HK SL8 thoughts

[bikemutt]

Once again unsupervised, in a local pawnshop I came across an HK sl8 that appears to be in mint condition. They also have an HK USC .45 coming off forfeit shortly.

Is the SL8 anything special as far as .223 launchers go? They want $1800 for it.

 

[bannockburn]

bikemutt

Seems a little pricey but it is a fairly decent rifle using the same operating system as the HK91. I had an SL7, chambered in .308, and it was a very well made gun. My only problem was with finding accessories for it (like the scope mount, spare magazines, etc.), and how much they cost if you did find them. I ended up trading it for a NIB FEG SA85M.

 

[jobu07]

I think that's a little on the high side, but given the scarcity of them these days that's probably a fair price if you want one.

It would also make a fine host for a G36 conversion if you wanted to sink a second boatload of money into the rifle.

Years ago I picked up a USC and did the UMP conversion to it. I ended up with a unique carbine that is a ton of fun to shoot, but cost a CONSIDERABLE amount of money to get that way. But it was what I wanted and I'm very happy with it. If this rifle is really calling to you pick it up, you won't see another one for a while.

 

[barnbwt]

"Seems a little pricey but it is a fairly decent rifle using the same operating system as the HK91."
This one's a modified G36 action, making it much like a SCAR. A nice gun, and special at one time before the market got lousy with polymer AR18 clones.

TCB

 

[ttarp]

Thats a fair deal, you can find them for cheaper if you watch and wait, but keep in mind the rifle is discontinued, so prices will only rise at this point. Its a gas piston design, so its quite a bit different than the Hk 9x series, but I can't speak to how they shoot.

 

[Sunray]

The SL8 is a civilian G36. Same as an HK 91 is a G3. And a G41 is a 93.
"...a second boatload of money into the rifle..." Money asked on Gunbroker would sink your boat. An SL8 runs abut $2400Cdn up here. None around though.

 

[cslinger]

Can't speak to the sl8 but the USC with grease gun mag conversion is tons of fun.

 

[Storm]

I've had one for seven years. I find it to be extremely accurate and completely reliable. An army sniper shot mine (iron sighted) and he did some incredible shooting with it. He was impressed. I have a number of sighting options for mine on separate rails including factory irons on an original SL8-1 long rail. I enjoy it most shooting it that way but a scope optimizes it. A bipod also takes it to a whole other level.

Being discontinued with so many of them converted into G36 look a likes you will see less of them and prices may rise. They are criticized for the thumbhole stock but I like the way the my thumb locks in although reaching the safety becomes an issue. The stock wasn't voluntary on HK's part but was required to be able to import them. The ten round mag capacity is also an issue for some but for me ten rounds is just fine for this type of rifle. ProMag makes a twenty round mag (that's quite good) but use of one is a 922r violation. Being single stack it is a very long mag that precludes shooting prone or off a bench.

It's a pawn shop so offer less, but knowing what I know I'd pull the trigger for $1800.

 

[briansmithwins]

It fills much the same role as the SCAR, and once you pay for the conversion the SCAR would come out cheaper and have the benefit of using AR mags.

The ARX is similar and comes in much cheaper at $1200.

And the ARX doesn't need to be deneutered.

BSW

 

[barnbwt]

The AUG is operationally somewhat similar, though obviously a different layout. There's also the MSBS that should be coming here at some point in the future. And the Remington ACR. The G36's primary contribution, eclipsing even its extensive use of polymer, was reviving interest in the AR180 short stroke gas piston system, which seems to have swept the current generation of cutting edge designs (long stroke and DI/DG also making a showing, but more as derivatives of existing schemes with the exception of the Tavor and CZ805)

TCB

 

[briansmithwins]

The AUG is operationally somewhat similar,

The AUG is similar in that it's another short stroke system and a Johnson type bolt, but don't have a lot in common beyond that. The AUG gas regulator is manually adjustable, the bolt is prevented from camming by a sleeve in the bolt carrier, and there are two op rods that also contain the recoil springs.

Pretty much any gas operated firearms are going to be either long or short stroke piston, with a few exceptions like the Mini-14 or ARX that use a moving cylinder and fixed piston.

BSW