Category: The Arsenal

I’ve wanted an HK416 ever since I first played Battlefield Bad Company, but some things just aren’t meant to be.

For the longest time, I wanted a top-of-the-line AEG. In my opinion, the best brand for when you want performance without compromise is a Tokyo Marui (unless you’re springing for a Systema), but I had doubts about the whole recoil thing.

Anyway, with a little help / convincing from Jon at Wolf Armouries, I’m glad I came around. The HK416 started started out as a problem gun for me, and needed a few visits to several techs before I finally worked out what the problem was: the bolt-stop feature wasn’t working.

Still, now that is fixed — I just use hi-cap magazines so I don’t have to worry about the bolt stop — there’s a lot to love about the gun. With the internal upgrades, the performance at a variety of ranges is sweet. Externally, the quality is high and I adore the HK branding and the fact that it feels sturdy, even if it means the metal quad rail is quite weighty, and it’s a gun I love using both in the field and up close as i’m kicking doors.

What’s the deal with the TM HK416D NGRS?

Since the dawn of airsoft, Tokyo Marui has been the brand to go for when it comes to reliability, performance and quality. Other AEGs can come close, but no manufacturer has the weighty expectation of just working quite like TM does.

The NGRS has a few issues – being a pig to work on and a pain to get replacement parts for are the most egregious – but generally, the NGRS models are solid, shoot well and with their recoil and bolt stop they’re pretty fun to use, too.

The bolt stop feature basically works as a real steel model, meaning that when your magazine drains it stops firing, and after reloading, you’ll need to tap the bolt stop on the side of the gun to make it fire again. Honestly, I can take or leave both.

I play airsoft to be as competitive as possible and I want a RIF that can land shots at mid-range with a snappy trigger response. The 416 can do that. I’ve upgraded mine (more below) but even out of the box, it’ll perform.

One negative: TM’s NRGS range all use custom mags and proprietary batteries. You can get a conversion and put a LiPo battery in the stock of most models, but you’re pretty much stuck with the mags. This is bad news if, like me, you have a range of different STANAGS filling your kit box. Now I have two different sets of 5.56 STANAGS in my kit box. I’m happy enough with this, but if you hate clutter, this is a consideration you’ll need to make.

There’s a bunch of different HK416 models available in TM’s NGRS line, so I’m just going to bunch them all together. If you’re convinced by this and fancy getting your hands on one, be aware that some of them have different handguards, stocks or fittings. My version is just the vanilla HK416.

What did I upgrade on the TM HK416D NGRS?

My HK416 has had extensive work done to it.

Firstly, internally I had a TITAN fitted. That was it initially, but having seen what other people’s NGRS RIFs were doing after some Camoraids tech, I decided to take a chance and got the Camoraids Stage 2 upgrade which includes the below. Camo’s upgrades are fairly pricey, but I’ve been really happy with the quality of the workmanship and the performance of my gun. Enough so that if I get another TM NGRS, I’ll probably buy it from Camoraids and get the upgrades done at point of purchase.

Externally, I use my Vortex StrikeForce II or Vortex Crossfire II, depending on engagement distance. I haven’t done much to it otherwise: I’ve removed the small piece of extendable outer barrel that TM ships with the gun and have otherwise left it untouched. However, I am keen to add a decent angled foregrip, as the 416’s full metal construction is weighty and the quad rail isn’t the best surface to grip at.

Why I love my TM HK416D NGRS

Finally to the meat of it. Every airsoft gun is different, so it’s tough to tell you prescriptively why a gun is so good. Just know that it is subjective to me, and while I’d happily let you have a play with my RIF if you catch me at a game, you’ll know what works for you.

Still, this HK416 sure does perform. I’ve outlined the CAMO upgrade above. What I’m most excited for is the accuracy out to around 40m. With any out of the box AEG, fighting at 40m means aiming for a man-sized target and hoping to hit with accurate bursts.

With the upgrade, I can hit someone’s exposed arm without too much trouble. This pushes me realistic engagement range up and means this is the gun in my arsenal I reach for at nearly every game.

Let’s talk a little bit about, well, buying one of the most expensive RIFs on the market and then taking out all of the internals and replacing them with upgrades that cost nearly as much as the gun itself. I was leery about doing this before, as said, but I’m so happy with the result I’m considering getting a second one, maybe TM’s new URG-I, or a classic M4A1.

The Good

• Solid construction.
• Open to a range of upgrades.
• Adjustable stock and shorter length mean you can run this anywhere.
• Full HK trades, and beautiful detailing.

The Bad

• Proprietary battery means you’ll have to get a conversion to use.
• Proprietary magazines. This is unavoidable, and can be pricey.

It’s getting harder and harder to get hold of G+P M4s, but Airsofters that have been slinging plastic for a while will know the brand for their top-notch AR-platform guns, whether that’s a ‘Nam-era M16 or one of a variety of M4s.

This G+P MAGPUL M4 CQB MOE is unfortunately named, but is a fantastic blaster, becoming my go-to primary over both a Krytac Rec7 and a TM Recoil.

Why buy a G+P M4?

I’ve broadened this out a bit because there are really two questions here: why buy a G+P M4 and why buy my specific G+P Magpul MOE M4. I’ll try to answer both.

If you can find one, I still think G+P offer up the best M4 in the 200-300 pound price bracket, with the only glaring omission being the lack of a Mosfet. The externals are solid, the gun is accurate and has decent range and accuracy out of the box.

The gun is 680mm long with the stock tucked in, and 770 at full extension, making it easy to hurl around in close quarters This means I tend to use it as my go-to for mid-range engagements, and it’s a capable backup for both bigger field games (like Imperium Airsoft) or in close quarters (like at Sentinel)

It has a few issues: the fire selector quickly got a little wobbly, and you can still pull the trigger while it’s on safe. It won’t fire, but you can work the trigger no problems, which is bizarre.

What should you change?

I’ve had a little work done to the G+P. The only internal change was the addition of a Gate Titan, locking the gun to a three-round burst and semi-automatic. This makes firing the gun feel snappy and satisfying, and

I also ditched the MOE handguard, replacing the front-end with a G+P Troy front-end, which is good for mounting flashlights / cameras / whatever you need to the front end, although it does make it look like some sort of mongrel gun.

I’ve fiddled around with attachments. At this point I think I’m sold on the Nuprol Folding vertical grip. It’s almost a fashion choice, as I tend to just grab my magwell because it’s an AEG without recoil. However, it makes it much more pointable

For optics, I’ve got a Vortex Strikefire II, which looks the part and performs impressively. I like the mount, I like how easy it is to adjust, but I really really like the speed at which I can acquire targets and sling plastic at them.

For the future, I’ve been thinking about putting a tightbore barrel in and flat-hopping the G+P to try and get a little more range out of it, but I’ve been using it in this exact set-up for the past year and haven’t had a problem with it.

The Good

• G+P’s externals are top-notch.
• Mag compability with the G+P is solid. Most Stanags will work, I’ve only found a few that won’t work.
• Perfect size for CQB and mid-range engagements.
• Magpul MOE stock feels nice against the shoulder, with easy access to the battery compartment.

The Bad

• Build quality is lacking. Fire selector is loose, entire gun has a little bit of a wobble to it.
• G+P guns don’t come with a Mosfet as standard and you will need one as the trigger contacts are ropey.
• You would have to look hard to find a more generic M4.

Why I love it

Personal preference, ergonomics and even anecdotal evidence all play massively into how much you’ll dig a gun. I’ve said that before, and I’ll say it again.

As a result, it shouldn’t be a surprise when I say that I mostly love the M4 because I’ve dominated using it in a few games.

The G+P M4, with the TITAN mosfet fitted, doesn’t have the longest range or a ridiculous rate of fire, but it is consistent. That consistency means I can make shots and rely on the gun, which means I have more confidence with it than some of the weapons I regularly play with.

Some airsofters will sniff at M4s, and I admit I am a man with a stack of AR-platform guns stacked up in his cupboard, but if you’re going to use an M4, you can do a lot worse than a G+P.

You can get one for £284.99 from Wolf Armouries, but budget in a bit extra for getting a TITAN fitted, too.