00:00At first glance, the M4 Carbine and the HK416 look almost identical, but under the hood, they're completely different beasts.
00:10The M4, America's standard service rifle, runs on a direct gas impingement system.
00:17That means when you fire, gas from the barrel is vented back through a tube directly into the bolt carrier group, forcing it rearward and cycling the action.
00:26It's lightweight and accurate, but that gas also brings carbon and heat right into the chamber, which can cause fouling if not cleaned regularly.
00:36The HK416, on the other hand, was designed by Heckler and Koch to fix that very problem.
00:44Instead of direct impingement, it uses a short-stroke gas piston, borrowed from the German G36.
00:51The piston drives a rod that cycles the bolt, keeping hot gases and carbon away from the chamber.
01:00The result?
01:01A rifle that's cleaner, cooler, and famously reliable.
01:05So which would you choose, tradition or innovation?
01:09This is a very small option.
