G36
From Airsoft Community Wiki
The G36, or Gewehr G36, is a modern assault rifle designed by Heckler & Koch. It is the current issue rifle of the German armed services.
Contents |
Real Steel History
The G36, originally HK50 (or Project 50), began life in the early 1990's. Intended to replace the aging G3 series of rifles, Project 50 was Heckler & Koch's third attempt; the previous two rejected models were the G11 and G41.
Like many of its NATO peers, the G36 fires the 5.56x45mm round, at an approximate rate of 750 rounds per minute. Depending on the model, modes of fire may be single, two or three-round burst, and fully automatic. Using a short-stroke gas system instead of the M16's direct impingement system, the G36 is capable of firing well in excess of 10,000 with little or no cleaning.
Airsoft Variants
G36C Commando
The first G36 model to enter the airsoft market the G36C is the shortest of the family at 720mm (500mm with stock folded). It is equipped with a long picatinny rail along the top of the reciever, and UMP-type aperture/square notch iron sights. The G36C takes a mini battery in the foregrip, and is manufactured by several companies including Tokyo Marui, Classic Army and Star.
G36K Kurtz
The mid-length (860mm/615mm) variant, the K was first introduced to the airsoft world by Star. Featuring a 3.5x magnification optical sight integrated into the carry handle, the G36K also has a longer barrel and foregrip, facilitating the use of custom large batteries.
It should be noted that Star's original K variant featured only the 3.5x scope, with no red-dot sight mounted on top, while Classic Army's version had a 3x scope. In reality, this rifle would have been equipped with a 1.5x magnification optic instead, and would be designated the G36KE (export). The real G36K has a 3x scope as well as the red-dot sight.
G36
The full length assault rifle. Star's effort is almost identical to the real-steel version; the only difference being the magnification of the optics- the real rifle has 3x, whereas Star has opted to retain the 3.5x magnification, and has installed the red-dot sight as well. At 999mm (758mm stock folded), it is almost the same length as the American M16A2.
Civilian Models
Both Star and Classic Army have ventured into the "civilian" market. Star has reproduced the SL-8, a grey-stocked version of the G36 with a thumbhole stock and iron sights, and has also created the SL-9, which retains more of a "military" look bu opting for the same colour reciever as the other G36 models. Both rifles are capable of fully automatic fire, despite only having safe and single markings on their fire selector. Classic Army's CA8-2 replicates the SL-9, but opts for the export G36 optics instead of the accessory rail/iron sights.
Cheapsoft
Several Chinese/Far Eastern companies have reproduced the G36 range in full, including Both Elephant and Jing Gong
