G3 rifle accuracy

[Slater]

The book "Full Circle: A Treatise on Roller Locking" details the history and development of the G3/CETME family. Regarding the subject of optics, when the G3 was in development in the 1950's, a German Army requirement was that sniper's rifle should be externally indistinguishable from a standard infantry rifle. This led to the well-known HK claw mount - the idea being that a sniper could quickly remove and discard any optics and possibly extend his lifespan. This was evidently driven by Germany's experiences in Russia in World War II.

When optics were mounted, the rifle's range was officially extended from 300 meters to 600 meters. Not sure what the German Army's accuracy requirements were in the late 1950's, but how accurate overall is a run-of-the-mill G3 at 600 meters?

[SteyrAUG]

Typically 2-4 MOA.

Rifles originally selected for a sniper role where those that proved closer to the 2MOA end of the spectrum. Eventually HK came out with the G3 SG1 series which again were G3s that proved particularly accurate and they added a set trigger group and a buttstock with a check comb. The SG1 series was a somewhat odd duck as it was a DMR with a select fire trigger group, not something you often encounter.

The PSG1 is the ONLY HK rifle based upon the G3 series that consistently delivers 1MOA accuracy or better and they had to free float the barrel, add a bunch of receiver stiffeners and come up with a pretty elaborate trigger group to pull off this minor miracle.

Even the MSG90, another DMR rifle that had a select fire option, was typically a 2MOA rifle.

Excellent book by the way.

[AR-n-Ky]

SteyrAUG has given good run down on it.

I will say that I have a Century Arms CETME that checks out good, I guess the monkeys were sober and awake.

With the right ammo. It will do just under 3 MOA with iron sights. The best ever group was 2 MOA and the stars were alined.

At least with my CETME, the trigger sucks to be nice. I think that it was a good design for the time, but it has warts. At least with my limited experience.

I have a buddy that had a real live G3 at one time, fun to shoot, but it wasn't the most accurate and it was a little abusive with the giggle switch on full giggle. Still fun though.

Though outdated, warts and all. I still like my Century Arms CETME. It shoots well for a battle rifle.

[Slater]

Looking at the three "classic" Cold War battle rifles (M14, G3, FAL) I would hazard to say that there are more G3's still in service around the globe than M14's or FAL's.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Looking at the three "classic" Cold War battle rifles (M14, G3, FAL) I would hazard to say that there are more G3's still in service around the globe than M14's or FAL's.

When doing image searches for small arms in conflict zones like South America, Africa, and the Middle East the two rifles that show up the most are G3s and the AK. A few years back Cobus Claaseens allowed a US documentary crew to follow this team on several anti-poaching operations in Africa. The park rangers and game wardens are not like their US counterparts as they will often engage in running gun battles with poachers and rebel groups. All those dudes toted older G3s in the bush.

I read before that the US evaluations at the Aberdeen Proving Ground noted that the G3's delayed rolling-locking system was less sensitive to dirt over it's piston counter parts. They also praised the sturdiness of the stamped receiver noting the rifle could be rebuilt eight times increasing it's service life.

On LAV's website he notes in his Battle Rifle section that his personal favorite is the FAL but that "the G3 is more robust".

[pinzgauer]

SteyrAUG has given good run down on it.

I will say that I have a Century Arms CETME that checks out good, I guess the monkeys were sober and awake.

With the right ammo. It will do just under 3 MOA with iron sights. The best ever group was 2 MOA and the stars were alined

My old 91 used to be paper plate accurate sitting at 300 yds kneeling. So about the same.

I never really wrung it out with the issue scope I got later, though hits were easy at longer ranges. My boys commented the fun with the 91 was how easy it was to shoot with open sites at range, the scope kind of ruined that. (And it was an eye poker)

Looking at the three "classic" Cold War battle rifles (M14, G3, FAL) I would hazard to say that there are more G3's still in service around the globe than M14's or FAL's.

I personally view the G3 as the closest equiv to the AK of the MBR era, robust, reliable, relatively cheap, widely used.

M16 starting to replace it in places where we were allies or fought. Still a bunch of G3s out there I understand. Still saw them with gendamere/mil types in European cities in 3 different countries recently. (With scopes and bipods)