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Heckler & Koch started designing the G36 in 1990, when the Bundeswehr asked them to develop a new weapon system to replace the 1950s vintage G3 rifle, which fired the older 7.62x51 mm round. Two earlier HK replacements were both rejected in the 1980s, the unusual G-11 and the more conventional G-41 . Initially called the HK50 (or Project 50), the company based the weapon on its previous HK36, VP70 and G11 designs. The firing system may have been influenced by the Armalite AR-18 , although parts are also similar to M-16 and AK-47 parts. Whatever the origins, the G36 is widely recognised as a very reliable weapon. In 1995 it was adopted by the Bundeswehr after competing with similar rifles. It is also used in Spain, and is used by law-enforcement agencies in the United States and the United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly.
The rifle fires the NATOThe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NATO , sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance is an international organization for defense collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed standard 5.56x45 mm round at a maximum rate of 750 rpm, the gun can also fire semi-automatically, or in two- or three-round burst. The firing mechanism is based on the gas piston and rotating bolt, which uses gas pressure of the fired projectile to reload new rounds, rather than HK's own roller-delay blowback system. This allows the barrel to float freely, increasing accuracy. The design and materials used also help to keep the receiver very clean and jam-free, making the rifle able to fire 10,000s of rounds without cleaning.
The weapon comes in three main variants, G36, G36K (carbine) and G36C (compact, or commando). The full-size rifle is fractionally under a metre long with a folding skeleton stock, with a 480 mm barrel, and has an empty weight of just 7.6 lb (3.4 kg). Most of the rifle structure is composed of carbon fiberCarbon fiber is a strong, light and very expensive material. Generally the term "carbon fiber" is used to refer to carbon filament thread, woven carbon thread cloth. The fiber-epoxy composite made with woven carbon cloth is more properly termed carbon fib reinforced polymerA polymer is a long, repeating chain of atoms, formed through the linkage of many molecules called monomers. The monomers can be identical, or in complex polymers such as proteins the monomers have one or more substituted chemical groups, this gives thems, the first production rifle to use such material in the receiver, with steel parts where needed. The weapon can be stripped and re-assembled without tools through a system of cross-pins. The distinctive translucent plastic magazine holds 30 rounds, weighs 400 g, and is fitted with studs to allow magazines to be clipped together easily, a 100 round drum magazine can also be fitted (together with a bipod this is designated the MG36). The weapon is fitted with a small telescopic sight as standard, 3.5x on the Bundeswehr weapon and 1.5x on export versions, the sighting 'bridge' is also a carrying handle. A semi-automatic, 10-round capacity, distinctly different civilian version is sold as the SL8.