The G36, the German Bundeswehr service rifle until the official adoption of the G95A1 (aka HK416 A8) in 2021, is finally available in a fully civilian and rimfire version. Heckler & Koch USA has just announced the new G36 .22 LR, born out of a partnership with Umarex of Germany “to create the most realistic civilian version of the G36 yet”. The G36 .22 LR can be fitted with most of the original G36 accessories and furniture to give the same look and feel as the original service rifle, and the manufacturer claims that it can be even used as a sub-caliber trainer.
G36 rifle, a short history
The original Heckler & Koch G36 5.56x45mm NATO weapon system was first launched halfway through the 1990s at the end of a lenghty development process. It was conceived as a replacement for the aging 7.62x51mm G3 battle rifle which back then was still a standard issue for the Bundeswehr (the German Federal Armed Forces) and for countless Armies around the globe. Although being based upon the old ArmaLite AR18-style short-stroke piston system, the Heckler & Koch G36 has since been regarded as the first example of the modern generation of standard infantry rifles. It has been accepted for limited issue or full scale adoption by the Armed Forces of well over 30 countries, as well as by countless police forces and other law enforcement organizations worldwide. With Heckler & Koch now manufacturing the HK-416, the G36 is no longer the latest HK-branded assault rifle; but being the HK-416 basically a reinterpretation of the US M4 carbine, the G36 can still be regarded as the last assault rifle to have been fully conceived in-house by Heckler & Koch.
The wide compatibility with existing G36 accessories makes G36 .22 LR the ideal platform for customization. Ambidextrous controls (including the charging handle, that can be locked in place on either side without any tools) and smooth recoil ensure maximum comfort of use on the range. The windage- and elevation-adjustable dual aperture rear sight can be also adjusted between a peep and notch aperture rear sight. Buttstock Is foldable. Barrel is 18 1/8”/46 cm long. Operation is based on a simple blowback system, as can be expected from a .22 rimfire semi-auto rifle.
The G36 .22 LR rifles come with a 10- or 20-round magazine and are already on their way to all HK USA distributors with an MSRP of just $679. At the time of writing we don't know if or when the model will be available in Europe.
Heckler & Koch G36 22 LR technical specifications
| Caliber: | .22 LR |
| Barrel Length: | 18 1/8”/46 cm |
| Overall Length: | 96.5 cm (with extended buttstock) / 71.6 (with folded buttstock) |
| Height: | 28.5 cm |
| Weight: | 2,495 g |
| Magazine Capacity: | 20 or 10 rounds |
