To the original poster:
We are NOT "haters" of HK weapons, we hate HK's corporate attitude towards civillian ownership of "super evil" guns. HK is perfectly willing to make millions off us with their politically SAFE handgun line, but they refuse to sell a semi auto version of the MP5, or any of their "evil" rifles (the sl8 doesn't count because it is totally bastardized to get it into the country).
We hate this kind of crap from HK:
To conform to German export regulations, certain design changes made in the MR556 prevents the rifle’s upper receiver from being used on other AR-style firearms.
Just couldn't make the entire thing in the USA huh. Way to go HK. Way to give the customer what he wants HK. If that upper fit on AR lowers you would sell them by the millions, but you don't want that now do you HK because we're talking about civilians aren't we.
The civilian 5.56×45mm HK416 is called the MR556 and the 7.62×51mm HK417 civilian equivalent is the MR762. They are expected to arrive in late 2009.
Way to be ahead of the curve HK. Those guns will arrive just as the manufacturers of ARs/Sig556/etc finally catch up to demand. There will be little market demand, or market money left for your "MR556" (poetic justice).
The MR556 will be produced at Heckler & Koch’s new manufacturing facility at Newington, New Hampshire
Sheesh it's about time HK. Why did it take nearly two decades for you to learn what Sig figured out a long time ago with the Sig 556 rifle: i.e. that building "evil" rifles in the USA,
and building them the way the customer wants them (i.e. not sporterized), is how you make gozillions of dollars. Sig beat you to the punch so long ago it's hilarious. HK = VERY late to the party
