[VB]

These were posted on Gunbroker. Overall the craftsmanship looks to be 100% HK, which is a good thing. The downer; the disgusting near 9lbs of weight.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=218002336

 

[SDDuc996]

One day I'll have an MR556 lower to compliment my 416 upper.

 

[DSM]

That does look pretty nice.

 

[mrfreeze]

WoW 3k+...

 

[cjt50]

WoW 3k+...

Yea, and 9 pounds!!!! g'zous what were they thinking........................sorry couldn't resist

 

[Vesarius]

I believe this is the civilian version of the Marine Corps new infantry automatic rifle, which will be replacing the belt-fed SAW. That would explain the heavier weight. This is a pretty decent article about it if you want to take a look:

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/IAR-What-IAR-The-USMCs-SAW-Substitution-05240/

I actually worked for a gunner who was part of the team of observers during field testing, and he told me that they basically had two equal squads run a series of urban combat drills with both the SAW and the IAR and both teams completed the drills much faster with the IAR and were something like 3 times more accurate with it.

 

[Vesarius]

Gunner is actually a title for an infantry warrant officer by the way...not just a machine gunner.

 

[SDDuc996]

And they don't take kindly to being erroneously referred to as Gunny either.

 

[VB]

The MR556 has a match grade heavy barrel, and 416 length rail. The barrel is cold hammer forged; it is not chrome lined.

The IAR is lighter than the MR556, uses a medium contour barrel, and longer rail system. The barrel is also cold hammer forged and is chrome lined.

The IAR is only 7.96lbs, while the MR556 is 8.91lbs

 

[SDDuc996]

That chrome lining is gonna be the way to go for an MG.

 

[Vesarius]

The MR556 has a match grade heavy barrel, and 416 length rail. The barrel is cold hammer forged; it is not chrome lined.

The IAR is lighter than the MR556, uses a medium contour barrel, and longer rail system. The barrel is also cold hammer forged and is chrome lined.

The IAR is only 7.96lbs, while the MR556 is 8.91lbs

See, I didnt know that much about the MR556. They sure as hell look like brothers though.

The lowers are almost identical, but that just makes sense seeing since when they presented the IAR for the Commandant, they also tried to pitch the 416 to replace the M4. Now, according to my Gunner, some Major showed it to him and said something to the effect of "look sir, here is the Marine Corps next service rifle," and he replied "whoa, that's not what I am here for at all" and walked out.

 

[bpasky]

And they don't take kindly to being erroneously referred to as Gunny either.

Doesn't seem to bother Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee Ermey. On wikipedia right underneath his picture - Nickname "The Gunny"

 

[bpasky]

After reading some more he was a staff sergeant and in 2002 he received an honorary post-service promotion to Gunnery Sergeant. That would explain why it doesn't bother him that much. It probably didn't help the nickname when in "Heartbreak Ridge" people would constantly call Clint Eastwood "Gunny".

 

[Vesarius]

There is a big difference between a "Gunny"/Gunnery Sergeant and a "Gunner"/Chief Warrant Officer X. Very few warrant officers are Gunners. There are something like 80 of them in the entire Marine Corps. Gunners are basically the baddest of the bad when it comes to knowledge of weapons systems the USMC employs from M1 Abrams all the way down to the K-Bar. I worked for him when I was a marksmanship coach and then marksmanship trainer on the range.

 

[SDDuc996]

Exactly. Big difference between a Gunner and a Gunny.

 

[bpasky]

Exactly. Big difference between a Gunner and a Gunny.

Good to know.

 

[SDDuc996]

There was rumor floating around the Marines were using the IAR to "pave the way" for a possible transition to the 416 as an M4 replacement.

Good on em' for trying.

 

[bigdog2003_99]

i could see that in a heartbeat, i was kinda thinking that was part of the strategy for a newer weapon system from the beginning

 

[VB]

See, I didnt know that much about the MR556. They sure as hell look like brothers though.


The lowers are almost identical, but that just makes sense seeing since when they presented the IAR for the Commandant, they also tried to pitch the 416 to replace the M4. Now, according to my Gunner, some Major showed it to him and said something to the effect of "look sir, here is the Marine Corps next service rifle," and he replied "whoa, that's not what I am here for at all" and walked out.

They both come from HK416 DNA so they nearly look identical from the outside.

MR556

IAR

 

[Jprizz23]

Looks as if the gas block and sights are diff, as well as the stock, i wonder if there is any change to the operating system besides the happy switch.