| G36 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997–present |
| Wars | Kosovo War, Afghan War, Iraq War, War in South Ossetia (2008) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Heckler & Koch |
| Designed | 1990–1995 |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Produced | 1996–present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | G36: 3.63 kg (8 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) |
| Length | G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E: 999 mm (39.3 in) stock extracted / 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 (2.5 in) |
| Height | G36, G36K, MG36: 320 mm (12.6 in) G36V, G36KV, MG36E: 285 mm (11.2 in) G36C: 278 mm (10.9 in) |
| | |
| Cartridge | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, 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) |
| Effective range | 200–600 m sight adjustment |
| Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine or 100-round C-Mag drum magazine |
| Sights | Reflex sight with 1x magnification, telescopic sight with 3x magnification (export version has a 1.5x magnified sight) and back-up fixed notch sight |
The Heckler & Koch G36 is a selective fire 5.56mm 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 butt stock 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, hand guard and magazine socket.
The Heckler & Koch 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 Heckler & Koch G36 disassembles into the following groups: receiver housing, return mechanism, bolt carrier group and trigger group.
