What is with the hate of the SL8?

zupermann said:
I heard that, but HK could've set up manufacture in the US where most of their sales (of that type) are anyway.

Or, they could've set up a US branch/subsidiary that sells semi G-36 stocks/receiver units so people can turn the Euro/German SL8's into something that resembles the real McCoy. Instead, we had to take a chance with aftermarket parts and hope they fit. High Kost (HK) needs to consider their customers more. Maybe they tried the above. I don't know....
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They already had HK USA but the law was such that HK Germany still would have been in violation of the law.

I'm not quite sure how they are getting around things now with the MR223A1. The A1s are made in the USA as far as I know, but I would be surprised if that was the only difference because they could have just as easily started up US production of the G36 then. For that matter then it would have made little sense for them to produce the original MR223 in Europe with a neutered design, they would have just done them the "right way" in the US and then exported them to Germany I'd think.

I'm guessing they either found a loophole in the law or restructured the company somehow to facilitate this, I'm just not sure what it was.
 
blaxsun said:
The HK MR223 A1 (German manufacturer) does not have the pin offset of the first HK MR223. This has been confirmed with actual physical versions already in members' hands.
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OK I was wrong then, I thought the 223A1 was being made in the US too.

I dunno, I'm as confused as you.
 
I dont know what people complain about, I ACTUALLY owned one and I loved it. It is very accurate, reliable, and durable. The aesthetics do not appeal to some, but if you can get past that they are a great rifle!
 
blaxsun said:
The HK MR223 A1 (German manufacturer) does not have the pin offset of the first HK MR223. This has been confirmed with actual physical versions already in members' hands.
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It's a neutered 416. Doesn't include the chrome-lined barrel. Also it's not an SBR.
 
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fireball said:
My wife went out looking for a M1A for my birthday present and she came back with a SL8, she liked the look of the SL8 more. :D
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She's a sucker for a lost cause! :p

All throwing you under the bus aside. The way your SL8 is it would be worthwhile. Yours was an example of getting a very good deal and then using your expertise to inexpensively turn it into what it should have been to begin with. For the rest of us modifying the SL8 is an expensive proposition.
 
Davy Crockett said:
uh huh..... and how much did that "simple" barrel and stock cost?

That is what sucks about the SL8. Like was said earlier its a $5k gun before it is somewhat ergonomic.
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Here is a previous post on a different thread.

G36 clone is not as expensive as ppl make it out to be. You'd be surprise how much you can get for the old SL8 parts.
Rifle, $1650 used, mint condition.
Sold SL8 barrel assembly for $650
Sold SL8-4 top rail $40
Bought G36k barrel assembly and G36c top rail for $600 (lucky deal)
Sold SL8 stripped stock for $120
Bought Stock Block and G36c stock, with pin for $320
Bought G36 FBI lower for $200
Sold G36 FBI lower internals/parts kit for $160 (only for real G36 users)
Sold SL8 mag for $50
Bought 8 G36 mags at $80 each
Added extended bolt release for $35.

That's not anywhere near $5000, its not even $2000 including the SL8.... Took about 8 months to get all the parts.

Great rifle in either configuration, I used the stock SL8 for about 2 years, just depends what floats your boat.
Just my 2 cents.
 
I brought Driller212's SL8-1 (US Version) from him, was a good rifle and a tack driver with hand loads. I ended up having to import a new bolt and magwell adaptor for it from the US to do the AR Conversion, Cost me over $300, after a bit more customization I said to hell with this, traded it for a AR180b and inturn traded that for an XCR outta the 3 the XCR wins hands down.
 
I just fired my first SL8 yesterday (a friend just got one).
Not bad, it`s ok. The only major complaint I have is that the trigger is so close to the thumb hole, I could not wrap my thumb around the grip and get proper trigger control.

I also shot a XCR (owned by another shooter at the range, traded with him trying my Tavor), I was pleasantly surprised. I like that it is ambidextrous (lefty here!). The trigger was much easier to handle than on the SL8. He just got it, apparently the trigger is much better than the first models? No "loctite" issue yet.

But I love my Tavor so much more!
 
If HK released an SL8 variant with a threaded barrel and folding stock for roughly the same price point as existing SL8s... Right now the sole factor working against the SL8 is the conversion cost - which puts it into Swiss Arms territory (or even beyond).
 
blaxsun said:
I've only ever handled an XCR, and while it exceeded my expectations in terms of the overall build - it never struck me as one of those "must have" rifles. At least not like my Tavor, which was love at first sight.
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Yep same here, and then I had a look at the price tag on the XCR, I know I will not get one!
 
blaxsun said:
Yes, but as others have indicated - building a converted G36 for $2k is probably the exception rather than the rule...
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I'm not saying everyone will convert their sl8 to g36 for $2000, but I find it hard to believe anyone spent $5000 to do it, even $4000 seems high.
People with no experience in the matter make up numbers and other people get turned away from the idea because of it.
 
polskadude said:
I'm not saying everyone will convert their sl8 to g36 for $2000, but I find it hard to believe anyone spent $5000 to do it, even $4000 seems high.
People with no experience in the matter make up numbers and other people get turned away from the idea because of it.
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If you take a new SL8-4 in the mid-2k range, by the time you source the lower receiver and folding stock - you'll be into it for well over 3k. Start changing out barrels and adding optic rails and 4k isn't that much of a stretch. This is, of course, before the sale of any of the original parts.

You're the only person I know who did a conversion for 2k. I know quite a few that are into theirs for the high-2's or low 3's (and that's after recouping costs). So again, while I'm not saying it can't be done - I just think for your average buyer the prospect of sourcing all the parts is somewhat daunting. Especially when you can just buy an XCR, Tavor, etc. and be good to go.
 
FWIW... I like the thumbhole stock of my SL8. The whole conversion thing is a personal preference issue, not required by any means. There's a lot of over-hype in this thread. If you want a high speed rifle buy an AR or Tavor - with the nose heavy honkin' barrel, the SL8 will never be one (well besides a short barrel, making it restricted).

Then again its only a bench rifle for me, for which it is hella-accurate semi and the purpose I bought it. Just my two cents as someone who owns an SL8, Tavor, XCR, AR, and a couple VZ8s.

Bottom line, for anyone thinking of getting one, try before you buy. The stock may not be an issue for you at all.

I will agree it's a little overpriced - but this is Canada so that's par for the course.
 
the_klenzer said:
FWIW... I like the thumbhole stock of my SL8. The whole conversion thing is a personal preference issue, not required by any means. There's a lot of over-hype in this thread. If you want a high speed rifle buy an AR or Tavor.

Then again its only a bench rifle for me, for which it is hella-accurate and the purpose I bought it.
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For those that don't necessarily want a G36-style folding stock, there's also the option of adding either an AR-compatible, fixed ACR or folding/collapsible ACR stock with the new Hera lowers that Wolverine is offering.
 
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