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Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch Gmbh, Oberdorf-am-Neckar
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester)
Length: 40.35in (1025mm)
Weight Unloaded: 12lb 3oz (5.54kg)
Barrel: 17.72in (450mm), 4 grooves, right hand twist
Magazine: 20rd detachable box
Muzzle velocity: ~2625ft/sec (800m/sec)
Cyclic Rate: 550 rpm
Modes of Fire: Semi auto, fully automatic
The G3/SG1 is an accurized G3 produced by H&K at the request of the German Army. It served as the standard sniper's rifle for the Bundeswehr for quite a few years, and was recently retired.
The original G3 has been issued in over 45 different countries. It was originally a modification of the Spanish CETME rifle, which was the first to use the unique roller locked delayed blowback system. The system uses a pair of rollers that are controlled by the movement of the firing pin, which forces the rollers into depressions in the reciever. This system reduces felt recoil to a rather remarkable degree; the sharp impulse of the 7.62x51 round is reduced to something rather like a 7.62x39 out of a SKS.
The G3 is made out of stamped steel and plastic furniture, and is made with a minimum of expensive machining. The entire system is robust and reliable, if a bit heavy. Along with the M14 and FN-FAL, the G3 is one of the classic battle rifles of the 20th century. It is hard hitting at range and accurate.
The G3 rifle is quite accurate with the normal rotary drum sights. However, the G3/SG1 version improves upon the accuracy of the G3 by replacing the stock barrel with a barrel that is hand-selected for accuracy. The G3/SG1 is also provided with a set trigger; when in the semi-automatic mode, the trigger can be 'set' so that an application of 1.5 lbs fires the weapon. The trigger, when in the 'set' mode, is lighter and crisper than even the PSG-1's trigger. The trigger group also has a setting for fully-automatic fire, a feature shared with the battle rifle version of the G3, and shared with no other sniper rifle that I am aware of. The rifle also includes a folding bipod that can fold up into grooves in the foregrip, and the buttstock is provided with a slightly adjustable cheekrest. The G3/SG1 also has a fitting for a telescopic sight; the standard issue being a Zeiss 1.5x-6x variable zoom. With all of these modifications, the G3/SG1 can be expected to shoot about 1 MOA.
