Umarex Heckler & Koch HK416 A5 Sportsline AEG; EyeTrace Version

If you need authenticity and modernity in your next primary, the Umarex Heckler & Koch HK416 A5 Sportsline AEG; EyeTrace Version is the way to go. Made from fibre-reinforced high-density polymer with an alloy buffer tube and outer barrel, this detailed, licensed replica is styled after the real steel HK416 A5, complete with H&K trademarks, thanks to Umarex.

Inside, the HK416 A5 is based around an alloy version 2 gearbox with steel 18:1 ratio gears and a quick-change spring guide to make power tuning easy. Its stand-out feature is the integrated EyeTrace HOP-up unit, an alloy rotary HOP-up unit with a built-in tracer unit, meaning you don't need to mount a tracer to light the enemy up!

Starting at the tip of the alloy outer barrel, we can see a polymer birdcage flash hider, which conceals 14mm CCW male threading beneath. This flash hider is unfortunately glued on, but can be removed with careful application of hot water and moderate force.

Moving rearwards, we can see the realistic mock gas block, complete with a mock gas adjuster which can be rotated between "normal" and "suppressed" modes. Each mode is indicated on the left side of the handguard with recessed lettering. While this doesn't serve a function in Airsoft, it is an essential part of the realistic HK416 A5 look.

Running beneath the handguard, there is a realistic mock gas piston and spring, which is visible through the ports of the handguard. This proves that Umarex are stepping up to the standards set by H&K's motto: "No Compromise". Like the mock gas adjuster, these parts are included to provide the most authentic external build possible.

The handguard itself is constructed from the same high-density fibre reinforced polymer as the receiver and has a rough matt texture to it and a high-quality feel. The use of fibre reinforced polymer offers lower weight than alloy equivalents and better scratch/drop resistance, making this HK416 great for aggressive and potentially clumsy skirmishers!

The handguard is equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, and also has an integral flip-up front sight. The upper rail meets the receiver rail seamlessly, and thanks to it being keyed into the receiver, there is absolutely no chance of handguard wobble or rotation developing over time.

Every second rail slot of the handguard is numbed with recessed digits, just like the real HK416 A5 handguard. This means if you like to swap and change accessories between guns, you can make a note of the slot number you use, and remount your accessories in the same spot every time.

Moving on to the receiver, we can see the lineage of the HK416. M4/AR-15 users will feel right at home with these controls, but there are a few notable enhancements on the HK416 A5 that most M4/AR-15 AEGs lack. Ambidextrous controls are usually an H&K standard, and this latest 416 adds an ambidextrous mag release, making reloads easy for left or right-handed shooters.

The fire selector is located just above the pistol grip as it would be on an M4, but this selector is redesigned with a wider contact surface for easier actuation in wet weather conditions and is mirrored on the right side to allow for left-handed use. the fire selector modes are indicated with the classic H&K red and white bullet pictograms, a prerequisite for any H&K rifle, which everyone recognises.

The mock bolt release is functional: it allows you to release the mock bolt after HOP-up adjustment and is also ambidextrous. The left side catch is the conventional "ping pong paddle" style, but is slightly enlarged, and the right side catch is a small tab just above the magazine release, which can be actuated with the trigger finger. Pressing either of these catches when the mock bolt is locked back will release it with a satisfying clack, and it is a lot of fun to play with.

Being officially licensed by H&K via Umarex, this HK416 A5 boasts full, realistic H&K trademarks across the entirety of its externals. On the left side of the upper receiver, we can see a small H&K logo stamp, which also appears on the mock bolt carrier over on the right.

The lower receiver is also marked with a deeply engraved and prominent H&K logo, with the rifle name "HK416" and the calibre indicated beneath. On the right side of the mag well, the trademarks read "Licensed Trademark of Heckler & Koch GmbH, Germany", which is the only marking which is not present on the real HK416 A5, though this was included for legal reasons.

The adjustable HOP-up of the HK416 A5 is located inside the mock ejection port on the right side of the receiver and is accessible when the charging handle (found at the top rear of the receiver) is pulled to the rear. This will open the dust cover and retract the mock bolt, revealing its authentic H&K logo marking and the rotary HOP-up adjuster.

The rotary HOP-up type is the latest design for M4/AR-15 pattern AEGs and benefits from being able to hold its setting for longer under the vibrations of firing, and can be adjusted in finer increments for greater precision. This device allows you to apply a varied amount of backspin to your BBs and tune your HK416 A5 for your ammo weight of choice.

The pistol grip is the latest HK416 design and has a refined grip angle with the usual finger ridge removed for greater comfort for a variety of hand sizes. On either side and the rear, we can find crackle texturing to provide superb gripping qualities regardless of what type of gloves you wear for skirmishing. The trigger guard is enlarged for fast access to the trigger, and the trigger itself is the curved "mil-spec" style trigger, as it should be.

At the rear of the receiver, we can find an M4/AR-15-style 5-position buffer tube with the appropriate enlarged castle nut used on the real HK416 A5. Between the castle nut and receiver, we are treated to an ambidextrous sling plate, which is the perfect location for mounting a single-point sling. There is also an additional sling slot on the stock, but this would be more useful when set up with a 20mm Picatinny sling mount (available separately) on the handguard if you prefer a two or three-point sling setup.

The buffer tube and castle nut are both constructed from alloy, giving the rifle a realistic centre of balance despite its reduced weight. The HK416 A5s sliding stock is installed over the top of the buffer tube, offering a snag-free design with a low-profile adjustment lever located on the bottom, out of the way of any dangling slings, comms cables or other obstructions.

The butt plate of the stock has an aggressive chevron texture on its surface and is constructed from super-grippy rubber, guaranteeing the HK416 A5 won't slip out of your shoulder when you are operating in bad weather conditions. The stock also has an embossed H&K logo on either side to complete the authentic aesthetic.

The battery compartment is located inside the buffer tube and is accessible through the rear of the stock. The butt plate of the stock can be removed by pulling the sliding catch at the toe of the stock forward, after which the butt plate can be slid downwards and off the rifle. Inside, you will find a mini-Tamiya battery connector to which you mount your choice of battery. For the HK416 A5, we recommend a 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo battery in stick configuration, which fits neatly inside and is easy to install.

The Umarex HK416 A5 Sportsline isn't quite a standard AEG beneath its gorgeous H&K shell; it is pre-fitted with an FCU in-line MOSFET, which protects the internal circuitry and monitors battery voltage, cutting power to the AEG when the voltage drops too low to protect your battery from damage.

The gearbox itself features 18:1 steel gears and a quick-change spring system for easy power tuning. The gearbox is a standard Version 2 design with an alloy shell, meaning plenty of upgrade potential for those who simply can't resist.

The highlight is obviously the EyeTrace integral tracer unit, letting you send glowing BBs downrange without hindering the agile, compact nature of the HK416 by adding a threaded tracer muzzle device and increasing its overall length. The EyeTrace is also functional with both red and green tracer BBs, ideal for any preference!

If you're a fan of familiar designs updated for 21st-century combat, the Umarex Heckler & Koch HK416 A5 Sportsline AEG; EyeTrace Version is exactly that. A lightweight, agile build with solid performance and EyeTrace technology under the hood, this HK416 is cutting-edge, both inside and outside!

Features

• High-density polymer build - Alloy outer barrel & buffer tube
• Licensed by Heckler & Koch via Umarex - H&K trades across the design
• FCU In-line MOSFET pre-installed - Prevents trigger lock-ups and provides diagnostics
• Integral tracer HOP-up unit - No need to mount a threaded tracer unit!
• HK416 A5 Replica - Ambidextrous controls, ultra-modern design
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Pre-installed flash hider is glued on - Be careful when removing it!
• Quad 20mm Picatinny railed handguard - Add 20mm Picatinny accessories
• Built-in flip-up front sight - Super low profile, button-less deployment
• Rail-mounted flip-up rear "ghost ring" aperture sight - Adjust windage with the dial on the right
• 20mm Picatinny railed reciever - Ready for a red dot sight or scope
• Ambidextrous fire selector switch - Easy fire mode changes for left or right-handed users
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Drop the magazine from either side
• Alloy rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Adjust backspin for different ammo weights
• Ambidextrous mock bolt release - Release the mock bolt after HOP-up adjustment
• Ergonomic HK416 pistol grip - Refined angle for modern stances, comfy for most hand sizes
• Ambidextrous sling plate - Ready for single-point slings, use a keyring or paracord if your sling won't fit
• 5 Position M4/AR15 buffer tube - Compatible with aftermarket stocks
• HK416 slimline carbine stock - A perfect match for the real A5
• Rubber butt plate - Plenty of traction for wet-weather operations
• Rear-wired: Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo
• Version 2 gearbox:
  • 18:1 Ratio steel gears
  • Quick-change spring guide
  • FCU In-line MOSFET
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spare magazine options

Package Includes

• Umarex Heckler & Koch HK416 A5 Sportsline AEG; EyeTrace Version
  • 120rnd Medium capacity magazine