Heckler & Koch G3

Heckler & Koch G3
The Heckler & Koch G3A4 (top) and G3A3 (bottom)
Type	Battle rifle
Place of origin	West Germany
Service history
In service	1959–present
Wars	Portuguese 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
Designed	1956
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	1958–present
No. built	7,000,000[5]
Specifications
Mass	4.1 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)
Length	1,025 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 length	450 mm (17.7 in) 315 mm (12.4 in) (G3K)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Roller-delayed blowback
Rate of fire	500–600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	800 m/s (2,625 ft/s)
Effective firing range	500 metres (550 yd), 100–400 m sight adjustments
Feed system	20-round detachable box 30-round detachable box and 50-round drum magazine
Sights	Rear: rotary diopter; front: hooded post

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.

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

1. d'aéroplanes, L'amateur (25 May 2009). "Portuguese Equipment in the Colonial War". Steven's Balagan.
2. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-07/30/c_13422479.htm
3. VICE (12 June 2013). "Ground Zero: Syria (Part 7) - Snipers of Aleppo" – via YouTube.
4. WarLeaks - Military Archive (10 June 2015). "Yemen War 2015 - Heavy Clashes On The Saudi Border As Houthi Rebels Attack Saudi Military Outposts" – via YouTube.
5. https://web.archive.org/web/20090902181924/http://www.controlarms.org/en/documents%20and%20files/reports/english-reports/shattered-lives-report