| Heckler & Koch HK433 | |
| Type: | Assault rifle Carbine |
| Designer: | Heckler & Koch |
| Length: | 577mm843mm (11") 634mm931mm (14.5") 703mm971mm (16.5") |
| Width: | 81mm |
| Height: | 195mm |
| Action: | Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt |
| Origin: | Germany |
| Is Ranged: | Yes |
| Design Date: | 2017 |
| Weight: | 3.25kg (07.17lb) (11") 3.4kg (07.5lb) (14.5") 3.5kg (07.7lb) (16.5") |
| Part Length: | 280mm 368mm 419mm |
| Cartridge: | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Rate: | 850 rounds/min |
| Velocity: | 800m/s (11" barrel) 850m/s (14.5" barrel) 875m/s (16.5" barrel) |
| Range: | 500m (1,600feet) |
| Feed: | 30-round detachable STANAG magazine |
| Sights: | Iron sights and Picatinny rails for various optics |
The Heckler & Koch HK433 is a modular assault rifle chambered for 5.56×45mm which combines features of the G36 and the HK416 families of assault rifles.[1] [2]
The HK433 was designed by Heckler & Koch to be familiar to operators with experience using the Heckler & Koch G36 and HK416 platforms. All controls are ambidextrous, and major components are modular, allowing for rifles to be configured in the field as needed.[3]
The Heckler & Koch HK437 chambered in .300 Blackout and features a 7- and 9- inch barrel was originally announced along with the HK433 in 2017. In late 2022, the Ministry of the Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sports of the State of Schleswig-Holstein commissioned Heckler & Koch Germany to manufacture and supply the HK437.
The HK433 was first introduced at EnforceTac 2017 which went on the 1st and 2 March in Nürnberg, Bavaria, Germany, after the HK433 was shown to a select number of people at the earlier SHOT Show in January.[4] [5] Heckler & Koch offered the HK433 along with the HK416 as a candidate for the German Bundeswehr's competition to select a new assault rifle.[6] The HK G36, the Bundeswehr's standard assault rifle since 1997, is to be phased out and a replacement is planned to be phased in from 2020.
The HK433 has multiple barrel lengths ranging from 11-, 12.5-, 14.5-, 16.5-, 18.9- or 20-inch. All of the barrels are cold hammer forged, hard chrome lined with a 178 mm (1 in 7 inch) right-hand twist, six-groove rifling.[7] [8]
It features a short-stroke gas piston driven system similar to the Heckler & Koch G36 and HK416, with a gas block regulator adjustment located above the barrel. The non-reciprocating charging handle can be changed to operate from either side of the forestock of the rifle, but does not have a locking recess like the Heckler & Koch G3 family of weapons. All other primary controls are ambidextrous.
It has an interchangeable barrel system and a folding adjustable buttstock with a three position cheek riser and a paddle-style magazine release. Side-folding the buttstock shortens the HK433 by 266mm297mm. The monolithic upper receiver is made of aluminium alloy, and the lower receiver is made of polymer.[9]
The HK433 features a STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail at 12 o'clock that is backwards-compatible with the STANAG 2324/MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. At 6 o'clock it features the STANAG 2324/MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. At the 3- and 9-o'clock positions the proprietary "HKey" accessory attachment system, which was used on early versions of the rifle, has finally been replaced by the more commonly used M-LOK system.
The empty weight of a HK433 Draft STANAG 4179 compliant box magazine is approximately 160g.
Currently are three configurations of the HK433 and two configurations of the HK437 available:
| Variant | Calibre | Length max. mm | Length min. mm | Barrel mm | Weight g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK433 11" | 5.56×45mm | 843 | 577 | 280 | 3250 |
| HK433 14.5" | 5.56×45mm | 931 | 634 | 368 | 3400 |
| HK433 16.5" | 5.56×45mm | 976 | 718 | 421 | 3500 |
| HK437 Sneaker 9" | .300 Blackout | 745 | 487 | 178 | 3040 |
| HK437 Sneaker 11" | .300 Blackout | 795 | 537 | 229 | 3140 |