HK417
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Barrel
- 305 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.87 kg
- Introduced
- 2006
About
What it is, and why it matters
The HK417 is a select-fire battle rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, produced by Heckler & Koch GmbH since 2006. This German-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 20-round magazine capacity, this battle rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 12.0-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3870g (136.5 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The aluminum alloy frame achieves a notable weight reduction compared to all-steel construction while maintaining the structural rigidity required for safe, reliable operation. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The HK417 is essentially the HK416 scaled up to handle the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, giving special operations forces a DMR-class weapon on a familiar platform. The German Bundeswehr adopted the semi-automatic-only G28 variant as their standard designated marksman rifle, guaranteeing sub-MOA accuracy with match ammunition.
The HK417 uses a cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel with a 1:11 twist rate optimized for 144-175 grain bullets. The receiver is manufactured from proprietary high-grade aluminum alloy. The G28 variant, adopted by the Bundeswehr in 2011, is based on the civilian MR308 platform and features enhanced accuracy guarantees. All HK417 variants feature ambidextrous controls, quick-change barrel capability, and full-length Picatinny rail systems for mounting optics and accessories. The rifle accepts standard SR-25/AR-10 pattern magazines and can be fitted with suppressors. The adjustable stock includes battery storage compartments.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Heckler & Koch
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2006
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 305 mm
- Overall length
- 885 mm
- Height
- 213 mm
- Width
- 78 mm
- Sight radius
- 360 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.87 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.36 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 709 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3346 J
- Effective range
- 600 m
- Maximum range
- 800 m
- Rate of fire
- 600 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Chrome lined barrel
Cold hammer forged barrel
Quick change barrel
Picatinny rails
Ambidextrous controls
Folding stock
Adjustable stock
Suppressor ready
Select fire
Free floating barrel
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 86 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 3.87 kg | 4.30 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 85 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 885 mm | 1025 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 305 mm | 458 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Magazine capacityAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 20 | 20 | Near the median |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the HK417
How much does the HK417 weigh?
The HK417 weighs 3.87 kg (8.53 lb) empty and 4.36 kg (9.61 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the HK417?
The HK417 is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the HK417 hold?
The HK417 holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the HK417?
The HK417 is 885 mm (34.8 in) long overall, with a 305 mm (12.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the HK417?
The HK417 is made by Heckler & Koch (Germany).
When was the HK417 introduced?
The HK417 was introduced in 2006.
How does the HK417 operate?
The HK417 uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr)
- 2011
- Australian Defence Force
- 2010
- French Armed Forces
- France
- Norwegian Armed Forces
- Norway
- Royal Netherlands Armed Forces
- Netherlands
- Royal Danish Army
- Denmark
- United States Joint Special Operations Command
- United States
- United States Army
- United States
- Russian Federal Security Service (FSB Alpha Group)
- Russia
- Portuguese Armed Forces
- Portugal
Provenance
Confidence in this record
88%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/hk417' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "hk417", "name": "HK417", "manufacturer": { "id": "heckler-koch", "name": "Heckler & Koch", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 1949, "website": "https://www.heckler-koch.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "ae60994f5b45d604da21fcd14b728cfa9d2e62000c92e596de4c48c4be768979" }, "category": { "id": "battle-rifle", "name": "Battle Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in full-power cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "DE", "year_introduced": 2006, "barrel_length_mm": 305, "weight_empty_g": 3870, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}