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The USP pistol is a triumph for innovators from Germany. Video: Heckler & Koch G11 assault rifle The latest model of the designer Heckler Koch

The Heckler & Koch company is still a fairly young arms manufacturer, but almost every one of its developments was widely known and distributed around the world. The G3 automatic rifle was produced in Mexico and Iran. The MP5 submachine gun surpassed its competitors so much that it became a kind of "standard" for such weapons. But H&K pistols, despite their high quality and unusual design, could not achieve world fame for some time.

The situation changed in the 1990s. UniverselleSelbstladepistole USP stepped onto the scene and proved that Heckler & Koch can achieve leadership in this area too.

History of creation

Heckler & Koch was founded after the Second World War by former engineers from the Mauser factory. Using the equipment that they managed to salvage from the destroyed workshops, they opened their own workshop.

The development and production of Heckler and Koch weapons began in the 50s, but the first pistol under the designation P4 appeared in 1967. It was a small pocket pistol similar in design to the pre-war Mauser HSc. Its interesting feature was the ability to easily change the caliber (to one of four) by replacing the barrel and magazine.

In the seventies, H&K released the original VP70 pistol with a polymer frame and automatic fire capability.

It was followed by the H&KP7, designed specifically for the police and adopted in a dozen countries. But the real popularity of the Heckler and Koch personal weapons was brought by the USP that appeared in the nineties.

There is nothing surprising in the fact that the "universal self-loading" fell to become such a well-known weapon, no. Unlike their ancestors, H&K created it specifically for the American market.

This weapon, first of all, had to satisfy the desires of a huge mass of US civilian shooters. For the same reason, variants were immediately developed not only for the standard 9x19 mm cartridge for Europe, but also for the traditional American .45 ACP cartridge, and the new (and promising) at that time .40 S&W.

In the late 80s, a version of the pistol took part in a competition to create a new weapon for the American special operations forces. From this project, the famous Mk 23 for special forces eventually emerged, but the experience gained was also useful in fine-tuning the USP. It entered production in .40 caliber in 1993, followed by a 9mm version. Finally, in 1995, the USP 45 went on sale.

Gun device

Previous USP pistols "Heckler and Koch" were distinguished by the use of various unconventional design solutions. For example, the P9 used a semi-free breech, a system similar to that used in the design of the G3 rifle. But the “Heckler & Koch” USP is basically a fairly traditional design, almost like the Browning M1911 and Hi-Power. Automation uses the recoil of the barrel to work with its short course. Trigger mechanism kurkovy, double action. And this is where innovation comes in.

A remarkable feature of USM is the variety of its modes of operation.

In the workshop, you can change the position of the fuse (or remove it altogether), add or remove a safe trigger release, make the mechanism only self-cocking. The recoil spring assembly incorporates a spring-loaded recoil buffer mechanism. According to the developers, it allows you to reduce the perceived return by 30%.


From the bottom of the frame there is a fixture for attaching flashlights or laser designators. However, this is not a universal Picatinny rail type mount, and therefore the USP can not be equipped with any additional equipment. Thus, only InsightIndustries lamps distributed through the Heckler & Koch dealer network are allowed to be installed. To get around this inconvenience, some companies have launched the production of adapters that allow you to install a standard Picatinny rail.

Options

A wide variety of USP models are produced - from compact, for concealed carry, to long-barreled target:

  1. CustomSport is a target modification for sports and practical shooting.
  2. Compact - a variant with a reduced frame and a different recoil mitigation system. Only this pistol is available in .357 SIG.
  3. The USP Tactical is a suppressed pistol equipped with an adjustable sight. A kind of "Mk 23 for the poor."
  4. Compact Tactical is a small-sized model of a “tactical pistol”. Unlike the full-size, only one caliber is produced - .45 ACP.
  5. Expert - a pistol similar to the "tactical", but not intended for use with a silencer. But it has an elongated frame and can use stores with increased capacity.
  6. Match - a competition version that uses a special weight to reduce barrel bounce. Currently not produced.
  7. USP Elite is the "final" version of the target pistol with a barrel extended to 153 mm.

Characteristics in comparison with analogues from other manufacturers

To compare the performance, let's take the standard USP 45 and European pistols of the same caliber, which appeared around the same time.

In terms of mass-dimensional indicators, the pistol in question is generally similar to its competitors, reducing the decisive factor of choice to a matter of personal preference. For example, the ammunition of the Swiss SIG-Sauer may seem insufficient to someone. But Glock does not produce long-barreled models of .45ACP caliber. It is worth mentioning that although the production of the P220 series began back in the seventies, the production of the large-caliber P227 started only in 2014.


Interestingly, American gunsmiths mainly concentrated on the production of revolvers and variations on the classic M1911, rarely indulging the market with new designs.

Application and footprint in popular culture

In 1994, the USP nine-millimeter pistol was adopted by the Bundeswehr (under the name P8). The USP Compact (also in 9mm caliber) became the weapon of the German police, receiving the designation P10. The distribution was not limited to this - subsequently it was adopted by the military and police of various countries.

It can be found all over the world - in Serbia and Spain, in Thailand and Singapore, Australia and South Africa.

In most cases, nine-millimeter versions were adopted, much less often - .45 caliber. To have a .40 caliber weapon was expressed only by the US Immigration Service and Air Marshals.


USP has gained considerable popularity in the media as well. With its help, gamers destroyed terrorists in games of the Rainbow 6 series, survived the zombie apocalypse in Resident Evil, shot back from mutants in STALKER. The "tactical" model with a silencer was present in the arsenal of the most popular online shooter of its time - Counter-Strike.

On the big screen, Heckler and Koch pistols were wielded by vampires from the Underworld film series, Blade by Wesley Snipes, Jason Bourne and Lara Croft of the 2001 model. On television, USP received a significant role in the series "24".

The USP pistol turned out to be a successful example, combining proven traditional solutions with innovative proposals.

High reliability and a variety of options allowed us to firmly establish ourselves in the market and earn popularity. The USP pistol can hardly be called the "most-most" type of weapon.

The Mk 23 weapon remains unsurpassed in combat performance. There are also newer pistols (HK45, VP9) among the Heckler and Koch products. But the "universal self-loading" remains in production, and its popularity is not going to decline. The USP model not only brought H&K pistols to the world level - it allows you to stay on it.

Video

HK USP pistol with attached tactical flashlight and .45 ACP ammo

In 1993, Heckler und Koch introduced and put into mass production a USP pistol (Universal Selbstladen Pistole - universal self-loading pistol), designed for use by the police, army, special forces, as well as ordinary citizens for self-defense and sports shooting. The design of this model was started in 1989. The head of the design work was Helmut Veldle. The purpose of the creation was a pistol that could be successfully used both in the police and the army, and for self-defense by ordinary citizens, as well as adapt to perform various tasks.

USP was planned to be sold mainly on the American arms market, so it was originally created for a new, rapidly gaining popularity in the United States, and very promising cartridge. 40 S&W. Pistols of 9 mm caliber were based on the frame of 40 caliber models and differed from them only in the barrel and magazine. In 1995, after the launch of the .40 S&W and 9mm Parabellum models, a version chambered for the American .45 ACP cartridge was introduced. Adapted for use by the Bundeswehr, the 9mm USP was adopted by the German armed forces in the same year under the designation P8 (Pistole 8), where it is now successfully used, earning a reputation for being an extremely reliable and durable weapon. P8 is in service with the famous special forces of the German Federal Border Guard - GSG9 (Grenzschutzgruppe 9). Army special forces KSK (Kommando Spezialkräfte) also adopted the P8.

USP pistols were adopted not only in Germany, but also by various law enforcement organizations and intelligence agencies in other countries of the world. For example, in the United States, USP is used by the Presidential Security Service - Secret Service, the Immigration Service - INS, police departments of various states and army special forces. 9mm pistols are the most versatile, as they are produced in huge quantities, in a wide variety of equipment options, and can be found all over the world. However, weapons chambered for .40 S&W provide the best combination of such qualities as high stopping power of a bullet, acceptable dimensions, weight and recoil force. It should be noted that at the same time, 9 mm pistols are traditionally the most popular in Europe, and in the USA - chambered for .40 S&W.

A US 7th Army Reserve soldier trains with a service P8

The USP .45 is very popular in the US, where the .45 ACP is favored for having the highest stopping power of the most common handgun cartridges, regardless of its size and inability to be concealed under light clothing. The operation of automation is based on the Browning design with a descending barrel, which enters with its rectangular protrusion located above the chamber into the shutter-casing window for ejection of spent cartridges, but the reduction itself here is carried out using a special part at the rear end of the return spring rod. This part is a recoil dampening device and is equipped with a buffer spring. This solution allows you to reduce the recoil momentum and make the automation more tolerant of the difference in the power of the cartridges used.

The barrel, made by cold forging on the frame, has a channel with polygonal rifling. Such a barrel has a large service life and minimizes the breakthrough of powder gases. The shutter-casing, made of chromium-molybdenum steel, is subjected to nitrogas treatment. Its coating has an extremely high resistance to corrosion. Reinforced polymer frame reinforced with steel inserts. In the front of the frame there are slots for attaching a tactical flashlight or a laser designator. The trigger, magazine latch and safety levers, magazine cover and feeder are also made of polymer. Trigger mechanism of hammer type, double action, with safety cocking. Trigger pull in single action mode - 2.5 kg, in self-cocking mode - 5 kg.

By replacing the locking plate, the trigger can operate in five different versions: double action - SA / DA (upper position of the safety lever - blocking, lower position - fire), while the safety lever in different versions can also perform the functions of a safe release of the trigger when turn on the fuse or work only as a fuse; single action or only self-cocking - SA and DAO (the upper position of the lever is single action, the lower position is only self-cocking, while moving the lever to the lower position safely pulls the trigger from the cocking); single action - SA (the lever serves only for safe descent of the trigger); only self-cocking - DAO (without flag fuse); only self-cocking with a flag fuse. The lever, used for various purposes and options for trigger operation, can be located both on the left and on the right side of the frame. The weapon is equipped with an automatic striker safety that prevents it from striking the cartridge primer with a striker until the trigger is fully squeezed out by the shooter.

The shutter delay lever is located on the left side of the frame. A double-sided lever magazine latch is located at the base of the trigger guard. To detach the magazine, the shooter only needs to press the lever down with a natural movement of the thumb. Double-row magazines of military P8 are made of transparent plastic for easier control over the consumption of ammunition. Sights, consisting of a front sight and a rear sight, fixed in dovetail grooves with the possibility of making lateral corrections, are equipped with white inserts to speed up aiming at night or in low light. Pistols can also be supplied with an adjustable micrometric whole for sports shooting.

Warranty resource - 25000 shots. The resource, according to the experience of the owners, is about 110,000 shots. 9mm pistols have a very long service life, they withstand long-term firing with especially powerful handloading cartridges and +P+, due to the fact that they are based on the variant chambered for .40 S&W. After the USP pistols gained widespread popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, Heckler und Koch began to produce various variants of the basic model, adapted for various highly specialized purposes, for example IPSC practical shooting or use in conjunction with a silencer.

The few shortcomings of the pistol include a manually operated safety lever, which complicates the handling of weapons, because an inexperienced or not sufficiently trained owner may forget to turn it off in a critical situation. And with the function of protection against an accidental shot when the weapon falls, the automatic safety of the striker does more than an excellent job. German USP pistols have extremely high reliability in severe operating conditions and when using cartridges with a wide variety of equipment options, high service life and strength, excellent corrosion resistance, shooting accuracy, very high quality materials and workmanship.

HK USP Compact pistol chambered for .40 S&W

HK USP Compact pistol chambered for .357 SIG and USP Compact 45 caliber

Introduced in 1997, the USP Compact has a smoother shutter-casing and frame contours, has a reduced in length and somewhat modified trigger guard. These changes, combined with smaller dimensions and weight, make it possible to carry weapons concealed. The main change in the design is the absence of a buffer spring. However, to mitigate the impact of recoil, a plastic bushing-shock absorber with a resource of 25,000 shots is installed at the end of the return spring rod, which has a rectangular section. The changes also affected the trigger mechanism. Trigger force when firing with a pre-cocked trigger is 1.9 kg, self-cocking - 4.3 kg. Trigger travel in single action mode is reduced to 5.1mm. In 1997, the USP Compact was adopted by the German police under the designation P10 (Pistole 10).

Owners about their USP Compact: “The impressions are good. The gun is made very soundly, obviously with the expectation of the army and the police. It fits very tightly in the hand, it seems that it was made under it, the sights are clearly visible. At the same time, I must note that it is certainly easier to wear a Glock, although it may just be out of habit. Externally, the USP Compact makes a more bulky impression. Very high accuracy when shooting with a doublet. “Very durable and amazingly reliable pistol. Made in the best German traditions for these qualities. But, unfortunately, it is complex in design, which is again typical of the German weapons school. Thousands of rounds fired and not a single delay. Works stably with cartridges of different brands, including cheap Wolf. Excellent accuracy. A friend did not like the handle, but for me it is quite convenient. Not everyone likes the design because of its angularity and massive shutter-casing, but they do not argue about tastes. The quality is excellent."

The USP 45 CT pistol was designed for use by US Special Forces as a highly effective compact weapon with the ability to mount PBS. CT is short for Compact Tactical. Unlike the conventional USP Compact, this pistol is equipped with a barrel with a protruding, threaded muzzle, as well as large and high sights, which are necessary when using weapons in conjunction with a silencer. The weapon comes with two magazines, a set of tools and accessories for cleaning. Length: 196mm; barrel length: 113 mm; height: 146 mm; width: 29mm; weight: 780 g; magazine capacity: 8 rounds.

According to the impressions of the owners, as well as people who have experience with the USP 45 CT model, the gun fits perfectly in the hand, the grip is very comfortable, the grip is tight and stable. The weapon is also convenient for people with large hands thanks to the magazine cover with a front ledge. The large breech block, safety levers and slide stop levers are easy to manipulate without any problems. However, with thick gloves, it can be somewhat difficult to work with the magazine latch levers due to their small dimensions, but it should be clarified that this is a problem with most combat pistols, and not just this model. After shooting 45 CT leaves only positive impressions.

Firstly, when fired, there is no strong recoil, which is perceived here as smooth, without sharpness, with a slight toss of the barrel. Secondly, a comfortable grip greatly reduces the impact of recoil and helps a lot to control the gun during high-speed shooting. Aimed shooting at short range is comparable to the results of a standard USP of the same caliber, which is facilitated by an elongated barrel, again a comfortable grip shape and a smooth, not long trigger stroke. The weapon, of course, is well suited for high-speed bursts of fire and "instinctive" snapshots. Reliability, as always, for pistols of this model range from Heckler und Koch is beyond praise. It is not even worth mentioning the high resistance of the coating to corrosion and abrasion, as well as the stability of operation under severe operating conditions.

The gun shoots without delay with cartridges of a wide variety of equipment options and from any manufacturer, even the cheapest ones. As for wearing, not everything is clear. Although the model is called Compact, in reality the gun is quite large, but not very wide. 45 CT, designed for concealed carry, however, it will unmask itself under light clothing and in countries with a warm climate it is recommended to carry it in a special belt bag. If you wear it under a sweater, light jacket or other loose clothing, there are no problems with stealth. The gun is comfortable to wear, does not cling to anything when drawing and does not burden when performing the usual work. In general, the USP 45 CT is an excellent choice for a person who wants to have a pistol that is effective in shooting and influencing the enemy, more than accurate enough in shooting, as reliable as possible, does not require very careful and long maintenance, which is comfortable to wear and from which it is simply pleasant fire.

Specifications of the HK USP pistol

  • Caliber: 9mm Parabellum / .357 SIG / .40 S&W / .45 ACP
  • Weapon length: 194 / 194 / 200 mm
  • Barrel length: 108 / 108 / 112 mm
  • Weapon height: 136 / 136 / 141 mm
  • Weapon width: 38 / 38 / 38 mm
  • Weight without cartridges: 770 / 830 / 890 g
  • Magazine capacity: 15 / 13 / 13 / 12 rounds

TTX pistol HP USP Compact

  • Caliber: 9mm Parabellum / .40 S&W / .45 ACP
  • Weapon length: 173 / 173 / 179 mm
  • Barrel length: 91 / 91 / 95 mm
  • Weapon height: 128 / 128 / 129 mm
  • Weapon Width: 34 / 34 / 34mm (30mm excluding safety)
  • Weight without cartridges: 727 / 777 / 802 g
  • Magazine capacity: 13 / 12 / 8 rounds

The Heckler&Koch SLB 2000 is an example of a utilitarian European semi-automatic weapon. Not having an exquisite finish, it, nevertheless, differs from the mass-produced North American firearms in its impeccable workmanship and excellent ergonomics, corresponding to all the canons of shooting art.

Semi-automatic carbine with detachable box magazine. The reloading mechanism works on the principle of a gas engine, taking part of the powder gases from the bore. Shutter with rotating larva. The stock is semi-pistol, with a steeply set, well-defined handle.

A set of external sights consists of a Batyu rail or a folding rear sight and an open metal front sight on a high bracket. It is possible to install a Weaver or Picatinny rail, for which holes with metric threads are made on the receiver cover.

About what isHeckler&Koch SLB 2000, this video will tell:

Advantages and disadvantages

Almost legendary high quality workmanship, characteristic of all samples of the Heckler & Koch brand.

  • Good shooting qualities, obtained not only due to the precision quality of the barrel, but also the use of a bolt with a rotating larva, on which there are two rows of lugs, three in each. Thanks to this design solution, the Heckler & Koch SLB 2000 breech locking density is no worse than that of bolt rifles.
  • The design of the gas engine consists of four parts: a piston, a return spring and two rods of the bolt carrier. Therefore, this semi-automatic is more reliable than both Browning Bar and Benelli Argo.
  • However, the SLB 2000 is not an expedition shotgun that can work without a hitch for months without seeing a proper cleaning. Judging by the reviews on the Web, the only type of ammunition with which this carbine works flawlessly is the Dynamite Nobel brand cartridges.
  • The ergonomics of the weapon is well thought out, very comfortable for shooting from any stock position, all controls are accessible without any extra effort. It is relatively light and compact.
  • The safety flag is located on the butt plate of the receiver, it can be operated without being distracted from the aiming line. The trigger pull is adjustable. Its value is classic for hunting weapons - from 1.5 to 1.8 kilograms.
  • The standard magazine capacity is five rounds, which is not typical for European semi-automatic weapons. However, it can optionally be equipped with a ten-shot removable bunker. The cartridges are stacked in two rows, which speeds up the loading process.

A complete set of external sights and the ability to install a rail for optical sights make this weapon universal, suitable for any type of hunting. The same can be said about the set of calibers offered by the manufacturer. A range from .308 Win to 300 WM allows you to choose a pattern with which it is appropriate to go on a roe deer and a large bear.

Carbine HK 2000 SLB (photo)

purpose

This is a weapon that can be used for running and driven hunts, as well as shooting from ambush and from storehouses.

Varieties

The manufacturer offers the following set of calibers:

  • 7 X 64
  • .308Win,
  • 30-06 Spring,
  • 9.3×62,
  • as well as 300 WM.

Three models: 2000 L, 2000 K and 2000 L Magnum. The latter differs in design - it is made of black plastic, on which the bipod is mounted. The butt of the Magnum model has a height-adjustable comb, and a compensator brake is installed on the muzzle.

Specifications

H&K 2000L Magnum

Self-loading carbine with a gas engine

With a turning larva with six lugs

7X64, .308Win, 30-06 Sprg, 9.3x62

Barrel length (mm)

Overall length (mm)

Weight without cartridges

Design

  • Self-loading magazine carbine that works using the principle of a gas engine.
  • Stainless steel barrel, blued, cold forged rifling. On Magnum models, a muzzle brake-compensator is installed.
  • The receiver is made of thick-walled aluminum, made by milling. The connection with the barrel is threaded. On the top edge of the cover, holes are made for attaching a strap for optical sights.
  • A bolt with a rotating larva having six lugs - two rows of three each.
  • Trigger mechanism with the ability to adjust the trigger force from 1.5 to 1.8 kilograms. The fuse box is located on the butt plate of the receiver, it has two positions: Fire - all the way up, a red dot is visible; Stop - all the way down, a white dot is visible.
  • Shop box-shaped, removable, two-row. The latch is located on the right side of the front branch of the trigger guard.
  • After shooting the last cartridge, the shutter becomes delayed. To remove it, on the left side of the receiver is a lever with a corrugated prismatic button.
  • A set of sights consists of a rear sight (it can be either in the form of a Batyu rail or a shield with a slot), as well as a fixed open metal front sight on a high bracket. Magnum models are not equipped with them, there is only a Picatinny rail.
  • The stock of the basic models is semi-pistol, made of Bavarian walnut wood. The butt pad is unregulated, with a shock-absorbing pad. The Magnum models are equipped with a black plastic stock, the comb of which has an adjustable height, and the butt plate can be moved vertically. A bipod is attached to its forearm.

UsageThe Heckler&Koch SLB 2000 carbine is demonstrated in this video:

Completion and packaging

The weapon is supplied in a hard case. The package may include a magazine for 10 rounds, cleaning tools, an optical sight. Instructions for use and a passport are attached.

Operating principle

  • The reloading of weapons occurs due to the selection of part of the powder gases from the barrel. They act on the piston, which, through the rods, pushes the bolt carrier back, forcing the larva to turn and disengage the lugs from the breech of the barrel. With this movement, the sleeve is removed and the percussion mechanism is cocked. On the way back, the bolt carrier picks up a cartridge from the magazine and sends it to the chamber. After the cartridges are used up, the shutter frame becomes delayed in the rearmost position.
  • To equip the magazine, press down the hopper latch lever located at the front branch of the trigger guard. The cartridges are stacked in two rows. The magazine is installed in the bunker first with the front edge, and then with the rear, after which it is pressed in until a characteristic click.
  • To feed a cartridge into the chamber, pull the bolt back by holding its handle. Then release it so that it returns under the action of the return mechanism spring. If you do not want to fire immediately, put the weapon on the safety by moving the slider on the butt plate of the receiver down until a white dot appears.
  • If the bolt carrier is on a delay, it can be returned to the forward position in two ways: remove the magazine; lower the lever located on the left side of the receiver in front of the magazine hopper.

Heckler & Koch SLB 2000 Target

Disassembly

  1. Discharge the weapon, for which remove the magazine from the bunker and distort the bolt carrier.
  2. Unscrew the two screws on the bottom edge of the forearm with a hex wrench, remove it.
  3. Unscrew two (slotted on both sides of the receiver) hex keys two bolts holding the halves of the receiver.
  4. Separate the upper half of the receiver assembly with the barrel and bolt carrier.
  5. Remove the two lock washers securing the bolt carrier rods to the piston.
  6. Using a flat head screwdriver, depress the latch of the bolt handle and remove it in a forward motion.
  7. Remove the bolt carrier together with the rods from the receiver, remove the rods.
  8. Unscrew the two screws securing the spring guide, remove it and remove the piston from the gas chamber.
  9. On the butt plate of the shutter stem, press the latch, remove the pin, remove the striker.
  10. Remove the shutter cover.
  11. Take out the larva.

Description

Hunting and sports semi-automatic carbine, built on the basis of the army model HK416. A feature of the carbine is a modular design, similar to that of the M16 automatic rifle, but featuring a short-stroke gas piston system.
The barrel is cold forged and threaded for a muzzle brake. The receiver is made of aluminum alloy. Butt - sliding telescopic. The accuracy of firing single shots is about one arc minute when using the appropriate cartridges.
Characteristics:
1. Caliber: .223Rem
2. Length, mm: 830-930 mm
3. Barrel length, mm: 420 mm
4. Grooves: 6 right hand grooves
5. Thread Pitch: 7" (178mm)
6. Weight, kg: 3.7 kg
7. Principle of operation: removal of powder gases, butterfly valve
8. Telescopic five-position stock
9. Handguard RIS
10. Magazine capacity: 10 rounds
Bought new in Kolchuga at the end of 2013. Only fired 10 shots. The optics were not installed, the carbine was not used at all, the condition is new. Not even the slightest scratch. Call for a price to negotiate.

On April 7, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that the parliamentary opposition to the Bundestag announced its intention to investigate the activities of the German Ministry of Defense in the field of arms procurement. The reason for this decision was the recent statement by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen about the presence of technical flaws in the G36 rifle, which is in service with the Bundeswehr.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen
news19.ru

The 5.56 caliber G36 assault rifle manufactured by the German arms company Heckler & Koch has been in service with the German army since 1996 and is available in basic, shortened, compact and export versions. In addition, the G36 design was used as the basis for the production of the HK MG36 machine gun and SL-18 self-loading rifles for the civilian market. Since the start of production of the G36 rifle, the Bundeswehr has purchased almost 180 thousand units of this weapon from the manufacturer.


G36 assault rifle is in service in more than forty countries around the world
seal-team-pro.livejournal.com

The weight of the rifle in its various modifications ranges from 3.3 to 3.8 kilograms (for the compact version of the G36C - less than 3 kilograms), and its length without a stock ranges from 500 to 760 millimeters. Structurally, the G36 model is an improved version of the AR-18 rifle, created in the USA in the early 60s and served as a model for small arms in many countries of the world. The German rifle has automation similar to the American prototype (the principle of operation of which is based on the removal of powder gases from the bore), but at the same time it has some design differences.


American rifle AR-18,
served as the prototype for the G36
onopi.at.webry.info

While the American manufacturer, striving for ease of production and cheaper products, used non-deficient materials in the design, the use of a large number of polymeric materials became a distinctive feature of the German rifle. In particular, its magazine is made of transparent plastic, which in combat conditions allows you to visually control the amount of remaining ammunition. For the manufacture of metal parts of the rifle, modern metalworking methods were used, including shaped steel and powder metallurgy technologies. The use of plastics in the design of the G36 did not lead to a reduction in the weight of the weapon; moreover, the German rifle is 10-15% heavier than its American prototype.


G36 assault rifle variants
forum.nationstates.net

The design features of the G36 rifle also include the absence of a mechanical sighting bar and front sight traditional for small arms (instead of them, a permanent optical sight with a laser designator is installed on a special handle for carrying weapons). The sight has a threefold increase and is designed for shooting at distances from 200 to 800 meters. For firing at distances of less than 200 meters, a collimator sight is additionally installed on top of the optical sight. The design of the rifle is made in such a way that it is equally convenient to shoot from it for both right-handers and left-handers, since the cocking handle can be moved both to the right and to the left side of the upper part of the receiver. Magazines are designed for 30 rounds of standard NATO caliber 5.56x45mm and are easily mounted in pairs or threes. In military operations and peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Mali and the Balkans, the rifle proved to be a reliable weapon with good accuracy of fire and a large resource of durability.

Signals that the G36 assault rifle has serious technical flaws began to arrive several years ago. So, in 2012, the Spiegel magazine was the first to publish an article stating that during the tests of this weapon, conducted by the Bundeswehr, facts of barrel overheating were revealed, as a result of which the accuracy of fire decreased noticeably. The topic was picked up by other media as well. In particular, the Bild daily published the data of an internal audit of the Bundeswehr technical center, which confirmed the presence of problems with aimed shooting due to barrel overheating. Protecting its product, Heckler & Koch entered into a real information war, explaining the appearance of critical materials in the press solely by the intrigues of competitors. As counterarguments, the gunsmiths presented the positive results of tests previously performed by the Federal Bureau of Defense Technology and Procurement when processing arms supplies to the Bundeswehr. The manufacturing company also pointed to the fact that for more than ten years of service life of the rifle in "hot spots" it had received no complaints from active military units.


The G36 rifle does not tolerate overheating well.
weathermed.com

However, checks of the G36 rifle, initiated by the media and interested organizations, confirmed the facts of its overheating during intensive shooting, as well as a noticeable deterioration in accuracy. Complaints have also been made about plastic magazines that are not strong enough and often break, causing the cartridges to skew. Neither the manufacturer's attempts to shift the blame to subcontractors and component suppliers, nor the decision of the federal government to suspend the purchase of G36 rifles for the Bundeswehr, did not reduce the sharpness of criticism. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, speaking in the Bundestag, acknowledged the problem, and this may mean the beginning of the search for another main model of small arms for the German army. In this case, Heckler & Koch will have to demonstrate their new developments and try to prove their superiority over products from other manufacturers.