It just makes me think of Germany's tendency to over-engineer things, lol. America: Your gun can only be semi-auto! H&K: IT WILL BE THE MOST SEMI-AUTO! America: Well, it doesn't... H&K: DONE! TAKE THAT! America: It wasn't a contest... H&K: We win!
What parts of your culture is it that you are unable to practice? Saying "negerboll"?
Před 8 lety+38
Sure you can be proud of your white skin - how would you suggest best going about showing this pride? Are you sure you're not confusing _"being proud of your white skin"_ with _"tell people without that white skin that they are inferior"_? As for your little list of nobody caring about those things: That's pretty pathetically selective perception on your behalf actually. Lots of people care about it - including within those very countries. And in the U.S., you conveniently gloss over the conflicts between different groups of immigrants when you say "they all respected one another". So, you're saying an Irishman in Boston in the late 1800s had an equal social standard to the rest of the population? Ever heard of NINA signs? Immigration without integration isn't invasion. It's not very clever, but it certainly isn't "invasion". An invasion would require following a plan with the intent to invade and I know you aren't crazy enough to suggest refugees (or economic immigrants for that matter) do it to take over the country.
Meanwhile the US Space Marine Corps is celebrating their trusted assault rifle from almost 3 centuries ago. Which is essentially a M2 Browning with Picatinny rail attached. :P
I'd have preferred it to be less plasticy (or at least a prettier kind of plastic), but the "G36... IN SPACE!" vibe it gives off is near and dear to me too. That said, the laws are some booshieeet.
Why not have a video game with the SL8 as a primary and a shootable NES Zapper as a secondary? Their color schemes would be perfect for a game set on the moon!
I would love to own one of these if they cut away the thumbhole part to give it a true stock and pistol grip, gave it access to 30 round mags (but made 10 rounders for bench shooting) and maybe gave it a lighter barrel to make it less front heavy. Also maybe a different color than reichstag grey (my apologies if that offends any germans) maybe something like gun hater black would be a nice fit. Might also look pretty cool in a desert tan.
One of these modern designs in rifles that also got the P90 and SCAR onto it. It doesn't look like an AR or AK, is mainly covered in polymer and has unusual (as in: not black) colors.
This is actually my favorite weapon in Resident Evil 4(favorite weapon in all of gaming actually). It's called the Semi-Auto Rifle in the game & is 1 of 2 guns classified in the "sniper rifle" category along with the Springfield M1903A4. Great gun in the game. ^_^
Another thing about the SL-8: the body has this weird grey color because a german law prohibited the use of a black body for civilian rifles, as it would make look them too much like a military weapon. Thankfully that ban was lifted eventually (not that we still have ton of stupid weapon laws over here, but that's a different story).
Some people like to think that a paint job means much of anything on a weapon, and things like those little orange tips are remotely useful. I like to point people toward some of those photos of people who have done up various rifles in bright pink Hello Kitty paint jobs to remind them just how silly and useless a paint colour is in letting people know how safe something is. Not much stops someone from popping an orange cap on a real weapon either.
Merchant: Ah stranger, so you want a .223 Remington semi-auto rifle? I recommend this AR-15 imported from the US. Its got a rail handguard, a free floating barrel, and... Leon: No thanks bro! *Picks up the H&K SL8 from the Merchant's gun rack* I'll buy this at a high price!
@@Joshua_N-A Merchant: Hehehe, thank you! Leon: I'll come back anytime! Merchant: _(What an idiot, the AR is totally better. I even got a 100 round beta c mag for it...)_
You feel bad for the american gun laws? I am a german gunowner i only can hear mimimimimimi from you guys, inform yourself what`s legal to own in germany and you can stop crying and thank god or whoever you believe in that you are not here in germany.
Don't worry pal, I don't live in America either. I live in Europe, and I'm fully aware of how bad the gun laws are here. But yes, I do feel bad when I see gun laws in America getting this bad. I hope to move there some day and own a nice collection.
i like the sl8's look. if i were to convert any of it, it would just be converting to double stack mag and replacing that bolt so it has both the feed lugs
I just picked mine up today. It's heavier than I expected, but overall I really like it. The biggest complaint I have is what you touched on briefly - loading the magazines. For German design, it's shockingly more difficult than it should be.
Sorry in advance for the long poste. I had the opportunity to shoot one of these, the day they came out in Germany. Apparently there are quite a few changes to the US-version in comparison to our domestic version. The design was. from what I understand, mostly due our Act on the Control of War-weapons, which also caused the odd grey color instead of black, because anything looking only remotely like a military weapon was 100% illegal to own for civilians. Yet, our domestic version doesn't have the locking lugs altered, as well as the magazine-well. The only thing that prevents it from accepting standard G36 mags is a small nose inside the well, which could potentially be removed with any effort (just by jamming in the original mag hard enough), so I have been told. Over here, we also have aftermarket fire control groups that permit a fairly easy conversation to a G36 look-alike, because for a couple of years, it's now perfectly legal to own look-alikes due changes made to the aforementioned Act. The rifle, you are referring to as successor of the SL-8 is the HK SR 243, which is available in Germany for (I think) about 2 no.
***** Wow. I just got tired of his shitting on Mosin owners, trolling his viewers, and carrying water for whatever French Rifle that caught his eye. He's a rich bastard who has no idea about trying to build a collection on a budget. His favorite bolt gun is a fairly rare Danish rifle. His video on underrated rifles had a common thread: ALL of the guns were f--king rare and expensive as hell! He's also the biggest HK nuthugger out there. I'll resub if they dump his arrogant ass.
I got a $6 pump-action BB version of this more than a decade ago and even the Chinese who made that had the due diligence to add a half-width cinder block in the stock to balance it. Even in replica form it was intrinsically front-heavy.
You can modify a G36 magazine very easily to make it compatible with the SL8. Just file down two of the upper edges and you're good to go. Also there are conversion kits to change the buttock to a foldable one. I have also seen people who dyed the rest of the poly parts black.
These are still relatively popular in Canada (at least in conversation) due to the non-restricted status of the gun. Though the price puts it out of what most people would wanna spend on a black rifle here. Price here is currently $2500-$2700 and with guns like the Type 97, upcoming Type 81, VZ58, Ruger Mini 14, and M305 being less than half the price of an SL-8 most guys will opt for one of those before even thinking of an SL-8.
A TAR-21 is only about 200 more than an SL8, which is the route I went. Comparing the two, the Tavor had a lot more features and design choices I felt were a better use of that big of an investment. It's also worth noting I've never seen one at a range.
I have seen them in the 2000-2200 range, but the original magazines are hard to find and around 100-150, and AR magazine conversions are also hard to find and around 300.
dude! the Kolibri video is what introduced me to your channel (due to the release of Battlefield 1 which has it as a sidearm option) but I am loving your videos. very informative and also tons of cool, weird and beautiful weapons. and the history! best weapons channel on youtube in my honest opinion. that I have seen anyway. thank you!
i like how no one today remembers how pointless and stupid the "assault" weapon ban was. you'd think the fact that it didn't work would calm people down these days.
It was political, almost all gun laws are politically motivated . It doesn't matter if the law makes things better, or 100 times worse, thats not the point. If you think about it, laws are made so the political figure/party can get more money or power. It's disgusting, and wrong.
I agree with you, politicians do these create these type of laws so they can just pat themselves on the back. If you think about it they really dont need to worry like us everyday people about defending ourselves because the politicians have people who are highly trained with select fire weapons that the regular law abiding citizen can't obtain. They think that since they dont need weapons(even though people around them carry them.) that we(civilians.) don't need them as well. In my opinion i think their purposely trying to disarm us and arm the law enforcement to a point where are freedom of speech isnt free anymore.
The changes for the SL8 were made to accomodate the german gun law of the 90's. The SL8 was meant as a riflethat could privatly be owned by reservist for sport shooting, but still be usefull for army reserve training, meaning you can use it in the same way as the G-36 for shooting range purposes.
I doubt anyone will read this but i bought one and I LOVE it, the thumbhole stock is strangely comfortable and it shoots like a dream. And its strangly heavy as heck. Barrel is also a 1:9 twist so high grain ammo for it is lovely
I love the Aesthetics of the SL 8. the only things I would change is the mag well, the bolt, and the barrel. if I get my hands on one of these, and managed to do all that without completely ruining the rest of the furniture, I'll be happy.
There was also a ban in Germany on "military style" sporting guns... It was actually the german Law that this gun was designed around... For example the grey colour was chosen to comply with the "Anscheinsparagraph" and the demands of the Federal Police, the BKA... I guess it was rather a coincidence that the gun was also compatible with US law By the way, there goes a rumor that HK sold a black painting kit in Germany to give your sl8 a proper colour, after the lookalike ban was history
ginbobob absolutely but things like the grey color and the strange looking toprail are aspects demanded the old German law to avoid looking like a „military weapon“. The Anscheinsparagraph outlawed every gun that even looked like it could be used in a military role.. in some ways it was even harsher than the assault weapons ban.
Mmm. I recognize this; the Replica soldiers from the first F.E.A.R. game used some kind of modified SL rifles. Their versions were fully automatic, however, and utilized a weird dual-drum magazine. It's always been a weapon I've loved the look of; a shame it's so mechanically restricted here in the States.
Are you kidding me? It looks like something a starship trooper would use to kill arachnids. That sounds a lot more dangerous than your average G-36. :p
Those restrictions are not in place to keep the people safer...they are there to keep foreign guns off the market and the profits of the american gun manufactorers safe. (sorry if my english hurts your eyes and feelings...:D...)
Macomio80 If another country makes a good rifle, then why neuter it if it comes to the states? It's not the government's job to protect the profits of the gun manufactures safe, if they want to protect their profits then MAKE A BETTER RIFLE. These restrictions were put in place because idiots think that characteristics like "barrel shrouds" and "pistol grips" make guns more dangerous which is complete opinionated garbage.
Lightguns. You should see the Silent Scope arcade machine with either its PSG-1 or MSG-90 (I don't know specifically) and the scope has a screen in it to zoom in on targets. Wish I had that and Police 911 arcades in my house to play and display since they're both awesome.
So that's why it looked so weird in RE4, it was based off the SL-8. Could this be considered a sort of marksman version of the G36 platform with the heavier barrel and design of the butt-stock?
Remember this one. It was at our local hunting store in deep Russia for years among much cheaper rifles. Nobody wanted it as it was at least x3 more expensive than others. I bet i will still find it there if i will visit that store.
"Just add time and money." Imagine how many lives were saved by the government's intervention here...because you'd have to. In stark contrast, Ian, your work is consistently fantastic.
My dad got his Deawoo K2 during the ban so it has the thumb hole stock, but thankfully they didn't machine it to having to use ten round mags, so now we can slap a standard AR mag in it.
Not 4 years ago, not now. You got muscular marsupials roaming around and emus that the army can't handle, and that's not to mention the spiders and snakes. Fuck that.
Was the ability to legally alter a non-assault weapon into being an "assault weapon" something that changed when the '94 ban expired or was that always legal to do?
How many of the alterations were required by the 1989 ban and how many by the 1994 one? What I'm wondering is why didn't they do a new design around 2004 when the 1994 ban ended (obviously would have been a financial risk, if another ban got implemented)?
The 1989 ban on imports is still in effect, which means H&K can't sell real G36 rifles to Americans. The 1994 ban expiring only allowed American companies like Colt or Winchester to sell assault weapons.
I’ve heard several people dump on this gun, mainly complaints about the thumbhole stock or the single-stack 10-rounds-only mags. I’ve even heard this gun referred to as “atrocious”. But I’d never actually *seen* a gun called the SL-8, I’d only ever heard it described. And now that I’ve seen this video, I can feel absolute certainty in dismissing the nay-sayers. Because that is the semi-auto rifle from RE4, and I fell in love with that rifle within 15 minutes of buying it from The Merchant. I had no knowledge about it being a modification of the G-36, or the legal nonsense that brought on those modifications. I just knew it was FIERCE at headshotting creepy Spanish cultists, and that it was an immensely pleasant gun to look at. Easily my second favorite gun in that game after the “Red 9” with the detachable buttstock. TL;DR: *AH! AN EXCELLENT CHOICE, STRANGER!*
Ian, the P90... Please, it fits the bill of being unusual(technical marvel), slightly old by now and are available on the US market as the PS90 if getting an authentic one proves difficult. You are gonna have a field day taking it apart, and no doubt we(viewers) will have a great time seeing what inside! Great video by the way!
Jared Hinojosa Sadly, all AKs and variants are banned up here (except for some Valmet variants, for some reason), I would have loved to get one of those civilian SVD derivatives. Aren't there sites you could order from to find an SVT?
+Czars Epidemic the only place I can find them on is gun broker but I never win the auction. I'm just waiting until one pops on arms list or in my local gun store
That looks like a gun movie prop companies would love as it looks like a great base for sci-fi props and the polymer furniture would be more easily modified than aluminum, steel, or wood.
personal aesthetic taste, but it's probably because the people who like the g36 want that look because they're diehard fans of the military g36, and don't really care for any other look on an H&K AR.
In my opinion the SL-8 would make a pretty cool DMR, what they need to do is make it accept 30 round magazines, add some weight to the stock, and thread the barrel and you would have a pretty cool DMR
Just bought mine for $1000 brand new in Alaska. Extremely satisfied with it so far. I will eventually send it off to get a conversion done on it G36E style through either Tommy Built or Black Ops Defence.
The fact that these "assault weapon" laws are so easily circumvented by a slight change in design that still functions the same (like the thumb thru stock) just shows how dumb, pointless and ineffective those laws are And all such laws are, of course, direct infringements on the second amendment
Want to talk silly, here in Australia, an 'item' that largely resembles a functioning firearm is classified as a prohibited weapon and requires the appropriate license to legally poses. Example, you're real good at wood work, make a replica hand gun to exacting dimensions, that is fine, if you then paint it black so as to resemble a real firearm, it then becomes a prohibited weapon and illegal to own unless you have a cat H handgun licence. Those gel blasters that have been coming out of china, banned, airsoft? HA! Forget it. God i hate this nanny state...
I swear I'm the only person I know who doesn't like the look of this gun. The fact they had to snip its balls off to comply with the law is the real deal-breaker. I like most H&Ks.
actually, the G36 will not be replaced by another combat rifle in the german military. that was like one of the first things I got to know in basic training.
This shows how incredible effective the assault weapons gun was. Everybody knows that you can basically throw away a weapon if it doesn't look like it's military inspiration.
If (and there are several 'ifs' here) you disable the gas system, converting the rifle into a single shot... and if you build benchrest quality handloads, and if you single load those handloads at the ejection port rather than from the magazine, and if you attach a Leupold 36X benchrest scope and if you shoot from benchrest tripod and bags, and if you know what you're doing... an SL-8 will shoot quarter inch 5 shot groups fairly regularly.
I would like to see H&K bring this gun back around, keep some of the aesthetics (Floating upper rail, familiar handguard with new molded picatinny rails, etc etc)
It just makes me think of Germany's tendency to over-engineer things, lol.
America: Your gun can only be semi-auto!
H&K: IT WILL BE THE MOST SEMI-AUTO!
America: Well, it doesn't...
H&K: DONE! TAKE THAT!
America: It wasn't a contest...
H&K: We win!
So true.
Bad day?
you must hate the creation of america then, damn
What parts of your culture is it that you are unable to practice? Saying "negerboll"?
Sure you can be proud of your white skin - how would you suggest best going about showing this pride? Are you sure you're not confusing _"being proud of your white skin"_ with _"tell people without that white skin that they are inferior"_?
As for your little list of nobody caring about those things: That's pretty pathetically selective perception on your behalf actually. Lots of people care about it - including within those very countries.
And in the U.S., you conveniently gloss over the conflicts between different groups of immigrants when you say "they all respected one another". So, you're saying an Irishman in Boston in the late 1800s had an equal social standard to the rest of the population? Ever heard of NINA signs?
Immigration without integration isn't invasion. It's not very clever, but it certainly isn't "invasion". An invasion would require following a plan with the intent to invade and I know you aren't crazy enough to suggest refugees (or economic immigrants for that matter) do it to take over the country.
Why would you ever want to convert this into a G36 look-a-like? IT'S KRAUT SPACE MAGIC, DAMNIT, AND IT IS NOT TO BE TAMPERED WITH.
Actually the G36 (and SL8 by extension) is heavily based off Yankee Aerospace Magic, as it's basically a simplified AR18 internally.
Elijah Decker Thanks for the new info! So Yankee Space Magic, huh? Hmmmm...
I'd convert an SL-8 to Select-Fire!
What's next? Commie space magic?
Elijah Decker Yankee Aeronautical Space Free Masonry
"strange looking gun"
*is literally one of the sleekest, most futuristic, ergonomic rifles i've ever seen*
Ergonomic? Did you actually hold this gun in hands?
@@jakedill1304 Garbage? The G2A2 was one of the best and most versatile weapons in the game. Btw, it’s also the semi-auto rifle from Resident Evil 4.
@@garrettsattem4799 I was wondering if anyone else noticed that.
@@maxreboman it’s the reason anyone is here who actually likes it lol, including me
@@garrettsattem4799"RATATATATATATA"
- Rakow G2A2
I will admit that it does looks quite appealing in terms of aesthetic compared to the military version. In my opinion that is.
I think they both look damn cool
Makes for a cool looking DMR/Bench rifle. I'd consider getting one for that purpose if the price was right.
She......
SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!!
it looks like it was made by nintendo
Your opinion sucks.
That probably one of the prettiest guns you've shown so far, the gray colour scheme is quite refreshing
Thats*
Edgar Valencia Yeah, give it a scope, bipod, and retuned parts and boom, easy-money marksman conversion
@@ArcturusOTE
Fun coyote and fox gun, for sure.
Sexier in all black.
I bet people at H&k went: "Well, we can't keep the original iconic look so lets just do the next best thing and make it look like a lazer rifle."
I actually like this look more.
Honestly modifying it to take standard 30 round mags would be the only alteration I'd make to one of these. I actually kinda like the look of it.
That would be pretty baller.
I’d definitely commission you if you’d do this kinda thing, this is my favorite gun and if it could have the double clip then I’d love it
This gun reminds of the one that Troopers from F.E.A.R. used.
Wind Wind That's what they based it upon.
nfaguade huh. that's cool.
Yeah, it really does! Well remembered. Awesome game (apart from the stupid fat bloke)
Old days :)
What was that rotating hand cannon thing called ?
Forgotten space weapons
I remember using this weapon in the second battle for mars, great accuracy but it was poorly built :(
+Kenneth Larsen
Bah! You Prussian space marines and your overrated Space gewehrs. The Martian Insurrection did fine with AK 97s
+Themutedude best answer ever!!
Meanwhile the US Space Marine Corps is celebrating their trusted assault rifle from almost 3 centuries ago. Which is essentially a M2 Browning with Picatinny rail attached. :P
This has got nothing on the HK G11. Damned Kraut Space Magic. How does it even work?
This is one of the most attractive rifles I've ever seen. I don't even care about its odd pedigree, or the ridiculous laws that helped spawn it.
I'd have preferred it to be less plasticy (or at least a prettier kind of plastic), but the "G36... IN SPACE!" vibe it gives off is near and dear to me too. That said, the laws are some booshieeet.
A. Lampman Agreed. The thumbnail almost makes it look like an NES controller, but up close. . .I love this thing.
Why not have a video game with the SL8 as a primary and a shootable NES Zapper as a secondary? Their color schemes would be perfect for a game set on the moon!
It doesn't have the SL-8, but Enter the Gungeon lets you use the NES light gun
I would love to own one of these if they cut away the thumbhole part to give it a true stock and pistol grip, gave it access to 30 round mags (but made 10 rounders for bench shooting) and maybe gave it a lighter barrel to make it less front heavy.
Also maybe a different color than reichstag grey (my apologies if that offends any germans)
maybe something like gun hater black would be a nice fit. Might also look pretty cool in a desert tan.
Looks like a great gun for a sci-fi movie on a budget!
Hell it makes a presence in some SCi fi movies and games like FEAR.
One of these modern designs in rifles that also got the P90 and SCAR onto it. It doesn't look like an AR or AK, is mainly covered in polymer and has unusual (as in: not black) colors.
And Shows. Jayne had one on his wall in Firefly and this shows up (heavily modified) in The Expanse
Spaceballs 2, The search for more money!
Correct me if i'm wrong, but wasn't this rifle in RE 4? The semiauto alternative you get to buy from the merchant in the castle courtyard?
This is actually my favorite weapon in Resident Evil 4(favorite weapon in all of gaming actually). It's called the Semi-Auto Rifle in the game & is 1 of 2 guns classified in the "sniper rifle" category along with the Springfield M1903A4. Great gun in the game. ^_^
And it is from games like F E A R and farcry instincts predator
I knew this looked familiar
Remake version also has this as Stingray rifle
Another thing about the SL-8: the body has this weird grey color because a german law prohibited the use of a black body for civilian rifles, as it would make look them too much like a military weapon. Thankfully that ban was lifted eventually (not that we still have ton of stupid weapon laws over here, but that's a different story).
Some people like to think that a paint job means much of anything on a weapon, and things like those little orange tips are remotely useful. I like to point people toward some of those photos of people who have done up various rifles in bright pink Hello Kitty paint jobs to remind them just how silly and useless a paint colour is in letting people know how safe something is.
Not much stops someone from popping an orange cap on a real weapon either.
German law also prohibits any part of a weapon to be interchangable with a weapon adopted for military use after 1949...
Knechtor
Yes, if they are functional parts.
44WarmocK77
Which is why a lot of civilian variants of HK rifles are slightly different mechanically or in dimensions.
Knechtor So, that angled lug is possibly a German law compliance based change rather than one for American import? If so that's kind of neat.
is Heckler und Pepsi okay?
OMG thank you! I have literally searched the comment section only for this comment!
H&K literally tell us in their website that the English pronunciation is “coke”. Get over yourself.
Monkey I’d rather have a rum & Koch...
@@gooondie this some bs
@@gooondie Yeah, but I am german, I won't accept any less than english speakers running into the wall that is the german "ch" sound. ;P
"There's a rather small group of people who would have bought these things brand new..." like Leon S. Kennedy back in spain in 2004 of course!
Merchant: Ah stranger, so you want a .223 Remington semi-auto rifle? I recommend this AR-15 imported from the US. Its got a rail handguard, a free floating barrel, and...
Leon: No thanks bro! *Picks up the H&K SL8 from the Merchant's gun rack* I'll buy this at a high price!
@@ReonMagnum and proceed to purchase the infrared scope as well.
@@Joshua_N-A Merchant: Hehehe, thank you!
Leon: I'll come back anytime!
Merchant: _(What an idiot, the AR is totally better. I even got a 100 round beta c mag for it...)_
@@Joshua_N-A Nah, he umm, "found" one conveniently in a certain freezer room. *heavy, inhuman breathing*
@@majormalfunction0071 shudder.....god those spikey bastards creeped me out!
Nobody thinks it looks like the ultimate NES duck hunt gun?
Thinking the same thing with the red letters and gray body.
Chris Gough the polymer, metal parts and red letters are of the same exact color, I swear
Chris Gough I know right
CDgonePotatoes so true
Oh God, I don't think I will be able to unsee it!
*THANKS, GUN JESUS!*
that is hilarious, he truly is though
dude you know Ian is the first thing that comes up on youtube when you look up "gun jesus"
Ksilisab Is that result his halloween shooting video with the 3 barreled Chiappa thing?
ye
Ksilisab Are you crazy you fucking devil prayer this thing game out of hell so jesus mist be bad for you so your a devil prayer
The whole gun feels like just a sad reminder of terrible laws.
It's not sad, it is a victory trophy. I keep some ban-era AR mags marked "For government and law enforcement use only" as trophies as well.
You feel bad for the american gun laws? I am a german gunowner i only can hear mimimimimimi from you guys, inform yourself what`s legal to own in germany and you can stop crying and thank god or whoever you believe in that you are not here in germany.
Don't worry pal, I don't live in America either. I live in Europe, and I'm fully aware of how bad the gun laws are here. But yes, I do feel bad when I see gun laws in America getting this bad. I hope to move there some day and own a nice collection.
Welllll we do have some nifty holes in the laws the moment you aquire a hunting license. Sport shooters are fucked beyond redemption, though.
You think that's bad? I live in the UK, and I own an air rifle and a bow and arrows. And I got cautioned for the arrows.
i like the sl8's look. if i were to convert any of it, it would just be converting to double stack mag and replacing that bolt so it has both the feed lugs
Basically a G36 that looks like an SL8?
@@paco4756 it sounds good, doesn't it?
@@paco4756 that would just make it a European spec SL8
I just picked mine up today. It's heavier than I expected, but overall I really like it. The biggest complaint I have is what you touched on briefly - loading the magazines. For German design, it's shockingly more difficult than it should be.
Sorry in advance for the long poste.
I had the opportunity to shoot one of these, the day they came out in Germany. Apparently there are quite a few changes to the US-version in comparison to our domestic version. The design was. from what I understand, mostly due our Act on the Control of War-weapons, which also caused the odd grey color instead of black, because anything looking only remotely like a military weapon was 100% illegal to own for civilians. Yet, our domestic version doesn't have the locking lugs altered, as well as the magazine-well. The only thing that prevents it from accepting standard G36 mags is a small nose inside the well, which could potentially be removed with any effort (just by jamming in the original mag hard enough), so I have been told. Over here, we also have aftermarket fire control groups that permit a fairly easy conversation to a G36 look-alike, because for a couple of years, it's now perfectly legal to own look-alikes due changes made to the aforementioned Act.
The rifle, you are referring to as successor of the SL-8 is the HK SR 243, which is available in Germany for (I think) about 2 no.
Yeah, a true masterpiece of unintentionally being funny. (Rereading it, this sounds soooo wrong...). Glad you had fun though. :)
Strange looking? I think it looks freaking awesome!
Looks like a weapon from 2050 :D
the sl8 is genuinely one of the most beautiful guns ive ever seen in my life. it looks like it could have come out yesterday tbh.
Resident Evil 4 Semi-Auto Rifle.
I was looking for this comment!
@@BLOODNIGHTMARE yeah, me too!
@@mariusmacsouza3615 me 3 XD , everybody is calling it a spacegun
*_IS THAT ALL STRANGER?_*
Hehehe thank you
This video reminds me of the old 4chan /k/ days when Alex C (aka the /k/ommando back then) spent 4000 dollars building a G36
That's some dedication.
P.S. RIP /k/'s Vintorez project
>reminds of old 4crap
Yeah of course, because it's shit now.
If this is the same Alex C as on TFBTV then he's the reason I quit subbing to TFBTV. He's a rich obnoxious troll
***** Wow. I just got tired of his shitting on Mosin owners, trolling his viewers, and carrying water for whatever French Rifle that caught his eye. He's a rich bastard who has no idea about trying to build a collection on a budget. His favorite bolt gun is a fairly rare Danish rifle. His video on underrated rifles had a common thread: ALL of the guns were f--king rare and expensive as hell! He's also the biggest HK nuthugger out there. I'll resub if they dump his arrogant ass.
He used 4 chan lmao what a loser.
I got a $6 pump-action BB version of this more than a decade ago and even the Chinese who made that had the due diligence to add a half-width cinder block in the stock to balance it. Even in replica form it was intrinsically front-heavy.
You can modify a G36 magazine very easily to make it compatible with the SL8. Just file down two of the upper edges and you're good to go. Also there are conversion kits to change the buttock to a foldable one. I have also seen people who dyed the rest of the poly parts black.
Talked to my brother a few minutes ago about wanting to shoot it again soon. Now this video pops up. What a coincidence
Greetings from Germany :)
Sounds like an absolute nightmare to convert to the G36.
chibani what about the bolt?
These are still relatively popular in Canada (at least in conversation) due to the non-restricted status of the gun. Though the price puts it out of what most people would wanna spend on a black rifle here. Price here is currently $2500-$2700 and with guns like the Type 97, upcoming Type 81, VZ58, Ruger Mini 14, and M305 being less than half the price of an SL-8 most guys will opt for one of those before even thinking of an SL-8.
A TAR-21 is only about 200 more than an SL8, which is the route I went. Comparing the two, the Tavor had a lot more features and design choices I felt were a better use of that big of an investment.
It's also worth noting I've never seen one at a range.
I have seen them in the 2000-2200 range, but the original magazines are hard to find and around 100-150, and AR magazine conversions are also hard to find and around 300.
LEECHESANDCREAM But there will always be people who want German space magic
If anyone ever played F.E.A.R, this is the rifle that the G2A2 rifle is based on
That game sounds familiar
WE NEED REINFORCEMENTS
@@bullfrogboss8008WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO?!
SHUT THE FUCK UP!
dude! the Kolibri video is what introduced me to your channel (due to the release of Battlefield 1 which has it as a sidearm option) but I am loving your videos. very informative and also tons of cool, weird and beautiful weapons. and the history! best weapons channel on youtube in my honest opinion. that I have seen anyway. thank you!
Glad you're enjoying them!
Fun fact. HK also licensed an air soft version of the SL-8, dubbed the SL-9.
i like how no one today remembers how pointless and stupid the "assault" weapon ban was. you'd think the fact that it didn't work would calm people down these days.
i honestly cant figure out what it was really for.
It was political, almost all gun laws are politically motivated . It doesn't matter if the law makes things better, or 100 times worse, thats not the point. If you think about it, laws are made so the political figure/party can get more money or power. It's disgusting, and wrong.
Pretty much was about to say what Stowaway said. It's sick.
I agree with you, politicians do these create these type of laws so they can just pat themselves on the back. If you think about it they really dont need to worry like us everyday people about defending ourselves because the politicians have people who are highly trained with select fire weapons that the regular law abiding citizen can't obtain. They think that since they dont need weapons(even though people around them carry them.) that we(civilians.) don't need them as well. In my opinion i think their purposely trying to disarm us and arm the law enforcement to a point where are freedom of speech isnt free anymore.
The changes for the SL8 were made to accomodate the german gun law of the 90's. The SL8 was meant as a riflethat could privatly be owned by reservist for sport shooting, but still be usefull for army reserve training, meaning you can use it in the same way as the G-36 for shooting range purposes.
I doubt anyone will read this but i bought one and I LOVE it, the thumbhole stock is strangely comfortable and it shoots like a dream. And its strangly heavy as heck. Barrel is also a 1:9 twist so high grain ammo for it is lovely
I love the Aesthetics of the SL 8. the only things I would change is the mag well, the bolt, and the barrel. if I get my hands on one of these, and managed to do all that without completely ruining the rest of the furniture, I'll be happy.
There was also a ban in Germany on "military style" sporting guns... It was actually the german Law that this gun was designed around... For example the grey colour was chosen to comply with the "Anscheinsparagraph" and the demands of the Federal Police, the BKA... I guess it was rather a coincidence that the gun was also compatible with US law
By the way, there goes a rumor that HK sold a black painting kit in Germany to give your sl8 a proper colour, after the lookalike ban was history
I was just asking why is it grey and then i found this comment, thank you
I think the US market is more lucrative than the german market. tow birds with one stone
ginbobob absolutely but things like the grey color and the strange looking toprail are aspects demanded the old German law to avoid looking like a „military weapon“. The Anscheinsparagraph outlawed every gun that even looked like it could be used in a military role.. in some ways it was even harsher than the assault weapons ban.
I just bought one of the new production ones, can't wait to take it out to the range!
Mmm. I recognize this; the Replica soldiers from the first F.E.A.R. game used some kind of modified SL rifles. Their versions were fully automatic, however, and utilized a weird dual-drum magazine. It's always been a weapon I've loved the look of; a shame it's so mechanically restricted here in the States.
Yep, slap a Beta C mag on it, exactly the same.
How you described it it sound Like a mg36
That and the fear version was green and black
Great gun. I always carry one with me, along with a shotgun and either a Type-7 Particle Weapon or ASP rifle depending on ammo drops.
HV10 is great to have. So is Type-12 Laser Carbine. Riot Heavy is a pain to deal with without it
I tend to carry it with a pair of AT-14's and a VK-12.
For Work? Or to the range? Or aß an every day carry?
Just how, exactly, are any of these restrictions supposed to keep anyone safer?
It looks less dangerous.
To please mindless voters into thinking that there are gun safety laws in place that keep crazy people from shooting up places.
Are you kidding me? It looks like something a starship trooper would use to kill arachnids. That sounds a lot more dangerous than your average G-36. :p
Those restrictions are not in place to keep the people safer...they are there to keep foreign guns off the market and the profits of the american gun manufactorers safe. (sorry if my english hurts your eyes and feelings...:D...)
Macomio80 If another country makes a good rifle, then why neuter it if it comes to the states? It's not the government's job to protect the profits of the gun manufactures safe, if they want to protect their profits then MAKE A BETTER RIFLE. These restrictions were put in place because idiots think that characteristics like "barrel shrouds" and "pistol grips" make guns more dangerous which is complete opinionated garbage.
This is the G2A2 from FEAR! Except they made it full auto and slapped a drum mag on it.
Also the fear version was green and black instead of grey and black lol
It looks like one of those plastic guns they use at arcades and they're attached to the actual screen
Lightguns. You should see the Silent Scope arcade machine with either its PSG-1 or MSG-90 (I don't know specifically) and the scope has a screen in it to zoom in on targets. Wish I had that and Police 911 arcades in my house to play and display since they're both awesome.
There's a broken Silent Scope at my airsoft field. I believe it is a PSG-1.
Well the normal g36is mostly plastic. And. The full plastic one in the simulator felt the same.
this the gun of F.E.A.R
Yeah except the FEAR version uses a bigger magazine lol
Yeah except the FEAR version uses a 45 round magazine lol
I was hoping someone else had noticed it.
So that's why it looked so weird in RE4, it was based off the SL-8.
Could this be considered a sort of marksman version of the G36 platform with the heavier barrel and design of the butt-stock?
Remember this one. It was at our local hunting store in deep Russia for years among much cheaper rifles. Nobody wanted it as it was at least x3 more expensive than others. I bet i will still find it there if i will visit that store.
as always Ian does the greatest job reviewing this firearm.
"Just add time and money."
Imagine how many lives were saved by the government's intervention here...because you'd have to.
In stark contrast, Ian, your work is consistently fantastic.
The modifications on the locking lug is a real bummer. Could've just 3d printed a new mag well and everything would be alright.
Can't wait for his review of the HK Mark 23. Not that it's a forgotten weapon by any stretch.
This is such a fantastic series. I learn so much with every video I watch. Thank you for taking the time to make these.
I'd think it would be fairly simple to replace that magazine receiver to allow a double stack and put a spot weld on that locking lug.
Aka the Resident Evil Semi auto rifle or the F.E.A.R. Assault rifle
This is such a good channel so many interesting guns and he even dissassembles them in most of the videos its just awesome
This gun looks slick asf. Its got that futuristic look I adore.
"what you want buying" Re4 mercant
this weapon looks so similar to the F.E.A.R assault rifle (if anyone played the game)
It is, the fear version just has a bigger magazine
@@Tyler-ut6st
And an M14 rear sight.
It's also in RE4.
My dad got his Deawoo K2 during the ban so it has the thumb hole stock, but thankfully they didn't machine it to having to use ten round mags, so now we can slap a standard AR mag in it.
F.e.a.r. has rifles like that, i never thought they would actually exist
Yeah the fear version just has a bigger magazine
Check out his video on the dental ntw20, it's the real life rifle that the sniper in halo was emulating
You think us import laws are bad,
Come to Australia mate
I would, but everything that lives there wants to kill and eat me
@@heartoffire8481 don't worry, we'll ban high-capacity assault kangaroos soon as well!
Not 4 years ago, not now. You got muscular marsupials roaming around and emus that the army can't handle, and that's not to mention the spiders and snakes. Fuck that.
Anyone come here when they learned the Semi-Auto rifle from Resident Evil 4 was a SL-8.
***** Ok, cool.
John Connor I always thought that the semi rifle looked odd.
The F.E.A.R. semi auto rifle was remarkably similar too. Albeit with a double drum type magazine.
@@Shrike200
Not semi-auto, it's all-out automatic carnage. Also it has an M14's rear sight.
@@Shrike200 yeah except the fear version uses a 45 round magazine and is green and black
There is a special hell for everyone who convert this beautiful rifle into a G36 look-a-like.
Currently converting mine into A G36K ❤️ my favorite non AR style rifle that isn’t a bullpup
Was the ability to legally alter a non-assault weapon into being an "assault weapon" something that changed when the '94 ban expired or was that always legal to do?
Only became legal when the ban expired in 2004.
Forgotten Weapons Thanks for the response.
How many of the alterations were required by the 1989 ban and how many by the 1994 one? What I'm wondering is why didn't they do a new design around 2004 when the 1994 ban ended (obviously would have been a financial risk, if another ban got implemented)?
The 1989 ban on imports is still in effect, which means H&K can't sell real G36 rifles to Americans. The 1994 ban expiring only allowed American companies like Colt or Winchester to sell assault weapons.
Wow, the assault rifle from F.E.A.R looks exactly like this.
With minor tweaks and a good fat mag.
It is, but just withal bigger magazine
@@Tyler-ut6st
Like I said. (It also has a different sight.)
@@DinnerForkTongue I didn't realize the sight was different, good observation haha
Always appreciated the aesthetics and ergonomics of the SL-8.
I’ve heard several people dump on this gun, mainly complaints about the thumbhole stock or the single-stack 10-rounds-only mags. I’ve even heard this gun referred to as “atrocious”.
But I’d never actually *seen* a gun called the SL-8, I’d only ever heard it described. And now that I’ve seen this video, I can feel absolute certainty in dismissing the nay-sayers. Because that is the semi-auto rifle from RE4, and I fell in love with that rifle within 15 minutes of buying it from The Merchant. I had no knowledge about it being a modification of the G-36, or the legal nonsense that brought on those modifications. I just knew it was FIERCE at headshotting creepy Spanish cultists, and that it was an immensely pleasant gun to look at. Easily my second favorite gun in that game after the “Red 9” with the detachable buttstock.
TL;DR: *AH! AN EXCELLENT CHOICE, STRANGER!*
RESIDENT EVIL 4 SEMI-AUTO RIFLE! 🔥🔥🔥
** in slow motion **
HE JUST WASTED THE WHOLE SQUAD!
FEAR ftw
Ian, the P90... Please, it fits the bill of being unusual(technical marvel), slightly old by now and are available on the US market as the PS90 if getting an authentic one proves difficult. You are gonna have a field day taking it apart, and no doubt we(viewers) will have a great time seeing what inside!
Great video by the way!
I turned off adblock to order some food online... the sheer number of adverts on YT is breathtaking.
Leon's sniper in Resident Evil 4 Remake
Woah. That looks kinda cool
these things look like something out of a futuristic video game, especially with that paint scheme!
To this day, I still can't decide if I like the way the SL8 looks or not.
I like the looks.
I think they are good looking and would love to have one. But I'm still trying to find a SVT 40 in Colorado.
I see quite a few of those up here in Alberta.
well atleast i have a ak! (i would rather have a svt) :(
Jared Hinojosa
Sadly, all AKs and variants are banned up here (except for some Valmet variants, for some reason), I would have loved to get one of those civilian SVD derivatives.
Aren't there sites you could order from to find an SVT?
+Czars Epidemic the only place I can find them on is gun broker but I never win the auction. I'm just waiting until one pops on arms list or in my local gun store
This is one of the coolest looking rifles I’ve seen tbh.
That looks like a gun movie prop companies would love as it looks like a great base for sci-fi props and the polymer furniture would be more easily modified than aluminum, steel, or wood.
Resident Evil 4 anyone? :D
Ello stranger!
**F.E.A.R*
@@GaionSputro no...what you see is what Ive got strangah.
@@Gfors85 "What are you buyin'? What are you sellin'?"🤣
@@GaionSputro not only do you need cash, but you need GUTS to but that kind of weapon.
such a sexy fucking rifle, shame people convert it to a boring old G36
Detective John Kimble wrong
personal aesthetic taste, but it's probably because the people who like the g36 want that look because they're diehard fans of the military g36, and don't really care for any other look on an H&K AR.
In my opinion the SL-8 would make a pretty cool DMR, what they need to do is make it accept 30 round magazines, add some weight to the stock, and thread the barrel and you would have a pretty cool DMR
Just bought mine for $1000 brand new in Alaska. Extremely satisfied with it so far. I will eventually send it off to get a conversion done on it G36E style through either Tommy Built or Black Ops Defence.
does have a bit of a "sci-fi DMR" look to it
Definitely.
Funny you say that, it was used in the game series F.E.A.R. back in 2005
The fact that these "assault weapon" laws are so easily circumvented by a slight change in design that still functions the same (like the thumb thru stock) just shows how dumb, pointless and ineffective those laws are
And all such laws are, of course, direct infringements on the second amendment
Joseph Dillard ElOhEl
S H A L L N O T
I think that the "no pistol grip" part of the law was to prevent folding stocks and more concealable weapons, and it does its job
@@c-ro311
That actually makes sense :0
Want to talk silly, here in Australia, an 'item' that largely resembles a functioning firearm is classified as a prohibited weapon and requires the appropriate license to legally poses. Example, you're real good at wood work, make a replica hand gun to exacting dimensions, that is fine, if you then paint it black so as to resemble a real firearm, it then becomes a prohibited weapon and illegal to own unless you have a cat H handgun licence. Those gel blasters that have been coming out of china, banned, airsoft? HA! Forget it. God i hate this nanny state...
The SL8 is a great gun, I've owned one for several years and converted it to a really nice looking and shooting g36 clone...
bruh, this is the F.E.A.R. 1 assaultrifle
Except the fear version has a bigger magazine lol
I swear I'm the only person I know who doesn't like the look of this gun. The fact they had to snip its balls off to comply with the law is the real deal-breaker. I like most H&Ks.
Eric Schroeder I agree. It looks ugly.
it look like a gun from the future
This and the P90 are some of the sickest looking guns
actually, the G36 will not be replaced by another combat rifle in the german military. that was like one of the first things I got to know in basic training.
This shows how incredible effective the assault weapons gun was. Everybody knows that you can basically throw away a weapon if it doesn't look like it's military inspiration.
Resident evil 4 sniper rifle
If (and there are several 'ifs' here) you disable the gas system, converting the rifle into a single shot... and if you build benchrest quality handloads, and if you single load those handloads at the ejection port rather than from the magazine, and if you attach a Leupold 36X benchrest scope and if you shoot from benchrest tripod and bags, and if you know what you're doing... an SL-8 will shoot quarter inch 5 shot groups fairly regularly.
Perfect rifle to equip a special forces unit with the task of dealing with paranormal threats.
Ah, yes, the Stingray
It looks like something make for Super Nintendo.
True story, I once had a cop look into the back of my car and exclaim "Super Scope, what's that for?"
So you can carry it throught the 'no guns zone'.😉
I would like to see H&K bring this gun back around, keep some of the aesthetics (Floating upper rail, familiar handguard with new molded picatinny rails, etc etc)
Its a Really Really Accurate rifle, so it is worth tracking one down if you feel like you want one for any reason