@@jonathanyang6230 Rails ✔ Polymer furniture (or even aircraft alloy for more modern or futuristic design)✔ 22/18 to 18/16 inch (barrel length)✔ Foldable/collapsible stock ✔
The original H&K AG-3 and AK-4 already had polymer stocks (of questionable durability in very cold conditions). The Swedish variant looks like a worthy upgrade, however.
@@infinityquasar oversimplification much? An M16A1 or 2 with irons is an amazing platform. Add optics and rails and it becomes a beast. My SP1 is by far the lightest and most comfortable to shoot rifle I own. I wish I had it in Iraq over my M4
@@infinityquasar what I’m saying is the average soldier in combat would benefit more from a MUCH lighter firearm. You carry it around far more than you shoot it. The overwhelming majority of soldiers (at least when I was in 05-09) had aimpoints. These do not help longer shots to be made over irons. My platoon had one ACOG and it went to the LT. The M68’s the rest of us used did give an advantage in close quarters for sure, but I’ll steal a line from Thomas Sowell, “there are no solutions, only trade-off’s” and I think the weight addition of metal railed hand guards and an optic aren’t worth what you lose. Just my $.02.
I Am a swedish officer that train our sharpshooters and we use the G3 ak4D, il have to say that i love the ”new” rifle. Its a easy to hit tagets 600-800 meters out with a x4 scope
Fantastiskt! Själv är jag gammal prickskytt och det var knappt man kunde träffa ett mål på 800 meter ens med PSG:n. (lite grand beroende på väder och vind. Att AK4 D kan göra samma sak "lätt")- visar ju på fantastisk ingengörskonst ( i synnerhet med X4 sikten), eller så får jag gratulera dig till att vara den mest fantastiska intruktören i historien. Shit pomfritt- liksom...
Hehe. Att jag rätt så enkelt kunde sänka saab helfigurer på upp till 600 meter med K4 OR (Heinsholdt, HK- byggd 1966) är ju en annan historia. En helt annan historia... Men 800 meter?
Bundeswehr adopted the FAL as the G1. There's an "ancient" Bundeswehr rifleman training film on YT with instructions on the G1 as well as the G3. Tactics of use explained, including using automatic fire only for close engagement and an actual assault.
It’s true. The Bundeswehr adopted the “G1” in 1957 and replaced it with the G3 in 1959 when the Belgium didn’t want to sale arms contracts to Germany. de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Handwaffen_der_Bundeswehr?wprov=sfti1
My dad was in the Norwegian home guard "Heimevernet" in the early 2000's, he'd bring his AG3 home after service ( without a bolt or firing pin if memory serves, no ammunition atleast ) Don't think it was a F2 variant though, as it didn't have any fancy sights on it if i remember
@novichock tea i have seen the updated versions in use by heimevernet. they got given most of the updated G3's and MP5's when the rest of the armed forces changed to 416 and MP7
Great presentation, we have the G3 in Greece for the Home guard . Quite a few upgrades in inventory. Greek G3 Originally manufactured by EVO under license from HK . Great weapon .
I've got one of your G3s! It's an old Springfield import from the late 80s made by EBO. It was one of the rifles that got caught in US customs when the '89 import ban went into effect. Springfield had named them "SAR-3" and the government banned the SAR-3 by name. So Springfield sent someone down to the customs warehouse with a hammer and a #8 punch and had them punch an 8 over the 3 on all of the rifles. Thus the "SAR-8" was born and was perfectly legal to import.
Makes sense considering that Scandinavian defense doctrine at this point involves all personal sitting on the slope of a mountain and shooting however many bullets equals the number of Russians who made it out of Finland alive
We(norwegians) will likely fight the russians in findland and sweden before we fight on norwegian soil. It's nothing but coast here, russia would really struggle to keep norway in check. Norway is almost as long as the eastern seaboard of the USA. That's a lot of shoreline to occupy for a nation that needs its supply lines to run through finland and sweden just to get to norway. Our strongest defense is the land itself.
@@r.artilesuriarte599 Sweden has pacts with countries that may be more likely be invaded. And Gotland is a point that might be interesting if a war around the baltic sea breaks out. Not to forget the situation in the artic sea. So Sweden might be dragged into a war, as the other scandinavian countries.
Argentina still using modernized FALs, and here in Mexico, Some special forces use modernized G3s like DMRs or some operators still using it like a battle rifle because the extra power of the 762x51
In Brazil too the FAL never gone away. A version in 5.56mm named IA-2 is being adopted now, but the 7.62mm is being retained and modernized, with shorter barrels and m1913 rails.
Same with Brazil. IMBEL is producing even 5.56mm version FAL and not FNC clone, literarily 5.56 stanag FAL called MD-97 :v I got exposed to them thanks to Max Payne 3, and its such as shame that there are no Airsoft replicas of these, with stanag its a holygrail of a unique rifle that isnt something boring like ar-15 clones but still having convienience of stanag mags. Real gun has to be quite amazing to shoot since its still 7.62mm design chambered down to 5.56mm.
Sorry, but I have to disagree. I don't know if you are German or German native speaking as well, but at least at 1:09 his "Sturmgewehr" sounds still a little bit like "Störmgewähr". It definitely is closer than other foreigneirs say it, but it surely isn't flawless and I have my problem with people saying someone pronounces words perfectly or flawlessly when they don't. It's wrong and maybe even makes people that have no idea think that that's the way to pronounce it properly or it's just false flattering. After listening again to it his w in "...gewehr" is a little bit off as well.
@@watchnocatch171 When Ian was discussing the StG44 and its history, he mentioned "Gerät" (as one of the StG44's precursors was named). He obviously had some trouble pronouncing the ä-vowel. I am Dutch, but I am very familiar with German as well, to a level that I can identify German accents. Whenever people claim that someone is talking German "perfectly", mostly, I have to object to this claim, as mostly, only natives and persons that have lived a long time in a German-speaking country are capable of doing so. Still, Ian is really trying hard, so he deserves credit for that. He is occupied with weapons, not with languages.
As a Swede in the Home Guard/Hemvärnet I can say that the Spuhr-stock has changed plenty for the better. How can you have a military branch meant to represent the "common folk" but a weapon that is unwieldy and clumsy for anyone that has too short arms and/or stature? The general consensus is that the Spuhr-variant is a much-need and welcome addition to our equipment and combat capabilities.
har i ikke fast kolbe mere. Jeg var i hjemmeværnet i dk og vi var en gang på øvelse i Sverige med jeres hjemmeværn og der var det med fast kolbe og aim point og alle rifler var sorte... og det var sniper udgaven i havde den gang
@@perfekt526 Spuhr kolven kom för några år sedan och tilldelas korta personer. Nyligen har dock kolvar köpts in till samtliga vapen i tjänst, kolvbytet kommer vara helt genomfört 2022.
@@perfekt526 Precis som Adurian skrev så var Spuhr-varianten från början enbart avsedd för korta personer. Övriga i HV verkade med fast kolv med undantag för fordonsförare samt vissa andra särskilda specialistbefattningar där man istället fick inskjutbar kolv/"collapsible stock" för att bättre få plats i fordon m.m. Dock så lär ju "sniper-konfigurationen" fortsätta vara den vanligaste varianten fram tills det att samtliga AK4:or moderniserats.
The lower comb of the stock did make the weapon faster to get on target with the original iron sights, though. Point shooting could be done faster than with the higher combed stocks.
I have a late HK41 that my dad bought new in 1974. I love it. Highly reliable and accurate. The only downside is it chamfers every shell casing to a polygon and throws it about a mile away. If they are running left to right in front of you and you miss the empty shell casing will likely take him out anyway...
Me and a friend both shoot HK rifles. When we show up to a match, they put us in the last lane to the right. so we don't put someone's eye out. But the worst brass I've seen came from a CETME. It looked like a Dorito with carbon scoring.
When I did my national service in the danish armed service, we were issued the G3. I liked it alot Reasonably accurate and I liked the 7.62 round far better than the 5.56 that we were later trained with. These upgrades look nice. Would have liked to try to shoot the G3 with these upgrades.
The same. Had it as a combat engineer in 2001-02. Later I had a M/96 and then a M/95. The Elcan optics was a great improvement in spotting. But when working with engineering taskes, it was sometimes hard to avoid the rifle hitting things.. and the Elcan could then loose the zeroing. To a much bigger extent than a M75.
@@KaptajnKaffe My dad stopped keeping his rifle from Hjemmeværnet at home when they switched from the M75 to the M95, because in his words "Så kan man jo lige så godt skyde med luftgevær" xD
The F1 pattern was the version with collapsible stock, which existed for use by mechanized troops and airborne forces. F2 was the modernization with Picatinny rails on the hand guard and scope rail with red dot Aimpoint sight. The rifles selected for this upgrade were ones that had very little service life, with little wear and tear, and the stocks put on them were mostly new ones that could be partially collapsed(to be more suitable with body armour?), but these ran out, so the rest were given standart F1 stocks.
My dad served in the Greek Army for 35 years (now retired as Lt Gen) and I had the pleasure of shooting several Greek Army G3s in my younger years! One heck of a reliable gun with a powerful 7.62mm punch and man I really like that Swedish update to it! Coincidentally the Greek Army is currently in talks regarding replacing the circa 220,000 G3s in the various Army branches, it would have been nice to see them keep some in service and do a similar update as Sweden. It will be sad to see it go, the end of a very successful 40 or so years of service! Great video.
Φίλε πριν ένα χρόνο που ήμουν ακόμα φαντάρος στο παραμεθόριο λέγανε ότι θέλουν να αναβαθμίσουν τα ίδια g3, δεν ξέρω άμα άλλαξε κάτι αλλά στην Ξάνθη είχα δει καμία 10 αναβαθμισμένα, υπάρχουν και φωτογραφίες ονλινε
i dont think you know what modernize means and almost never have picatinny rails been unnecessary we arnt in the 60s anymore theres optics lasers flashlights grips and dont say thats mall shopper shit because look ata ny service rifle they have grips a laser and an optic 3 rails used tight there and thats out of 4 at least
@@zzmr_stretchzz8772 Quite. C-clamp etc being stuff you need leet accessories for lol. While holding the rifle by the magwell is clearly prohibited, punctuation is also not operatör enough for you?
Not so fun fact: The swedish soldiers based in Afghanistan asked for the G3 (AK-4) to be sent there. They were being shot at by talibans from long distance and the AK-5C, issued by the time, was not effective at that range. The AK-5 has continuously been modified for urban warfare with the barrel getting shorter and shorter, it's also chambered in 5,56 as Ian mentioned. The request was denied, so the swedes had to manage with the LMG and USAF. But it's a pretty big leap between a 5,56 bullet and a Mark 82.
@@Cl0ckcl0ck The AK 4 belongs to the home guard, a separate branch not belonging to the army. And as it wasn’t in the armys inventory the soldiers might as well have requested fire breathing unicorns. No one was fired or reprimanded at all. I don’t remember the size of the Swedish forces, but it wasn’t big. I’m sure all of the guns needed would fit in a single Hercules aircraft.
@@swede178 My platoon commander had a dream of creating his own swat team down in the forests of Östergötland. He wrote his superiors asking for mp5s seeing as "we'd mainly shoot saboteurs and spies and the 5,56 would probably kill'em while a humane 9mm would probably leave them breathing." Request denied. 🤣
A few points about the Swedish G3's: * The red dot sight in the Swedish Armed Forces is not a CompM4 but rather an Aimpoint CS. * The Ak 4B has had its iron sights ground off entirely (same goes for 4C and 4D). * The Ak 4C "package" when compared to the 4B only has the new Spuhr buttstock. * The Ak 4D has both the new Spuhr buttstock and Spuhr handguard and is (to my knowledge) only issued with the Kikarsikte 09 optic (a Hensoldt 4x24 optic used on the old Ak 4OR rifles). * The Ak 4C is issued only to the Home Guard whereas the Ak 4D is issued only to the Army. * The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) made an announcement in December of 2020 that it was planning to refit all Ak 4B rifles in Home Guard use to the Ak 4C standard. * The Ak 4D is issued exclusively as a designated marksman rifle in the Army. * The Ak 4C is issued with both the Aimpoint CS red-dot sight and the Kikarsikte 09 optic though there is no special designation to distinguish these from eachother. A very well done video, Ian! Thank you for taking a look at the modernization of the G3!
Some battalions are using their Ak 4D with aimpoint and magnifier, pictures can be found on social media. It is a much more usable set up than the 09 optic.
@@wtfimagination I dont understand why the FMV dont just make a quick purchase of some modern 1-10s for the AK4Ds, it would work alot better than either of those two set-ups.
@@guseks8413 Yes. a 1-4, 1-6, 1-8 or 1-10 would give more for the user. 1x is perfekt for the skyddsvaktsmoments - even if it is r-tarded to place the marksmen on that dutie...and we know that the time for training is to lowe...so the P88 is not a option. =(
@@wtfimagination Yes and Njaaa kanske... I think. I have not used magnifier a lot but prefer a scope reticle over magnified red dot. the 4 moa is a litle big. But a personal preference. =) soo njaaa - not No! the big win is for Skyddsvakt and when the targets get to close. A good shooter can shoot fast and hit with 4x when the target is 5m away... BUT only reddot is better when it is close
Another great video Ian. Thanks a bunch! There's definitely something about the roller delayed and roller locked designs that have stood the test of time whether it's the G3, the MP5 or the MG3; These guns really just have that perfect combination of elements that have been relevant to combat small arms for the last 100 years.
Portugal Marines have them the other special forces did too but they now changed to the scar not the Portuguese rangers those have H&K 416 and DAE Portuguese Navy Seals using the G36
I live in Sweden and my dad was in the homeguard when I was a kid. He had a G3, or a AK4, in the house. When I was 12 he took me out to the shooting range and let me shoot it. Was a blast for sure.
@@SvenElven No, you can not. They are either stored at a military depo or, if you have them at home, locked with a chamber lock that your commander only has access to. So you can only use them at the miliatry range.
@@SkogsMangan Nowadays yes. But not before say the mid to late 1990's. The OP did state it happened when he/she was a child... I, myself, was in the homeguard (hemvärnet) a brief moment around that time - right after my regular military service - and we had no such restrictions. I kept the gun in my room at my mum and dad's house (since I hadn't moved out yet). The only requirement at the time was that the bolt and rest of the gun was kept separated and out of sight/hidden at different locations within the house. I did not however take my AK4/G3 to the range to practice all alone. Don't think that was allowed. But it wouldn't surprise me if some did anyway... If you wanted to practice an officer would accompany you (or your group) to the gun range. And we practiced at a local, ordinary rifle range. Not necessarily a military one.
Thtas not really a norwegian thing. the Bundeswehr had this long before for their Airborne companies. But it has one disadvantage, there is no recoil buffer in the stock as in the original one. So a good chunk of more recoil for the storm version.
The G3 collapsible stock, AKA “the meat tenderizer”. I haven’t tried an AK4C type stock but that standard G3/HK91 fixed stock is much more comfortable for me that the A3 style.
This used to be secondary weapon, when I was in the Danish army. With a 7.62 mm it packs quite a punch and a lot of guys got laceration in the cheek, due to the recoil. My primary weapon was the Carl Gustav btw :)
So, regarding Norwegian AG3F2. Dug some info 15 years ago, here it is 1. Made in house, Kongsberg Vapenfabrik 2. The bolt carrier has distinctive etching to the side open to ejection port, the form of fingerprint to help with silent closure of the bolt 3. The charging handle has a very distinctive shape: more beefy, full steel and with a hole in it, presumably to force-cock the gun in cold weather utilizing round as a handle (T-shape similar to MG-42) 4. Different bayonet mount 5. Reportedly, the collapsible stock had longer rails than on German model, approx 1cm longer. 6. AG3-F2 is, in fact, a field modification first performed by Norwegians deployed in Afghanistan with available parts. The very first rifles that later were designated as AG3-F2 were just issued AG3-F1s with KAC rails bought privately. The reason for AG3 being brought back to active service was field experience: 5.56x45 shot from fancy HK416s couldn't defeat thick mudbrick walls and the target behind it, hence not only AG3-F2 was back to service, but also good old MG3 retrofitted with the same aimpoints M2/M3s 7. NFM group (one of the main Norwegian Military contractors) has a long standing relationship with B&T and naturally provided all the modern stuff (rails, optic mounts and rings, etc) for "official" AG3-F2. thinlineweapons.com/MG42/AG3.htm is a leftover from the mg-42.net, the Norwegian weapons enthusiast provided some pictures and info on demand as well. It's now defunct, but I believe some traces could still be dug out.
As someone who uses the G3 as the standard issue rifle in the Cypriot national guard I can safely say we would love upgrades like this. Much love from Cyprus. ❤️🇨🇾
My modernized G3 is my go-to. I used the collapsing stock, but had HKParts notch it at the halfway point for the shortest usable length of pull I could get, and even with an 18" barrel, it's about the same length as 16" AR's. I did use the clamp on mount, got a really high quality low profile one and loctited the screws in place and have zero issue with it loosening or anything. Running a vortex 3x ACOG style optic and an offset RMR, extended MLOK handguards with a SAW grip and bipod out front, put a real bayonet lug in the cocking tube so I can use it, and last but not least a $50 Manticore Nightbrake that absolutely kills any muzzle rise. Threw a carry handle on too just because. Altogether it weighs 14.5 lbs loaded. And mags being $5-7 a piece, I'll never go back to an AR or 5.56 platform for my primary rifle. Thanks for putting this video out so people know what's possible with this platform that still rocks
@kolim jone I use the traditional HK collasping stock on mine, like you can see in the video on the G3 with the red dot, but those stocks are either all the way in, or all the way out. Mine has an extra notch cut into it so I have a halfway point for a much shorter length of pull. You can buy some late model stock that came with 4 positions from the factory, or some gunsmiths can do it for you.
Thank You Ian! Please keep adding more content on the G3, old and new, such a venerable weapon. A video on the evolution of early cold war infantry doctrine and how the FAL and then the G3 became so successful would be awesome!
Fun to see. It brought back memories from my service as gunsmith in the norwegian army some 30 years ago. Handeling, curing and prevented all the small issues with the AG3. All in all a companion you could trust in all kind of weather and action.
Loved my AG-3 way back in the days. Sturdy, accurate, reliable and powerful. Never failed once. Excellent rifle for marching drills too ( or so my drill sergeant would hammer into us)... And the recoil to the eye only happens once. You quickly adapt as it is painful af. Thanks for the flashback! Cheers!
Noteworthy: The BW still uses G3 ZFs as "unofficial" DMRs. However they are not upgraded at all and the way the scope is mounted on those old school G3s is just bloody horrible.
Why, whatever do you mean, "the way the scope is mounted... is just bloody horrible?" What could possibly go wrong by mounting a scope to a vise & then crushing a steel eggshell to hold it on?
Nice one... brings up memories of my service years in the german army... I "learned the craft" on G3, P1, MP2A1 and MG3; later then for ISAF after KFOR / SFOR, adopted the modernized LIneup including G36 and P8. Loved all of them, because every one of them has it's niche, that it fits quite nicely. But there's something really special about aiming through "the drum"... something that draws (tunnels?!) your focus right in on target, I'll never forget that sensation that caught me every time i got to use it. In any case, reasonable upgrades! the .308 is a more demanding caliber, of course, but it packs a punch! My perfect combo would be a red-dot-sighted MP7 as PDW and short- to mid-range (for obvious reasons) and a slanted red-dot + 9-16x X scoped G3 for accuracy and power, (the swedish stock makes lots of sense then) But that's just me :-P Anyway... enjoyed the insight, thanks a lot... keep up the good work. S.
I love the g3. Very reliable. The Greek army had them back in 02-03 when I was in Afghanistan. I traded my my dumb old cold weather mittens to shoot a few magazines through one behind the ISAF base outside kabul
Actually, F1 is the designation of the AG3 with the retractable stock, it has nothing to do with optical sights (I know, since I was issued one of those when I served)
Nice to see you built your clone to fit a lefty. It does show how the G3 can be modernized or tailored to the shooter. The first kit I ever built was a G3 in semi of course. I have always liked how it shoots and even with my heavy handed build it shoots very well years later. Thanks for letting some of us G3 believers see that the rifles are still a viable option.
You do not feel the "hump" while shooting, but You feel it afterwards, some low pain and some small yellowing, no blue colours, then You learn to back of some mm.
During my first time as shooting instructor, I particularly told recruits to firmly pull the stock towards the shoulder, but not press the cheeckbone onto the G3. 15 minutes later, one apparently deaf recruit broke his cheekbone. But hey, at least everyone had gotten the memo after that.
In the Norwegian forces, a bruised eye/cheek from shooting the AG3 was called idiotmerke ("idiot's mark" in English, though I doubt the translation was necessary.)
What?! Must have been some ultimately bad and incompetent training. Never had a bruise or anything after years of G3 shooting. Never had the cheek kicked or hurt, or "shaven" as someone wrote, ridiculous, that only happens if it is not held correctly. cheekbone broken? Hard to believe but must've had the end of the buttstock in the face to begin with. yeah it kicks, lotsa recoil. we trained full auto with 2 or 3 mags taped together, not on the regular shooting ranges but combat ranges, to get the hang of full auto G3 shooting at short distances. Having said that, 5.56 does have its merits too. Former Sgt. and instructor.
@@waltrohrbach2459 That only happend on the first outing to the range. We was well instructed, but as You know as an Instructor, conscripts do what they do, and everybody who did it never did so again, instruction well executed. Or do You always had conscripts who never fails once? Then Your country has a very well adopted pool of citizens who never do anything slightly wrong, I just have to admire Your genpool. Which country do You made your service in?
As an owner of the c308 variant I agree that it is an awesome rifle, I love mine for sure, yes it is big and a little cumbersome but I am a bit big and cumbersome myself lol. I need to find that Magpul grip module for sure and would love to see more stuff come out for these wonderful rifles.
Been there....a guy with a bench rest rifle setup next to me once. He had to move after the blast from the muzzle break knocked his scope out of alignment.
I have a HK 91 and opted for a muzzle brake (Witt Machine) which greatly reduces felt recoil and muzzle flip. I went with a vented hand guard (Military Industries) but kept the original stock as the Shur stock did not allow for use of the iron sites. Next will be a trigger job.
That's awesome the hk91 was the first rifle my dad had me shooting when I was a kid he put it on a bipod and tought me how to shoot I was 7 years old when my dad first let me shoot it
Suberb video! You might find it interesting that it is not only used by Home Guard and reserves though! In the regular forces. squads can be outfitted with one that has a mounted scope, in which case it is used kind of like a DMR
Ive been shooting this(old version) AG3 a lot. It shoots straight through engine blocks, moderate concrete walls. Takes some training to handle on full auto but when you do you love it. True power, range and even good for close tactic combat with bajonetts on.
Από ότι γνωρίζω γίνεται η αναβάθμιση μέχρι να παραχθεί το νέο όπλο . Μόλις φτάσουμε σύμφωνα με σχεδιασμούς σε μία δεκαετία να έχουν να αντικατασταθεί όλα τα g3 θα γίνει διεύρυνση της εθνοφυλακής σε όλη την Ελλάδα και θα χρεωθούν εκεί. Βέβαια υπάρχει το ενδεχόμενο να πουληθούν σε άλλες χώρες
I think you should do more field strip videos of the guns you can. It is enjoyable to see how it all goes together. You spoke of how modular this gun is but didn't show it on this one.
I carried that G3A (On the left side of the screen) almost 24/7 365 days a years for 550 days. (AT least 20 hours a day with it). It is heavy weapon but after 3 months, it becomes like part of your body, you do not even fell the weight, that additional weight almost gives you advantage for accuracy. G-3 may not be a first choice of weapon for the urban close distance warfare like the Felluce or very close distance special force etc. task like conflicts inside buildings etc. but it is like a full auto and semi auto DMR or sniper rifle beyond 100 Meters. With a good scope and some proper shooter that knows how to handle weapon, this is one of the best overall assault rifles ever built. It can easily take down a human being down from at 600 Meters. Beyond 600 meters, it is hard to land shots but it that bullet even hit a human being from 1000 meters (The bullets really reaches 1000 meters with more than enough punch and power) that guy is done. İmagine you are at 5000 Meters above sea level, having conflict from one mountain/hill to the other, distance is about 1000 Meters between two sides, mountains around 1200 Meter high. 60 Soldiers in one side using all G-3, the other 60 soldiers in the other side using 5.56 AR-15 etc. Guys getting the 7,62 mm G-3 fire, will think that they are getting shot by 7,62 mm sniper rifles, machine guns etc. Yes, 20 bullets a bit problem, not agronomic as AR-15 or as durable as AK-47 but way accurate than AK-47 at way longer range and hits way harder than AR-15.
The Norwegian AG3 even has a longer buttstock than the regular G3, they expected us all to have orangutang arms. Weirdly I never found the cheekwell design uncomfortable, the barrelsight of the AG3 is not very tall..
I was in one of the few units issued with the G3 in the SADF in the 1980s and got to use it alongside the R1 (FAL), R4 (Galil), various flavours of AK and Beretta AR/SC-70. The G3 wasn't a popular weapon because of the perceived lower quality (plastic buttstock, stamped vs milled receiver etc). On the other hand, I loved it for all the reasons Ian mentioned - accuracy, simplicity and most of all, reliability. I never had a single blockage - ever - with the G3. One afternoon, a small group of us were told to dispose of 4 or 5 boxes of dirty ammo. Rounds that had been taken out of the box and had been out on patrol or similar and were not safe to send out again. I must have put 400 rounds of the dirty ammo through my weapon, many on full auto - without a problem. The fluted chamber was a stroke of genius and I'm surprised it wasn't used on more weapons. If anyone wants to know, the next favourite was teh AK/G4 and the R1/FAL at the bottom of the pile - it was just too fussy to work reliably in our conditions. The Beretta was never really taken seriously.
When I served my mandatory service in 2005 there was a temporary ban on the F1 collapsing stock as it had collapsed during fire at one incident. I would also point out that the Norwegian Kongsberg produced base AG-3 had a 2cm longer stock than the standard G3A3, so a collapsing version probably looked even more attractive
I have a PTR-91 and it is really nice. Magazines are super cheap for them as well, because there's so many surplus G3 magazines. I am talking like under 5 bucks usually. Seeing the optic you have installed there makes me think they chose the top battery to keep for a reason if it works anything like my PTR-91. My PTR-91 spits shell casings everywhere and casings would be constantly hitting that battery if it was there on my rifle. Quite the opposite of the AR-15.
I love our new Swedish Ak4, the aimpoint is awesome, I still have the old stock but Im going to get the new in a couple of weeks. The Norwegian telescopic stock is really painful to shoot with in awkward positions. The only negative things about the G3 is weight and that it's a pain to clean, but I guess most guns are.
In case anyone's curious about the AK4 designation; the AK stands for AutomatKarbin, (Automatic Carbine) and it's the 4th gun adopted for that role. Thus, the mentioned FNC that succeeded the G3 as the standard rifle is the AK5. Swedish military designations are fantastically straight forward. The iconic S Tank for example had the designation of Strv 103. Strv is simply an abbreviation for the Swedish word for tank, Stridsvagn. (literally combat wagon). The first to digits is the calibre of the main gun in cm, it's a 105 mm gun, simplified in the designation as 10 cm. The last digit signifies that it is the third adopted tank with a 10 cm gun. The current MBT, the leopard 2, is designated Strv 122, because it's the second adopted tank with a 12 cm gun.
Go look up the MSG90 (designated marksman rifle), G41 (semi-auto, LE use) or SG9 (civilian/hunting). HK has moved away from the G3 roller-delayed blowback system to the short-stroke piston system of the HK 417. The G11 is dead, and will remain dead for the foreseeable future, since no one wants to spend a few billion on on a new rifle/cartridge system. People underestimate how expensive that would get, plus simple infantry kit doesn't have much of a lobby in any parliament.
Norwegian national guard haven't used AG3 for many years. It's all HK416 now. After 20 years in that service, mostly shooting the AG3, then switching to the HK416 - I must say that I kind of miss the G3. It's a very nice weapon. So accurate. Prone to errors and problems, but easy to fix. You really, really, really don't need a scope. You need a scope for the low caliber stuff like the 5,56 - but that 7,62 just goes where ever the iron sight is - if you can't see it through the iron-sight then the laws of gravity will pull your projectile down before it ever hits anyway - so it's all about the breathing and the pull on the trigger. Inside fact though; most of the army gunsmiths will give you a shortened or the retractable stock if you want that. The shortened stock, my personal favourite, is just 2 inches shorter than the default of the G3 - perfect for not crushing your chin in to the gun - but brilliant for that extra comfort of carry. Never seen a scope used. Ever. I had a mount for it - a clamp on mount, but I never bothered getting a scope. Never saw anyone else either. I guess the aim point is good under "optimal" conditions. The iron sight is something you get a feel for over time and that will work in any circumstance. But don't get me wrong, the HK416 is a very good weapon. I just got a little melancholic seeing the G3 again :) And just to add to that: In peace time, training, the HK416 is an upgrade (for sure). But given (God forbid) a real war-scenario, I would prefer if the guys had that added range of the G3 to create a bigger "radius of security". Because doing 600-meters(ish) with the G3 is not impossible for someone used to that rifle. I don't think that is even a remote possibility with the 5.56 platforms.
600 meters absolutely possible with a 416 even though it's outside the 400m effective range of the rifle. Earlier this year I had my first courses in long range shooting (beyond 2-300m) and hit reliably out to 580m (the furthest target we had that day). I don't disagree that an AG3 is probably better suited to that range, but that's why we also have the HK 417 in 7.62. So far from impossible, but it does require some dedicated practice
fudd lore, magnified optics improves accuracy substantially, and the ability to see clearer and further is always useful for any rifle, even if 7.62 can make more use out of it than 5.56
Additional facts on Norwegian G3 designations; AG3= Polymer buttstock and handguard AG3F1= 2 position collapsible steel buttstock, but still polymer handguard and std iron sights. AG3F2= 4 position collapsible steel buttstock, Aimpoint Comp M4, B&T optic rail and aluminium handguard. Love your work Ian 👍
I really hate that we (the swedes) cut off the iron sights on our G3's and ended up with a rifle that relies 100% on the red dot. Was told the built in battery (that needs to be changed at the factory, which is fucking retarded for a weapon that's meant to be used in the field) would last for 10 years. Guess what, I've run out of battery juice three times the last 10 years using it, turning my rifle to a heavy piece of useless iron. Absolutely useless. Asked to be moved to a marksman position so I got a 4x scope instead so I can at least count on it working if I need it.
@@AdurianJ True, there are backup sights on top of the aimpoint, but the sight radius is so tiny on them and they're placed too high to get a cheek weld when looking through them, so they're only good for making sure the rifle is pointing in the general direction of your target.
@@AdurianJ Why would you whip out an AA battery? The red dot doesn't accept consumer batteries and need to be shipped to the factory for battery changes. It's a stupid design. I've used it for thousands of hours. Trust me. :)
Great video, as a AK4C user I just wanna clarify that the AK4B/C (Ak5C/D) uses Aimpoint CS (RPS EHV in Försvarsmakten). It’s much more rugged then the CompM4. It’s virtually unbreakable. I’ve seen them overrun and dropped from 5 m landing on the sight and still working for several years.
Brazil and Argentina are currently modernizing their FAL's, by shortening their barrels and making them kind of "carbines". Hope that you'll get one of those some day
Then you also have another interesting case of two neighboring countries, like Portugal and Spain, both NATO membres and both with a huge G3 platform stock, still in use today and the way they take profit (or not) of this platform as a still useful tool. You can see for exemple how the portuguese marine corps decided to upgrade its G3 instead of adopting the FN SCAR (this is the new standard issue rifle in their army) whereas Spain there's not any specific plan to upgrade and recycle it's huge CETME C stock (only few units in law enforment and within the navy did some upgrading of this rifle).
@@lince18 that's true, they used the CETME A, B, C and L (5,56). The C version (the most succesful of them) is practically the same thing than a G3A3. Actually there are more differences between some "FAL" versions than between the "G3" ones.
We have a few Portuguese G3s in South Africa. They used to be issued to Kommandos to protect farms from attacks, but now these rifles are collecting dust in national armouries, while farmers are left with hunting rifles, if they're lucky.
Cool, never heard of the AG3F2. I believe the AG3F1 added a collapsing stock. Mine had no optics rail, just the regular iron sights. I think it must be the other way around... the F2 added the optics rail. Served with the F1 from 98 to 00. I've had the regular AG3 in the home guard up until recently when we were finally issued the HK416. I miss shooting the AG3. It feels so much powerful but isn't unpleasant to shoot at all. The red dot optics on the HK416 is a fantastic upgrade though. Thanks for all the great videos Ian!
@@AlexConnor_ any half decent bodyarmor as well as decent cover (7.62 actually has awfull cover penetration for its mass and speed) BUT the guy will definetly sit on his ass, wont move for some time and in general wont feel so frech afterwards.
In the case of Sweden, the "Hemvärnet" IS the front line. Funny anecdote, when I joined in '99 every homeguardsman had 400 bullets tucked away at home along with the complete AK4. As I got issued my rifle the departement of defense must've realised 400 cartridges along with a assault rifle in the hands of 70.000-100.000 men between the ages of 20-60 was lunacy so my platoon members along with everyone else had to turn in their ammo in order to be "swapped out" for brand new cartridges. As the year went on no new bullets arrived and excuses were made about the logistics of the whole affair. One year later nobody had any bullets, we were issued a weird anti-theft barrel lock that I failed to lock properly the first time around which meant a visit to the armorer who was quite fed up with all these rifles turning up "locked" and everyone seemed to be of the opinion that it was quite silly to have a non-usable/usable rifle under the bed in case "Ivan" showed up. I got out a couple of years later. As I understand it all service rifles are locked up nowadays?
There's a whole lot more story inside your comment. I'm surprised nobody else has replied. Your political class realized there were approximately 1/2 million armed and trained men who could toss their asses out whenever it might be necessary.
It depends. Most rifles are locked up in armories except in times of heightened world tension, but some units in rural areas do apparently still keep rifles at home
@Mike Andersson I'm well aware that Utöya is in Norway, it hit close to home regardless. With tensions in the political climate and the 2006 incident maybe they didnt want to take any chances ;) anyways, pure speculations at this point.
I did the opposite of everything in this video with my PTR91. I put HK wood furniture on it, I bought antique steel magazines from the 60’s, and a leather sling. I also have no welded rail on there and I have zero intentions of putting an optic on it. Irons only. It just looks so pretty and I couldn’t resist the pull of making it into a classic Early Cold War rifle. Furthermore, because I have long arms and fingers, the length of pull really isn’t an issue for me personally so I’m not particularly losing out in any major capacity. I also don’t need the extended charging handle, I rather put on a classic all steel charging handle with no polymer on it. I have to have that classic look.
I served in the Norwegian Army during the transition to the HK416N from the AG3F2. Me and my squad kept ag3 two years longer than a lot of other others, during our deployment overseas, purely because we much rather wanted to keep the range and power advantages it had. HK416 is a good gun, but the G3 is the best gun I've ever used.
Only a slight difference, the armorer cut of the front and rear sight and welded the rail ontop of the old rear sight post, and also we have S,P and A fire select letters :) Otherwise well done! However we have seen a lot of issues with this new stock, it do break a lot, unlike the old trusty HK one. I will hold on to my AK4b for as long as possible, until they've remedied the breaking issue.
@@rubennasser6907 Yes, the ones on top of the Aimpoint CS who are zeroes once to...Some distance. Basically if my sight is damaged, that will be my least issue... Since it has 10 ish years of battery life we don't really care for BUIS, that's mostyl an American thing, I would think. We do have BUIS on the AK5C tho, for reasons unbeknownst to me, as they are simply not needed and never used.
The F2 is NOT an upgrade. It is NOT a result of the AG3 being phased out of the Norwegian Army. The F2 has been around for decades in Norway. I left the British Army in '81 and joined the Norwegian Army in '87. The F2 had already been around for a long time. The F2 was issued to troops who had need of a shorter weapon, eg drivers in armoured vehicles (cavalry). The fairly recent addition of a redpoint sight can reasonably be termed an upgrade, However, I think you'll find that in general the HV (heimevernet - lit Home Guard) use the standard AG3 rather than the F2.
Been wondering about this since I saw that footage of the "Portuguese commandos" (video's classification, not mine). Another high quality video, G3 gang.
Portuguese Commandos are using for some time already the FN Scar L and less numbers of H version (including in CAR theater as QRF). Some forces on the Portuguese navy, like the marines, are using some numbers of Hk-G3 with Spuhr kits uptading the br for the use of accessories like pointing devices, lasers, etc, on top rails and/or in the spuhr handguard. On G3's with fixed stock, the same was also replaced with the spuhr stock; collapsible stocks on G3 still remain the same; Only DAE (tier 1 SOF of the navy) and GAT (Group of Tactic Operations - Navy Police) uses other rifles rather than the G3. The air force, the last of the 3 branches of the Portuguese Army, ground forces are phasing out the G3 with some numbers of HK-416 family and CZ Bren 2 in use for a while now.
The Swedish AK4 actually si not used with the comp m4 optic, we use an optic that as far as I know has only been sold to Sweden. We use the Aimpoint CS for both are AK4s and new AK5s. Just to let you know.
How to modernize a rifle in two steps:
1) Add a bunch of rails
2) Replace wood with polymer
Don't forget to make it short
@@jonathanyang6230 Rails ✔
Polymer furniture (or even aircraft alloy for more modern or futuristic design)✔
22/18 to 18/16 inch (barrel length)✔
Foldable/collapsible stock ✔
The original H&K AG-3 and AK-4 already had polymer stocks (of questionable durability in very cold conditions). The Swedish variant looks like a worthy upgrade, however.
@@kebman Thanks for the info
@@patricofritz4094 Interestingly, there is a Rheinmetall G3 with a wooden stock, however. I just found it. Amazing!
The balance on the magazines is pretty freaking sweet.
Perfectly balanced kraut engineering!
"Look, Ma! No bipod!"
The flex
Upvoted to 500 for the balance. 🤙
@@drewsmith3673 no
Lol
"The other being the FN FAL"
He has an FN fal under his desk doesnt he...
*pulls out FN FAL from under desk*
typical fn fal privilege
You said fn fal way to much
I always read FN FAL as FUCKIN' FAL and I can't stop.
Don't fall for the FAL privilege!
I thought everyone had a fal under there desk bed table chair car and boat !
I have a slr. So no
"If it's not broken, slap rail all over it."
Modulaaaaaaar
*top rail and side / bottom M-Lok
@@infinityquasar oversimplification much? An M16A1 or 2 with irons is an amazing platform. Add optics and rails and it becomes a beast. My SP1 is by far the lightest and most comfortable to shoot rifle I own. I wish I had it in Iraq over my M4
@@BamaPewPew I WANT A GUN MADE OF RAILS. ALL RAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@infinityquasar what I’m saying is the average soldier in combat would benefit more from a MUCH lighter firearm. You carry it around far more than you shoot it. The overwhelming majority of soldiers (at least when I was in 05-09) had aimpoints. These do not help longer shots to be made over irons. My platoon had one ACOG and it went to the LT. The M68’s the rest of us used did give an advantage in close quarters for sure, but I’ll steal a line from Thomas Sowell, “there are no solutions, only trade-off’s” and I think the weight addition of metal railed hand guards and an optic aren’t worth what you lose. Just my $.02.
Congrats on 2M!
Very very well deserved.
He gets two play button s right?
@@iJacker hopefully
True
OMG yes this is tremendous Carl, Ian and all who have participated this is literally Awesome. Awe-Inspiring.
I Am a swedish officer that train our sharpshooters and we use the G3 ak4D, il have to say that i love the ”new” rifle. Its a easy to hit tagets 600-800 meters out with a x4 scope
I was a Greek soldier and that rifle sucks
@@Greekmilsim what did you hate about it ?
@@edgelord9094 the recoil , the bad stock ,the old scope system
Fantastiskt! Själv är jag gammal prickskytt och det var knappt man kunde träffa ett mål på 800 meter ens med PSG:n. (lite grand beroende på väder och vind. Att AK4 D kan göra samma sak "lätt")- visar ju på fantastisk ingengörskonst ( i synnerhet med X4 sikten), eller så får jag gratulera dig till att vara den mest fantastiska intruktören i historien. Shit pomfritt- liksom...
Hehe. Att jag rätt så enkelt kunde sänka saab helfigurer på upp till 600 meter med K4 OR (Heinsholdt, HK- byggd 1966) är ju en annan historia. En helt annan historia...
Men 800 meter?
Bundeswehr adopted the FAL as the G1. There's an "ancient" Bundeswehr rifleman training film on YT with instructions on the G1 as well as the G3. Tactics of use explained, including using automatic fire only for close engagement and an actual assault.
Interesting hey what is the title? So I can find it
I'm here so I get reminded if a link is provided.
A . for later reference :)
Gib
It’s true. The Bundeswehr adopted the “G1” in 1957 and replaced it with the G3 in 1959 when the Belgium didn’t want to sale arms contracts to Germany.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Handwaffen_der_Bundeswehr?wprov=sfti1
My dad was in the Norwegian home guard "Heimevernet" in the early 2000's, he'd bring his AG3 home after service ( without a bolt or firing pin if memory serves, no ammunition atleast ) Don't think it was a F2 variant though, as it didn't have any fancy sights on it if i remember
You could take “heimevernet” out of context and I could still read it
Wow that's interesting
BALD
Wrong. The F2 was given to tank crews, salve truck crews and many more in the norwegian armed forces. (edit: my bad, i was thinking of the F1)
@novichock tea i have seen the updated versions in use by heimevernet. they got given most of the updated G3's and MP5's when the rest of the armed forces changed to 416 and MP7
same in Denmark...but here you got the hole rifle ready to shoot and 100 rounds of ammo
Great presentation, we have the G3 in Greece for the Home guard . Quite a few upgrades in inventory. Greek G3 Originally manufactured by EVO under license from HK . Great weapon .
Με αναβαθμισούλες, χειρολαβές και αλλαγή κοντακίου μια χαρά είναι
With a picatiny rail and acog x4 will make a difference
I've got one of your G3s! It's an old Springfield import from the late 80s made by EBO. It was one of the rifles that got caught in US customs when the '89 import ban went into effect. Springfield had named them "SAR-3" and the government banned the SAR-3 by name. So Springfield sent someone down to the customs warehouse with a hammer and a #8 punch and had them punch an 8 over the 3 on all of the rifles. Thus the "SAR-8" was born and was perfectly legal to import.
I too have an exported, de-mil'd kit from EBO
@@Dover78 "See, they're not Sar-3's, that's clearly an 8, totally different gun" 😂
Makes sense considering that Scandinavian defense doctrine at this point involves all personal sitting on the slope of a mountain and shooting however many bullets equals the number of Russians who made it out of Finland alive
While blowing every thing that might resemble anything of value for the russians if captures
Lol Russians make it THROUGH Finland alive that's a good one
We(norwegians) will likely fight the russians in findland and sweden before we fight on norwegian soil. It's nothing but coast here, russia would really struggle to keep norway in check. Norway is almost as long as the eastern seaboard of the USA. That's a lot of shoreline to occupy for a nation that needs its supply lines to run through finland and sweden just to get to norway. Our strongest defense is the land itself.
Unironically thinking that Russians want to invade Scandinavia lmao
@@r.artilesuriarte599 Sweden has pacts with countries that may be more likely be invaded. And Gotland is a point that might be interesting if a war around the baltic sea breaks out. Not to forget the situation in the artic sea.
So Sweden might be dragged into a war, as the other scandinavian countries.
Argentina still using modernized FALs, and here in Mexico, Some special forces use modernized G3s like DMRs or some operators still using it like a battle rifle because the extra power of the 762x51
Irish army updated their FAL's years ago as a spotters weapon. The Aug remaining as the standard service rifle
In Brazil too the FAL never gone away. A version in 5.56mm named IA-2 is being adopted now, but the 7.62mm is being retained and modernized, with shorter barrels and m1913 rails.
Let's not forget that Brazil's IMBEL is also making modern variants of the FAL as the IA2 both in 5.56 and 7.62.
Same with Brazil. IMBEL is producing even 5.56mm version FAL and not FNC clone, literarily 5.56 stanag FAL called MD-97 :v
I got exposed to them thanks to Max Payne 3, and its such as shame that there are no Airsoft replicas of these, with stanag its a holygrail of a unique rifle that isnt something boring like ar-15 clones but still having convienience of stanag mags.
Real gun has to be quite amazing to shoot since its still 7.62mm design chambered down to 5.56mm.
Germany also utilize good G3s as DMRs. Awesome rifle.
I'm always amazed how good Ian says foreign words. His pronounciation of Sturmgewehr is flawless.
He trained it many times in the past. Me as a German use the word not so often then he will.
Yes ,it's nice to hear someone that speaks clearly ,correctly, in most languages ,unlike many Americans
Sorry, but I have to disagree. I don't know if you are German or German native speaking as well, but at least at 1:09 his "Sturmgewehr" sounds still a little bit like "Störmgewähr". It definitely is closer than other foreigneirs say it, but it surely isn't flawless and I have my problem with people saying someone pronounces words perfectly or flawlessly when they don't. It's wrong and maybe even makes people that have no idea think that that's the way to pronounce it properly or it's just false flattering.
After listening again to it his w in "...gewehr" is a little bit off as well.
@@watchnocatch171 When Ian was discussing the StG44 and its history, he mentioned "Gerät" (as one of the StG44's precursors was named). He obviously had some trouble pronouncing the ä-vowel.
I am Dutch, but I am very familiar with German as well, to a level that I can identify German accents. Whenever people claim that someone is talking German "perfectly", mostly, I have to object to this claim, as mostly, only natives and persons that have lived a long time in a German-speaking country are capable of doing so.
Still, Ian is really trying hard, so he deserves credit for that. He is occupied with weapons, not with languages.
Almost as if his grandfather was in the german military🧐
As a Swede in the Home Guard/Hemvärnet I can say that the Spuhr-stock has changed plenty for the better. How can you have a military branch meant to represent the "common folk" but a weapon that is unwieldy and clumsy for anyone that has too short arms and/or stature? The general consensus is that the Spuhr-variant is a much-need and welcome addition to our equipment and combat capabilities.
har i ikke fast kolbe mere. Jeg var i hjemmeværnet i dk og vi var en gang på øvelse i Sverige med jeres hjemmeværn og der var det med fast kolbe og aim point og alle rifler var sorte... og det var sniper udgaven i havde den gang
@@perfekt526 Spuhr kolven kom för några år sedan och tilldelas korta personer.
Nyligen har dock kolvar köpts in till samtliga vapen i tjänst, kolvbytet kommer vara helt genomfört 2022.
Jag var med hemvärnet när bytet till aimpoint gjordes. Jag och många med mig tog en bit liggunderlag och lite silvertejp och höjde kolvkammen.
Thank you for adding some first hand knowledge of the equipment in question
@@perfekt526 Precis som Adurian skrev så var Spuhr-varianten från början enbart avsedd för korta personer. Övriga i HV verkade med fast kolv med undantag för fordonsförare samt vissa andra särskilda specialistbefattningar där man istället fick inskjutbar kolv/"collapsible stock" för att bättre få plats i fordon m.m.
Dock så lär ju "sniper-konfigurationen" fortsätta vara den vanligaste varianten fram tills det att samtliga AK4:or moderniserats.
also the axis of recoil is more in line with the shoulder using the Spuhr stock mitigating a lot of the recoil climb issue
The lower comb of the stock did make the weapon faster to get on target with the original iron sights, though. Point shooting could be done faster than with the higher combed stocks.
I have a late HK41 that my dad bought new in 1974. I love it. Highly reliable and accurate. The only downside is it chamfers every shell casing to a polygon and throws it about a mile away. If they are running left to right in front of you and you miss the empty shell casing will likely take him out anyway...
Me and a friend both shoot HK rifles. When we show up to a match, they put us in the last lane to the right. so we don't put someone's eye out. But the worst brass I've seen came from a CETME. It looked like a Dorito with carbon scoring.
When I did my national service in the danish armed service, we were issued the G3. I liked it alot Reasonably accurate and I liked the 7.62 round far better than the 5.56 that we were later trained with. These upgrades look nice. Would have liked to try to shoot the G3 with these upgrades.
Every older Danish soldier I have met, loved the g3, and they talked about it like it was an old lover 😅
The same. Had it as a combat engineer in 2001-02.
Later I had a M/96 and then a M/95. The Elcan optics was a great improvement in spotting. But when working with engineering taskes, it was sometimes hard to avoid the rifle hitting things.. and the Elcan could then loose the zeroing. To a much bigger extent than a M75.
@@KaptajnKaffe My dad stopped keeping his rifle from Hjemmeværnet at home when they switched from the M75 to the M95, because in his words "Så kan man jo lige så godt skyde med luftgevær" xD
@@G33KSPALACEdotCOM oh lord! That is great 🤣😂
@@G33KSPALACEdotCOM Hahahaha....
The F1 pattern was the version with collapsible stock, which existed for use by mechanized troops and airborne forces. F2 was the modernization with Picatinny rails on the hand guard and scope rail with red dot Aimpoint sight. The rifles selected for this upgrade were ones that had very little service life, with little wear and tear, and the stocks put on them were mostly new ones that could be partially collapsed(to be more suitable with body armour?), but these ran out, so the rest were given standart F1 stocks.
And you can have the standard collapsible stock modified by milling some extra notches so it'll lock at a shorter setting.
My dad served in the Greek Army for 35 years (now retired as Lt Gen) and I had the pleasure of shooting several Greek Army G3s in my younger years! One heck of a reliable gun with a powerful 7.62mm punch and man I really like that Swedish update to it! Coincidentally the Greek Army is currently in talks regarding replacing the circa 220,000 G3s in the various Army branches, it would have been nice to see them keep some in service and do a similar update as Sweden. It will be sad to see it go, the end of a very successful 40 or so years of service! Great video.
Φίλε πριν ένα χρόνο που ήμουν ακόμα φαντάρος στο παραμεθόριο λέγανε ότι θέλουν να αναβαθμίσουν τα ίδια g3, δεν ξέρω άμα άλλαξε κάτι αλλά στην Ξάνθη είχα δει καμία 10 αναβαθμισμένα, υπάρχουν και φωτογραφίες ονλινε
Αγορίνα και γω γιος ανώτατου αξιωματικού είμαι και δυστυχώς με g3 στα χέρια θα μείνουμε δεν έχουν αποφασίσει αν θα το αλλάξουν
@@lazm4765 στο ΔΣΣ κυρίως τα αναβάθμισαν
"I wish there Was a modernised Version of this"
Gun Industry: "a bunch of unnecessary picatinny you say?"
i dont think you know what modernize means and almost never have picatinny rails been unnecessary we arnt in the 60s anymore theres optics lasers flashlights grips and dont say thats mall shopper shit because look ata ny service rifle they have grips a laser and an optic 3 rails used tight there and thats out of 4 at least
Kind sir, where would I mount my flashlight, laser sight, backup x8 scope, Geiger-counter and Zip 22 were it not for unnecessary rails?
@@sipofsunscorchedsarsaparil6052 this aswell LOL meme guns are the best guns
@@automaticbobcat9166 well they are all less weight and even if youd lose that back half itd almost make no difference
@@zzmr_stretchzz8772 Quite. C-clamp etc being stuff you need leet accessories for lol. While holding the rifle by the magwell is clearly prohibited, punctuation is also not operatör enough for you?
"need bigger rounds cus everyone now has armor" solution phased plasma rifle in 45w range lol
Hey pal just what ya see
I prefer the UZI 9 MILIMEETAH
@@jebdunkins6796 FOURTY FIVE LONG SLIDE WITH LAZOR SIGHTINNG
dwarf gage otoloder
40watt range* :>
You can be Team AR or Team AK, but I will forever be cheering for Team G3.
Aka HK91 ;)
A proper rifle needs proper recoil.
5.56 is weaksauce.
i am for all three of them;
mpt76
I bet you never carried one.
old aka Cetme
Not so fun fact: The swedish soldiers based in Afghanistan asked for the G3 (AK-4) to be sent there. They were being shot at by talibans from long distance and the AK-5C, issued by the time, was not effective at that range. The AK-5 has continuously been modified for urban warfare with the barrel getting shorter and shorter, it's also chambered in 5,56 as Ian mentioned. The request was denied, so the swedes had to manage with the LMG and USAF. But it's a pretty big leap between a 5,56 bullet and a Mark 82.
@@Cl0ckcl0ck The AK 4 belongs to the home guard, a separate branch not belonging to the army. And as it wasn’t in the armys inventory the soldiers might as well have requested fire breathing unicorns. No one was fired or reprimanded at all.
I don’t remember the size of the Swedish forces, but it wasn’t big. I’m sure all of the guns needed would fit in a single Hercules aircraft.
@@swede178 My platoon commander had a dream of creating his own swat team down in the forests of Östergötland. He wrote his superiors asking for mp5s seeing as "we'd mainly shoot saboteurs and spies and the 5,56 would probably kill'em while a humane 9mm would probably leave them breathing." Request denied. 🤣
Has to be annoying when some of the terrorists probably do have G3s and you can't have them.
@@swede178 They learned and the AK-4D is issued to sharpshooters in the army now.
Similar issue with the Germans in Afghanistan, but they received retrofitted G3 for a DMR-ish role.
A few points about the Swedish G3's:
* The red dot sight in the Swedish Armed Forces is not a CompM4 but rather an Aimpoint CS.
* The Ak 4B has had its iron sights ground off entirely (same goes for 4C and 4D).
* The Ak 4C "package" when compared to the 4B only has the new Spuhr buttstock.
* The Ak 4D has both the new Spuhr buttstock and Spuhr handguard and is (to my knowledge) only issued with the Kikarsikte 09 optic (a Hensoldt 4x24 optic used on the old Ak 4OR rifles).
* The Ak 4C is issued only to the Home Guard whereas the Ak 4D is issued only to the Army.
* The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) made an announcement in December of 2020 that it was planning to refit all Ak 4B rifles in Home Guard use to the Ak 4C standard.
* The Ak 4D is issued exclusively as a designated marksman rifle in the Army.
* The Ak 4C is issued with both the Aimpoint CS red-dot sight and the Kikarsikte 09 optic though there is no special designation to distinguish these from eachother.
A very well done video, Ian! Thank you for taking a look at the modernization of the G3!
And they have the Atlas Bipod for the AK4D.
Some battalions are using their Ak 4D with aimpoint and magnifier, pictures can be found on social media. It is a much more usable set up than the 09 optic.
@@wtfimagination I dont understand why the FMV dont just make a quick purchase of some modern 1-10s for the AK4Ds, it would work alot better than either of those two set-ups.
@@guseks8413
Yes.
a 1-4, 1-6, 1-8 or 1-10 would give more for the user.
1x is perfekt for the skyddsvaktsmoments - even if it is r-tarded to place the marksmen on that dutie...and we know that the time for training is to lowe...so the P88 is not a option. =(
@@wtfimagination Yes and Njaaa kanske... I think.
I have not used magnifier a lot but prefer a scope reticle over magnified red dot. the 4 moa is a litle big. But a personal preference. =) soo njaaa - not No!
the big win is for Skyddsvakt and when the targets get to close.
A good shooter can shoot fast and hit with 4x when the target is 5m away... BUT only reddot is better when it is close
Another great video Ian. Thanks a bunch! There's definitely something about the roller delayed and roller locked designs that have stood the test of time whether it's the G3, the MP5 or the MG3; These guns really just have that perfect combination of elements that have been relevant to combat small arms for the last 100 years.
*casually pulls FAL from under the table*
dont forget that magazines are just popping into existence in his pockets whenever he needs them and for whatever he needs them
@@bmstylee amen! :)
Class: *bullies the quiet kid *
The quiet kid:
@Joshua Tree wtf is a current AR other than a modernised 60-70s era rifle?
@@bojangles2492 It’s hard to improve on a design that’s well-ironed out. Same goes for the AK-47 (AK12 is the modern equivalent).
The FAL is still in service in a few countries... the argentinian army has three "modernized" versions of it (DSA kits). Same thing as the G3.
The Irish have a pretty sweet modernized FAL that they use in a DMR role
Same with Brazil. Brasil also buidl a lot of 5.56 FFAL and the IA2, Brazil new rifle have an 7.62mm version that is works like the FAL.
Must be a lot of old soldiers out there who could still mix it with a G3, FN-FAL or in my case, the SLR. Or so we think!
Portugal Marines have them the other special forces did too but they now changed to the scar not the Portuguese rangers those have H&K 416 and DAE Portuguese Navy Seals using the G36
here in greece we have the fn fal also being used, mostly by reserves and some branches of the police.
I live in Sweden and my dad was in the homeguard when I was a kid. He had a G3, or a AK4, in the house. When I was 12 he took me out to the shooting range and let me shoot it. Was a blast for sure.
Are you allowed to use your service rifle for hobby shooting in the Swedish homeguard..?
@@SvenElven We call it "practice" sounds better than hobby shooting.
@@SvenElven No, you can not. They are either stored at a military depo or, if you have them at home, locked with a chamber lock that your commander only has access to. So you can only use them at the miliatry range.
@@SkogsMangan I figured as much!
@@SkogsMangan Nowadays yes. But not before say the mid to late 1990's. The OP did state it happened when he/she was a child...
I, myself, was in the homeguard (hemvärnet) a brief moment around that time - right after my regular military service - and we had no such restrictions. I kept the gun in my room at my mum and dad's house (since I hadn't moved out yet). The only requirement at the time was that the bolt and rest of the gun was kept separated and out of sight/hidden at different locations within the house.
I did not however take my AK4/G3 to the range to practice all alone. Don't think that was allowed. But it wouldn't surprise me if some did anyway... If you wanted to practice an officer would accompany you (or your group) to the gun range. And we practiced at a local, ordinary rifle range. Not necessarily a military one.
We use the folded stock aswell in the Swedish homeguard, but only for the drivers.
We have it introduced into the homeguard as is. I got it as common insatssoldier year ago.
The aesthetics of that Norwegian collapsing stock version are so perfect.
Thtas not really a norwegian thing. the Bundeswehr had this long before for their Airborne companies. But it has one disadvantage, there is no recoil buffer in the stock as in the original one. So a good chunk of more recoil for the storm version.
Looks like the original HK collapsing stock option. The Swedish airborne units had them back in the 80s.
The G3 collapsible stock, AKA “the meat tenderizer”. I haven’t tried an AK4C type stock but that standard G3/HK91 fixed stock is much more comfortable for me that the A3 style.
This used to be secondary weapon, when I was in the Danish army. With a 7.62 mm it packs quite a punch and a lot of guys got laceration in the cheek, due to the recoil.
My primary weapon was the Carl Gustav btw :)
Someone at Battlestate Games is probably furiously jotting down notes for when they eventually patch in the G3 for Escape From Tarkov.
As if they don't already take notes from FW and Max Popenker
Yes. I need my AK4C now. Like, last wipe.
Tarkov is gun heaven tbh, I seriously want to try that game out.
I heard about them wanting to add the AUG, but figured since there's already a FAL that they woudn't add the G3, I hope they do.
@@bmhater1283 You can try Insurgency Sandstorm although I really liked Tarkov better as far as guns go
I'm a simple Norwegian. I see G3, I click G3.
I am RHODESIAN Waait....
AG3
Samme her. Det er noe helt eget med AG3'n :-)
GSV: Med øyet mot Øst!
I’m a simple American. I see gun, I click gun.
So, regarding Norwegian AG3F2. Dug some info 15 years ago, here it is
1. Made in house, Kongsberg Vapenfabrik
2. The bolt carrier has distinctive etching to the side open to ejection port, the form of fingerprint to help with silent closure of the bolt
3. The charging handle has a very distinctive shape: more beefy, full steel and with a hole in it, presumably to force-cock the gun in cold weather utilizing round as a handle (T-shape similar to MG-42)
4. Different bayonet mount
5. Reportedly, the collapsible stock had longer rails than on German model, approx 1cm longer.
6. AG3-F2 is, in fact, a field modification first performed by Norwegians deployed in Afghanistan with available parts. The very first rifles that later were designated as AG3-F2 were just issued AG3-F1s with KAC rails bought privately. The reason for AG3 being brought back to active service was field experience: 5.56x45 shot from fancy HK416s couldn't defeat thick mudbrick walls and the target behind it, hence not only AG3-F2 was back to service, but also good old MG3 retrofitted with the same aimpoints M2/M3s
7. NFM group (one of the main Norwegian Military contractors) has a long standing relationship with B&T and naturally provided all the modern stuff (rails, optic mounts and rings, etc) for "official" AG3-F2.
thinlineweapons.com/MG42/AG3.htm is a leftover from the mg-42.net, the Norwegian weapons enthusiast provided some pictures and info on demand as well. It's now defunct, but I believe some traces could still be dug out.
As someone who uses the G3 as the standard issue rifle in the Cypriot national guard I can safely say we would love upgrades like this.
Much love from Cyprus. ❤️🇨🇾
Soviet spy.
@@lennykump8396 perhaps
Hi, how are you today? A lot of this lockdown nonsense going on in Cyprus today? Whats the situation over there? All the best!
Καμία αντίρρηση! Πραγματικά χρειάζεται αναβαθμήσεις ο Κυπριακός και Ελληνικός στρατός.
It'd surely be way more fun to shoot than it currently is
@@lennykump8396 The Americans 2 Cyprus Boogaloo. 🤯
UA-cam - ‘Forgotten Weapons uploaded: ‘Modernizing the G3’
Me - ‘Oh fuck yeah *closes PH*’
Hold up
But is InRangeTV still on PH?
I'd keep it open.
Its 7am
@go away
Paradise Hotel never was my bag anyway...
My modernized G3 is my go-to. I used the collapsing stock, but had HKParts notch it at the halfway point for the shortest usable length of pull I could get, and even with an 18" barrel, it's about the same length as 16" AR's. I did use the clamp on mount, got a really high quality low profile one and loctited the screws in place and have zero issue with it loosening or anything. Running a vortex 3x ACOG style optic and an offset RMR, extended MLOK handguards with a SAW grip and bipod out front, put a real bayonet lug in the cocking tube so I can use it, and last but not least a $50 Manticore Nightbrake that absolutely kills any muzzle rise. Threw a carry handle on too just because. Altogether it weighs 14.5 lbs loaded. And mags being $5-7 a piece, I'll never go back to an AR or 5.56 platform for my primary rifle. Thanks for putting this video out so people know what's possible with this platform that still rocks
@kolim jone I use the traditional HK collasping stock on mine, like you can see in the video on the G3 with the red dot, but those stocks are either all the way in, or all the way out. Mine has an extra notch cut into it so I have a halfway point for a much shorter length of pull. You can buy some late model stock that came with 4 positions from the factory, or some gunsmiths can do it for you.
I got a Sphur stock myself and it's night and day, the gun went from something functional to something fun.
Ian mordernizing the G3 in less than 14 minutes? Seems legit
Gun Jesus at it again.
What you expect he is gun Jesus chosen by hk
@@tfwthelsdkicksin6083 "modernise this, this is my G3"
-Gun Jesus on his last meal
And costs less than 500$
@@Greekmilsim Not with that left side charging handle. That is custom work.
Thank You Ian! Please keep adding more content on the G3, old and new, such a venerable weapon. A video on the evolution of early cold war infantry doctrine and how the FAL and then the G3 became so successful would be awesome!
Fun to see. It brought back memories from my service as gunsmith in the norwegian army some 30 years ago. Handeling, curing and prevented all the small issues with the AG3. All in all a companion you could trust in all kind of weather and action.
The Portuguese Marines just receive a bunch of this modernized H&K G3
Têm algum conhecimento das opiniões dos fuzileiros sobre esse aspecto e/ou preferência por uma arma nova?
Yes I saw a video of them using G3's on a UN mission in the Central African Republic
@@TWH-lp4bn those were Commandos and Paratroopers but yes they we're using some tricked out G3's
@@goncalonunes985 from what I heard the Portuguese armed forces where getting scar-16 I may be wrong because I don’t live in Portugal
@@aregularperson7573 yes they are, but only the Army. Our Marines still use the G3 and regular airmen in the Air Force as well.
Loved my AG-3 way back in the days. Sturdy, accurate, reliable and powerful. Never failed once. Excellent rifle for marching drills too ( or so my drill sergeant would hammer into us)... And the recoil to the eye only happens once. You quickly adapt as it is painful af. Thanks for the flashback!
Cheers!
Noteworthy: The BW still uses G3 ZFs as "unofficial" DMRs. However they are not upgraded at all and the way the scope is mounted on those old school G3s is just bloody horrible.
A G3 ZF is just a standart G3 with a scope.
Why, whatever do you mean, "the way the scope is mounted... is just bloody horrible?" What could possibly go wrong by mounting a scope to a vise & then crushing a steel eggshell to hold it on?
@@jantschierschky3461 used to be, but the scopes have been switvhed out to much over the years
@@nunyabidniz2868 I am sure it will hold zero marvelously and what is a cheekweld anyway?
@@julian7247 Other than cheekweld, my scope (Z-24) holds zero perfectly on my G3
Nice one... brings up memories of my service years in the german army...
I "learned the craft" on G3, P1, MP2A1 and MG3; later then for ISAF after KFOR / SFOR,
adopted the modernized LIneup including G36 and P8.
Loved all of them, because every one of them has it's niche, that it fits quite nicely.
But there's something really special about aiming through "the drum"...
something that draws (tunnels?!) your focus right in on target,
I'll never forget that sensation that caught me every time i got to use it.
In any case, reasonable upgrades! the .308 is a more demanding caliber, of course, but it packs a punch!
My perfect combo would be a red-dot-sighted MP7 as PDW and short- to mid-range (for obvious reasons)
and a slanted red-dot + 9-16x X scoped G3 for accuracy and power, (the swedish stock makes lots of sense then)
But that's just me :-P
Anyway... enjoyed the insight, thanks a lot... keep up the good work.
S.
G3 was my default gun in the Bundeswehr 20 years ago. It's such an incredibly satisfying gun to shoot.
I love the g3. Very reliable. The Greek army had them back in 02-03 when I was in Afghanistan. I traded my my dumb old cold weather mittens to shoot a few magazines through one behind the ISAF base outside kabul
Cold weather mittens in Afghanistan?
@@murphy7801 It gets cold in Afghanistan and also the mountains get very snowy.
Actually, F1 is the designation of the AG3 with the retractable stock, it has nothing to do with optical sights
(I know, since I was issued one of those when I served)
Great Review. I used the G3 when I was in service 40 years ago and I still love it.
That Swedish variant is gorgeous. Nicest looking G3 pattern I've seen.
Do u know what kind of stock that is ??
@@montemaguire4596 spuhr
We sawed off the front sight post on our G3/AK4:s as well in Sweden.
Nice to see you built your clone to fit a lefty. It does show how the G3 can be modernized or tailored to the shooter. The first kit I ever built was a G3 in semi of course. I have always liked how it shoots and even with my heavy handed build it shoots very well years later. Thanks for letting some of us G3 believers see that the rifles are still a viable option.
How come Ian gets to pull out a beautiful FAL like that on a whim? Why must I suffer in silence as Gun Jesus performs my dreams daily?
Fear not, for Gun Jesus who has fired both in full auto will always have a french rifle at hand.
@@HappyBeezerStudios fal aint french wtf
Go buy one, I see DSAs for sell almost every other day.
You do not feel the "hump" while shooting, but You feel it afterwards, some low pain and some small yellowing, no blue colours, then You learn to back of some mm.
yeah I remember first live fire day on the range during basic training... quite a couple of guys looked like they got in a barfight afterwards
During my first time as shooting instructor, I particularly told recruits to firmly pull the stock towards the shoulder, but not press the cheeckbone onto the G3. 15 minutes later, one apparently deaf recruit broke his cheekbone. But hey, at least everyone had gotten the memo after that.
In the Norwegian forces, a bruised eye/cheek from shooting the AG3 was called idiotmerke ("idiot's mark" in English, though I doubt the translation was necessary.)
What?! Must have been some ultimately bad and incompetent training. Never had a bruise or anything after years of G3 shooting. Never had the cheek kicked or hurt, or "shaven" as someone wrote, ridiculous, that only happens if it is not held correctly. cheekbone broken? Hard to believe but must've had the end of the buttstock in the face to begin with. yeah it kicks, lotsa recoil. we trained full auto with 2 or 3 mags taped together, not on the regular shooting ranges but combat ranges, to get the hang of full auto G3 shooting at short distances.
Having said that, 5.56 does have its merits too. Former Sgt. and instructor.
@@waltrohrbach2459 That only happend on the first outing to the range. We was well instructed, but as You know as an Instructor, conscripts do what they do, and everybody who did it never did so again, instruction well executed. Or do You always had conscripts who never fails once? Then Your country has a very well adopted pool of citizens who never do anything slightly wrong, I just have to admire Your genpool. Which country do You made your service in?
As an owner of the c308 variant I agree that it is an awesome rifle, I love mine for sure, yes it is big and a little cumbersome but I am a bit big and cumbersome myself lol. I need to find that Magpul grip module for sure and would love to see more stuff come out for these wonderful rifles.
When Gun Jesus speaks with this much energy, you should listen.
he bought the right one for himself. of course he likes it :D
amen
German Ministry of defense... listen.
@@drachenklaue07 They don't care about quality as mutch as they care about cash. Cyclical consumtion doesn't like modernizing.
@@drachenklaue07 To late...Flinten Uschi at her Time gave them all away to the Kurds to put some Holes into ISIS
I love my G3 but it's so loud people at the range flee when I fire it. lol
I have a 12" barreled G3k with a SiCo muzzle brake, I understand.
It feels like a hand cannon when compared to a 5.56 lmao
Just imagine 20 of them firing at ones 😁😁
I always called the brake on mine the "loudnencer."
Been there....a guy with a bench rest rifle setup next to me once. He had to move after the blast from the muzzle break knocked his scope out of alignment.
I have a HK 91 and opted for a muzzle brake (Witt Machine) which greatly reduces felt recoil and muzzle flip. I went with a vented hand guard (Military Industries) but kept the original stock as the Shur stock did not allow for use of the iron sites. Next will be a trigger job.
I did what you did to mine. But added a heavy recoil buffer and psg1 match trigger.
That's awesome the hk91 was the first rifle my dad had me shooting when I was a kid he put it on a bipod and tought me how to shoot I was 7 years old when my dad first let me shoot it
this is the gun equivalent of "how do you do, fellow kids" meme
Yes
Shhh.
But other than the guy in this meme this gun is actually cool in modern clothes
Basically
@@ohnenamen2843 the guy? Put some respect on steve buscemis name lol
Suberb video!
You might find it interesting that it is not only used by Home Guard and reserves though! In the regular forces. squads can be outfitted with one that has a mounted scope, in which case it is used kind of like a DMR
Ive been shooting this(old version) AG3 a lot. It shoots straight through engine blocks, moderate concrete walls. Takes some training to handle on full auto but when you do you love it. True power, range and even good for close tactic combat with bajonetts on.
Hellenic army : *write that down, write that down!*
Actually they're already looking for an upgrade package 😉
I've seen some videos of greek G3s with Aimpoints
@@Pavlos_Charalambous κοίτα εγώ ξέρω ότι θα σχεδιάσουμε δικό μας όπλο για να αντικαταστήσει το g3
@@mikep3180 γίνεται διαγωνισμός αυτό τον καιρό για αναβάθμιση των G3. Μεγάλος αριθμός απ' αυτά θα παραμείνει και μετά το "νέο όπλο".
Από ότι γνωρίζω γίνεται η αναβάθμιση μέχρι να παραχθεί το νέο όπλο . Μόλις φτάσουμε σύμφωνα με σχεδιασμούς σε μία δεκαετία να έχουν να αντικατασταθεί όλα τα g3 θα γίνει διεύρυνση της εθνοφυλακής σε όλη την Ελλάδα και θα χρεωθούν εκεί. Βέβαια υπάρχει το ενδεχόμενο να πουληθούν σε άλλες χώρες
I loved my G3 as member/soldier in Danish Homeguard from early 80's to early 00's. It was a standard G3 but with wood instead of plastic
I think you should do more field strip videos of the guns you can. It is enjoyable to see how it all goes together. You spoke of how modular this gun is but didn't show it on this one.
I carried that G3A (On the left side of the screen) almost 24/7 365 days a years for 550 days. (AT least 20 hours a day with it). It is heavy weapon but after 3 months, it becomes like part of your body, you do not even fell the weight, that additional weight almost gives you advantage for accuracy.
G-3 may not be a first choice of weapon for the urban close distance warfare like the Felluce or very close distance special force etc. task like conflicts inside buildings etc. but it is like a full auto and semi auto DMR or sniper rifle beyond 100 Meters. With a good scope and some proper shooter that knows how to handle weapon, this is one of the best overall assault rifles ever built. It can easily take down a human being down from at 600 Meters. Beyond 600 meters, it is hard to land shots but it that bullet even hit a human being from 1000 meters (The bullets really reaches 1000 meters with more than enough punch and power) that guy is done.
İmagine you are at 5000 Meters above sea level, having conflict from one mountain/hill to the other, distance is about 1000 Meters between two sides, mountains around 1200 Meter high.
60 Soldiers in one side using all G-3, the other 60 soldiers in the other side using 5.56 AR-15 etc.
Guys getting the 7,62 mm G-3 fire, will think that they are getting shot by 7,62 mm sniper rifles, machine guns etc.
Yes, 20 bullets a bit problem, not agronomic as AR-15 or as durable as AK-47 but way accurate than AK-47 at way longer range and hits way harder than AR-15.
I like the "Fun Switch" on the rifle in the front; Safe, Semi, FUN
My had Safe, Singel person, Fammely shooting!
It's what you want to shoot:
SIKKER = SAFE
ENSLIG = SINGLE
FAMILIE = FAMILY
Back in my days in the german army, the F setting was called "Frieden" (=peace). Cause thats what you got after you used a G3 set to F...
Congratulations to 2 million subscribers 👍🏻
Great video as well !
"Length of pull is awkwardly long" he said clearly not possessing orangutan arms.
Making rifles to suit an orangutan's physique does seem like an odd marketing move.
@@ExternalInputs not if they're just getting ready for the ape uprising.
@@ExternalInputs The MP-5 length of pull was horrible when having been trained with a G-3.
The Norwegian AG3 even has a longer buttstock than the regular G3, they expected us all to have orangutang arms.
Weirdly I never found the cheekwell design uncomfortable, the barrelsight of the AG3 is not very tall..
"Ook".
Yeah, I've never had problems with the AG-3 stock, but then I do have orangutan arms.
this one was worth the price of my patreon subscription. thanks Ian !
"HEY, SWEDES!"
"They're Norwegian, Mac."
One of my favorite movies. If only more remote NSF stations were equipped with M2A1 Flamethrowers...
Where is that reference from
@@Krytech420 the movie, the thing
Captain America: 😀 "I understood that reference!" (thinks about "The Thing")
"I'd rather not spend the winter tied to this gosh-darn couch"
That's a pretty Finnish thing to do
A rifle from the 60s? Just slap an adjustable stock and some rails on it
Modernized Finnish sniper rifle?
ua-cam.com/video/E-dE_tknOgk/v-deo.html
Finn's have Steve N Seagulls, don't mess with the Finns
@@ValThracian I meant RK-62 and RK-62M
@@cavtroopermunoz They also have these guys:
ua-cam.com/video/Jrg0X9H6FGU/v-deo.html
@@bruceinoz8002 I cried a little. My wife came and made a face, shook her head and commented, дурак.
I can personally atest to the fact that the Portuguese Fuzileiros (marines) love this weapon, great vid like always.
Most Portuguese people never seen a gun in their life of course they love the g3. Its heavy.
@@jonc2914 we can carry it don’t worry
@@jonc2914 don't worry our marines don't really care about the weight
@@jonc2914 as if it being heavy alone is enough to disqualify a gun
I was in one of the few units issued with the G3 in the SADF in the 1980s and got to use it alongside the R1 (FAL), R4 (Galil), various flavours of AK and Beretta AR/SC-70. The G3 wasn't a popular weapon because of the perceived lower quality (plastic buttstock, stamped vs milled receiver etc). On the other hand, I loved it for all the reasons Ian mentioned - accuracy, simplicity and most of all, reliability. I never had a single blockage - ever - with the G3. One afternoon, a small group of us were told to dispose of 4 or 5 boxes of dirty ammo. Rounds that had been taken out of the box and had been out on patrol or similar and were not safe to send out again. I must have put 400 rounds of the dirty ammo through my weapon, many on full auto - without a problem. The fluted chamber was a stroke of genius and I'm surprised it wasn't used on more weapons. If anyone wants to know, the next favourite was teh AK/G4 and the R1/FAL at the bottom of the pile - it was just too fussy to work reliably in our conditions. The Beretta was never really taken seriously.
When I served my mandatory service in 2005 there was a temporary ban on the F1 collapsing stock as it had collapsed during fire at one incident. I would also point out that the Norwegian Kongsberg produced base AG-3 had a 2cm longer stock than the standard G3A3, so a collapsing version probably looked even more attractive
Small correction:
The F1 version has the collapsible stock.
The F2 version adds the optic rails, railed handguard etc.
I have a PTR-91 and it is really nice. Magazines are super cheap for them as well, because there's so many surplus G3 magazines. I am talking like under 5 bucks usually. Seeing the optic you have installed there makes me think they chose the top battery to keep for a reason if it works anything like my PTR-91. My PTR-91 spits shell casings everywhere and casings would be constantly hitting that battery if it was there on my rifle. Quite the opposite of the AR-15.
Us Roller Delay fanboys are doing good on content. Hoplopfheil did a PTR/G3 video yesterday and Gun Jesus did a G3 video today.
I'm still waiting for the crossover with Ian and Garand Thumb. They have acknowledged the existence of each other, so it is only a matter of time.
I noticed the back to back Hop/FW videos too, curious
One can never have too much roller delayed content goodness on UA-cam. More please!
@@Bornstellare it will never happen. Garand Thumb is a sales man. Ian is an educator.
I love my PTR91 GI-R
I love our new Swedish Ak4, the aimpoint is awesome, I still have the old stock but Im going to get the new in a couple of weeks.
The Norwegian telescopic stock is really painful to shoot with in awkward positions.
The only negative things about the G3 is weight and that it's a pain to clean, but I guess most guns are.
In case anyone's curious about the AK4 designation; the AK stands for AutomatKarbin, (Automatic Carbine) and it's the 4th gun adopted for that role. Thus, the mentioned FNC that succeeded the G3 as the standard rifle is the AK5.
Swedish military designations are fantastically straight forward. The iconic S Tank for example had the designation of Strv 103. Strv is simply an abbreviation for the Swedish word for tank, Stridsvagn. (literally combat wagon). The first to digits is the calibre of the main gun in cm, it's a 105 mm gun, simplified in the designation as 10 cm. The last digit signifies that it is the third adopted tank with a 10 cm gun.
The current MBT, the leopard 2, is designated Strv 122, because it's the second adopted tank with a 12 cm gun.
So when can we expect a "what would H&K do 2021" for the g3 lol
Quite an intriguing suggestion.
More "What would ... do"-projects please! Here or over at IRTV.
Short answer: HK416/417.
Long (expensive) answer: G11.
Go look up the MSG90 (designated marksman rifle), G41 (semi-auto, LE use) or SG9 (civilian/hunting). HK has moved away from the G3 roller-delayed blowback system to the short-stroke piston system of the HK 417. The G11 is dead, and will remain dead for the foreseeable future, since no one wants to spend a few billion on on a new rifle/cartridge system.
People underestimate how expensive that would get, plus simple infantry kit doesn't have much of a lobby in any parliament.
Norwegian national guard haven't used AG3 for many years. It's all HK416 now. After 20 years in that service, mostly shooting the AG3, then switching to the HK416 - I must say that I kind of miss the G3. It's a very nice weapon. So accurate. Prone to errors and problems, but easy to fix. You really, really, really don't need a scope. You need a scope for the low caliber stuff like the 5,56 - but that 7,62 just goes where ever the iron sight is - if you can't see it through the iron-sight then the laws of gravity will pull your projectile down before it ever hits anyway - so it's all about the breathing and the pull on the trigger. Inside fact though; most of the army gunsmiths will give you a shortened or the retractable stock if you want that. The shortened stock, my personal favourite, is just 2 inches shorter than the default of the G3 - perfect for not crushing your chin in to the gun - but brilliant for that extra comfort of carry. Never seen a scope used. Ever. I had a mount for it - a clamp on mount, but I never bothered getting a scope. Never saw anyone else either. I guess the aim point is good under "optimal" conditions. The iron sight is something you get a feel for over time and that will work in any circumstance. But don't get me wrong, the HK416 is a very good weapon. I just got a little melancholic seeing the G3 again :) And just to add to that: In peace time, training, the HK416 is an upgrade (for sure). But given (God forbid) a real war-scenario, I would prefer if the guys had that added range of the G3 to create a bigger "radius of security". Because doing 600-meters(ish) with the G3 is not impossible for someone used to that rifle. I don't think that is even a remote possibility with the 5.56 platforms.
600 meters absolutely possible with a 416 even though it's outside the 400m effective range of the rifle. Earlier this year I had my first courses in long range shooting (beyond 2-300m) and hit reliably out to 580m (the furthest target we had that day). I don't disagree that an AG3 is probably better suited to that range, but that's why we also have the HK 417 in 7.62. So far from impossible, but it does require some dedicated practice
fudd lore, magnified optics improves accuracy substantially, and the ability to see clearer and further is always useful for any rifle, even if 7.62 can make more use out of it than 5.56
Additional facts on Norwegian G3 designations; AG3= Polymer buttstock and handguard
AG3F1= 2 position collapsible steel buttstock, but still polymer handguard and std iron sights.
AG3F2= 4 position collapsible steel buttstock, Aimpoint Comp M4, B&T optic rail and aluminium handguard.
Love your work Ian 👍
As someone who has an HK91 with the collapsible stock, yah, that sucker is rough on the shoulder as well as having a crap cheek weld
@@destroyerarmor more like the MP5 is a midget G3
I really hate that we (the swedes) cut off the iron sights on our G3's and ended up with a rifle that relies 100% on the red dot. Was told the built in battery (that needs to be changed at the factory, which is fucking retarded for a weapon that's meant to be used in the field) would last for 10 years. Guess what, I've run out of battery juice three times the last 10 years using it, turning my rifle to a heavy piece of useless iron. Absolutely useless. Asked to be moved to a marksman position so I got a 4x scope instead so I can at least count on it working if I need it.
Wow, the battery not being user-replaceable is just stupid.
The Aimpoint has a backup sight on top for emergencies.
@@AdurianJ True, there are backup sights on top of the aimpoint, but the sight radius is so tiny on them and they're placed too high to get a cheek weld when looking through them, so they're only good for making sure the rifle is pointing in the general direction of your target.
@@Malle472 That's time enough to whip out an AA battery
@@AdurianJ Why would you whip out an AA battery? The red dot doesn't accept consumer batteries and need to be shipped to the factory for battery changes. It's a stupid design. I've used it for thousands of hours. Trust me. :)
Great video, as a AK4C user I just wanna clarify that the AK4B/C (Ak5C/D) uses Aimpoint CS (RPS EHV in Försvarsmakten). It’s much more rugged then the CompM4. It’s virtually unbreakable. I’ve seen them overrun and dropped from 5 m landing on the sight and still working for several years.
I tell everyone about this channel. Way to go ! 2 million. That’s pretty cool 😎
*gently patting my g3* it's okay, you're perfect the way you are, I'm not updating you
Nein rifle is fine. Lol
Brazil and Argentina are currently modernizing their FAL's, by shortening their barrels and making them kind of "carbines". Hope that you'll get one of those some day
Then you also have another interesting case of two neighboring countries, like Portugal and Spain, both NATO membres and both with a huge G3 platform stock, still in use today and the way they take profit (or not) of this platform as a still useful tool. You can see for exemple how the portuguese marine corps decided to upgrade its G3 instead of adopting the FN SCAR (this is the new standard issue rifle in their army) whereas Spain there's not any specific plan to upgrade and recycle it's huge CETME C stock (only few units in law enforment and within the navy did some upgrading of this rifle).
Spain never used G3's....
@@lince18 but they have the cetme version of the g3 which isn't identical but rather a fork of it with continued development.
@@lince18 that's true, they used the CETME A, B, C and L (5,56). The C version (the most succesful of them) is practically the same thing than a G3A3. Actually there are more differences between some "FAL" versions than between the "G3" ones.
@@freetobe3 I Preffer to say they are Brothers, twins, no "versions" here.
We made them on my country , Portugal , on the now closed "Braço de Prata" factory.
We have a few Portuguese G3s in South Africa. They used to be issued to Kommandos to protect farms from attacks, but now these rifles are collecting dust in national armouries, while farmers are left with hunting rifles, if they're lucky.
We also used them for too long...
I'm fairly certain some of the surplus parts on my C308 were made there.
How closed is that factory? Still have the tooling? Could it be reopened by someone w/ vision & some financial backing? Just curious... ;-D
@@nunyabidniz2868 The factory closed a long time ago , I think its empty .
Cool, never heard of the AG3F2. I believe the AG3F1 added a collapsing stock. Mine had no optics rail, just the regular iron sights. I think it must be the other way around... the F2 added the optics rail. Served with the F1 from 98 to 00. I've had the regular AG3 in the home guard up until recently when we were finally issued the HK416. I miss shooting the AG3. It feels so much powerful but isn't unpleasant to shoot at all. The red dot optics on the HK416 is a fantastic upgrade though. Thanks for all the great videos Ian!
The .308 when you need the guy in the body armor and his buddy behind him to stop moving.
Or the guy hid behind a brickwall and his breath disturbs your concentration.
The .30-06, same situation but the two guys are behind a concrete wall.
@Kaiser Von Bahr ua-cam.com/video/goooa3sv80w/v-deo.html
Is this a meme I'm missing? Modern combat body armor will stop .308 no problem.
@@AlexConnor_ any half decent bodyarmor as well as decent cover (7.62 actually has awfull cover penetration for its mass and speed) BUT the guy will definetly sit on his ass, wont move for some time and in general wont feel so frech afterwards.
In the case of Sweden, the "Hemvärnet" IS the front line.
Funny anecdote, when I joined in '99 every homeguardsman had 400 bullets tucked away at home along with the complete AK4. As I got issued my rifle the departement of defense must've realised 400 cartridges along with a assault rifle in the hands of 70.000-100.000 men between the ages of 20-60 was lunacy so my platoon members along with everyone else had to turn in their ammo in order to be "swapped out" for brand new cartridges. As the year went on no new bullets arrived and excuses were made about the logistics of the whole affair.
One year later nobody had any bullets, we were issued a weird anti-theft barrel lock that I failed to lock properly the first time around which meant a visit to the armorer who was quite fed up with all these rifles turning up "locked" and everyone seemed to be of the opinion that it was quite silly to have a non-usable/usable rifle under the bed in case "Ivan" showed up. I got out a couple of years later.
As I understand it all service rifles are locked up nowadays?
There's a whole lot more story inside your comment. I'm surprised nobody else has replied. Your political class realized there were approximately 1/2 million armed and trained men who could toss their asses out whenever it might be necessary.
It depends. Most rifles are locked up in armories except in times of heightened world tension, but some units in rural areas do apparently still keep rifles at home
@@SkyRay2000 More like no one wanted another Utöya to happen.
There was an idiot in Täby in täby that took his AK4 and started shooting people in 2006.
@Mike Andersson I'm well aware that Utöya is in Norway, it hit close to home regardless. With tensions in the political climate and the 2006 incident maybe they didnt want to take any chances ;)
anyways, pure speculations at this point.
I did the opposite of everything in this video with my PTR91. I put HK wood furniture on it, I bought antique steel magazines from the 60’s, and a leather sling. I also have no welded rail on there and I have zero intentions of putting an optic on it. Irons only. It just looks so pretty and I couldn’t resist the pull of making it into a classic Early Cold War rifle. Furthermore, because I have long arms and fingers, the length of pull really isn’t an issue for me personally so I’m not particularly losing out in any major capacity. I also don’t need the extended charging handle, I rather put on a classic all steel charging handle with no polymer on it. I have to have that classic look.
I served in the Norwegian Army during the transition to the HK416N from the AG3F2. Me and my squad kept ag3 two years longer than a lot of other others, during our deployment overseas, purely because we much rather wanted to keep the range and power advantages it had. HK416 is a good gun, but the G3 is the best gun I've ever used.
Only a slight difference, the armorer cut of the front and rear sight and welded the rail ontop of the old rear sight post, and also we have S,P and A fire select letters :) Otherwise well done! However we have seen a lot of issues with this new stock, it do break a lot, unlike the old trusty HK one. I will hold on to my AK4b for as long as possible, until they've remedied the breaking issue.
Good information about the breakage rates.
Thanks!
No plastic grip lower on the norwegian one also...
Do you have any sort of BUIS for the refurbisherd AK4b?
@@rubennasser6907 Yes, the ones on top of the Aimpoint CS who are zeroes once to...Some distance. Basically if my sight is damaged, that will be my least issue... Since it has 10 ish years of battery life we don't really care for BUIS, that's mostyl an American thing, I would think. We do have BUIS on the AK5C tho, for reasons unbeknownst to me, as they are simply not needed and never used.
The F2 is NOT an upgrade. It is NOT a result of the AG3 being phased out of the Norwegian Army.
The F2 has been around for decades in Norway. I left the British Army in '81 and joined the Norwegian Army in '87. The F2 had already been around for a long time. The F2 was issued to troops who had need of a shorter weapon, eg drivers in armoured vehicles (cavalry). The fairly recent addition of a redpoint sight can reasonably be termed an upgrade, However, I think you'll find that in general the HV (heimevernet - lit Home Guard) use the standard AG3 rather than the F2.
Been wondering about this since I saw that footage of the "Portuguese commandos" (video's classification, not mine). Another high quality video, G3 gang.
Portuguese Commandos are using for some time already the FN Scar L and less numbers of H version (including in CAR theater as QRF). Some forces on the Portuguese navy, like the marines, are using some numbers of Hk-G3 with Spuhr kits uptading the br for the use of accessories like pointing devices, lasers, etc, on top rails and/or in the spuhr handguard. On G3's with fixed stock, the same was also replaced with the spuhr stock; collapsible stocks on G3 still remain the same; Only DAE (tier 1 SOF of the navy) and GAT (Group of Tactic Operations - Navy Police) uses other rifles rather than the G3. The air force, the last of the 3 branches of the Portuguese Army, ground forces are phasing out the G3 with some numbers of HK-416 family and CZ Bren 2 in use for a while now.
The Swedish AK4 actually si not used with the comp m4 optic, we use an optic that as far as I know has only been sold to Sweden. We use the Aimpoint CS for both are AK4s and new AK5s. Just to let you know.
the G3 is my all time favourite weapon, glad to see some light on it!
Last time I was this early the G3 still had a full length of pull