[Kenny Bunk]

Am I correct in assuming that the M4 and the HK416 use the same magazine basically the m16 magazine which fits NATO equipment.

If that's correct, the decision to take away this weapon is even more bizarre. It does need much less attention than the M4'

Also what is the timetable for the introduction of the new 6.8 MM Remington round, designed to improve the M16's longrange lethality. Does anyone know? If I interpret correctly, present rifles can be re-chambered for it without much problem. Anyone know?

[BGHater]

Barrett M468m has almost the same lower receiver, I think it has a different buffer assembly though. Not sure if it is gonna be incorporated into Big Army. Not compatible with NATO :(

[Myrddin]

The 6.8SPC conversion requires a change of the barrel, the bolt (the case head is a different size than the .223). The magazine bodies are basically the same, but the spring and follower must be modified. The lowers of the M16/M4 aren't changed in the conversion.

[Sender]

The lower half of the HK416, including all the controls, the stock, the fire control parts etc are exactly the same. The upper half is almost the same, with the addition of an aluminum rail handguard instead of the plastic ones. They take the same magazines and ammo. Almost identical.

The big difference is instead of the hot gases and dirt being vented directly into the receiver to push the action back, there is a gas piston inside the front handguard. That way the hot gases and dirt don't get blown back inside the receiver into all the working parts, they just exit into the air through the handguard. The receiver parts stay clean and cool and oiled. It's a simple, subtle change borrowed from the Kalashnikov, which is proven to work better when dirty or without maintenance. So you get the best of both worlds; you get the elegant, accurate M4 with AK reliability.

But hey, let's not upgrade the rest of them, let's go back to the devil we know.

[2CAVTrooper]

Someone may have already touched on this, but you are correct. The 416 uses the same exact lower receiver, stock assembly, and magazine as the M-16/M-4.

The only thing that gets changed out is the upper reciever assembly which will be the same thing that happens IF and when the Army goes with the 6.8mm round. That is a big if since we would have to get NATO on board to do that because the current 5.56mm is the NATO standard for rifles.