SL8-6
- Thread starter new2this
- Start date
BombthePeasants
New member
if the goal is to spend an excessive amount of money on a plastic rifle, then this is your holy grail.
I just shot mine yesterday. I was doing further testing of the ProMag 20 round mags which are beautifully made and 100% reliable. While the mags do double capacity, since they are single stack they hang down pretty doggone low making shooting prone or even from the bench difficult if not impossible (in the case of prone). Then again, I am quite happy with the ten round mags as this is more of a target rifle.
My SL8-6 continues to be a favorite out of many rifles that I own. Plastic with this one is your friend. If you do acquire an SL8 please resist the temptation to convert it into a G36 look-alike. Below is a photo of my SL8-6. I dumped the short rail that comes on the rifle and have two different rails, the one pictured and a shortened one with iron sights. To date I have only shot this rifle with iron sights. There is great potential with this rifle. I shot it one afternoon with a gentleman who is a US Army sniper and I was amazed with what he was doing with it. His impression was very positive and felt that with some tweaks it could be great. That didn't surprise me as HK uses the SL8 as the basis for one of their sniper rifles.
My SL8-6 continues to be a favorite out of many rifles that I own. Plastic with this one is your friend. If you do acquire an SL8 please resist the temptation to convert it into a G36 look-alike. Below is a photo of my SL8-6. I dumped the short rail that comes on the rifle and have two different rails, the one pictured and a shortened one with iron sights. To date I have only shot this rifle with iron sights. There is great potential with this rifle. I shot it one afternoon with a gentleman who is a US Army sniper and I was amazed with what he was doing with it. His impression was very positive and felt that with some tweaks it could be great. That didn't surprise me as HK uses the SL8 as the basis for one of their sniper rifles.
I have owned one now for over 12 years. I have some major complaints on the gun.
I replaced the top rail with a handhold with an optical scope. This was a good addition.
The trigger is one of the best factory long guns that I have ever seen out of the box.
The fact that it can easily fit people under 5 feet and well above 6 feet with a turn of a screw and install another block makes it a good fit for anyone.
The design is a civilian version of the 36, that alone is another good point.
Ok now my major complaints.
1. Magazine size: Factory only comes in single stack 10 rounds which make them about the same length as an AR mag. There are 20 rounds available but they are very long. You can spend several hundered dollars and get a replacement mag well that will take either G36 or M16 magazines. Personally I don’t see the reason. The gun is more of a target than assault gun and with its accuracy really doesn’t need the large magazine.
2. This is one gun that if you take to the range you’re going to have a lot of people come over and ask about it. It’s a gun that does draw a crowd. If you like to be left alone while shooting and don’t like people asking you questions about your interesting looking gun then stay away from them.
Other than that it’s the best 223 rifle i own.
I replaced the top rail with a handhold with an optical scope. This was a good addition.
The trigger is one of the best factory long guns that I have ever seen out of the box.
The fact that it can easily fit people under 5 feet and well above 6 feet with a turn of a screw and install another block makes it a good fit for anyone.
The design is a civilian version of the 36, that alone is another good point.
Ok now my major complaints.
1. Magazine size: Factory only comes in single stack 10 rounds which make them about the same length as an AR mag. There are 20 rounds available but they are very long. You can spend several hundered dollars and get a replacement mag well that will take either G36 or M16 magazines. Personally I don’t see the reason. The gun is more of a target than assault gun and with its accuracy really doesn’t need the large magazine.
2. This is one gun that if you take to the range you’re going to have a lot of people come over and ask about it. It’s a gun that does draw a crowd. If you like to be left alone while shooting and don’t like people asking you questions about your interesting looking gun then stay away from them.
Other than that it’s the best 223 rifle i own.
Last edited:
I couldn't agree more with everything said above. The 20 round mags, while very well executed, are really not necessary or practical. The ten round mags, while a result of import restrictions, really are far more appropriate for a rifle of this type.
And yes, the SL8 does indeed draw a crowd, as it did yesterday. The most common question was "is it custom?".
As to those 20 round mags, here is a photo of how low they hang down. Despite that, I still have four of them
Future efforts will be towards acquiring more ten rounders.
That's about right for me as well. Yesterday I had a four shot group into about 1.5" at 85 yards with iron sights. I think this rifle will do well scoped. You've got one very heavy match grade barrel more akin to what you would find on my Savage 10 FP or 12 VLP. I don't think that it will match my Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .223, but I suspect that with a scope it might get close.
One other point about mine. I really don’t know what the twist rate is for the gun but the best groups I had were with the Sierra .224 69 HPBT Matchking. I ran those last year and did get some average 1 ½ inch groups. I think I shot 4, 5 round groups across sand bags. I was very pleased with it.
Mine has the 1.5X scope handle combination on it. It is not enough scope for the gun. The opening is small and does not have much light gathering capability. I would like the chance to try the HK 3.5 some time.
One other item I would like is a flush mounted 7 round magazine for the gun. It has the full width. I have only seen photos of them. Its biggest problem is the price$$$$$
Edited for location of mag
http://www.reloaders.co.nz/H K SL8 7 Round Magazine
Mine has the 1.5X scope handle combination on it. It is not enough scope for the gun. The opening is small and does not have much light gathering capability. I would like the chance to try the HK 3.5 some time.
One other item I would like is a flush mounted 7 round magazine for the gun. It has the full width. I have only seen photos of them. Its biggest problem is the price$$$$$
Edited for location of mag
http://www.reloaders.co.nz/H K SL8 7 Round Magazine
Last edited:
I just picked one up last week and I love it. I debated for a long time b/w the SL8-6 or a Sig556 but had to go with the HK. It came with 2/20 round mags 1 10 round, and an Eotech 512 all brand new for $1800+tax . The quality is awesome and its a nice change of pace from my AR. I picked up some folding sights today and hopefully i can get them zeroed in pretty easily, i just couldnt deal with not having backup sights.
SL8 Magazines
Hey Guys new to the site, just familiarizing myself with a few of the SL8 related topics, nice to see some of you have viewed the mags we are making down in NZ! I bought my SL8-4, 2 years ago and was dumbfounded that you could not buy a 30 round mag anywhere in the world that dropped straight in.
So I set about building one. Have attached pics of the tool and end product!
We are currently looking for distributors/resellers in the States so PM me if you are interested. Currently we have samples at HKParts.net and we are hoping they will pick them up for online sales.
Hey Guys new to the site, just familiarizing myself with a few of the SL8 related topics, nice to see some of you have viewed the mags we are making down in NZ! I bought my SL8-4, 2 years ago and was dumbfounded that you could not buy a 30 round mag anywhere in the world that dropped straight in.
So I set about building one. Have attached pics of the tool and end product!
We are currently looking for distributors/resellers in the States so PM me if you are interested. Currently we have samples at HKParts.net and we are hoping they will pick them up for online sales.