Heckler & Koch G36

Sub Categories

Red Dots

Mounts

The History of Heckler & Koch

Heckler & Koch was founded in 1948 by Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch, and Alex Seidel, former Mauser engineers who salvaged materials from the old Mauser arms factory in Oberndorf to start a machine tool plant called the Engineering Office Heckler & Co. The brand was officially registered as Heckler & Koch GmbH in 1949 and initially produced replacement parts and tools for household items and bicycles while also manufacturing firearms.

In 1956, H&K submitted the G3 battle rifle proposal to the German Federal Army, which was based on the Spanish CETME rifle. The G3 was declared the standard rifle of the Bundeswehr in 1959. Over the years, H&K developed various firearms often used by armed forces, such as the HK21 machine gun (1961), MP5 submachine gun (1969), and HK33 assault rifle (1971).

In 1974, the company expanded its product line to include the production of firearms for hunting and sports. H&K was sold to British Aerospace's Royal Ordnance division in 1991, and in the 90s, was awarded contracts to produce updated versions of firearms for Bundeswehr and the US government.

In 2004, H&K won a significant contract for handguns from the US Department of Homeland Security. However, the company has faced allegations of selling small arms to conflict zones and licensing production to governments with poor human rights records, such as Sudan, Thailand, and Myanmar. It has also been suggested that the company found ways to bypass EU export restrictions when its licensed manufacturers sold HK weapons to the areas of conflict.

Throughout the years, Heckler & Koch has presented numerous firearms both for civilian and non-civilian use: from pistols, shotguns, rifles, and machine guns to grenade launchers. Some of the most popular models include the HK A2, HK 416 rifles, the HK P7, P8 and P9 pistols, the HK FP6 shotgun, the civilian use rifles HK 270, HK 630, HK 940, HK SLB 2000, and many others.

In 2019, a Luxembourg-based holding company, Compagnie de Développement de l’Eau (CDE), acquired a controlling stake in Heckler & Koch AG, after being a shareholder for several years. Today, Heckler & Koch's headquarters are still located in Oberndorf in southwest Germany, where they continue to produce a range of firearms for military and law enforcement, as well as weapons for civilian use.

H&K G36 Rifle Review

The H&K G36 Rifle is a gas-operated assault rifle that uses a short-stroke piston system mechanism. The rifle features a rotary bolt chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO and a bolt carrier group with bolt and return mechanism and guide rod.

It is equipped with an ambidextrous three-position fire selector, allowing for easy operation by both right and left-handed shooters. The free-floating barrel is removable using a wrench. Developed as the successor to the G3 model, the G36 rifle features a modular design that offers a broad range of possible configurations to fulfil various requirements. It is currently in active service in military and police units in several countries.

The G36 comes equipped with a default 30-round detachable box magazine, although 100-round C-mag magazines are also available. The stock can be folded to one side for portability. There is a bayonet lug on the front end, which can be used for mounting a grenade launcher or a flash suppressor.

Most models are pre-equipped with sights, which depend on the model and variant. The cocking handle is reversible and can be operated from either end.

The H&K G36 has been produced under license in several countries across the globe. For instance, in Spain, the company CETME, which was later acquired by Santa Bárbara Sistemas, manufactured a licensed version of the G36 called the CETME Modelo L in the early 2000s. Meanwhile, the Mexican company SEDENA has been producing the FX-05 Xiuhcoatl, which is a licensed version of the G36, and has been used by the Mexican Armed Forces since 2008. In 2019, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) signed a deal with H&K to produce a licensed version of the G36 in Saudi Arabia.

H&K also developed the SL8 and R8 rifles for the civilian sport shooting market, both of which are derived from the G36.

H&K G36, chambered for 5.56x45 NATO

Figure 1: H&K G36, chambered for 5.56x45 NATO (Source: https://www.therange702.com/gun-vault/machine-guns/g36/)

H&K G36 Calibers

The rifle is chambered for the following calibers:

.223 Rem.
5.56×45 NATO

H&K G36 Variants

H&K G36C
H&K G36K
H&K G36KA4
H&K G36KV
H&K G36V (G36E)
H&K G36A2
H&K MG36
H&K G36KE

Older models of H&K G36 came with a carry handle that integrated either a dual combat optic or a single 1.5x or 3x magnifier optic. However, newer versions of the G36 were introduced with a top-mounted Picatinny rail.

H&K G36 older version

Figure 2: An older version of H&K G36 (Source: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G-36?file=G36kqi0.jpg)

H&K G36 newer version with Picatinny rail

Figure 3: Newer version of H&K G36 with Picatinny rail for mounting purposes (Source: https://atlanticfirearms.com/tommy-built-tactical-t36cfr-california-legal)

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With H&K G36

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With H&K G36

All the rifles listed in the category below have one-piece mounts interchangeable with H&K G36. For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that meet such criteria are:

All rifles with top-mounted Picatinny rail

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With H&K G36

All the rifles listed in the category below have two-piece mounts interchangeable with H&K G36. To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Such rifles are:

All rifles with top-mounted Picatinny rail

Please note, that the interchangeability conditions mentioned above only apply to the newer versions of H&K G36, that are available with the Picatinny rail.

Best Scope Mounts for H&K G36

Fixed Scope Mounts for H&K G36

This fixed mono-block mounting system manufactured by the Swedish company Spuhr is a perfect fit for the H&K G36 rifle. It is manufactured from aluminum of the highest quality and comes with a 2-year warranty.

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for H&K G36

We recommend this Sweden-made Spuhr quick detachable mount for Picatinny rail for your H&K G36. The mount is made from high-quality aluminum and comes with a 2-year warranty.

Picatinny Rails for H&K G36

Please note that the Picatinny rail recommendation above is only suitable for older models as the newer ones come already equipped with a Picatinny rail.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the scope mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu

Filters

Sort