Heckler & Koch G41
| Heckler & Koch G41 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | West Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | 2007 Lebanon conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Heckler & Koch |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Produced | 1984-1996 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | G41/A1: 4.1 kg (9.04 lb) G41A2/A3: 4.4 kg (9.7 lb) G41K: 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) |
| Length | G41/A1: 997 mm (39.3 in) G41A2/A3: 985 mm (38.8 in) stock extended / 800 mm (31.5 in) stock folded G41K: 930 mm (36.6 in) stock extended / 740 mm (29.1 in) stock retracted |
| Barrel length | G41: 450 mm (17.7 in) G41K: 380 mm (15.0 in) |
| Width | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Height | 214 mm (8.4 in) |
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| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Caliber | 5.56mm |
| Action | Roller delayed blowback |
| Rate of fire | 850 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | G41 using SS109: 920 m/s (3,018 ft/s) G41K using SS109: 880 m/s (2,887.1 ft/s) G41 using M193: 950 m/s (3,116.8 ft/s) G41K using M193: 910 m/s (2,985.6 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100—400 m sight adjustments |
| Feed system | Various STANAG magazines |
| Sights | Rotary rear diopter drum, hooded front post |
The G41 is a German 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle introduced in 1981 and produced in limited quantities by Heckler & Koch. It was designed to replace the 5.56mm Heckler & Koch HK33 in service providing a more modern weapon compatible with contemporary NATO standards. It is chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and can use both SS109 and M193 ammunition. Assembly of the G41 has been discontinued by Heckler & Koch, however, production rights to the rifle were acquired by the Italian arms manufacturer Luigi Franchi.
The G41's engineering origins lay in the 7.92×33mm Kurz StG 45(M) Assault rifle, and later the 7.62×51mm NATO G3 battle rifle. It is a selective fire automatic weapon that employs a roller-delayed blowback system of operation. The two-piece bolt mechanism consists of a bolt head that contains two cylindrical rollers and a wedge-shaped locking piece, attached to a heavy bolt carrier. When fired, the build-up of gas pressure generated by the ignited powder charge exerts rearward pressure on the bolt, which is then transferred onto the rollers. The rollers are cammed inward against appropriately shaped walls in the barrel extension, displacing the locking piece. The geometry of the camming ramps on the wedge-like locking piece ensure a rearward velocity that is greater than that of the bolt. This ensures that the bullet has left the barrel, allowing bore pressures to drop to a safe level before the rollers are fully retracted, clearing the barrel extension notches and releasing the bolt, which is then engaged by the bolt carrier and withdraws together with the entire moving assembly.
The spent cartridge casing extractor is installed inside the bolt head, while the tilting lever ejector is contained in the trigger housing. The rifle is hammer-fired and has a trigger group with a fire control selector that enables semi-automatic, burst and continuous fire. The fire selector's positions are marked with bullet pictograms and it also serves as a manual safety against unintentional discharge. The selector is ambidextrous and its lever is mirrored on both sides of the trigger housing. In the "safe" position, the trigger and sear are disabled.
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