H&K SL8 Semi-Auto Rifle

The SL8 is HK’s civil offer to G36 users, and transforms the military’s precision into a sports platform. It is popular with the target shooters, 3-gun competitions and other enthusiasts.

The SL8-6 is a bolt-on-a-roller gun equipped with a fixed buttstock that houses the fire-control elements. It is available with 10, or 30-round magazines.

What exactly is the SL8?

H&K’s SL8 is a semiautomatic variation of their combat-tested G36 rifle which can be chambered using 5.56mm NATO. It is designed for shooting enthusiasts and comes with a bull barrel that can move freely with the HK Cold-Hammer Forging Method. A short rail mount for the Picatinny allows accessories optics. Much like the military variant of the gun that’s it’s modelled upon the SL8 has a short stroke gas piston that’s renowned for its reliability.

Introduced in 1998 but was discontinued in 2004, SL8 was revived in 2021 and renamed the SL8-6. The model has notable distinctions from its predecessors right off the bat. The SL8-6 is distinguished by its stock of polymer that features a rubberbutt and an adjustable cheek raiser. The SL8 also has a stock spacer that can be used to change the length of pull. The barrel attachment that is molded is distinct from the G36’s knob-shaped tube.

The SL8-6’s bolt is similar to that of the direct-impingement AR-15’s bolt featuring locking lugs that turn into recesses that correspond to the barrel extension, and the ejector, which is a plunger type that’s spring-loaded, inside the bolt’s face. It is possible to access the piston without disassembling the entire action, unlike the AK. This allows quick and easy cleaning and maintenance.

Due to the restrictions on the purchase of guns that are military-style within the United States, SL8-6 owners HecklerKochForSale aren’t able to run their SL-8s on G36 magazines (the one magazine they have is a single-stack, translucent 10 rounder made of plastic). However, H&K says it’s working on changing the SL8 to take G36 magazines when they are permissible to import into the country.

Features

The SL8 civilian version is a modified G36 and was created to be utilized for precision and not for military uses. It retains the short-stroke piston system, that has influenced the design concept for the HK416 and the top-quality materials that have been the main reason for making H&K guns famous. It is however designed to be better suited for use by civilians.

Cold-hammer forging of the barrel, with an inset crown as well as steel reinforcements around the most wear spots within the polymer receiver minimize the possibility that it may break under heavy use. The SL8 uses the same magazine with a single stack of 10 rounds that is used in its military counterpart however, it is fitted for.223 Remington and features a match trigger.

As opposed to the conventional roller-delayed bolt employed in most HKs The SL8 makes use of a lug-type rotating bolt, similar to an AR-15. The bolt is secured by six bolts that are inserted into recesses of the barrel extension to drive it forward. It also has an extractor and spring-loaded plunger-type ejector located at the rear of the barrel extension. The SL8 has a semiautomatic system similar to an AR-15.

The ambidextrous charging handle attaches onto the carrier of HK SP5 for Sale bolts and it folds away whenever not in use. The controls are also multi-directional. The magazine release, the bolt catch and safety selector are accessible via either. The SL8-6 is also equipped with an adjustable stock that allows shooters to adjust the pull length.

The rifle is a bit front-heavy because of the large, 20.8-inch, medium-heavy contour barrel. This may make it feel unsafe during maneuver and fire games or 3 gun matches. But, the barrel can help stabilize the rifle for accurate varmint and 3-gun shooting, and the mass of the firearm is offset by the lightweight aluminum buttstock.

Performance

It’s a modified version of H&K’s G36 assault weapon, and is now legal to import. It has a cold hammer-forged, match-crowned bull barrel that is free-floated, and has a chrome liner to improve the accuracy. The stock’s thumbhole is made of polymer. It’s adjustable and can be fine-tuned in length by the help of spacers. Also, it has a swiveling charging handle which can serve as a forward assist. With its ambidextrous controls, the SL8 one of the best options for left-handed shooters.

It is different because it has a gas piston design. The rifle also has an MIL-SPEC short optics mounting with a match trigger as well as an MIL-SPEC MIL SPEC bolt carrier group. This system eliminates the need for a conventional magazine well and bolt carrier group, which reduces recoil and the rise of the muzzle. The SL8 comes with a brand-new single-stack magazin and heavy targeted crown that is recessed that can be used for competition shooting as well https://hecklerkochforsale.com/ as longer-range hunting.

The SL8 features steel reinforcements on the most wear-prone points on its polymer receiver. It was developed originally for use in military rifles. It adds longevity to this high-end rifle. This precision rifle also features the ability to shoot quickly and smoothly.

This gun only accepts only single stack magazines. It is possible to change this by extending the magazine well or cutting out an indentation over the top of receiver. H&K, however, decided to disable the SL8 using a cross-bolt inside the magazine hole to make sure that no other magazines can fit. It also blocks the use of double-stack magazine when shooting in maneuver and fire situations and 3-gun matches. It can hinder the ability to properly stabilize the SL8 when mounted on a tripod to ensure precision shooting.

Accessories

H&K created their SL8 civilian G36 version that brings accuracy and precision from the military onto a civilian platform. Its SL8-6 is a civilian model of the G36. It is equipped with a 10 round single stack magazine and the trigger group is tuned to match. The forged cold-hammer forged match crowned bull barrel is adjustable to help improve accuracy. Additionally, it is fitted with a recessed match-chambered muzzle for improved its reliability. The polymer thumbhole is adjustable to fit left- and right handed shooters. Its magazine release and bolt latch can be swiveled. The stock is adjustable with a buttplate that can be moved into and out, and spacers that allow you to adjust the cheekpiece to ensure a perfect fit.

The SL8-6 is a very easy gun to handle although it does not have the grip of its counterpart. This is due to reasons related to import. The controls are well-constructed and ergonomic, with a magazine release, bolt catch and charging handles that are both accessible from the sides.

Its supple recoil is what separates it of piston-driven 5.56 NATO guns. This is an excellent choice for those who like shooting from prone positions, or may require an additional bipod for greater stabilization.

The SL8-6 is not equipped with M-Lok slots, or KeyMod. But, threaded inserts are able to add rail sections. These are located in the sides and at the bottom on the guards. Rails can be used to hold various accessories such as bipods and optics. But, the bipod can cause POI shifting, so it is suggested to utilize a backback, sandbag or other rest to ensure consistent outcomes.

FAQ

H&K has made a variety of success with its design of firearms ranging including the G3 as well as the MP5 as well as the USP in addition to the renowned G36 assault rifle. The SL8 is an all-polymer G36 which was designed to shoot with precision. It’s not garnered nearly as much attention as other H&K models made in America, but it deserves the attention of anyone whose H&K firearms may be interesting to you.

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