The VFC / Umarex HK416 Owners Thread

[The_Roach]

Took the bad boy for its first outing.

Chrono clocked at 320fps with 0.30g and I was enjoying decent, reliable, accurate firing first. As the weather degraded with heavy rains and the mags were in the cold, performance started degrading too. Inconsistent shots, a dry fire every so often, maybe just due to brand new "stiff" mags. The bolt didn't always lock back on an empty mag. However, you can hear the difference between a dry fire and an actual shot, prompting a mag change.

The range was underwhelming. I might have to spend more time fiddling with the hop-up but at some point I considered feeding 0.20g to the beast.

Everything else worked fine except for a runaway burst when I tried to mag dump my last rounds and it dried fired while discharging a full gas mag. The bolt literally froze.

Finally, how the hell did *this* happen ? And how do I fix it ? Even my tiniest Allen key (0.7 mm) is too big for the hex recess at one end ?

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[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

320fps with .3g bbs? Isn't that way too hot for most sights or were you using it as a DMR?

Looks like you need a bit of thread lock on that screw. Although i dont know how you are gonna get it back in.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

I didn't bother taking my 416 to the last game day, at around 3°C I thought the chances of having it work reliably were extremely low.  All the stuff you experienced sounds like low temperature problems that would have been suffered by any GBBR, with the possible exception of an MWS

 

[Nick G]

320fps with .3g bbs? Isn't that way too hot for most sights or were you using it as a DMR?

Looks like you need a bit of thread lock on that screw. Although i dont know how you are gonna get it back in.

320 on .30's is 1.42j   So over power limits for the UK , assuming its not semi locked as a DMR,  Surprised the site alowed it to be used.

 

[Wavey_Gravey]

I’ve been to sites with my MWS shooting a bit hot and they’ve stated so long as I stay within the DMR minimum engagement distances they’re cool with it.

Let be honest, if your using you’re GBBR in full auto they already know you’re going to be a nobber ?

 

[The_Roach]

320 on .30's is 1.42j   So over power limits for the UK , assuming its not semi locked as a DMR,  Surprised the site alowed it to be used.

It was the site's chrono, I did state I was running 0.30g, they tagged my rifle as OK, after doing the maths. Mag dumping the few 30 rds mags I have, never seemed like an option to me. Besides, I like to think of myself as not a dick. I don't play this game to hurt others. And to be fair, I don't even play for the frags.

 On my first 2 games of the day, I barely went through one mag.
 

 

[Nick G]

It was the site's chrono, I did state I was running 0.30g, they tagged my rifle as OK, after doing the maths. Mag dumping the few 30 rds mags I have, never seemed like an option to me. Besides, I like to think as myself as not a dick. I don't play this game to hurt others. And to be fair, I don't even play for the frags.

 On my first 2 games of the day, I barely went through one mag.
 

It's totally on them , not on you.  I think most sites know that us GBBR users are sensible with our limited ammo and mag cool down , lets face it we are never going to go 'full wanker' with a GBBR ? 

May well be that they have allowed for cooldown or alow a margin on the chrono.

How was the performance in the colder weather ? I've run my WE based L119's down to 4 or 5 degrees with red or black gas, Colder than that and I'm not playing ! 

 

[The_Roach]

It's totally on them , not on you.  I think most sites know that us GBBR users are sensible with our limited ammo and mag cool down , lets face it we are never going to go 'full wanker' with a GBBR ? 

May well be that they have allowed for cooldown or alow a margin on the chrono.

How was the performance in the colder weather ? I've run my WE based L119's down to 4 or 5 degrees with red or black gas, Colder than that and I'm not playing ! 

Fine initially, I used the standard mag first, no dramas. As the rain started pouring, and my mags on my chest rig and belt which were exposed, shots became inconsistent. With a significant drop in temperature in the afternoon, I had an increasing amount of dry fire incidents. I was running standard Green Gas however. I need to run a range day, fine tune the hop-up, gas and BB weight choice. I have the feeling I'm not making the best of a fine rifle.

 

[Nick G]

Fine initially, I used the standard mag first, no dramas. As the rain started pouring, and my mags on my chest rig and belt which were exposed, shots became inconsistent. With a significant drop in temperature in the afternoon, I had an increasing amount of dry fire incidents. I was running standard Green Gas however. I need to run a range day, fine tune the hop-up, gas and BB weight choice. I have the feeling I'm not making the best of a fine rifle.

It's certainly worth having a session on the range to fine tune everything.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

Fine initially, I used the standard mag first, no dramas. As the rain started pouring, and my mags on my chest rig and belt which were exposed, shots became inconsistent. With a significant drop in temperature in the afternoon, I had an increasing amount of dry fire incidents. I was running standard Green Gas however. I need to run a range day, fine tune the hop-up, gas and BB weight choice. I have the feeling I'm not making the best of a fine rifle.

You had the mags with the feed lips facing down, I hope!
But even then, any moisture getting into the system is going to be tricky... tolerances around the nozzle and inside the barrel are fine, even if they're all over the place everywhere else, it's not going to take much to spoil the feeding and accuracy.   And the temperature will mess with the gas system enormously.  Almost every pistol I've seen test-fired at the chrono on a cold day is either parping out BB's at super-slow speed, or just de-gassing in a cloud of disappointment.   (With the exception of plastic slide TM's, obviously )   
It's going to be the same with rifles, unfortunately.

I have used my 416 at 10 centigrade reasonably successfully.  But less than that and I decide not to have a possibly sour experience with my favourite gat

 

[The_Roach]

Oh and, trying to make sense of contradictory information. 

The NPAS.

Is it factory fitted on all 416 ?

I have a HK bought 416D Gen 3, and I don't think it has a NPAS in the bolt.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

No for some odd reason it's missing from the gen3

I don't think they're very expensive, is the only positive thing I can say about that!

 

[Dawidd222]

Hi guys I’m literally about to pull the trigger on the hk 4165a gen 3 in tan what’s everyone’s experiences like ? 
on Reddit no matter what gun I look at buying they all moan about something so 

what should I look out for ? What upgrades etc 

thanks 

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

• Gen 3 doesn't have an NPAS built in like the Gen 2 does, but may have some better components inside, so ya takes ya choice on that.
  
• It will be happier in the sunshine than in the winter, just cos it's gas (and not a TM MWS?).
  
• The hop adjustment seemed to creep on mine, but it's super-easy to adjust back (or maybe the hop rubber was changing its performance - getting oily or cold or dirty?)
  
• And the latest two mags I bought for it (the black rather than grey versions) both leaked when I received them.  Both got fixed - temporarily.  One is now useless because I can't seem to fit it back together properly (and will be a donor if/when I buy an HPA adapter from Airtac) and the other had a slow leak last time I checked.
  So, when buying extra mags, do some research because it may be the grey ones are the ones to get.   Or some old stock or BCM ones.
  
• Gas mags are heavy and are more likely to jump out of pouch when you run - make sure they're nice and snug or have retaining bungees / covers.
  

But...

I love my '416, it's the coolest gun I own.  
 

 

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

I have a Gen 3 416A5 and it has a NPAS fitted. The one ones for the Asian market didn't have. Unless I have been conned and was given a Gen 2 instead?

Either way, mine is brilliant and is the best gun I own. I just run mine stock and give it a good clean between games.

 

[The_Roach]

Question for the community, I'm toying with the idea of pimping the stock, I'm looking at Magpul and IMI Defense, but I don't know whether they're actually compatible.
If anyone has any suggestions for body parts specifically intended for the VFC HK 416D 3rd gen, I'm a taker.
 

 

[Nick G]

I've got one of these beasts on my bench at to moment, belongs to a friend who has asked me to give it a go through. I've adjusted the NPAS to give it a decent but usable power level, done the usual clean and relube and cleaned the barrel, zero'd his red dot and it's shooting very well.

What's the thoughts on barrel and hop rubber on these ? I normally go to a M/L crazy jet barrel and M/L rubber in my own GBB kit. But my MP7 and 249 are both running the stock barrel and rubber and frankly dont feel like they need a change, so I'm debating if it's worthwhile on the 416.

Any one swapped them and was it worth it ? 

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

I changed the hop rubber, but I'm buggered if I can remember what to!  Hmm I'm thinking a green VSR-compatible thing, probably a Maple Leaf then.  It might get a mention earlier in this thread (but can't go looking right now, about to go off to be sporty).   
And I bought a spare VFC one because like you, I think it's probably fine.

I'd too would love to hear if a barrel swap makes any appreciable difference.  More accuracy would always be appreciated.

I had a plink in the garden just a couple of days ago.   Just to re-affirm my absolute love of shooting this gun (and probably most other GBB's too)

 

[Nick G]

Thanks for the reply. Now you mention it , I'm sure i remember reading about a M/L rubber being fitted. Seem to recal it needed the locating nub removing. Sounds like the difference is marginal then.

I think I'll suggest that he and I have a comparison of his 416 against my L119 A1 which does have a crazy jet in it, whilst different brands they are at least the same basic platform, if mine is demonstrably more accurate or more consistant, I'll put a C/J in the 416 .

I'll report back either way once we've had a try.

 

[Nick G]

Just following on from my last post, my mate reported a significant improvement in range and accuracy after I had given it a go through.  He certainly nailed me with it a couple of times ! 

That is still on stock barrel and hop rubber running Geoffs .30's, so I'm inclined to think any gains from a M/L barrel and or rubber are going to be marginal.