Would it be a mistake to buy a Heckler & Koch SL8 .???
- Thread starter blueflash
- Start date
I digress. Buying a Auto Ordnance M1 carbine was a mistakefor me. Its back at North Sylva for the second time in less then a year. I have put only 3 boxes of rounds through it and I have come to realize buying that thing was a 900$ mistake. K
Actually it is a 1000$ mistake so far. I had to pay 50$ both times to ship the stupid gun to get fixed.
As for the SL8. The op should buy one.
Canadian_Zuk
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Pickering, Ontario
Your not stuck with the factory rail, you can buy different height rails. Look at mine in post #8, it has the lower rail on it now and I could bring the scope down lower if I wished by using low rings instead of the PEPR mouint. It's no higher than an scoped AR.
mebiuspower
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Morontario
People love talking about spare parts but they don't realize how many rounds they shoot in a year...
I've owned two SL8's in the past and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. Both were capable of shooting 1 moa off a solid rest with quality ammo. My last one had the Hera Arms lower that really improved the ergonomics of the rifle. I had a quality magwell adapter but found the factory HK mags to be better quality so I swapped it back. Just like the Swiss Arms rifles the HK mags are better than AR mags. These rifles are built for accuracy so setting it up for high volume shooting made no sense to me. They're accurate enough that if you do your part you don't need 10 rounds to drop two yotes.
The only reason I sold mine was that I bought an ACR and converted it to non restricted 223 and then bought a 6.8SPC barrel and then had a 300BLK barrel made. If the HK had caliber conversion options I would have never sold it.
If you want accuracy then you don't want an XCR, Tavor, mini 14, SU16, or Swiss Arms. I've tried them all and none were close to an SL8 in the accuracy department.
I would wait for the Desert Tech MDR. I've emailed them and they will be using a Lothar Walther barrel just like the HK so accuracy should be better than our other options. Maybe buy an SL8 and test it out and then when the MDR is released sell the HK if you're not satisfied.
I wouldn't worry about parts availability as you should be able to get anything in the next few years. Worrying about ten years down the road is a little silly, if the government has their way we won't own firearms by then.
Good luck
The only reason I sold mine was that I bought an ACR and converted it to non restricted 223 and then bought a 6.8SPC barrel and then had a 300BLK barrel made. If the HK had caliber conversion options I would have never sold it.
If you want accuracy then you don't want an XCR, Tavor, mini 14, SU16, or Swiss Arms. I've tried them all and none were close to an SL8 in the accuracy department.
I would wait for the Desert Tech MDR. I've emailed them and they will be using a Lothar Walther barrel just like the HK so accuracy should be better than our other options. Maybe buy an SL8 and test it out and then when the MDR is released sell the HK if you're not satisfied.
I wouldn't worry about parts availability as you should be able to get anything in the next few years. Worrying about ten years down the road is a little silly, if the government has their way we won't own firearms by then.
Good luck
Wow never even heard of the MDR until now.... perty cool
available in 2047
what?
like...
what?
why dont you suggest to go buy a fisher price nerf gun while you're at it?
They're good rifles...I had one for a but a few years ago. I'll echo what others have said that spare parts are unlikely to be a concern. I liked the modern look, and the original thumbhole stock didn't bother me. I found it was about a 1 or 1.5 MOA rifle with good ammo, but the less-than-optimal trigger pull detracted a bit from accuracy potential.
@ Ebola re the M1 Ordnance carbine:
Maybe just a dud? I got the paratrooper version (Auto Ordnance) this spring with the folding stock and it's got to be one of my favourite rifles. Granted I've only put 100 rounds through it, it's been solid, accurate, and becoming more reliable now as more rounds have went through it. Had several FTF in the first 75 rounds, but figure that'll just be normal break in over the first few hundred. Great iron sights and the .30 Carbine is a nice lively pistol calibre round. Overall a fun gun to shoot. I had numerous offers to trade for it among my local shooting group after they gave it a go.
Re discussion on SL8's:
Ordered an SL8-4 last week. Anxiously awaiting its arrival. Got in on the premise that it would be an accurate target rifle, not a run&gun competition rifle. From what I've read, it's accurate, reliable, and an overall quality rifle with some flexibility to customize. Am interested in picking up the magwell adapter to avoid the necessity of purchasing expensive mags dedicated to this rifle. Pretty sure Wolverine has some aftermarket support for these guys.
Anyways, of the 4 I'd say get the SL8 for your application, and (if you could have a second) add the Tavor for the most flexibility. The SL8 seems to be the most dedicated for accuracy, whereas the Tavor is geared around ergonomics.
Maybe just a dud? I got the paratrooper version (Auto Ordnance) this spring with the folding stock and it's got to be one of my favourite rifles. Granted I've only put 100 rounds through it, it's been solid, accurate, and becoming more reliable now as more rounds have went through it. Had several FTF in the first 75 rounds, but figure that'll just be normal break in over the first few hundred. Great iron sights and the .30 Carbine is a nice lively pistol calibre round. Overall a fun gun to shoot. I had numerous offers to trade for it among my local shooting group after they gave it a go.
Re discussion on SL8's:
Ordered an SL8-4 last week. Anxiously awaiting its arrival. Got in on the premise that it would be an accurate target rifle, not a run&gun competition rifle. From what I've read, it's accurate, reliable, and an overall quality rifle with some flexibility to customize. Am interested in picking up the magwell adapter to avoid the necessity of purchasing expensive mags dedicated to this rifle. Pretty sure Wolverine has some aftermarket support for these guys.
Anyways, of the 4 I'd say get the SL8 for your application, and (if you could have a second) add the Tavor for the most flexibility. The SL8 seems to be the most dedicated for accuracy, whereas the Tavor is geared around ergonomics.
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They're hella pricey for a semi .223, accessories are unobtanium and $$$, and they look/feel clunky.
But they are HK, and they are quality.
Not my cup of tea, but if it floats your boat, do it.
Just try to handle and shoot one before you buy, and compare to other options, rather than buying sight unseen.
I'd opt for a Tavor, ACR or Swiss Arms if going for a non-low budget semi NR .223, though.
But they are HK, and they are quality.
Not my cup of tea, but if it floats your boat, do it.
Just try to handle and shoot one before you buy, and compare to other options, rather than buying sight unseen.
I'd opt for a Tavor, ACR or Swiss Arms if going for a non-low budget semi NR .223, though.
Its a dud alright. I have 3 different mags from 3 different companies and all of them wont feed more then 3 rounds without jamming up on the feed ramp or most of the time the bolt just fails to strip any rounds from the magazines as it looks like they are all sitting to low.
After the first fix. The rifle now stovepipes on occasion and the front guard intermittently pops of after a few rounds unless you shim the barrel band. Also the fix did nothing to fix the fail to strip any bullets from the mag well.
I do believe the mag well is cut wrong preventing the mags from sitting high enough. Im trying to convince North Sylva of that but they probaly think different. I will never buy a Auto Ordnance firearm again.
I like the bloody carbine and the .30 carbine round is awesome but this rifle is gone once I get it working right.
Sorry for the thread highjack.
No
Magpul makes G36 magazines and with a small modification to either the gun or magazine they work in the SL8. The reliability of the mags system on the G36 is part of what makes it so reliable compared to other 223 designs
Yeah like the SL8 is not a Fisher Price. Have you ever held a SL8. I have its, far over rated, cheap and plasticy as well. Does it warrant the 2k price tag.. #### no.
It is still on the lower end of the NR 223 market, the ACR with a conversion is about all that can touch it accuracy wise, but the HK will still win over on reliability and a lower price point than the tavor, acr, Swiss arms, etc.
The only rifle that is more accurate (and by a good margin) is the Swiss arms sniper version but you can buy 3 or 4 SL8's for the price of one. Just my opinion/observation
onetwentyish
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Central AB (AKA Northern Texas)
Honestly, you should throw the ACR in there too.
I have owned almost all of Canada's various black rifles at one point or another, and the one I keep coming back to is the Bushmaster ACR. Get one with a good NR barrel conversion done by Herron Arms using a .223 Wylde chambered Bartlien Barrel, and you will never look back.
Tavors are nice and short, but lacking in accuracy, and can be difficult to case with their awkward depth and 3.75-4" optic height over bore offset.
XCR is the most comparable to the ACR, but lacks in the accuracy and has a poor barrel change design.
The SL8 is a beast of a rifle that excels in accuracy but is flop when it comes to weight, factory stock ergonomics, height over bore, accessories, and magazine compatibility... luckily some of that can be changed with an equally heavy suitcase of cash.
