SeniorSpaz87
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- May 24, 2014
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Well, thats another quarantine project done. Introducing the HK 417a2. It started life as two G28s; G28 LE #227 and G28 standard #IDontCareEnoughToCheck. #227 was my original G28 LE that Ive had for awhile, but it just kind of sat around as it was heavy, loud, and comparatively ineffective at range compared to my other DMRs. I wanted to upgrade it, but I wasn't sure what to do. Then comes the standard. I bought the standard off a secondhand airsoft app in November of 2019. It was a bastardization of a 417 and G28 - G28 receivers, grip, and outer barrel, but 417 buffer tube, stock, and rail. I didnt really care as it was dirt cheap and already had some decent upgrades in it. Turns out I should have cared, as not a month later the lower receiver cracked. Real bad. It may be repairable but itll be obvious. So I was left with a semi-upgraded but broken G417 and a stock G28 LE.
Now, between these two I built a 417 for a mate. I believe I posted it here, but it involved making a custom fitting to mount a PTS UBR stock to it. I looks good, and works well. It also gave me some experience building 417s that I didn't have before, and it gave me an appreciation for the "Battle Rifle" class of weapon. Essentially, a BR is a carbine-length DMR. This would include short-barreled AR-10s, Scar mk17s, etc. In airsoft you follow rifleman rules. It just looks fancier. Around this time I started toying with the idea of creating my own BR, but in typical Spaz fashion it had to kind of stand out. Knowing how much of a pain VFC mk17s are to upgrade, I shied away from them, but 417s are expensive, with an approx $450 price tag. Add in the $500ish in internals I would have to do to field it and things weren't looking too good on that front either... Plus, there arent many aftermarket externals for the VFC 417s, and my squadmate already runs the one I built him. Then this broken G28 shows up and I had an idea...
Until this year, I always preferred my guns having a dedicated setup. My M27 stays as it is, its sights are zeroed, I dont pull attachments from other guns, etc. However, with me recently turning my VFC Jag Arms PHX-15 SBR (see previous page) into a hybrid Krytac LMG with a second upper, I started thinking of doing the same with my G28 LE. I mean, if I built a lower based around trigger response why wouldn't it work in a DMR as well as a BR? So I began working on it. In this period I saw the news from SHOT that HK had revamped their 417 program into a new model - the HK 417a2. Shiny, new, not made in airsoft to date, and best of all - in RAL8000, just like my spare G28 receivers.
View attachment 59383
So to begin I stripped the 417 sniper parts off the standard and sold them. No need for them, so why not. Ill make someone else happy. Bought a 417 short rail off someone selling one. Ordered a short outer barrel and gas impingement system from VFC. Started asking for quotes from various techs I trust on AEG gearboxes. Started looking into HPA as well, cause why not. Decided to go HPA as it'd be about the same cost, and more importantly, much quieter. Ordered a REVO kit from Italy (3D printed kit that allows the G28 to take aftermarket triggers, more HPA engines, standard M4 hops, and more).
View attachment 59382
Ordered one of the new Wolverine Reaper Gen 2 Premium engines. Ordered a speed trigger, the internals needed to make the revo kit work, and an r-hopped barrel from the guy I always get my barrels from. Then it was onto externals. Ordered a fully trademarked Eotech XPS, G33 magnifier, KAC irons (closest I could find to gen 2 HK 417 irons - wasnt going to pay that much for the real thing - the rear sight alone is $300...), a Magpul AFG, a Surefire M600DF, and one of my signature blue-lasered PEQs. Rail arrived, and it sent it off with another project that will be unveiled here soon to be cerakoted in RAL8000. Rail returns, and most attachments come in. Decide I need a case, so pick up a Eylar 53in rifle case. Big, but i figured I'd need it. Case arrives, REVO kit arrives, Reaper arrives, bipod ordered and arrives. Install what I can, but Im still waiting for the order from VFC. Rest of the externals come in. Barrel from VFC finally arrived this morning, so in it went, gun went together, foam was plucked, and the HK 417a2/G28 project was complete. Now I can switch back and forth from G28 or 417a2 on the field depending on the role I want to play. The REVO kit also allows for full auto, so if the game allows it that is available. A fun project, a real head-turner (I hope), and it should have excellent range and accuracy. Im happy. Every part that should be is also trademarked, which really adds to the overall look.
View attachment 59376View attachment 59378View attachment 59379View attachment 59380View attachment 59381
Now, between these two I built a 417 for a mate. I believe I posted it here, but it involved making a custom fitting to mount a PTS UBR stock to it. I looks good, and works well. It also gave me some experience building 417s that I didn't have before, and it gave me an appreciation for the "Battle Rifle" class of weapon. Essentially, a BR is a carbine-length DMR. This would include short-barreled AR-10s, Scar mk17s, etc. In airsoft you follow rifleman rules. It just looks fancier. Around this time I started toying with the idea of creating my own BR, but in typical Spaz fashion it had to kind of stand out. Knowing how much of a pain VFC mk17s are to upgrade, I shied away from them, but 417s are expensive, with an approx $450 price tag. Add in the $500ish in internals I would have to do to field it and things weren't looking too good on that front either... Plus, there arent many aftermarket externals for the VFC 417s, and my squadmate already runs the one I built him. Then this broken G28 shows up and I had an idea...
Until this year, I always preferred my guns having a dedicated setup. My M27 stays as it is, its sights are zeroed, I dont pull attachments from other guns, etc. However, with me recently turning my VFC Jag Arms PHX-15 SBR (see previous page) into a hybrid Krytac LMG with a second upper, I started thinking of doing the same with my G28 LE. I mean, if I built a lower based around trigger response why wouldn't it work in a DMR as well as a BR? So I began working on it. In this period I saw the news from SHOT that HK had revamped their 417 program into a new model - the HK 417a2. Shiny, new, not made in airsoft to date, and best of all - in RAL8000, just like my spare G28 receivers.
View attachment 59383
So to begin I stripped the 417 sniper parts off the standard and sold them. No need for them, so why not. Ill make someone else happy. Bought a 417 short rail off someone selling one. Ordered a short outer barrel and gas impingement system from VFC. Started asking for quotes from various techs I trust on AEG gearboxes. Started looking into HPA as well, cause why not. Decided to go HPA as it'd be about the same cost, and more importantly, much quieter. Ordered a REVO kit from Italy (3D printed kit that allows the G28 to take aftermarket triggers, more HPA engines, standard M4 hops, and more).
View attachment 59382
Ordered one of the new Wolverine Reaper Gen 2 Premium engines. Ordered a speed trigger, the internals needed to make the revo kit work, and an r-hopped barrel from the guy I always get my barrels from. Then it was onto externals. Ordered a fully trademarked Eotech XPS, G33 magnifier, KAC irons (closest I could find to gen 2 HK 417 irons - wasnt going to pay that much for the real thing - the rear sight alone is $300...), a Magpul AFG, a Surefire M600DF, and one of my signature blue-lasered PEQs. Rail arrived, and it sent it off with another project that will be unveiled here soon to be cerakoted in RAL8000. Rail returns, and most attachments come in. Decide I need a case, so pick up a Eylar 53in rifle case. Big, but i figured I'd need it. Case arrives, REVO kit arrives, Reaper arrives, bipod ordered and arrives. Install what I can, but Im still waiting for the order from VFC. Rest of the externals come in. Barrel from VFC finally arrived this morning, so in it went, gun went together, foam was plucked, and the HK 417a2/G28 project was complete. Now I can switch back and forth from G28 or 417a2 on the field depending on the role I want to play. The REVO kit also allows for full auto, so if the game allows it that is available. A fun project, a real head-turner (I hope), and it should have excellent range and accuracy. Im happy. Every part that should be is also trademarked, which really adds to the overall look.
View attachment 59376View attachment 59378View attachment 59379View attachment 59380View attachment 59381
