seahawk Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 But it was a cold war development. No single rifle bearing soldier was expected to even go through the basic ammo load. The engagement would be over (with the enemy dead or him dead) before firing off those rounds and he was meant to use single shot fire. So for what was required and for the design goals behind the G11, it worked reasonably well, those requirements just do not hold up today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojan Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 (edited) I would dare to say that requirements did not hold any reality, even back then, and whole "people will die w/o using whole ammo load" was a H&K marketing... Local tests from 1962: Round 1: 150 rounds - 60 with 3-5 rounds bursts, 60 with rapid fired semi, 30 with 3 x ~10-rounds bursts forced cooling (dip in the barrel of water) 150 rounds (same as first time) forced cooling (in the crushed ice, simulating snow) 150 rounds. (same as first time) Round 2 - (not clear if same rifles as in round 1 or "fresh" ones): 300 rounds, 180 with rapid fired semi, 90 with 3-5 rounds bursts, 30 with 3 x ~10 rounds bursts AR-10 (7.62x39mm version), AK, vz.58 passed both In 1963, G3 in 7.62x39 also successfully passed those tests. FAL failed, ironically, becoming inoperable after 393 rounds in first test, 291 in second. FAL was however 7.62x51 version. So why did people known for building "just good enough" weapons (Soviets) made a gun that will withstand those, when something lighter that could just blow through 150 rounds would be enough? And when updating it in the AK-74, they required that it should withstand more heavy fire before having to cool down. It is just like they knew something... Edited November 8, 2021 by bojan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep854 Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Thanks, Seahawk & Bojan. So essentially, HK sidestepped the heat issue. That answers my question very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seahawk Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 No, HK´s promotion line was that 500 rounds for HK G11 would weigh as much as the magazines and ammo for 100 rounds for the G3. They also improved the powder enough that the overheating was acceptable, which was also compensated by the rather slow rate of fire at full auto with 500 rds/m. But in the end the focus of the whole project was on easy to fire, easy to use and likely to hit. For that they had the fast burst mode and the low recoil ammo. In the end it was working, but it was no breakthrough compared to conventional rifles, more like a trade-off with a very high price when it came to buying the guns and ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawes Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 ...and the G3 still soldiers on with some militaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seahawk Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Even the Bundeswehr still has plenty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 But it was a cold war development. No single rifle bearing soldier was expected to even go through the basic ammo load. The engagement would be over (with the enemy dead or him dead) before firing off those rounds and he was meant to use single shot fire. So for what was required and for the design goals behind the G11, it worked reasonably well, those requirements just do not hold up today. there were some dumb ideas back then, our guys got "64 pattern webbing" because everything will stay in the APC/truck and you fight light, with 4 mags and 1 in the rifle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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