For fans of HK-pattern firearms, one of the most elusive variants has been the G36, the 5.56 NATO-chambered rifle that was the principal service arm for the German Bundeswehr for decades. Due to Germany's strict firearm-export laws, along with U.S. firearm import laws, the closest any HK fan could get to owning a real G36 was in the form of the HK SL8, which had a number of sporting features. Now, though, Heckler & Koch has introduced its G36 .22 LR, which, profile-wise, is a G36 in all but chambering. Watch our Gun of the Week episode above for a rundown on its features.
"Profile-wise, this is the HK G36 that was first accepted into Bundeswehr service in 1997 and remained a principal service rifle for Germany for decades afterward," American Rifleman Executive Editor Evan Brune said. "And in terms of furniture compatibility, in terms of the handguard, in terms of the optic rail, this is all straight G36. Really the only thing that differs, obviously, other than the chambering, is what's internal in order to accommodate that .22 LR rimfire chambering."
Outfitted with an 18-inch barrel and measuring in at an overall length of 38 inches with the folding stock extended, the HK G36 .22 LR offers a complete feature set that, in many ways, is identical to the centerfire service rifle it's designed to emulate. The handguard, sight rail and stock are compatible with the original G36, and the controls are bilateral and mirror those on the original service rifle. One external difference, though, is in the rimfire magazine included with the design.
"This is a great magazine. This is a 30-round .22 LR mag," Brune said. "It's got these great little textured ribs on either side that just allow you to relieve magazine pressure so you can get your rounds up in the top there. You really need that for .22 Long Rifle. HK sells 30-, 20- and 10-round versions of this magazine, so you can get those on their website."
The Picatinny optics rail at the top of the gun features a set of adjustable open sights, similar to the original rifle. And the gun's mostly polymer construction is similar to the construction used on original designs from the 1990s, when the centerfire G36 pioneered the use of polymer in a large portion of its makeup.
"It's just a lot of fun to have something that, finally, in pretty much every way other than chambering, a G36. It's something that people have been asking for for a long time," Brune said. "And so now you've got a fun plinker. Ammo’s cheap, and you can head to the range."
For more information on the HK G36 .22 LR, visit the HK USA website here.
