[BuckyP]

I'm looking at these two as my next rifle purchase. I've always liked the HK416, so I'm really leaning towards the MR556. I am wondering if the MR556 (built here) is in the same league as the HK416? The SCAR came up an idea as I may get a good deal on one. They've peeked my interest too, though my concerns are they are fairly new (and not based on something field tested like the HK416). Are they in the same league quality wise?

BTW: Already have two ARs, so looking for something different (and piston) this time.

TIA.

 

[12131]

BuckyP,
If you want a light weight rifle, go SCAR.
If you prefer a heavy one, go MR556A1 (9 lbs bare bone from the factory).:wow:
Here is my original review of the MR556A1. Still haven't shot it, yet. Not sure if I want to keep it or sell it unfired. Haven't made up my mind, yet. But, the initial euphoria has died off. That darn thing is heavy, man. Would I buy it again? Probably not. Especially now that the price has gone up.

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1343521

 

[BuckyP]

BuckyP,
If you want a light weight rifle, go SCAR.
If you prefer a heavy one, go MR556A1 (9 lbs bare bone from the factory).:wow:
Here is my original review of the MR556A1. Still haven't shot it, yet. Not sure if I want to keep it or sell it unfired. Haven't made up my mind, yet. But, the initial euphoria has died off. That darn thing is heavy, man. Would I buy it again? Probably not. Especially now that the price has gone up.

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1343521

Thanks for the reply and the link. That is a fantastic review. Hmm, didn't realize about the weight difference. I'll have to weigh my current 16" to see what they weigh. Interesting about the mags, though most of my mags are the traditional GI style. Currently, no one in my area has one to see. I should actually be able to handle the SCAR in question soon.

 

[PlasticGuy]

Buy the SCAR. The HK-416 is a potentially viable rifle, but the MR-556 is extremely dumbed down. They don't even Chrome line the barrels. The SCAR is very true to the original, which saw a 2 million round test period and has been in service for a few years already.

 

[Bodyarmorguy]

I handled the HK yesterday. It is heavy, an average AR platform rifle comes it an somewhere around 6.5 to 7.5 pounds. But I do have a "thing" for HK products. I handled a SCAR in the past and it just didn't do it for me. Gotta figure out what to part with to fund the HK purchase.

 

[AK_Stick]

though my concerns are they are fairly new (and not based on something field tested like the HK416). Are they in the same league quality wise?

I think at this point, the SCAR has probably eclipsed the H&K 416, in service eval time.

Where as the 416 has started to be removed from service, the SCAR is only getting more and more fielded.

 

[BuckyP]

Well, I have a good point of reference for weight now. My 16" AR is just over 7lbs and my 18" competition AR is just over 9 lbs. You wouldn't think 2 pounds was that big a difference, but being able to compare side by side, it is noticeable. Wonder why the HK is so heavy?

 

[12131]

Well, I have a good point of reference for weight now. My 16" AR is just over 7lbs and my 18" competition AR is just over 9 lbs. You wouldn't think 2 pounds was that big a difference, but being able to compare side by side, it is noticeable. Wonder why the HK is so heavy?

A match grade heavy barrel will do that to you.

 

[Mayhem like Me]

I woudl go with the SCAR, I was on the Remmington/BM development team for the ACR and have a black enhanced model, the only thing I like more about the ACR is the stock and teh non reciprocating charging handle since I still dont have a 6.8 conversion for it yet...

The SCAR hit it out of the park recoil is about Nil due to the low bore placement, it is a very well thought out design (excpet for the charging handle) if you have big hands like me you really have to watch placement when shootng from certain positions.

 

[majette]

Buy the SCAR. The HK-416 is a potentially viable rifle, but the MR-556 is extremely dumbed down. They don't even Chrome line the barrels. The SCAR is very true to the original, which saw a 2 million round test period and has been in service for a few years already.

the hk416 has been in service a while as well. the usmc is using it to phase out the m249, their nomenclature for it is the m27 iar. chrome lining is a non-issue with quality barrels and regular maintenance. the M4 barrel is chrome lined but is also well known to have a service life of under 10,000 rounds (before it exceeds the accuracy requirements of 5" at 100 yards w/ M855 ammo).

There are countless examples where non-chrome HK barrels have exceeded 25,000, 40,000 and even 100,000 rounds in the case of the HK MG4 fired in Yuma during desert testing. Or the single HK416 10" fired in the first lot acceptance test that fired 15,000 rounds in 2 days and still fired sub-1 MOA groups at 100 meters.

 

[PlasticGuy]

the hk416 has been in service a while as well. the usmc is using it to phase out the m249, their nomenclature for it is the m27 iar. chrome lining is a non-issue with quality barrels and regular maintenance. the M4 barrel is chrome lined but is also well known to have a service life of under 10,000 rounds (before it exceeds the accuracy requirements of 5" at 100 yards w/ M855 ammo).

There are countless examples where non-chrome HK barrels have exceeded 25,000, 40,000 and even 100,000 rounds in the case of the HK MG4 fired in Yuma during desert testing. Or the single HK416 10" fired in the first lot acceptance test that fired 15,000 rounds in 2 days and still fired sub-1 MOA groups at 100 meters.

That's all correct, but the MR-556 doesn't come with a 416 barrel. It comes with a heavy non-chrome barrel. No way it will as reliable or durable.

 

[majette]

That's all correct, but the MR-556 doesn't come with a 416 barrel. It comes with a heavy non-chrome barrel. No way it will as reliable or durable.

i beg to differ. hk makes highly reliable and durable barrels in all their weapons. pistols, carbines, rifles, service life is well over 20,000 rounds with proper maintenance without chrome lining. HK states service life of a subgun in pistol caliber is 65,000 rounds. full auto units.

The MP5 book by Frank James tells of a range MP5 that was owned by the NASA security detail, MP5 serial number 316019 shot 571,600 documented rounds. original barrel. yes, it was well worn but it is an example of heir craftsmanship.

swat officer in houston got 160,000 documented rounds through his usp .45, sent it back to hk to have it checked. they replaced springs, installed new night sights, and sent it back saying everything was in spec.

there is a reason their guns sell at a premium. yes, they can have issues as anything manufactured can but it is few and far between and they are not for everyone. the mr556 is heavy. man up. it costs a lot. save up. the barrel is not chrome lined. so what? the mr stands for match rifle. the mr556 gets its lineage from the hk416 which is being fielded by two military groups that know a thing or two about weapons, the USMC and navy seals; being a former jarhead makes it ok in my book. i am biased because i own a few hk's but i do not let it get in the way of facts. i dont suck and hk likes me.

 

[Quiet]

i beg to differ. hk makes highly reliable and durable barrels in all their weapons. pistols, carbines, rifles, service life is well over 20,000 rounds with proper maintenance without chrome lining. HK states service life of a subgun in pistol caliber is 65,000 rounds. full auto units.

But...
H&K USA makes the barrels for the MR556.
H&K (Germany) makes the barrels for the HK416, UMP, MP5, etc.

 

[majette]

But...
H&K USA makes the barrels for the MR556.
H&K (Germany) makes the barrels for the HK416, UMP, MP5, etc.

to comply with the import ban the unfinished barrels come from germany and final profiling is done here. quality control in the us is the same as in germany. from the spec page at hk-usa.com:

Like the famous HK416, the MR556A1 uses a German-made barrel produced by Heckler & Koch’s famous cold hammer forging process. The highest quality steel is used in this unique manufacturing process producing a barrel that provides superior accuracy and long service life.
But unlike the HK416, the MR556A1 does not use a chrome-lined barrel. Chrome-lining can sometimes mask bore imperfections and negatively affect accuracy. For the new series of Heckler & Koch semi-automatic MR rifles, HK designers and engineers believe best accuracy comes with an unlined bore

 

[mixflip]

Ive shot both and they are both VERY cool... but when I go to spend my $2000/$3000 dollars it will not be on either one of these rifles for my own personal reasons.

My money will be spent on...

LWRC Repr
PWS MK114
ADDAX GPU
ADCOR B.E.A.R.
RRA PDS
Beretta ARX160 (coming to America soon?)

 

[BuckyP]

Ive shot both and they are both VERY cool... but when I go to spend my $2000/$3000 dollars it will not be on either one of these rifles for my own personal reasons.

My money will be spent on...

LWRC Repr
PWS MK214
ADDAX GPU
ADCOR B.E.A.R.
RRA PDS
Beretta ARX160 (coming to America soon?)

That will be cool. Can't say I know much about the others mentioned. I was looking at the LMT piston. I really want to try a piston gun this time around. I guess I could go with just an upper as well. :dunno:

 

[BuckyP]

to comply with the import ban the unfinished barrels come from germany and final profiling is done here. quality control in the us is the same as in germany. from the spec page at hk-usa.com:

Like the famous HK416, the MR556A1 uses a German-made barrel produced by Heckler & Koch’s famous cold hammer forging process. The highest quality steel is used in this unique manufacturing process producing a barrel that provides superior accuracy and long service life.
But unlike the HK416, the MR556A1 does not use a chrome-lined barrel. Chrome-lining can sometimes mask bore imperfections and negatively affect accuracy. For the new series of Heckler & Koch semi-automatic MR rifles, HK designers and engineers believe best accuracy comes with an unlined bore

If not chrome lined, is the MR556 barrel stainless?

 

[BuckyP]

BTW: A thanks to everyone that has replied so far. Very good and beneficial discussion. :wavey:

 

[PlasticGuy]

If not chrome lined, is the MR556 barrel stainless?

No. HK would have you believe that a non chromed, non nitrided, and non stainless barrel is the right choice for a fighting carbine. I call bs on that. They got cheap on the barrels, which is unacceptable for a rifle in that price range. Even if it wasn't 1.5 pounds too heavy, the barrel choice would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[majette]

No. HK would have you believe that a non chromed, non nitrided, and non stainless barrel is the right choice for a fighting carbine. I call bs on that. They got cheap on the barrels, which is unacceptable for a rifle in that price range. Even if it wasn't 1.5 pounds too heavy, the barrel choice would be a deal breaker for me.

the mr556 is not a fighting carbine. it is a match rifle designed from the hk416. i dare say anything hk does is cheap, from the design to the materials. most people bashing the rifle have no experience with it, and a lot have no experience with hk, they just keep regurgitatitng the 'because you suck and we hate you' drivel. even if it was a semi variant of the hk416 it would still get bashed because of the price or no need for a piston or that the barrel cant be changed out easily or it wont work with pmags yada yada. this from those who would not buy the rifle anyway.

i have three ar's; a simple preban olympic, a bushmaster 6.8, and a noveske 6.8 built as a dmr that was over 2500.00 in parts (and with all of the modern warfare gear it weighs more than a mr556). none of mine have a chrome lined barrel, they all go bang when i pull the trigger, and make very small groups.

i have provided points and counterpoints in this thread but for now i will return to the 1911 and hk forum pages. i feel like i have been in general glocking and i need to return to some pages filled with reason and open mindedness. have a good weekend all!