The Heckler & Koch G3 is a battle rifle developed by Heckler & Koch and the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME. It has a 20 rounds magazine, that holds 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

Quick Facts Type, Place of origin ...
Heckler & Koch G3
Thumb
The Heckler & Koch G3A4 (top) and G3A3 (bottom)
TypeBattle rifle
Place of originWest Germany
Service history
In service1959–present
WarsPortuguese Colonial War[1]
Rhodesian Bush War
Six-Day War
Nigerian Civil War
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
South African Border War
Carnation Revolution
The Troubles
Iranian Revolution
Iran–Iraq War
Lebanese Civil War
Nicaraguan Revolution
Salvadoran Civil War
Turkey–PKK conflict
Ethiopian Civil War
Gulf War
Yugoslav Wars
Sierra Leone Civil War
War in North-West Pakistan
Operation Enduring Freedom/ISAF—Afghanistan
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Colombian conflict
Mexican Drug War[2]
Syrian Civil War[3]
Somali Civil War
Iraqi Insurgency
Yemeni Civil War (2015)[4]
Production history
Designed1956
ManufacturerHeckler & Koch
Produced1958–present
No. built7,000,000[5]
Specifications
Mass4.1 kg (9.04 lb) (G3A3)
4.7 kg (10 lb) (G3A4)
5.54 kg (12.2 lb) with optic (G3SG/1)
4.1 kg (9.0 lb) (G3K)
Length1,025 mm (40.4 in) (G3A3)
1,025 mm (40.4 in) stock extended / 840 mm (33.1 in) stock collapsed (G3A4)
1,025 mm (40.4 in) (G3SG/1)
895 mm (35.2 in) stock extended / 711 mm (28.0 in) stock collapsed (G3K)
Barrel length450 mm (17.7 in)
315 mm (12.4 in) (G3K)

Cartridge7.62×51mm NATO
ActionRoller-delayed blowback
Rate of fire500–600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity800 m/s (2,625 ft/s)
Effective firing range500 metres (550 yd), 100–400 m sight adjustments
Feed system20-round detachable box 30-round detachable box and 50-round drum magazine
SightsRear: rotary diopter; front: hooded post
Close

It was invented in the 1950s, and was the main weapon of the German army (Bundeswehr). Now the main weapon is the G36. Many German soldiers want the old G3 back. The G3 is still in service as a sniper rifle,[source?] but they changed to the G28 for "designated marksmen".

The deign of the G3 was so influential that it was the base for making the MP5 and the PSG-1.

References

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