HK G3A4
Heckler & Koch · Battle Rifle · Discontinued · 1974
Also known as: G3A4, Gewehr 3 A4
Overview
The HK G3A4 is the retractable-stock variant of Heckler & Koch's G3 battle rifle, the standard 7.62x51mm NATO infantry rifle of the West German Bundeswehr. It replaces the G3A3's fixed synthetic buttstock with a single-position sliding metal stock that collapses to shorten the weapon for paratroopers, vehicle and armoured crews, and other troops needing a more compact arm without sacrificing the full-power cartridge. Mechanically it is identical to the G3A3: a roller-delayed blowback action - derived from the wartime StG 45(M) and the Spanish CETME - feeding from 20-round detachable box magazines, with a fluted chamber to aid extraction, stamped-steel construction, and the characteristic HK drum-type adjustable rear sight. Entering service around 1974, the G3A4 served alongside the fixed-stock G3A3 throughout the Cold War until the G3 family was superseded in German service by the 5.56mm HK G36 around 2000-2001.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4700 g (165.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1025 mm (40.35") |
| Folded Length | 840 mm (33.07") |
| Barrel Length | 450 mm (17.72") |
| Action Type | Roller Delayed Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 800 m/s (2625 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3042 J (2244 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3000 m (3281 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x51mm NATO · primary · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as .308 Winchester, 7.62mm NATO
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector, Half Cock Notch
- Features: Select Fire, Roller Delayed Blowback, Retractable Stock, Stamped Steel Construction, Drum Type Rear Sight, Fluted Chamber, Optics Mount
Variants
- HK G3 — Base Model
- HK G3A3 (fixed stock) — Fixed Stock
- HK G3KA4 (carbine) — Carbine
- HK G3SG/1 (designated marksman) — Designated Marksman
Base model
Service history
Operators
- German Bundeswehr · adopted 1974 · as G3A4
- Bundeswehr airborne and vehicle crews · adopted 1974 · as G3A4
Conflicts
- Cold War (1974-1991)
Production
Production years: 1974-2001
Produced as part of overall G3-family output (estimated 7-8 million rifles across all variants and licensees); the retractable-stock A4 was issued to airborne, crew, and special units
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: CETME / Heckler & Koch
Discontinued: 2001
Notes
Empty weight is higher than the fixed-stock G3A3 (~4.4 kg) because of the heavier sliding metal stock; ~4.7 kg is the commonly cited figure for the G3A4. Collapsed length is roughly 840 mm with the stock retracted versus ~1025 mm extended. Mechanically identical to the G3A3 apart from the stock. Many national G3 users (Turkey, Greece, Pakistan, etc.) fielded equivalent retractable-stock versions.
Background
When West German paratroopers and tank crews needed the G3's full-power 7.62mm punch in a package that would fit a jump rig or a turret hatch, the answer was the G3A4 - the same rifle, but with the fixed stock swapped for a single-position sliding steel tube that telescoped the weapon down by nearly 20 centimetres.