Why the G3 sucks. Flame suit on!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ต.ค. 2023
- Unfiltered MAC on Twitter: / mac_arms
Join Patreon and support MAC! / militaryarms
Political Comedy and Sarcasm: / @secondlegacy
Follow and support us on Utreon!: utreon.com/c/militaryarmschannel
Follow us on Rumble: rumble.com/user/MilitaryArms
MAC T-Shirt Store: ballisticink.com/collections/...
Modern Gun School: www.mgs.edu
Challenge Targets Discount Code: MAC556 (www.challengetargets.com/SFNT...)
I don't really think the G3 sucks, but when compared to its peers from that era I do believe it isn't as refined as the FAL. I talk about those things about the G3/HK91 that I dislike.
I know some of you will lose your minds over this video, but know I really do like the G3. I just don't think it's the best of the big bore battle rifles. - บันเทิง
Nice try OLD man but I love my G3
Yes it's better than no gun, I love my single shot 25-06. I'm a grown up and know it's not great. Yes it was expensive when I was poor, but I understand it is a not great thing. Some of us grow and learn, some don't. Guns of age are that, old, we learn, well most of us.
Lol, I was shooting my sar-8 today. These guys crying about the recoil need to grow stronger.
@briankopp1369, to be fair the g3 is only a year of production older than the AR15. If the G3 had received as much aftermarket attention as the AR this would not be an argument. Especially considering how modular the hk91 platform is, unfortunately it's been largely relegated to use as a multi generational boomstick in the service of third world militias for the past 60 years.
Shutup gen z
🤣🤣🤣
As a Swede I used the G3 during my military service in the end of 80s. I felt it to be very durable and extremely accurate. The only problem for me was that it was to long. But after many months with the rifle I got used to it.
We also used it in all sorts of various training, trenches, buildings, sewers. It was just a matter of getting used to it. And yes it was long.
The so called Ak 4? Yours were handed down to our military (Lithuanian) and I've heard the people who used these talk about how good they were compared to the G36. But people always do that ignoring the actual qualities.
I've used the ak4 variant in three versions, once in the bare bones version, nine years with the B version with welded picatinny rail and aimpoint red dot, and three years counting with the C version replacing the old single size fits nobody stock with an adjustable barrel aligned Spuhr stock.
The C version feels both lighter and is a lot more manageable in both single and auto due to that very easily adjustable stock and it's modular cheek rest allowing you to first find a comfortable length and then mount a cheek rest module that auto aligns your eye with the sights.
The length of the spuhr stock is adjustable without tools so that you get the same shooting position in relation to the weapon regardless of if you are wearing a flak vest, plain uniform or anything in between.
The different shape and barrel in line design of the Spuhr stock also reduce the G3s muzzle climb tendency and improves control and follow up shots significantly, especially for experienced users.
salam malek kum
We called it AG3 in Norway. Loved this when i was in the military❤
Carried a G-3 in the German Army for many years. Great Battlerifle. ❣️
G3 is still the main rifle of the Greek army ❤️
9-hole Reviews has done several videos of the G3, the FAL, and their advantages and disadvantages as Cold War battle rifles. Their general take is that the G3, while not being as durable, is more reliable and accurate than the FAL. Their tests have convinced me they are right, so MAC's take here is definitely a surprise.
MAC is not someone to trust for a review. He is salesman. He takes a few shots on a clean range and gives his opinion based on that. He doesn't actually test weapons. He will throw in a hot take title like this one "The G3 sucks" or "5.56 sucks" for example to get more views.
G3 is "weak" couse receiver is not heat treated like for example in AK
@@cattledog901. I'm thinking his PTR sponsorship fell through = next day "The G3 Sucks"
The G3 is inherently more accurate, reliability is debatable but it probably depends on operating conditions more on the FAL than the G3. The G3 is awful to shoot and a lot less controllable. The g3 control ergonomics are also worse than the FAL. The FAL’s controls are setup about as good as an AR despite being a design from a decade earlier
Allow me to disagree on the durable part of your comment. The portuguese carried both G3 and FN FAL during the colonial wars in Africa (1963/74) and found the G3 to be more durable! got that from my father that used both rifles in combat and years later from my own military service using war battered rifles that still worked fine!
"The G3 sucks" Looks like that PTR sponsorship fell through.
jep. Licence Products sucks most
I fired thousands of rounds with the G3 with retractable stock during my service time in the German military and I never had any of your described issues. It was a very reliable rifle that probably just needed a bit more practice to operate it well than other models at the time, but for a well-trained soldier it was an indestructible firearm with high firepower and precision. Dissembling and assembling it, even blindfoldedly, became second nature. Some hacks passed on within the military might be unknown to civilian owners. A 7.62x51mm recoil loader is just a very different beast compared to a 5.56mm gas loader. Hiding behind trees to evade enemy fire with matching calibers was always seen to be a stupid idea. 🙂 The G3 would always be my go-to assault rifle: Simple, reliable and of high firepower.
I think the MP5 throws a lot of people off when using the G3. The MP5 magazines have a quirk where you cannot seat a fully loaded 30 round magazine with the bolt forward. Thus the process of locking the bolt to the rear, seating a magazine, and then sending the bolt forward. However, the G3 magazines do not have this problem. You can operate a G3 much more like an AK with a left side charging handle. Shoot until empty, replace magazine, rack bolt, continue firing. Source: I own one.
I agree. I found it strange that he harped on that, most G3 mags aren’t so tight that you can’t put a full 20rd mag in under a closed bolt
Mine sometimes takes a firm smack on the bottom to seat on a closed bolt with new steel mags but otherwise there's no issue on that front.
I thought it was a strange complaint too.
The cost of magazines is a massive plus for these rifles.
shush...others will hear you... lol.
They're up to six dollars now. I don't know if I can keep up with these prices.
@@Catburd641 In the great magazine shortage of 2012 (or was it 2013?) they more than tripled in price - almost got to $10. It was crazy.
I remember when mil surp mags for these were under ten dollars.
This man gets it!
Used a G3 in my military service (with a collapsible stock). Never had any issue with it, dependable weapon. Compared to modern weapons it is quite heavy, but certainly not problematically so.
People like the whine and cry with reactionary titles, this weapon does not suck obviously.
Used it as my servicerifle in the Danish Armed Forces in the 90´s. Many new shooters got a black eye because they were afraid of the recoil and left space between the hump and their cheek/eye. We called it "Recruit Eye"!
Never saw this in german service but when shooting on the Range i was often hit by the Spend Cartridge from the Soldier shooting on my left side, i remember that cling on my Helmet even after over 40 years
It was also my service rifle in the late nineties in Norway. My rifle was from 1967.
Back then I didn't have too much experience with firearms, but it was pretty easy to use and maintain. I found it a bit too long and unwieldy to move around with any speed, but it wasn't a bad gun as such as long as you got one that was properly looked after. One of my friends got one with a visible bend in the barrel and had to change it out for one that couldn't shoot around corners.
Another fun thing about it for us recruits was that you could get it to shoot full auto with blanks just by unscrewing the muzzle brake and put a washer with a small diameter hole into it and then screwing it back on. The officers on that training excercise got pretty pissed at us for doing it, though, since they thought some of us had smuggled some live ammo back from the range and were trying to kill our fellow recruits. They hadn't issued us any recoil boosters, so that's the conclusion the reached upon hearin full auto fire coming from some of us. Fun times.
There was quite a few recruits that got bit by the rifle and earned "idiotmerket" (the morons mark) by getting their cheeks too close to the hump of the stock and not having the stock pulled properly into their shoulders, making their cheekbone the first part of their bodies to stop the recoil.
It was solved the first day at range. I do not think anyone got a black eye, but a couple got a punch. The 40mm grenade launcher you could attach to the G3 was more frightening. In order to shoot with the grenade launcher you had to keep the stock under your arm, so there was essentially no support. The recoil, which the hand had to take everything from, was massive. So a couple of guys had their face too close to the hump on the stock and got their front teeth kicked out - straight to the dentist.
@@Sturminfantrist Danish soldier in the 90ies. We had a shield we could put over the ejection "hole" that would stop the cartridge from flying too far off. Only problem was it had a tendency to throw it back into the rifle causing jamming. That shield was supposed not to be used in actual combat though, but it was still annoying to shoot with. Regarding the "recruit eye", we were specifically taught to put our chin up against this hump, deliberately causing a lot of pain the first time you shot with the rifle.... stupid teachers, I+m not even sure they themselves knew you were not supposed to do that. The only thing I didn+t like about it was its recoil, other than that, it was an okay rifle. Though I've had better rifles after starting to hunt and buying proper hunting rifles.
But to have Danish every morning, It was certainly worth it.
I own both and I prefer the G3. The Ergonomics aren’t as good and it’s a pain to clean but it’s less picky with ammo and more reliable. I also like that you don’t have to play around with the gas to get it to function properly.
Ergonomics are still much better than M14 I think 😂
Me too.
Agreed.
Ive had this question for some time and didn't bother finding the answer so I'll ask you. Can a standard G3 be reliably suppressed with it's roller delayed system and all?
@@farhanhashmi2705 Yes it can be. A standard HK-91 that is being suppressed should use a #17 Locking Piece. The #17 Locking Piece utilizes a 36° contour which slows down the bolt operation enough to allow safe use of a suppressor.
A few shorts ago you said the g3 was great.. Talking shite again. Ak47 & G3 are both still in service. 90% of fals are not
Good point. Africa is full of them.
MAC is not someone to trust for a review. He is salesman. He takes a few shots on a clean range and gives his opinion based on that. He doesn't actually test weapons. He will throw in a hot take title like this one "The G3 sucks" or "5.56 sucks" for example to get more views.
@@ffarmchicken. Also in mexico and south america. You'll see more then a couple G3's.
I suppose it boils down to what you want in a gun. In the early 60's Portugal wanted/needed a rifle that was afordable, uterly reliable and would last a lifetime. Thats what they got with the G3. My father used it in africa during the colonial war (1963/74) and 20 years later i was using those same rifles during my service in the portuguese army. its heavy, and not so user friendly, true. but i carried a 1972 built rifle from 1999 to 2009. No malfuntions whatsoever, and it could still make consistent hits on a torso sized target at 200 meters. Some of our troops carried the FN FAL and although a good gun it was not nearly as reliable and way to cumbersome for a "bush war". Our paratroopers carried the AR10 in the early stages of the war and absolutley loved it for its lightweight. But again, not as reliable as the G3. its just a mean old workhorse that keeps on plowing through everything you throw at it. Last year ( I believe) it was finaly replaced by the belgian FN SCAR. Some of the troops i talked to wanted the HK416 though. I miss that old reliable chunk of steel!
Poor rhodesian s they were cleansed ethnically.
Por todos esses atributos da G3 que mencionou, é que os Fuzileiros decidiram apenas modernizar a G3 com uma nova mira e uma nova coronha da Sphur. O mesmo aconteceu com os suecos. São muitas décadas de experiência em ambientes adversos, como a areia, a água salgada, o lodo, o calor, o frio, etc. Eu sei disso porque sou um Filho da Escola (Vale de Zebro). É uma arma que foi testada com todo o tipo de punição possível e continua a dar cartas. Há poucos anos, os Marines estiveram em operações conjuntas com os Fuzileiros em Portugal e ficaram surpreendidos com o poder de fogo e que o 7.62x51 e a HKG3 podiam fazer em conjunto. Portanto, será uma arma que continuará por muitos e muitos anos a ser confiável e eficaz em qualquer teatro de guerra. Cumprimentos.
Cleansed ethnically? The rhodesians??? Can you explain this better? Lol@@neglectfulsausage7689
Não podia estar mais de acordo, a G3 é praticamente indestrutível!@@dannyboy4805
@@neglectfulsausage7689we have to avenge them
Yet, the G3 outlasted the fal, and M14 for continual service use. The AK4C/D are prime examples
Because the G3 was meant to be the cheaper alternative to the FAL. Had it been designed with an intermediate caliber from the beginning it would have been a direct competitor to the AK. Most of the gun components are made of stamped steel allowing it to be mass produced very quickly at relatively low cost. The German military adopted this design because they needed to somehow arm an entire army quickly after WW2.
@@minhducnguyen9276 The original CETME design (the G3 is the German version of the CETME C) used its own 7.92x40 CETME caliber.
You can, in fact, pull the bolt head back off if you "closed" it, without disassembly. Just push on the rollers and wiggle the head around its axis.
I used the g3 in the military. Honestly for its time the g3 was one of the better rifles!
The first time I saw an hk91 in person was back in the 80s at the local outdoor range with my dad. The dude at the bench to our left was shooting one. When he took his first shot after our arrival, the case hit me just under the chin and went down the neck of my shirt, as I was turned toward him to watch him shoot, causing me to do a rousing rendition of the brass dance. I kept that case for many years. It had the carbon stripes and dented case neck characteristic of these guns. 😄
Yeah, the integrated G3 family firing line spacing reminder system also known as brass ejection claimed another victim 🤣
I'm sure it does get mentioned, but it seems like people don't complain nearly as much about the AK not having bolt-hold-open.
It makes for a more reliable system. Less parts to worry about. And the fact that the thinking was when a soldiers mag was empty he would get down fast ie in the dirt/mud.
I think people complain less about the AK not having a bolt hold open because charging it is less cumbersome. I like the G3 a lot but its easily the slowest to reload gun I have ever shot other than some henry lever guns where you gotta take the tube out.
@@watariovids1645. For me it's only like a half a second longer to reload then the AK. Pull that changeing handle back and up and rock in a new mag and then slap that changeing handle back down. Practice makes perfect.
You can do reloads without locking the CH up.....but where is the fun in that lol
Exactly! Talk about an AK and no bolt hold open is the last thing mentioned, if at all. Talk about the G3 and it always makes it in the top three.
Funny, I was issued the G3 for almost 2 decades and I never had any of those problems..
But after loading the rifle for a thousand times or so the handle will have sharpened the edge it rides on so much it will start cutting your finger.. we just sanded it round again when finger started to bleed.
In the Danish army we were trained to never use the slap, just pull back and let go, never had a mag fall out.
To avoid popping off the bolt head when assembling, just push in the rollers with your fingers and it will come out to the exact right spot every time..
Love most your videos, but stop hating on my German rifle ;)
If you want a rifle that has a lot of faults and poor performance, just get the C7 from Colt Canada, what a complete failure compared to the HK quality
Well, we were listening to a "gunsmith" who slammed a rifle's muzzle against a tree to unstuck a bolt and fired and repeated the process to straighten the damage he caused from being carelessness.
A better 'trick' to align the rollers for reasembly is to drop the bolt carrier assembly into the upper reciver backwards first and push it down until the rollers pop in, flip it over and let the bolt carrier assembly slide out into your hand, turn it over and slide it back in the correct way around.
/13years in the Swedish home guard😉
@@SonsOfLorgar What you describe is a reassembly procedure with a "trick" which is very useful by the way and we all thank you for sharing. The author of the vid criticizes a design he doesn't understand in the first place.
@@SonsOfLorgar I know that one because we were instructed to not do that under any circumstance, order from the HK gunsmith , treat your weapon as if your life depends on it, dont abuse it..
also, some old army idiots may tell you to take it with you in the shower to clean it, dont listen :D
Norwegian army here, and 20 years in the home guard.
We were trained to use the slap... "You're making war, not love, manhandle your rifle or go home!"
No matter what we did to that thing it just would not give up. Run over by a jeep? If it still fires (It did), you keep using it till a time comes (usually once a year) when an armorer can have a look at it.
My first one, back in 96 was a 1971 Kongsberg make. It had been issued in 1971 to my company, and had remained in the company since then. It had never felt the loving touch of the armorer. Everything on it was worn, the blueing was.. well it wasn't black, blue or dark any more, it was bare metal. You could wiggle the buttstock as the metal had been widened, the lower housing could be twisted side to side and the recoil spring was soggy. I never had a misfire and the bullets flew straight. That rifle had seen som s**** and probably its fair share of horrible grunts.
When the Home Guard replaced the AG3 with the HK416, I spent the last years before retirement missing my old chunk of metal.
@SonsofLorgar that trick was "banned" for us. It added to much time to assembly. If you couldn't assemble it under 10 seconds, you would be stuck doing drills for hours. Smack that piece of metal in(at the right angle of course), grab and squeeze the rollers as you pull out, once the rollers are free, twist in place. 1-2 seconds max. Takes a few minutes of an old grunt teaching a greenie, with some choice words :D
In the Royal Norwegian Air Force we trained to only shoot short bursts on full auto, and also only with distances much shorter than 50 meters
During WW2, there was a statistic made from Wehrmacht, that proved that most operations were done in a distance of 30 to 50 meters. Based on this research, the design of modern rifles was made. Saying that, the battleground changed radically the last 80 years, where close courter fight is essentially in the same range and holded for guard troops, i.e. guards on airfields, sea ports etc. On the side of normal infantry, the range has become 30 to 100 meters, defining new combat strategies. P.S. Ah! There is also today the matter of misgendering, very dangerous, no remedy on the horizon!
The German sheet metal stamping tech was so advanced that its a huge development behind the AKM and the switch from milled to stamped receivers. But its still basically WWII tech
Well the real story behind the AKM goes something like this. Hugo Schmeisser was compelled by the soviets to work for them after the war. They said "hey design us something like the STG-44, but with a DFM that will work with our crude production methods. Of course this was a daunting task, so by the time the redesign was done, the stamping was reduced to a "box" of the receiver. And oh yeah, Mikhail was in the back of the factory getting drunk.
Used both G3A3 and A4s during my military service. I am generally a big guy and had no problems with controls and overall I liked it. I have to say also that those things were quite durable considering the beating they got in conscript hands. One I was issued was built way back in 1976 and had almost no blueing on it, but ran wonderfully and hit spot on at 400m. I saw people beating those to hell and with the exception of a dented receiver which was quickly fixed with a hammer, we had no issues with it. Finally, recoil wise I thought that they were OK.
I've had my PTR-91 Squad Carbine for 8 or 9 years and its been flawless. I've changed it around so many times but always end up back in the stock configuration.
Fun Fact:
East German engineers showed the soviets how to properly fabricate sheet metal, which led to the development of the AKM.
Akm is trash, made of sheet metal
Fun fact the PPSH-41, one of the most prolific, reliable and durable firearms of the Red Army during WWII, was made almost exclusively of sheet metal and was developed long before any East German engineers passed along their wisdom.
@@user-km5kj8xh1x It only sucks because people of the time didn't take care of scheiße, which is why the original keeps doing so well.
@mohawk3371 a rifle rounds are far more powerful than pistol rounds which puts a bigger strain on the rifle.
@@mohawk3371is the PPSH still made like the AK?
Cetme / G3 is a great rifle. Any soldier worth fielding would be trained on how to maintain it, mute points. The fact that it does not have a gas system contributes to its surprisingly good accuracy and the mass of the bolt and roller delayed action contribute to one of the most reliable actions ever fielded.
You have obvious not used this gun.
@@frodej6640 Wrong, you probably have, training course maybe could help. What issues are you running in to ? In my experience there is no perfect system, you have to know how to operate and maintain.
@@timfarley274 Have you disassembled this gun blindfolded? Have you done any fast shooting with this gun? What kind of military drills have you done with it? You use very vague words. It seems to be something you have read. Mr MAC points are very valid. I used this gun in 1998, and I have blown well over 10.000+ bullets through this thing, and broken 4x G3. We trained CQB with this horrible hunk of metal. There was better guns in 1998, and we where aware of it even without internet. Mr MAC didn't mention the drawback of only having 20 round mag, and how heavy and cumbersome it is to carry 200 rounds on your body.
We had MG3 as machine gun, and we saw time after time that this machine gun would do 80% of the job for us on platoon level. All it takes is a little bit of running, and add a little bit of stress, and the G3 bullets are all over the place because of the recoil.
People like this gun because they think it is manly to be shaken by the gun.
Cuious to know which army allowed individual soldiers to fire 10.000+ live rounds through a G3 in just one year less than a decade after the end of the cold war? @@frodej6640
@@frodej6640 You were specific about nothing.
The amount of times I had to help my fellow Irish Defence forces colleagues with the bolt, I'll never miss, the G3 was an excellent DMR in our army...excellent although I miss the FN.FAL.
Yeah I never understood how some people found it so hard to put the bolt back together.
I honestly love the G3, it just has that really cool Cold War vibe to it that makes it iconic and unforgettable.
I picked up my PTR 91 A3S about 8 years ago, barely used, with 8 mags for $600. Only ammo that’s been used in it is the M80 ball that was a available from Walmart at the time. Believe it was ZQI brass case, made in Turkey. I must have went to every local Walmart for 6 months lol. It was $9.99 a box(20)
Anyhow added the Hk wide forehand grip along with the HK bipod. Shoots great and will probably never get rid of it. Also accurate. I’ve had a red dot on it. Just iron sights at this time. At the time I ordered a 30 pack of HK mags from Centerfire Systems for $55. So $1.83 each. Those were the days
Sitting or better yet laying prone and shooting this rifle using the bipod has got to be one of the best shooting experiences. It is so much fun. I’ve always wanted to add some type of magnification to it. Probably a 4x prism with a BDC or ACSS. One day I’ll make that happen.
Now that same ptr is 18-22 hundred, ammo is 24-40 dollars a box of 20 and mags are 50 each…
The HK21 oversized charging handle is a great addition as well.
@@FluorinatedMonomer
I believe at one point I was considering it.
@@elliottbutts153 I like mine. I just makes operating the thing a lot smoother and it's especially helpful for people who aren't familiar with the platform. Whenever my friends use my ptr, they get all tripped up using the charging handle, it's a bit easier with the larger version.
@@FluorinatedMonomer
Gotcha. I think the only other change I’ve made on mine was an ambi pin on the front hand guard. It screws in and allows to you to move the front sling attachment to the right side of the rifle. Yes I am a lefty lol
There is a reason the G3 has a hard trigger pull. If you aren't worrying about dropping it out a helicopter you can purchase a drop in replacement.
Qualified schutzenschuner in Germany in 97 when I went there with the 82nd Airborne. The G-3 I was assigned was stamped 1957. We doused them with clp the night before and the next day when we started firing the range officers lost their minds. They broke them down and wiped them clean. We never zeroed them to us individually. The targets were small and at 250 meters, but the rifle was extremely accurate. Was quite funny when later in the day I saw a squad leader with a black eye. What the heck? He accidently switched to full auto instead of single shot.
You did not bend the receiver by dropping it on the stock 😂
I served for five years with the Ak4 (Swedish G3). I agree on your opinions about ergonomic and reassembling. Othervise I had no or few problems with this rifle. Charging over here is done at the same way you show and recommend. I can't see a problem if you need to pull it back to reach the charging handle. In military use it's normal to go down from an expost position when reloading/charging.
Before 1979 catastrophe in our country, we were one of the biggest G3 buyers in the world, so many of em stays with us strongly during 8 years of war ( the second longest war in 20th century after Vietnam war) even today we have a modified version made in home. ( there is a video on youtube testing Iranian G3 if you want to see it). These are really special and remarkable guns. All tools has there pros and cons, all has there own good and bads. The original short version is a sweet one we love.
Iranian?
I love my ptr. Takes a little getting used to and some slight bubbaing but is surprisingly accurate. The kick isn't too bad for me. Able to put shots on a steel plate at 100 yards from a standard guard holding position in under a second. Just pull the barrel up from pointing at the ground point and shoot. Definitely my favorite rifle
Had one hanging from my right shoulder for too long in the Portuguese army. It's big but, sure makes you feel safe!
I think the metal thickness plays a huge role, example being the AKM and the M70, and their respective successors, the AKM is cheap and durable, but the M70 is made with thicker sheets and is even more durable
I used the AG-3, the Norwgian version made on license from H&K, when i was in the Norwegian airforce back in the early 90's!!I looooved mine, and damn..was that thing accurate and reliable!And my gun was from 1971, and must have been through sooo many hand of conscripts before it landed in my hands! I would have given everything to having the opportunity to take it home with me!!My three FIRST rounds at the 300meter target was 2 10's, and one 9!!Two bullseyes and a 9er as the shooting in the gun rounds!!!Loved it so much!!
HK, there is no & in the short name/logo.
the only thing that sucks about the G3 is that I don't own one.
I qualified with the G3 while stationed in West Germany in 1984
As a German, that was one of my service rifles and it only sucks, when you cannot handle it.
If the G3 does not suffice, pull out the MG3😂❤
I learned to disassemble and assemble the G3 blindfolded.
I've had two PTR-91's. The first one I bought back in 2010 and it had issues cycling surplus ammo. The rumors at the time were that PTR was allegedly outsourcing their barrels to 3 other manufacturers and two of them weren't cutting the chamber flutes deep enough for proper extraction. I eventually traded it towards an Armalite AR-10B. A few years back I bought a PTR-91 GI-R and it only took one 20 round magazine to break it in. I've fired surplus DAG and Hirtenberger through it in addition to various commercial .308 loads without issue since.
I remember the reason they made the GI model was because the PTR was match grade and didn't like surplus ammo back then.
Years ago, I had a CETME with plans to get a G3, but I just never loved the gun enough for the upgrade. I did not care for the sights, it was not very ergonomic, and I did not like the short stock. When I put a claw mount and optic on it, the gun was substantially heavy. I like the G3, it is a great collector's piece, but I think there are much better options out there. Especially since most of the issues with the AR10 have been worked out.
The first German FALs were from an order placed in late 1955/early 1956, for several thousand FN FAL so-called "Canada" models with wooden furniture and the prong flashhider. These weapons were intended for the Bundesgrenzschutz (border guard) and not the nascent Bundeswehr (armed forces), which at the time used M1 Garands and M1/M2 carbines.
In November 1956 West Germany ordered 100,000 additional FALs, designated the G1, for the army. The G1 is distinguished from other FAL weapons by a pressed metal handguard with horizontal lines running almost the entire length, and a unique removable prong flash hider.
I learnt how to use the G3 as a soldier. Yes, this weapon is now somewhat outdated, modern assault rifles are lighter and more ergonomic. But we're talking about a weapon that was introduced to the Bundeswehr in Germany in 1959. I have found the weapon to be very accurate and reliable. The barrel sight took some time getting used to, but worked well, especially at long ranges. And yes, cleaning the weapon was a pain in the arse. If the gun was very dirty, we sprayed the barrel with industrial cleaner and ran hot water through it in the shower. Then we oiled it immediately. That was strictly forbidden, of course, but it worked. Just like the whole gun always worked.
it’s my husband’s favorite rifle and i have seen him in multiple pictures when i he was young in South Africa armed with it. Of course his other is the FN FAL and he has both rifles in our firearms safe. I can see what you mean i’m a smaller framed and this rifle is heavy and hard to manipulate the charging handle.
All valid points. I think the biggest one for me is the "no bolt hold open", I find it annoying. You can sometimes feel the difference when the bolt slides forward with no round, but that's at a range just casually blasting. The lack of paddle mag release lever is a semi-auto issue. I didn't know they finally started putting the paddles on them at the PTR factory, It isn't terrible to add one if you have some metal working skills, but that's another story.
There's an audible Ting sound when you get to the last round.
@@neglectfulsausage7689 Sometimes. In real use, it probably wouldn't be noticed.
Beating a rifle against a tree to fix it sounds like classic AK gunsmithing. Uncle Mikhail would approve.
I was about to say "well I guess we can't be friends anymore" before hearing the opening monologue.
I have a recoil buffer on my G3, the recoil is now on par with any 5.56.
Yes it is rough on brass and it does get brass out of your position and put it far away from you.
It is the only rifle I don't reload for.
Brand/model on your recoil buffer?
The Brass could be dangerous for the ISS.
Really enjoyed this video. I appreciate how well the arguments were presented and that you pointed out that some people may disagree about felt recoil. Though I am german, I would not consider buying one of these in 2023. I personally use a Stag 10 to scratch that battle rifle itch. Greetings from Europe.
My dad went to a military practice in estonia for a week and they used 38 year olds ak4 and they worked perfectly
I had same experience with the stock twisting. I did not use a tree to fix it 😊😊. I tend to gravitate to one of my fals over the g 3 hk91.😊😊. Thanks for sharing your knowledge mr. Tim.
HK slap for chambering: Back in the stoneage when I was a conscript in Germany the HK slap was a NONO. If the Gruppenführer or the Feldwebel caught you doing it, it was major pushup time. For the whole squad!
Also the ubiquitous mag-slap for seating it was considered bad for the materiel, but you only Had to so about twenty pushups.
Same here but without the Push ups.
No slap in Germany? Actually thats kind of funny. HK is german, I am a norwegian who had the norwegian produced G3 version during my service in 93-94. Slapping both the charger handle and the mag bottom was mandatory. No shit.
@@bjornjwagner7252 That's odd. I always slap it. Thought it's better to seat the round first time. If it's not good for the rifle I should stop doing it. Seems the only reason would need to be done is in combat or when a life is on the line responding to a threat.
@@bjornjwagner7252 At my education in the BW there was no Slap. Mag in, Charging Handle back and let go. No Slap at all. I missed a Forward Assist because at that Time we could not charge the Weapon before we go on Patrol. Silent Charging a G3 is a No No.
@@SanitysVoid Concidered the fact we used G3's in the norwegian army for almost 50 years until relieved by the 416 i'd say its 100% slap-proof. Guess the "no slap thing" elsewhere is kinda like the "no water" when cleaning we had. If we used the barrack shower to clean the internals and got caught it cost us an hour PT.
Today as an old man I see how contradictory it was not beeing allowed to use hot water while both guard duty in rainy weather and LRRP soaking it in fresh water was a common thing.
I remember another YT video where they compared the G3, the M14, and the FAL in full auto. The 2 people that shot the rifles both agreed that, among the 3, the FAL was the easiest to handle while shooting full auto, followed by the M14, and then the G3. They also talked about the greying out when shooting these rifles full auto, which again was in the same order with the FAL the least amount of greying out and the G3 the most. My memory may not be the best on this, so don't take my word on it.
standard training semi only, auto used against vehicles and aircraft
I think that was In Range back early on after the Ian McCullum Partnership started.
it wasn't ian McCallum that said that, if you watch his g3 video where hes shooting a full auto one i believe at morphys auction house in Maine he says that "of the battle rifles the g3 is definitely the most controllable but you're still shooting a 308" and he loves the g3 so much he had a semi auto clone built with a left hand charging handle
the m14 is definatly the worst of the three... No pistol grip, no way its controllable.
I'm a German sergeant. These are all problems that someone who was never trained on a G3 and had it as a service weapon has. The G3 is the most accurate and reliable assault rifle in the world. It has never let me down.
Got my PTR-91 in 2015 or so. My wife didn’t like it due to the recoil, she’s a 5.56 AR girl. After in put a heavy rubber buttpad, enhanced heavy buffer, and Manticore Night Brake it’s a dream to shoot. Recoils slightly less then a 7.62x39 AK. My wife loves it now. I’m highly recommend those three things if you’re in the same boat.
Loved my HK 91. My only issues were it mangled brass, was a bit to long, and weighed a ton if you had to lug it around all day.
my dad served in the SADF with a wooden stock FAL. he laughed at how light the G3 felt to him.
Sheet metal receivers can also be very solid, just have a look at the Sig-550/Fass90/Stgw90, they just are very heavy😅
*AKM has entered the chat*
During the 15 months in the Swedish army with the G3 (ak4) we would do blindfolded dissasemblys and reassembly to clear a malfunction. When its your only rifle option you learn it and learn it well. The only cause of malfunction was due to the brass saver pounch we had to use during training. Never heard of anyone loosing a stock pin in the field during that time. We also had a third pin for the trigger assembly.
holy shit that recoil and ejection velocity lmao! I had no idea. great video as always :)
The only rifle I have fire is G3A3 / G3A4 during my national service 20 years ago, so am a little bit biased
But honestly having seen how conscripts was handling them I find it quite difficult that a G3 can bend to the point that can't circle anymore..
I mean even very abused 20 years old guns didn't had such issues and I can't imagine Greek made G3s been better made than the og German ones 😏
For ergonomics, magazines ect I guess it's a matter of what someone is used to, again having no experience with other rifles using it became a Muscle memory of sorts and personally didn't had issues
If the army consist of monkeys, then maybe the G3 is the best. But it is heavy, long and the ammo is heavy. A common patrol drill is for 4 men to shoot themselves out of a situation like when they are discovered. They alternate on shooting and retreating, and you will easily blow 150+ bullets pr person in 1 drill.
You do not need the punch from the G3 in such a situation, and using a M16 or M4 or similar will give you 30bullets mags + you can carry more ammo. A lot more.
Doing CQB with G3? That is a suicide since the gun is too powerful and you risk shooting your own. Again it is a situation that eats ammo, and a M4 is better.
Clearing out trenches with a long gun? Idk, the ukranians make it look easy with their ak, but I am not sure if I would bring a G3.
A classic straight forward platoon+ assault on a position in the woods(not storming and running through the position)? The G3 is cool.
I have two HK91s and two DSA FALs
For me the HK91 is still the king. The last round hold open and the slower reload process is the only knock against the HK style guns.
FALs will vertically sting and are not as accurate
Depending on the gas settling will could jam, the G3 will eat anything and violently extract brass
The modular system of HK G3 is also that is worth mentioning
There isn’t another Cold War battle rifle operating system that goes from 9mm sub gun to 7.62 belt-Fed .
Now that being said, I have replaced the HK91 and FAL as my deer hunting rifles of choice. I now use an HKMR762 and an FN SCAR 20s
So it’s the modern HK vs FN all over again 😂
As a former Brit soldier of the 80's I preferred the SLR, as it was indestructible and quick and easy to strip and assemble, it isnt without its faults though, but once your aware of them you cana work around them, btw us Brits didnt have last round bolt hold open either, we were trained to count our rounds, and woe be tied if you didn't.
I own an old century c308 and fortunately it works very well, I love the classic style with wood and no optics
I love my ptr 91. Also, love the look of the rifle
That's funny I bought a C308 about 5 years ago from century arms for $400 and its been nothing but perfect and never jams. I really like that thing.
I have one of their CETMEs. However, you should look at the bolt carrier for evidence of them grinding on it to make the headspace appear OK. They were using old kits and instead of installing the correct size rollers to fix any headspace issues, they just ground the carrier to make it look like the headspace was OK. That said, my CETME by them has always been a reliable, accurate tank also.
Same experience with my cetme. I’m on my third case of 1000 rounds with no malfunctions
"If I was to equip my own private army, I would choose the G-3 / HK-91" Colonel Jeff Cooper
On the classic version with the wide forestock there is an attached "clip" . I asume it's there for use with the sling, however I've never seen it demonstrated. One thing it does very well is to remove skin from ones knuckles if care is not taken when charging the rifle.
U can get some ptr91 for less then a 1000 bucks and for each mag costing about 10 dollars this rifle is the best bang for ur buck in the 308 category in my own opinion.
Lr308 costs about the same
Also the g3 is a waste of brass. Better utilized for steel case
@@jason200912 eh true but some times I want other things in my arsenal other than just a nother ar rifle that is not going to break the bank
@@jonathandominguez1118 yeah but do you own a lr308 yet
DPMS .308 AR's are about seven to nine hundred, with PSA's costing about that if a tad less. And Rugers SFAR is about the price of the PTR as well.
But I get it, the PTR is it's own class of beauty and function. And Cold War battle rifle wise, it is the most affordable to get into.
It's hard to accommodate last round bolt hold open in G3 becasue bolt would lock itself resting on bolt catch under recoil spring tention. Only clip with spring holds bolt in open position.
The Belgians didn’t refuse Germany the FAL, in fact the FAL was used as the G1 by the Bundeswehr, what they refused was a production license.
German here. I liked the G3 much more than the G36 which was later issued to us.
When I was a conscript in the Swedish army in the early -90:s , I think we were among the last units to be issued the G3 (AK4 was the swe army designation for this rifle). We were kind of jealous of the other guys, getting the the foldable AK5 (which basically is an FN FNC manufactured in sweden under licence).
The G3 punch pretty hard no doubt, like all 7.62:s, but that thing was pig to haul around on patrol in dense woods, and getting in and out of vehicles. You'd have to be aware of the mega-long barrel where it was the whole time, or it would snag on the neares, branch, camoflage net, you name it😅..
I say good riddance, at least for real field use in challenging terrain.
There's actually only one thing I prefered with the bare bones ak5 (FN FNC) I was issued as a conscript in 2003 over the ak4C I've been using for over three years now, and that's that the magasine well of the ak5 is a part of the lower reciver and pistol grip which makes it a lot easier to clean the breech than the ak4 where the magasine well is part of the upper reciver.
The folding stock of the ak5 was more of a problem than an aid as it tended to unfold itself at the worst possible moments and send the carbine sliding off or across your back to hit you in the face or neck...🤬
I remember seeing one of these in a Indonesian Air Force base. I was stunned by how big and long G3 really is. Yeah, that length of pull of the G3 is problematic for us.
I have an Iranian friend/co-worker who was conscripted to fight in the Iran/Iraq war and was issued a G3 and when he got here to the US. It became his top wish list purchase. I don't know if he ever picked one up, I hope so. We've lost touch. His war stories were horrific but captivating.
Hi all,
worked with the G3 in my servicetime in the 90th, at the Fallschirmjäger.
Yeah, this Lady kicks like a mule. But we worked also with the MG3. 😁
And we had the cance to shoot with the K98k and the AK family at the Fremdwaffenausbildung( foren weapon training). Also with the M16 and M14.
The handling on the G3A3 feels better than on a AK or M14. But after a intensiv Training, we handeled that baby withe close eyes. It was more a savety issiue that you have to brake the grip for the safe Switch.
Yes, u need Training for that gun. Hell yeah, it’s long. But the accuracy!
For MOUT/CQB we collapsed the stock or switched to the UZI.
The G3 was optimised for wet, cold condisions. Sand and dust was more a problem. Bit like in very cold condisions you don‘t use oil. That was the big differenz to the US small arms - you don’t need so much oil to operate.
If I have the cance to use wepons for a infantry platoon, a 7,62 will be in there. The G3DMR or the G8.
In the 90. the G3 was a good service rifle.
My biggest complaint with The HK91 and 93 (I bought both soon after they hit the market in the U.S.) is the way that they chew up brass. As a reloader the huge dent in the side (yes, the add-on case deflector helped) and the fluted chamber stripes were less than ideal. The rifles themselves are okay. Accuracy was just okay. Length was nice. Weight was okay. Reliability was excellent.
Definitely not reloader-friendly. Plus your brass flies away over 20 yards
I am a reloader too , and i understand your problem .
@@glennisguntoro2408 Yes .
You don't like the G-3 / HK-91 because you're a poor ,and don't appreciate Quality
it's a cool gun but I'd take an AR10 style rifle for practicality sake.
Ptr 91 actually seems pretty affordable
Also if you missed it 1:08
You can get a PTR for a lot cheaper than a DSA FAL
@@roaringsteelmedia
Ok POOR , what's the price on an HK-91 or Pre ban G3 not some sketchy cobbled together CLONE ?
Bought an PTR 91 over a decade ago. Put in an hk 21 buffer and a locking piece with less of an angle in it. Helped with the recoil a little bit.
Not "Spain" refined a german rifle but german engeniers did IN spain, because Germany was not permitted to build guns after the war.
As a special forces team leader, I used a G3 with a grenade launcher throughout my military career and had no problems with it. Rock solid, very accurate and 100% reliable.
II cant complain. Used the G 3 in 2 Armys from 72-82 (German Army,RhSF/Rhodesian Security Forces). I was a Instructor in the Bunderswehr and never expierenced any recoil problems during basictraining. In the RhSF I had access to FN, AK and other Infantryweapons and my first choice was always the G 3....except probably the RPD..the ideal mixure between a MAG and a Assault Rifle
A point on the recoil bit that I feel a lot of people miss on these rifles, and make opinions so wildly different about it moreso than other 308's you see out there, is the condition and the angle of your locking piece. A particularly worn out example, or one with an angle too steep for your rollers can contribute a lot to one of these roller delayed guns kicking a lot harder than one might think. Luckily, both replacement locking pieces and rollers are dirt cheap. Just do a little research on what angle locking piece best correlates with what size rollers you have, check bolt gap to ensure it's in spec, and make any adjustments as needed. By adjustments, I mean that guns that've been fired a bunch will sometimes have bigger rollers put in them on purpose in order to bring the bolt gap back into spec, since it'll tend to shrink after a few thousand rounds. The rifle will kick a little bit harder with the bigger rollers installed, but rest assured that's completely normal, and makes it so the rifle can continue to safely put thousands of additional rounds through it. Absolutely love this platform, and learning all the little quirks about it these past few years have definitely "married" me to it as MAC puts it lol.
man youve been doing this a long time, i remember looking to buy my 1st 1911 and you dd a video comparing the beretta 92 and 1911, anyway keep up the good work. correction it was the 9 vs 45 video from like 12 years ago
One of the best automatic carbines made, ergonomic, easy to learn, accurate. I use the G3 everyday in the week if I have to choose between M16 or G3.
Few comments from an exMil shock trooper, if interested:
*Sheet metal:*
Just FYI, I think there might be sheet metal quality differences between the production places. I have never had any bending issues with the multi HK AG3s I have used with the exception of one, but that was the barrel because it was driven over by a car. What was funny is that at 30 meters. The holes that weapon made on paper targets were often rectangle..., yes, rectangle hits! Somehow the bullets would not spin correctly or something so many of the bullets would go into the targets "sideways". Obviously that AG3 was sent to the gunsmith.
*Loading arm and reload:*
Where I live the average soldier is six feet so... they picked a long version weapon. Besides, with only 20 round mag you are expected to count the bullets, even in high intensity setting. You therefor reload around 17 rounds. Meaning you just look at the mag, if you see a bullet in the mag before you drop it. You know there is one in the chamber already. Some might say that wastes bullets, but I rather live than save the military a penny. This type of reloading can arguably be faster than rear locking bolts because you, while prone, just use your trigger hand to take out the mag, quick check, get new mag and slam it in and start firing again. You do not need a secondary hand movement on top of that to slap the bolt forward via the button on the "other side" of the weapon.
*Disassembly and assembly.*
While blindfolded and without losing control of the pins or the fire selector or the pin on the pistol grip, which this version in the video does not have, and the pin on the forward grip. 30 seconds.
Assembly while blindfolded is 60 seconds or you fail (where I served :P). Note: That this video instructed slightly wrong on the bolt. You do not put it vertical. You put it sideways so that the bottom of the bolt head is in direct contact of the "spring holder". That way you can just do a quick and light push to get the spring up. Which he indirectly does when he turns it a bit more to get it back. Now you just squeeze a bit on the rollers to get it out a bit and twist on muscle memory to get it into the correct spot. When that snaps you pull the bolt head slightly towards you so you wont get roller head fitting issues when you slide it into the weapon. Just remember to have the loading arm in the forward position when you do that and make it drop so it locks in the chambered position. It should snap in place. The rest is just simple stuff you train a bit to get faster and faster. You can train any farmboy to get this process under 60 seconds within a few days tbh. Last time I did it I had not touched the G3 in a decade and I still managed a 58 seconds assembly. In my view the pins should be left to right if you are right handed. That way when you are holding the weapon in rest position. You own body wont risk half pushing out the pins by accident. That is how you eventually loose them in the field. Not during assembly.
*Assault:*
You do not really use full auto that much regardless. My first "service rifle" in the cadets (boy scouts with guns funded by the military) was a surplus KAR98 from the occupation. So going from that to a G3 the recoil wasnt an issue tbh (Cadets HK G3s were single fire only via military access only modified fire selector, super easy to modify). However that said. When using a G3 in house clearing, as a shock trooper at this stage, we usually had the telescope extended or the plastic stock shouldered for some situations or with rapid single fire or full auto situations. You would just point with your thumb forward on the front guard and hold the weapon stock under your shoulder and fire. I say rapid single fire because full auto means you lose count of ammo and you do not want to do that and go click when you are facing an enemy at 2-3 meters inside a house. Full auto on battle rifles does not really have a wide use in warfare tbh. Even with a drum mag because you often use a mitten on your left hand during summer when you know you are going to shoot allot of live ammo in rapid succession to counter the heat when there is no "lets just take a break, guys". Full auto is just not applicable to most situations. If you have someone running away you would still shoulder and do single shots etc. The only times I did full auto on a G3 was on the firing range just for fun and having done it. Because most kids want to shoot full auto at least once in their life.
*Dirt on casings:* 17:23
Again, might be some production differences here between military and civilian because despite us not using "sniper ammo". Our casings did not get that dirty or such patters when fired. Maybe we cleaned our weapon more though. Because we cleaned them after each time they were used with live ammo and we would often just drag though the barrel, with a plastic thing, to clean out the barrel. This because objects there like mud could in theory make the weapon explode so having that barrel cleaning routine as a habit was important even with blanks, because it was an extra hassle one needed to get used to, that was critical with live ammo. You could at times even do it mid battle training if needed.
*Rails:*
Never had rails on any G3, but I have some experience with rails on other weapons and I have experience with the HK AG3 NM107 snap on optics. The optics are great. The snap on is not. In field context you ether have time to align before shooting or you walk 20 meters and some bump with your gear has misaligned it again. Making you miss the first shot or be unsure and swap to iron anyway because the target isnt more than about 300 meters so why risk it... Rail on the other hand you are more confident that the optics do not change position because of minor impacts against other gear or branches etc. Welded on rail, as long as it does not make the iron sights useless, is recommend if you want something else than iron sights. Obviously do not do it if it is a valuable collector item which every one I used would probably be by now. Lastly, on red dot for 308. Do not expect the 308 to perform like a 556. At range you are firing a "catapult", but I assume modern red dots have settings that can change the range of the dot with a button or similar. Just do not expect the same aim point for 50 to 300 on 308 battle rifle. It is not a 556 "laser" bullet arch.
*Weapon Jams:*
They can happen to the best of guns or more often to the worst of guns. Good drills are important. Pull back the loading arm, twist the weapon so the ejection port is facing down and use your other hand like a hammer on the opposite side. Now slam down the bolt and continue firing. If your casing it jammed in the chamber and you continue having an issue. Find a hole or any cover within 2 meters and dive in there. Pull the loading arm and pull out your bayonet and jam it into the chamber area like a crowbar and get it out. You have about 2 minutes before the enemy is on you or if your side is winning. Your own IFV of 20 tons drives over you. So no, you do not carry the bayonet to "disable their hands so they cant fire a nuke", but to make sure you can get that jammed casing out of your chamber in a combat setting. Yes, you gun enthusiasts picture me jamming a G3 bayonet into the chamber of a "museum era" G3 variant to fix a jam. :D
*What to pick:*
If you have training on something, be it old or new hardware, pick that.
You will perform better on that legacy hardware you have training on than something completely new.
If you are less skilled and or do not have training. A 556 platform is way easier to learn and tolerates more "marksmen mistakes \ bad habits". Which is why kids should start out training on actual large caliber hunting rifles or similar in my view. Correct technic from the get go so shoulder pain does not scare them away, but also high recoil so that shoulder pain, when one does not have correct shouldering or weapon twist, becomes a motivator to shot correctly. Center mass hit at 300 meters with iron sights should be expected, even from children, boy or girl. If they are small in size (the children that is) just allow them to use a LMG firing position while prone instead of a knee up rifle position. That way their whole body will absorb the recoil rather than just their shoulder.
My2cent.
Good video on the weapon though.
"g3 isnt reliable" proceeds to beat it against a tree til it works
On the plus side, though parts getting harder to find, it's easier than finding SIG AMT parts
I like your salt blaster on the back wall. I have one of those as well and they're awesome. Lol
My issue with the G3/HK-91 is that it's delayed blowback system is very hard to retract and unlock the bolt. That's why the bolt handle is all the way forward so you can get better leverage. The MG 42 had a roller delayed system that was similarly hard to retract and unlock to the point where they had to redesign the cocking handle. Otherwise
I've found the G3/HK-91 is an excellent firearm.
When reassembling the bolt, a couple of things: use your off hand and put finger pressure on the tail end of the locking lever. That will enable you to overcome the spring resistance, and it will allow the nose of the lever to slip onto the rear of the bolt a bit easier.
Also, in order to get the bolt to move forward into position and not go too far prior to rotation, use your off hand and hold the bolt carrier and rear of the bolt simultaneously while using your strong hand to squeeze the rollers in about 80-90% of the way. The bolt can still rotate clockwise into its final position without the rollers being completely inserted, and this keeps the bolt from jumping out the front. Just maintain a light hold with your off hand on the rear of the bolt while you rotate it, and it goes on easily, without failure.
For reloaders, use 7.62x51 brass instead of commercial .308. The 7.62 brass is thicker and doesn't flow into the flutes during firing as much. If you have shoulder dents, those generally don't matter at all, even if they don't completely smooth out during resizing. I've had necks get badly dented to the point of needing needlenose pliers to undo the dent to fit around the neck resizer in the die, but the resizing stroke rounds it right out. You can anneal, which I do every 3 to 4 firings anyway, and I've never had a cracked neck in a G3-style rifle. HK made a port buffer which saves brass, but it scratches the crap out of the receiver, and you cannot use it if you have a welded picatinny rail on top. Lastly, scale back on the powder and keep the loads at the middle half of the power spectrum according to the load data(always reduce .308 loads in a 7.62 casing due to the increased wall thickness which causes higher pressure). That will lengthen brass life considerably. I've reloaded 7.62 cases up to 6-7 times each and then discard, whether they look bad or not. Like I said before, never had a crack.
The recoil doesn't get painful unless you're shooting it with the collapsible, "meat tenderizer" stock, while wearing a tank top. My shoulder looked like a waffle for a week.
The HK91 was my holy grail as a teen in the '80s, but I ended up with a SAR48 first. By the time I got the HK91 it was a big let down by comparison to the FAL for most of the reasons Tim mentioned. I always keep a 91 in the safe, but I prefer the ergos and shoot ability of my FALs.
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements. The Germans know what works.
As a shooting instructor in the German Army I preferred the G3 (with fixed stock) to the G 36, M16/M4 or FN FAL I also shot a lot. A reliable, sturdy rifle. And yes, it needs some experience for assembling. To add, I prefer the old style grip to the later plastic "Navy" style grip.
You know what I love? Lever actions. Love them. Would I carry one into battle? Idk, maybe. That's a personal issue. I *WON'T*, however, pretend that they're a better general option than an AK, or that an AK is better than an AR. I just really like them. Before we go to work flaming the man like he's patient zero in the zombie apocalypse, let's just take a moment to be ok with loving weapons that aren't the apex of bleeding edge modern engineering. Love y'all!
The G3 rifle led to the MP5 and PSG1 which are household names in the firearms world.
in a shtf/ammo ban situation, you can make black powder loads for this
in the game Combat Arms, I loved to use this gun for defense.
the shorter magazine meant that if someone took it from you, they'd be out of ammo quickly, and most likely surrounded by YOUR guys on YOUR side of the map.
this is a gun for SHOOTING, not SPRAYING, and most players were used to spraying more than shooting.
another player would also favor this gun, with the FAL and the M39, interchangeably, as they would have similar performances in the ranges we would play at.
many players playing marksman or sniper would pick these up and ultimately change their previously preferred rifles for something that performed like this... like "Hm... well I'll be damned! This actually works!"
In the early 80's, I'd drool over the pics of the HK91 on the back cover of Soldier of Fortune magazine. I wanted one so bad, I couldn't stand it. A local gun store had one with green Portuguese furniture they'd let me fondle whenever I went in there as a teen. I think back then it had a price tag of $500, which was crazy expensive back then.
A few years later, I was in the Army and we were at the firing ranges in Baumholder, W. Germany and there were some W. German Army guys there firing their G3s and I was shooting my M60. Anyway, we wound up trying each other's weapons and I learned why it isn't good to meet your heroes. I walked away somewhat disappointed and let down by the G3 after lusting for one for all those years. I even got to fire it on auto, but it wasn't enough to stave off the disappointment for me. To this day, I don't own one, even though I now have the means to, if I wanted one.