Heckler & Koch MR223A3 question

So it looks like the rifle I was eyeing is Mine. I was confused and thought it was an MR223A1 but I am fairly sure its the A3. I was thinking it was the A1 because of the quad rail. It comes with the A3 Buttstock, The same Flash Hider as the A3 and also comes with the Diopter/Drum sight with fold down front. It has the BF-DE date code (If I am reading it correctly it is a 2015 model?) Anyone know when they released the A3?

When the transfer is complete and I have it in my hands I will attempt to post some pics if I can manage to figure that out and perhaps one of you can help me with Identifying the specific model if the info I gave above is not enough. Thanks in advance.
 
I have not received the rifle yet. The pics that I seen of it have the dust cover open but It does look like there is a bolt release underneath I just cant say forsure.

Does the A1 not have a bolt release on ejection side of the rifle?
 
So it looks like the rifle I was eyeing is Mine. I was confused and thought it was an MR223A1 but I am fairly sure its the A3. I was thinking it was the A1 because of the quad rail. It comes with the A3 Buttstock, The same Flash Hider as the A3 and also comes with the Diopter/Drum sight with fold down front. It has the BF-DE date code (If I am reading it correctly it is a 2015 model?) Anyone know when they released the A3?

When the transfer is complete and I have it in my hands I will attempt to post some pics if I can manage to figure that out and perhaps one of you can help me with Identifying the specific model if the info I gave above is not enough. Thanks in advance.



There aren't many A1 around because the now defunct R.Nichol had imported few HK MR. For a period of time they imported nothing. Tactical imports did some German A1 like back in 2013 / 14 ish when the german shops / distributors started unloading all the A1 for the A3 to enter the market.
 
I have not received the rifle yet. The pics that I seen of it have the dust cover open but It does look like there is a bolt release underneath I just cant say forsure.

Does the A1 not have a bolt release on ejection side of the rifle?

You got balls to buy an 3k rifle without knowing everything about !! Lol .
 
You got balls to buy an 3k rifle without knowing everything about !! Lol .

I HAD too have it, HAD TOO. The last 3 times I was just about to buy one someone else snatched it up. I even called one time and the guy on the phone said they had one but were in the process of selling to a customer in the store.

I know the A3 has a few changes that I like but overall I am not super picky on the specific version.
 
I have not received the rifle yet. The pics that I seen of it have the dust cover open but It does look like there is a bolt release underneath I just cant say forsure.

Does the A1 not have a bolt release on ejection side of the rifle?

Yes, thats right, the A1 does not have bolt release on the ejection side of the rifle, so its very easy to tell if its A1 or A3.
Everything else you mentioned doesnt really matter as a FH can be added to an A1. A slim line stock can be added to an A1, and of course BUIS can be added.


On another note, can any AR upper be put onto the MR223A3 lower? And MR223A3 upper onto regular AR lower?
 
Yes, thats right, the A1 does not have bolt release on the ejection side of the rifle, so its very easy to tell if its A1 or A3.
Everything else you mentioned doesnt really matter as a FH can be added to an A1. A slim line stock can be added to an A1, and of course BUIS can be added.

True. I knew that would be a possibility. I really like the Drum/Diopter Sights that HK makes. In your opinion is the Slimline stock better than the A1/E1 (I think thats what they call it)? The A1/E1 seems to be kind of like a SOPMOD style stock but having that large pad on it seems a bit strange. My other AR (Armalite M15 Competition 13") has Daniel Defense's furniture kit, that stock has two different sized pads. I prefer the wider of the two but it still seems quite a bit thinner than the A1/E1. On HKPro alot of guys seems to prefer the A1/E1. I have also heard that the factory trigger in them is nothing to write home about, I do not want to pay $600-$700 for the Geissele trigger but if I were to come across a used KAC 2-stage Match for a decent price is that a worthwhile upgrade? My AR has Armalite's 2-Stage Match trigger in it that breaks very clean and resets great. Too my knowledge those are the only 2 triggers that work in it?


On another note, can any AR upper be put onto the MR223A3 lower? And MR223A3 upper onto regular AR lower?[/QUOTE]

I am not certain, but I think you can run the A3 upper on a non HK lower. There are a few videos on youtube of guys running 416 uppers on non-HK lowers. I have yet to see a video or a definitive thread/post specifying if it is possible to run AR uppers on mr223a3 lowers.

@ Casperpan68
Thanks, I have drooled over them since they were released. I have 2 really nice optics(Nightforce NX8 and Elcan OS4X) but I was thinking about going with a red dot on this rifle. The MRO and Aimpoint T1/T2 were the first two I was interested in seeing, I had an older EOTech that was nice as well but it was brutal on batteries.
 
You can run AR uppers on any MR lower other than the very first gen MR223 - just make to use the correct buffer and spring.

The fat stock is ok if you are a bigger guy or you are wearing soft armour / flak vest with more shoulder/chest coverage. If you don't wear soft armour or flak vest, stick with the slim line.
 
You can run AR uppers on any MR lower other than the very first gen MR223 - just make to use the correct buffer and spring.

That is good to know, when you say the very first gen of the MR223 I assume that is NOT the A1, Correct? I appreciate the feedback on the Stock. I plan on keeping it basically stock minus the trigger if I can come across one for cheap on the EE some day if that is actually worth the price. Do you know if there are any other choices minus the KAC and Geissele brands for aftermarket triggers? Also is it true that you lose the ability to switch the rifle to safe with the hammer down if you swap the trigger?
 
Also is it true that you lose the ability to switch the rifle to safe with the hammer down if you swap the trigger?

Geissele specifically states that on their website, which i think sucks cause I've already gotten used to that feature.
I dont think the stock trigger is bad, but I do plan on getting a Geissele for it later down the line.
 
Geissele specifically states that on their website, which i think sucks cause I've already gotten used to that feature.
I dont think the stock trigger is bad, but I do plan on getting a Geissele for it later down the line.

I knew that was the case with the Geissele, I assume since its just an AR trigger it will be the same on the KAC? If so I may just keep it stock, The trigger on my other AR is decent but on the heavy side @ 5lbs so its not like I am used to a 3lb Timney or something.
 
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This is my build as of right now. I’m waiting for my surefire muzzle device and I need an PEQ or Steiner laser. I kept everything orginal because I don’t want to lose the ability to put it on safe with hammer down.
 

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This is my build as of right now. I’m waiting for my surefire muzzle device and I need an PEQ or Steiner laser. I kept everything orginal because I don’t want to lose the ability to put it on safe with hammer down.

I love the RAL8000, that would have been my choice if I could wait (which I could not). I also really like the safety being able to move with the hammer down. I do have another AR and never liked that about them but its not a deal breaker at all for me. I think that is a heck of a setup, and with a DBAL or PEQ that would be perfect. How is the recoil and gassing with what appears to be the 11in? I know they are over gassed for reliability but I have heard they improved the venting and tamed the gas block a bit on the A3. I also would like to maybe try the HK/B&T grip pod that they use on the m27, worst case I can try it on a different rifle.

Mine is black and has the 16in barrel so I am not 100% sure which direction I want to go optic wise. I am leaning towards an MRO/MRO-Patrol an EOTech but Larue (I think, and I am sure there are others out there) makes a mount that is perfect for the small Aimpoints like the T1/T2 to be the perfect height with the slightly taller rail on these things vs AR's. I also really like the RMR Dual Illuminated with the Triangle or even a 1MOA or 3.25MOA dot. If I can manage I will post some photos when she gets here this week hopefully.
 
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I’m looking for an PEQ or Dbal rn lol. It’s shoots amazing, the recoil is very manageable and all the excess gas gets shot forward. I think the grip pod will serve an good purpose on an 16inch any rifle short you won’t need an grip pod, but do some more research on them, I heard they are unsayable, break easily etc.
I think with an 16inch barrel you’d be better off with magnify optic like an ACOG or Elcan or the Eotech with magnifier setup, since you do have the benefit of the barrel length so might as well but it to the best use. But that’s just my 2 cents. I played around with the MRO and MRO patrol , honestly I don’t see any justification for the extra on the Patrol, I ended up going with an MRO with green dot and I love it, I can pick up the dot in a heart beat, it’s amazing with the sight picture as well. Get into an shop and play around with a few optics and you will know what you want. An 1/3 co witness mount is what I think you want. Yeah now, I’m excited to see another MR223 build :)
 
I’m looking for an PEQ or Dbal rn lol. It’s shoots amazing, the recoil is very manageable and all the excess gas gets shot forward. I think the grip pod will serve an good purpose on an 16inch any rifle short you won’t need an grip pod, but do some more research on them, I heard they are unsayable, break easily etc.
I think with an 16inch barrel you’d be better off with magnify optic like an ACOG or Elcan or the Eotech with magnifier setup, since you do have the benefit of the barrel length so might as well but it to the best use. But that’s just my 2 cents. I played around with the MRO and MRO patrol , honestly I don’t see any justification for the extra on the Patrol, I ended up going with an MRO with green dot and I love it, I can pick up the dot in a heart beat, it’s amazing with the sight picture as well. Get into an shop and play around with a few optics and you will know what you want. An 1/3 co witness mount is what I think you want. Yeah now, I’m excited to see another MR223 build :)

The MRO tube is so big compared to the small Aimpoints as well. I did not see it mounted on a rifle but did get to see one in a store. I would imagine it would be very nice. One thing I did notice though it did have the slightest "distortion or fisheye" and had a blue tint but I have read that is somewhat the norm on most of them. The old EOTech was nice for me because I have slight astigmatism. I will try the Elcan OS4X and see how it fits as well but the NX8 I have will more than likely be the wrong height with my current mount. I have always wanted an ACOG after trying them a few times on friends rigs. I will have to move optics back and forth for a while until I can save up enough to buy another optic, that will not happen soon though.
With mine having the Quad Rail I will try to save weight as much as possible, It is not really necessary even to have a bi-pod for what I do 99% of the time but I like the idea of a 2-in-1 Grip-Pod and if I did go with an ACOG I could make a M27 style setup. I did read about some of the shortcomings of the grip pod like its thick width and breaking in rough conditions, B&T did make an upgraded, slightly thinner and stronger version though from what I have read. They are expensive though.
 
FD32F85D-F177-44BB-9DBA-AFC6A84B9968.jpgIT doesn’t seem big once is mounted on the rifle. I thought I need an T2 first but opt for an MRO and I love it. They only had those issue on the gen 1. I have an Gen 2 and it’s amazing no issues at all. I think Elcan is the best option ! I would get one if I had the 16inch barrel. Acog is an good choice as well. Yup I heard a lot of stories about the grip pod. Just remember buy one buy once.
 

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View attachment 218809IT doesn’t seem big once is mounted on the rifle. I thought I need an T2 first but opt for an MRO and I love it. They only had those issue on the gen 1. I have an Gen 2 and it’s amazing no issues at all. I think Elcan is the best option ! I would get one if I had the 16inch barrel. Acog is an good choice as well. Yup I heard a lot of stories about the grip pod. Just remember buy one buy once.

I for sure seen the first gen then. It had significantly noticeable blue tint whereas yours has none. I also really like the green dot. It was still a very nice red dot but it was almost as blue as the Meprolight m21. That looks like it fits quite well but it does seem sort of tall compared to many of the photos I see of 416's and MR223's. I know that is kind of personal preference or guys are setting theirs 1/3 or Co-Witness but I am curious since I even see MR223/416 specific mounts made for Aimpoints and others.
 
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