HK MR556 conversion questions

[bermise]

I am going to buy a HK piston AR with a 10.4" barrel just like the HK416. The 2 routes I know to go are:

1. Buy the HK MR556 rifle and get the 16.5" barrel cut down to 10.4 inches, re-profiled and rethreaded by a qualified gunsmith.(IGF) Mod or replace the gas block with the HK 416 gas block. = $2,800

2. Buy a HK 416 10.4" upper and put it on a HK MR556 lower. = $4,750-$5,250


These will never go full auto with me, so the full auto BCG in the 416 does not affect my decision. My question is besides the chrome lined barrel in the 416, what will be the difference in the 2 above weapons? Is the threading on the barrel different on the 416 & MR556?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[jn_fsu]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

I happen to have a copy of a magazine that hasn't hit the stores yet. It covers the HK MR566A1 and lists the differences between it and the HK416.
List goes as follows...
Both have German made cold hammer forged barrels. The HK416 they studied had a goverment profile 14.5 inch chrome lined barrel. The MR556A1 comes with a 16.5 inch non-chrome lined, heavy contour barrel with no bayonet lug on the civilian model.
The HK416 fire control group is capable of full auto operation. The MR556A1 comes with a two stage trigger only capable of semi-auto.
There is a protruding lug in the MR556A1's barrel extension that makes it impossible to run a HK416 full auto carrier.
There is a negative space cut in the MR556A1 semi-auto bolt carrier to accomodate the barrel extensions protrusion. The HK416 carrier does NOT have this cut.
Locking down pins hold the upper to the lower on the MR556A1. The HK416 using the standard AR-platform takedown pins.
The HK416 uses a metal ejection port cover while the MR556A1 using a plastic one.
Unlike the HK416, the MR556A1 uses some American made parts and is assembled in the US.
Hope this helps!

 

[Chucky]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

Also if you buy a 416 upper and something breaks and you want HK to fix it good luck. They were supposed to be restrictred to LE/MIL so it is hit or miss if they will fix a civilian owned 416 upper.

 

[srtsam]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

I was hot to trot on getting a civ version of the 416 until I saw the mr556. To put it plainly, I was underwhelmed. I love HK pistols but have always been indifferent concerning the civilian version of their rifles. I hope HK pulls the MR556 project out of the nosedive its currently heading. The 417 should help.

 

[bermise]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

I love that HK made a AR rifle like this because it can be made into many of the HK AR rifles civilians want but are illegal or extremely difficult and expensive to acquire.

Many people don't like the longer heavier barrel or the full contour profile. But all that can easily be customized to your exact needs. I am glad HK did this, you can make a 14.5" barrel with a welded & pinned FH to reduce a little weight and stay legal. With the big full barrel you can reprofile to M4 style or SOCOM style under the handguards. Or leave it beefy! The barrel can be cut down to make a civi version HK 416 14.5" rifle or a civi version HK 416 10.4" rifle with a slight mod of the gas block. I would prefer to have the real HK 416 upper but the cost difference compared to the MR556 conversion keeps me from pulling the trigger.

 

[bermise]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: srt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was hot to trot on getting a civ version of the 416 until I saw the mr556. To put it plainly, I was underwhelmed. I love HK pistols but have always been indifferent concerning the civilian version of their rifles. I hope HK pulls the MR556 project out of the nosedive its currently heading. The 417 should help. </div></div>

Not sure I would exactly call it a nosedive. They are selling well and have since they were available. At shot 2012 there are more compaines making new parts for this gun and the 416. DD mainly. But who knows what the future holds for the MR556. I think more parts and options for it will greatly help the sales and hopefully lower the price to be more competitive. I was hoping the release of the HK MR762 would help lower the price but not yet.

 

[bermise]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chucky</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also if you buy a 416 upper and something breaks and you want HK to fix it good luck. They were supposed to be restrictred to LE/MIL so it is hit or miss if they will fix a civilian owned 416 upper.</div></div>

I was thinking the same thing. And maybe the repair could be done in the US on the MR556? I know some of the gun was assembled in the US with the primary parts being made in Germany.

 

[bermise]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

Old thread but I saw a new MR556 at the local gun show last weekend. It had a tag with $4,999.99 on it with no add on's, just the stock rifle.

 

[tsavo303]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

botach is selling the upper for 1900
I know, Iknow, but I ordered 30 pmags (at 12.60 per free ship)from them the day of the panic and they shipped them like 10a the next day.
I also bought a VLTOR stock from them them on ebay with same results.
So i was considing buying this upper a week ago, but did not think it was the same with the non-chrome lined

 

[RSR]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

I just ordered one from Botach and it shipped 2 days later. They still have some in stock. I personally wouldn't cut the barrel back and if you have the $$ go with the original 10.4". $1895 delivered isn't bad for an HK556 upper. Here are some pics so you can see barrel profile.

 

[Rinky]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

I personally have thought about doing this very thing a lot.Trick out a Bin Laden raid replica 416 essentially.

Would love to have that lil piece of history.

But what I would do is a MR556 upper on a sopmod lower and save myself 2-3 grand and put that into the tax stamps for a suppressor and 10.5" barrel.

3000$ for the same end result is far too much when all that could be used for ammo and furniture and still have extra to boot.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Vette447]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rinky</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I personally have thought about doing this very thing a lot.Trick out a Bin Laden raid replica 416 essentially. </div></div>


You mean like this one?

 

[bermise]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

Nice rifle. I am very glad I bought a real 416 upper last year before the prices sky rocketed. I got my upper for 3,500. Now they are even more!

 

[Captain Moroni]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rinky</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I personally have thought about doing this very thing a lot.Trick out a Bin Laden raid replica 416 essentially.

Would love to have that lil piece of history. </div></div>

That is the dumbest thing I have heard all day and I heard Joe Biden talk today.

 

[bermise]

Re: HK MR556 conversion questions

Joe Biden belongs in the head council of MENSA!!