Heckler And Koch HK SL8-1 Operators Manual

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TOP HEADER
Operators Manual
In a world of compromise, some don’t.
®
HK SL8-1 Rifle 
Caliber .223
(5.56mm) 

SL8-1Sporting Rifle
Operators Manual
CAUTION: Read the safety notes before handling the 
SL8-1 Rifle!
®
© Heckler & Koch, Inc., 10/99, 11/99 (revised May 2000)
All rights reserved
HK, Inc., 21480 Pacific Blvd.
Sterling, Virginia 20166-8903 
United States of America
Telephone (703) 450-1900
Specifications and models subject to change without notice. 

Maintenance and Service  ..................................................................38
Troubleshooting Guide ........................................................................41
Parts & Exploded Diagram ..................................................................42
Specifications ......................................................................................44
Firearm Service Record ......................................................................45
45
TABLE OF CONTENTS...

67SAFETY NOTES
SAFETY NOTES
• Always point the rifle in a safe direction.
• Before handling and before cleaning it has to be checked to
ensure that:
- The bolt is locked to the rear
- The rifle is unloaded (cartridge chamber empty)
- The barrel is free of obstructions 
- The magazine is empty.
• Keep your finger off the trigger when loading, unloading or
otherwise handling the rifle. Always place the trigger finger
outside of the trigger guard.
• Place your finger on the trigger only when your sights...

89GENERAL
GENERAL
Figure 2 SL8-1 with mechanical sights (right side view)
Figure 3 SL8-1 Accessories
The HK SL8-1 semiautomatic rifle is a caliber .223 Remington civilian
sporting arm based on the G36 rifle currently used by the German Army.
The SL8-1 rifle is gas operated with a rotating bolt head. Its receiver,
pistol grip, buttstock, and handguard are all made of a high-strength
polymer material, resulting in a tough and lightweight rifle.
A mechanical sight is mounted on the Picatinny long rail found...

11 Group 1  Receiver with barrel, buttstock and attaching parts
The receiver is made of high-strength fiber-reinforced plastic. It houses
all the other assembly groups. Inside the receiver there are guideways
for the bolt as well as contact surfaces for the pistol grip, the buttstock
and the magazine well. The barrel is fastened and centered to the
receiver by means of a nut.
CAUTION: The barrel nut should not be removed by the operator.Only HK certified armorers should attempt to remove the barrel.
On...

13 The firing pin is retained by the firing pin retaining pin.
A cocking lever on the front end of the bolt head carrier can be swiveled to
the left and to the right for actuation by both left and right handed users. It
can also be locked in a 90°position to the left and right for use as a
forward assist.
Figure 7 Bolt assembly with recoil spring assembly
The recoil spring guide rod with the recoil spring is a separate unit and
fits into the bolt head carrier. Rearward movement of the bolt assembly
is...

15 Trigger and Safety Mechanism
The trigger and safety are integrated into the buttstock assembly.
At the front of the trigger guard there is a bolt catch button which is
used to hold the bolt open on an empty magazine or when fired “dry.”
There are safety selector levers on both sides of the grip. The
safety/selector levers can be placed in two positions:
“S”= Safe (white index line on the safety/selector     
lever pointing to the white “S”)
“F”= Fire (semi-automatic white index line on the...

17 Ammunition and Accuracy
By using ammunition with match bullets (like Sierra 62 grain Match King
#1410) or other match grade ammunition the HK SL8-1 will achieve the
best level of accuracy.
If used, handloaded ammo should not exceed the maximum gas
pressure specified by C.I.P. and SAAMI for the cal. 223 Remington
cartridge (5.56 x 45mm NATO). Follow the instructions of propellant and
bullet manufacturer.
Mounting Rail
The rail with mechanical iron sights is not designed to be a carrying
handle....

19 Loading the Rifle
Method 1: No magazine in the weapon
The bolt is in its forward (locked) position
1 •  Set the safety/selector lever on “Safe.”
2 •  Swivel the cocking lever to the left or to the right, pull it all the
way to the rear (Figure 20) and hold it.
Figure 20  Operating the cocking lever
3 •  Push the bolt catch button upward to lock the bolt open
(rearward, see Figure 21)
Figure 21  Activate bolt catch, push upwards
4 •  Insert a loaded magazine into the magazine well until the
magazine...