Heckler & Koch G3 Rifle

Defense Systems Full Specifications

The Heckler & Koch G3 is a German 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle developed during the postwar period and introduced into West German service in 1959. Designed for military infantry use, it combines a roller-delayed blowback operating system with a stamped-steel receiver and detachable box magazine.

The G3 was developed from the CETME rifle design and became one of the most widely adopted 7.62mm service rifles of the Cold War. Its operating system does not use a conventional gas piston, which helped simplify the rifle’s internal mechanism. The platform has also been produced under license in several countries and adapted into numerous specialized configurations.

Manufacturer

The original G3 was manufactured by Heckler & Koch in West Germany. Production and licensed manufacture later expanded internationally, including versions produced by Pakistan Ordnance Factories and other manufacturers.

Variants

Speed and Range

The standard G3 fires a 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge at approximately 800 m/s. Its practical effective range is commonly cited around 400 meters for point targets, although ammunition, sights, barrel configuration, and shooter conditions affect actual performance. The rifle normally uses a 20-round magazine and has a cyclic rate of roughly 500 to 600 rounds per minute.

Cost/Price

Original military G3 rifles are generally not sold as new service weapons on the U.S. commercial market. Civilian semi-automatic derivatives, parts kits, and transferable examples can vary substantially in price depending on configuration, condition, manufacturer, and legal status. Local and federal firearms regulations also apply.

Heckler & Koch G3 Rifle Variants