. One obvious item is the color. H&K now offers most of their models in Tan. Additionally, the MP7 now incorporates a 3-position stock rather than the old, in-or-out version. You may also notice that there is a notch in the Picatinny rail. This is for the holster and it is on either side’s rail for right or left handed use. This new Mil Std 1913 rail section is also reinforced. When mounting to the MP7 a metal insert is placed behind the barrel shroud and two additional screws are used in order to need up the rail that will bear the weight of the holstered weapon. H&K told me that they are also introducing a new forend that eliminates the fold down foregrip and instead features a removable 6 o’clock rail section.
This is the drop leg holster. It is injection molded and features three (!) leg straps for stability. The release lever at the top can be pushed forward or rearward making the holster ambidextrous. Additionally, due to the holster’s design, the weapon cannot be mounted to the holster unless it is safe or semi-auto. If the weapon’s selector lever is set to full-auto, it will not mate to the holster.
There is also a belt mounted version (not shown) as well as a vest mounted holster. As you can see, one side features PALS webbing. The magazine carrier is mounted to the vest via a PALS panel of pile tape offering more customization based on individual preference.
The vest model crosses in back like a traditional shoulder holster and attaches to the trouser belt on either side for stability.
As for the actual attachment of the MP7 to the holster; here it is, mounted. To holster the MP7, the bottom of the reinforced Picatinny rail is inserted into the recess in the holster and then it is rocked toward the holster into place so that the catch will engage. Due to this design, even with a mounted suppressor, the MP7 will still fit right to the holster.
Imagine this, a 30 round magazine from HK for under $30. That’s right. They have released a polymer 30 round 5.56 magazine, designed to fit the HK416, MR556A1 and other AR-style weapons.
These translucent magazines are made from the same material used on the G36 and HK417 magazines.
