Brownells BRN-4: The HK 416 We Can Have At Home [SHOT Show Range Day 2023]

TOO POOR FOR A REAL H&K? BROWNELLS IS HERE TO HELP

If you didn’t know, getting a real HK 416 in the USA is hard. Really hard. And expensive. Really, really expensive.

Thankfully, there is one good option out there – the Brownells BRN-4.

While not new, Media Range Day at SHOT 2023 was the first time we’ve gotten our hands on the complete BRN-4 system. While the one we shot was running a German upper receiver, all of the other parts were Brownells made, and we’re told they will soon be producing the stripped upper, also. 

Is this a ground-breaking rifle? No. This is a piston system AR-15, basically. Made to a better standard and the same upgrades that the 416 has made famous, this is a great piston rifle – but it didn’t reinvent the wheel. And that’s a good thing.

Maybe I’m wrong, but this isn’t built to be the new best thing since sliced bread. This is for the gun dorks and gun nerds among us that want something different. Because we’ve been told we can’t have an HK 416, we want one even more. And I love it.

Getting hands-on with it at SHOT was great. This is a smooth shooting rifle that was dressed to impress. 

The price isn’t cheap, but it’s a lot less money than a German 416. Hopefully, this won’t be the last we talk about this interesting and very enjoyable rifle from Brownells.