Heckler and Koch G36 German 5.56mm Assault Rifle
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Basic Information
Name
Heckler and Koch G36 German 5.56mm Assault Rifle
Designation
—
Alternate Designation
—
Equipment Type
—
Manufacturer
Heckler & Koch Santa Bárbara Sistemas Military Industries Corporation
Date of Introduction
1996
Description
The G36 is a 5.56×45mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch in Germany as a replacement for the heavier 7.62mm G3 battle rifle. It was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr in 1997, replacing the G3. The G36 is gas-operated and feeds from a 30-round detachable box magazine or 100-round C-Mag drum magazine. The G36 is a selective-fire 5.56 mm assault rifle, firing from a closed rotary bolt. The G36 has a conventional layout and a modular component design. Common to all variants of the G36 family are: the receiver and buttstock assembly, bolt carrier group with bolt and the return mechanism and guide rod. The receiver contains the barrel, carry handle with integrated sights, trigger group with pistol grip, handguard and magazine socket. The G36 employs a free-floating barrel (the barrel does not contact the handguard). The barrel is fastened to the receiver with a special nut, which can be removed with a wrench. The barrel is produced using a cold hammer forging process and features a chrome-lined bore with 6 right-hand grooves and a 1 in 178 mm (1:7 in) rifling twist rate. The barrel assembly consists of the gas block, a collar with a bayonet lug that is also used to launch rifle grenades and a slotted flash suppressor. The weapon can be stripped and re-assembled without tools through a system of cross-pins similar to that used on earlier HK designs. For cleaning purposes, the G36 dismantles into the following groups: receiver housing, return mechanism, bolt carrier group and trigger group.
Ground Specifications
Main Weapon
5.56mm assault rifle
Variants
G36V (V—Variante "variant")
Previously known as the G36E (E—Export), it is the export version of the standard G36. The G36V has all of the characteristics of the standard rifle with the exception of the sight setup and bayonet mount. It is fitted with a x1.5 or x3 sight and lacks the integrated reflector sight; the bayonet mount is a standard NATO type. This version was first produced for Spain and Latvia.
MG36 (MG—Maschinengewehr "machine gun")
Squad automatic weapon version of the G36 equipped with a heavier barrel for increased heat and cook-off resistance. The MG36 and MG36E are no longer offered by H&K.
G36K (K—kurz "short")
carbine variant with a shorter barrel (fitted with an open-type flash suppressor) and a shorter forend, which includes a bottom rail that can be used to attach tactical accessories, such as a UTL flashlight from the USP pistol. The carbine's barrel lacks the ability to launch rifle grenades and it will not support a bayonet. The weapon retained the ability to be used with the AG36 grenade launcher. G36Ks in service with German special forces are issued with a 100-round C-Mag drum. There are two variants of the G36K. The first and most commonly known has x3 scope/carry handle attached to the top, while the second is equipped with iron sights and a rail (no scope included).
G36KV (formerly G36KE):
export version of carbine variant G36K, with sights like G36V.
G36C (C="Compact", commonly mistaken for "Commando"
a term trademarked by Colt Firearms for the CAR-15): This subcarbine model is a further development of the G36K. It has a shorter barrel than the G36K, and a four-prong open-type flash hider or a birdcage type flash hider. The extremely short barrel forced designers to move the gas block closer to the muzzle end and reduce the length of the gas piston operating rod. The handguard and stock were also shortened and the fixed carry handle (with optics) was replaced with a carrying handle with an integrated MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. The dual optical sight found on the standard G36 and G36K models was replaced with a set of rail-mounted detachable iron sights that consist of a semi-shrouded front post and a flip-up rear sight with two apertures of different diameter. The short handguard has four accessory attachment points, one of which could be used for a vertical grip. The G36C was developed and produced in January 2001.
G36A2
This is an ordnance designation allocated to an upgraded variant of the G36 used by the German Army. The G36A2 is equipped with a quick-detachable Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight[32] mounted on a Picatinny rail that replaces the original red dot sight of the dual combat sighting system. The G36A2 upgrade kit also consists of the shorter G36C stock (Designed for better handling with use of body armor and load bearing equipment), new handguard made of aluminium (provides better heat resistance during long periods of firing) with an optional 4 Picatinny rails and a vertical foregrip with an integrated switch for operating an Oerlikon Contraves LLM01 laser light module.
Sporting models
Based on the G36, Heckler & Koch also created the semi-automatic SL8 rifle and the straight-pull, bolt-action R8, which are offered to the civilian sport shooting markets. The SL8 is substantially different from the G36, it has a modified receiver and a thumbhole stock with a cheek rest, which is integral with the trigger group. The SL8 has a heavy profile, extended, 510 mm (20.1 in) barrel that does not have a flash hider or bayonet lug. The rifle uses a 10-round single-stack magazine and an extended top rail used to mount a wide variety of Picatinny-standard optics. Mounted to the rail are a set of iron sights with a hooded foresight and adjustable flip rear aperture. The SL8 can also mount the G36 carry handle and integrated sight assembly, after removing the mechanical iron sights. The SL8 has an unloaded weight of 4.3 kg, overall length of 980–1030 mm and a trigger rated at 20 N (4.5 lbf).
In November 2013, Heckler & Koch applied for permission from the German Government to sell a new civilian-legal version of the G36. Called the HK243 in Europe and the HK293 in America, it is more similar to the G36 assault rifle than previous civilian models. The main difference is the bolt is redesigned to not allow a conversion to fully automatic fire. It has quad picatinny rails and accepts STANAG magazines. Four different barrel lengths from 230 mm (9.1 in) to 480 mm (19 in) and four stock models (short fixed, long fixed and two adjustable) will be offered.
System
Alternate Designation(s)
Heckler & Koch G36
Primary Function / Type
Assault Rifle
Date of Introduction
1997
Manufacturer
Heckler & Koch
Santa Bárbara Sistemas
Military Industries Corporation
Proliferation
Widely Proliferated
Produced
G36: 1996–present
G36K: 1997–present
G36C: 2001–present
Number Built
260,000+
Action
Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of Fire
750 rounds/min cyclic
Muzzle Velocity
G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E: 920 m/s (3,018 ft/s)
G36K, G36KV: 850 m/s (2,788.7 ft/s)
G36C, G36CV: 722 m/s (2,368.8 ft/s)
Maximum Firing Range
2,860 m
Effective Firing Range
G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E: 800 metres (870 yd)
G36K, G36KV: 500 metres (550 yd)
G36C, G36CV: 200 metres (220 yd)
Feed System
30-round detachable box magazine or 100-round C-Mag drum magazine
Sights
Reflex sight with 1× magnification, telescopic sight with 3× magnification (export version has a 1.5× magnified sight) and back-up fixed notch sight
Dimensions
Length
G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E: 999 mm (39.3 in) stock extended / 758 mm (29.8 in) stock folded
G36K, G36KV: 860 mm (33.9 in) stock extended / 615 mm (24.2 in) stock folded
G36C: 720 mm (28.3 in) stock extended / 500 mm (19.7 in) stock folded
Barrel Length
G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E: 480 mm (18.9 in)
G36K, G36KV: 318 mm (12.5 in)
G36C: 228 mm (9.0 in)
Width
64 mm
Height
G36, G36K, MG36: 320 mm (12.6 in)
G36V, G36KV, MG36E: 285 mm (11.2 in)
G36C: 278 mm (10.9 in)
Weight
G36: 3.63 kg (8.00 lb)
G36V: 3.33 kg (7.3 lb)
G36K: 3.30 kg (7.3 lb)
G36KV: 3.0 kg (6.6 lb)
G36C: 2.82 kg (6.2 lb)
MG36: 3.83 kg (8.4 lb)
MG36E: 3.50 kg (7.7 lb)
Ammunition
Type
Rifle
Caliber
5.56mm
Cartridge
5.56×45mm NATO
Magazine
Note
In the box magazine is room for 30 cartridges staggered (or double-stacked) on top of one another. The magazines are molded with shock resistant plastic, and are translucent allowing the user to see the ammunition. On the sides are studs which allow the magazines to be attached next to each other, this way the operator can reload more easily. An empty G36 magazine weighs 127 grams (4.5 oz) and filled with 30 rounds 483 grams (17.0 oz). STANAG magazines cannot be normally used, but the G36 can use an adapter that will accept the STANAG. Certain types of Beta C-Mags can also be used and are employed with the MG36 support variant.
Sights
Note
The standard German Army versions of the G36 are equipped with a ZF 3×4° dual optical sight that combines a 3× magnified telescopic sight (with the main reticle designed for firing at 200 m and bullet drop compensation markings for: 200, 400, 600 and 800 m crosshairs and a range-finding scale) and an unmagnified reflex sight (calibrated for firing at 100 m) mounted on top of the telescopic sight.[4] The reflex sight is illuminated by ambient light during the day and uses battery powered illumination for use at night. Electric illumination is activated automatically by a built in photo sensor and can be manually activated to boost the brightness of the reticle in daytime low contrast situations.
The export versions have a single telescopic sight with a 1.5× magnification and an aiming reticle fixed at 300 m. All rifles are adapted to use the Hensoldt NSA 80 third-generation night sight, which clamps into the G36 carry handle adapter in front of the optical sight housing and mates with the rifle's standard optical sight.[12] The sighting bridge also functions as a carrying handle and features auxiliary open sights molded on top of the handle that consist of a forward blade and rear notch, but these can only be used with the reflex sight removed, as in the G36V. The optical sight system is produced by Hensoldt AG (a subsidiary of Carl Zeiss AG).
Operating mechanism
Note
The G36 uses a short-stroke piston system from which HK later developed the HK-416's impingement system. Unlike direct impingement, this system takes gas trailing the bullet to operate a piston instead of pushing directly on the bolt. The G36's bolt is operated by a cam that guides the bolt carrier by its respective cutout. Then when fully pushed forward 7 radial locking lugs fully enclose the chamber.
HK included several design features that are essential in modern military firearms. For example, the bolt locks back after the last round is spent (this can be deactivated), and at the front end of the trigger guard there is a bolt catch button. The cocking handle can be switched from either end, folds in, and unfolds from a spring so the shooter need not unfold it by hand before firing. Another feature of it is that it doubles as the forward assist, which is used in the instance that the spent cartridge is ejected but the next round does not properly feed. In addition, the ejection port has a brass deflector to mitigate the amount of casings that may strike the face of left-handed operators. Instead of a dust cover which has the need to be flipped back up when the gun isn't in use, the bolt acts as the seal from dirt.
Accessories
Note
The rifle can be fitted with a 40 mm AG36 (AG—Anbau-Granatwerfer) under-barrel grenade launcher, which is a breech-loaded break-action weapon with a side-tilting barrel.
Standard equipment supplied with the G36 includes: spare magazines, a cleaning and maintenance kit, sling, speed-loading device and sometimes modified AKM type II blade bayonets (many of which are left over in Germany from stocks of the former National People's Army).
Details
Country of Origin
Germany
Category
Rifles
Land > Infantry Weapons > Rifles
Filter Label
H
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
0.04 m
Width
0.06 m
Height
0.04 m
Weight
16.33 kg
Operators (48)
United States
France
Germany
United Kingdom
Italy
Japan
South Korea
Ukraine
Poland
Sweden
Brazil
Serbia
Spain
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Canada
Croatia
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
Georgia
Iceland
Indonesia
Jordan
Kosovo
Latvia
Lebanon
Libya
Lithuania
Malaysia
Mexico
Mongolia
Montenegro
Norway
Philippines
Portugal
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Trinidad and Tobago
Kurdistan
United Nations
Hong Kong
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