H&K 416 AEG Review

The HK 416 assault rifle has been used by the military, special forces, and some police units worldwide. Notably, the Norwegian Army adopted it as its standard-issue service rifle. The U.S. Marine Corps is another known user of this modern weapon.

Instead of the M4’s direct gas impingement system, the HK 416 uses a short-stroke gas piston operating system. The latter is also found on other popular weapons such as the AK47, albeit in different forms. The reliability of a short-stroke piston is apparent, given how many have been adopted by the military.

Heckler & Koch developed the HK 416 as a response to the M4 carbine. It addresses the system’s faults without discarding the advantages, allowing soldiers familiar with the AR-15 platform to use similar muscle memory. It’s not wrong to consider it an improved M4.

Unlike the M4, the HK 416 comes with Picatinny rails and better furniture, designed to be ergonomic and user-friendly. Therefore, you can purchase one as your first airsoft assault rifle.

You won’t have a piston in airsoft form since the one manufactured by Umarex is an Airsoft Electric Gun (AEG). However, Umarex and its brands are some of the few that received licenses from H&K to produce direct copies. The H&K logo and other weapon markings highly resemble the originals.

You’re in luck if you’re interested in learning more about the H&K-licensed Umarex 416 A5 AEG. After we delve into its details, you’ll see it compared to other starter rifles from various manufacturers. Read on for the details.

Click the links below to jump to a particular product

Umarex/Elite Force HK 416 AEG
Colt M4 CQB Full Metal RIS AEG Airsoft Rifle
Lancer Tactical M4 SOPMOD Airsoft AEG Rifle

Umarex/Elite Force HK 416 AEG

The Elite Force version of the HK 416 differs slightly from the Asian VFC version, but the differences are primarily in cosmetics and markings only. We’ll focus on the American version in this review.

We’ll start with the rifle’s tip, consisting of a bright orange muzzle brake. The color is required by U.S. federal law, as it helps police differentiate the realistic copy from the actual firearm. However, it doesn’t reduce recoil because AEGs don’t kick as hard as gas blowback guns.

A long front sight is permanently mounted to the weapon behind the muzzle. You can fold it forwards if it gets in the way of using your optics, but it doesn’t appear to be adjustable.

For your off-hand, you have a long quad RIS handguard. This polymer handguard has four standard 20mm Picatinny rails that accept almost every airsoft accessory available. You can even mount real-life firearm attachments onto it.

The side and bottom rails are perfect for foregrips, grenade launchers, laser sights, and flashlights. You’ll notice that the top rail is seamlessly linked to the receiver rail, letting users place their optics anywhere. Other than scopes, the top rail will also accept PEQ boxes.

Attached to the upper receiver rail is a flip-up rear sight. This removable iron sight works in tandem with the front sight and can be adjusted for windage.

The magazine goes into the magwell, which resembles the one on an M4 carbine. You can even operate this weapon the same way, as the magazine release is located on the right side.

You can use many NATO STANAG 5.56 x 45mm-style AEG magazines on this Elite Force HK416. The one that comes with this gun holds 250 BBs, but various other capacities exist. If you look in the right places, you may even find drum magazines that carry more than double the BBs.

At the rear of the receiver is the charging handle. It follows the Colt M16/M4 pattern and can be operated using either hand. As an ambidextrous weapon, the HK 416 is accessible for a left-hander to shoot comfortably.

Being the non-A5 version, the magazine release and fire selector are only on one side of the gun. Fortunately, you can purchase an ambidextrous fire control lever separately. Installing it requires disassembling the rifle, but that isn’t a difficult task.

Located behind the trigger is a polymer pistol grip that you can swap out for other M4-compatible ones. The one attached by default is still ergonomic and fits most hands.

The battery goes into the buffer tube, supporting the adjustable crane stock. Choosing the perfect stock length is essential for accurate shooting, as shooters need to hold the gun in a firm stance. The stock also has a rubberized buttpad that absorbs some of the kick.

Within the HK 416 is a polymer gearbox that propels BBs at 340 FPS using 0.20g BBs. BBs with different weights will produce different muzzle velocities.

There’s an adjustable hop-up that lets users adjust the BB flight path. That way, accurately firing heavier projectiles becomes possible.

Specifications

340 FPS with 0.20g BBs
AEG
Polymer gearbox inside
Adjustable hop-up
Full-auto, semi-auto, and safe modes
7.2V battery and charger included
250 rounds in the magazine, compatible with other NATO STANAG AEG magazines
Quad RIS handguard
Fully-licensed by H&K

Pros

Highly customizable
Excellent performance
Licensed copy
Mostly ambidextrous

Cons

Magazine release on one side only
Aftermarket replacement necessary for ambidextrous fire selector

Check Price on Airsoft Station Check Price on Amazon

Comparison With Other Starter Rifles

Other rifles are suitable for airsoft beginners and are relatively straightforward to pick up. Here, you’ll see how these AEGs stack up with the Umarex HK 416.

back to menu ↑

Colt M4 CQB Full Metal RIS AEG Airsoft Rifle

This AEG is licensed by Colt, the company behind the M4 carbine. Therefore, you can expect this gun to look, almost every way, like the one the U.S. Armed Forces use. As a fully-authorized copy, the markings on the weapon are accurate to the letter.

Unlike the rifle issued to regular infantry, this AEG disposes of the carrying handle and instead has a detachable rear sight. The standard handguard is also replaced with a quad RIS one.

Made entirely of metal, this Colt M4 AEG feels like a real rifle down to the weight and controls. The durable receiver, outer barrel, buffer tube, and handguard handle battlefield conditions easily. You can drop or hit the rifle without seeing damage.

The handguard accepts many airsoft and real-life attachments, such as lasers and foregrips. It’s shorter than the one on the HK 416, but there’s still enough room for a complete SOPMOD-style build. One drawback is that the top rails aren’t seamless.

While there’s no carrying handle, the rear sight is the same style as on the original M4. It’s the sight block cut off as a removable standalone unit and can work with some optics. However, it will depend on scope height.

The Cybergun Version 2 gearbox is easily upgradeable, allowing for a customized experience. The high-torque motor increases muzzle velocity, reaching 400 FPS by default.

As a Cybergun copy, you can expect it to perform beautifully anywhere. However, when compared to the Umarex HK 416, this rifle can be excessive for a beginner. It’s easily customizable, but that may be too much for newcomers who just want to learn how to shoot.

The Umarex HK 416 is more affordable and has similar external customization features. It’s an improved AR-15 at its core, and many components function the same way. With that in mind, it’s better to let beginners practice with one before moving on to fancier weapons like the Cybergun M4 copy.

Specifications

400 FPS with 0.20g BBs
AEG
Version 2 gearbox inside
Adjustable hop-up
Full-auto, semi-auto, and safe modes
8.4V NiMH battery and charger included
300 rounds in the magazine, compatible with other NATO STANAG AEG magazines
Quad RIS handguard
Fully-licensed by Colt

Check Price on Airsoft Station

back to menu ↑

Lancer Tactical M4 SOPMOD Airsoft AEG Rifle

Another starter weapon, this Lancer Tactical M4 SOPMOD boasts several features the HK 416 doesn’t have. It comes with two springs that offer different muzzle velocities, with the higher-powered one already preinstalled.

Inside the gun is the company’s Gen 2 M4 Proline gearbox. It has 8mm smooth ball bearings, a rotary hop-up, and a 19,000 RPM motor, among other features. The trigger is also replaced with a Zion Arms electronic trigger unit that users can customize.

Unlike the other guns, the Lancer Tactical M4 is almost entirely made of high-quality polymer. This reduces overall weight but may not feel as realistic. The barrel is metal, however.

The M4 SOPMOD does come with a carrying handle, but you can detach it and mount red dot sights instead. It’s the standard M4 configuration.

The quad RIS handguard can accept rail covers and accessories. These extras are designed to cover unused Picatinny rails and keep them from getting dirty, and you get several in the package.

The HK 416 may not have these excellent internal features, but it’s still better for complete newbies. They wouldn’t have to worry about customizable triggers and gearboxes. Instead, newcomers can focus on learning AEG basics first.

Therefore, you’ll find the Umarex HK 416 a better beginner’s weapon. That’s not to say the Lancer Tactical M4 SOPMOD is too complex. It’s still a reliable rifle, but it can be a handful as a first gun.