An unofficial Heckler & Koch fan site                                        
 

The HK G41 NATO Contender Cal. 5.56 x 45

G41A2 with fixed bayonet, sling, and 4 power scope.

Close up of forward assist, ejection port cover, carrying handle, M16 magazine, and unique way the front of the G41 trigger group fits into the receiver

The G41TGS with add on ladder grenade sight.  The HK79 is covered in greater detail on the HK79 page.

 

The HK G41

 

 

The HK G41.  Truly a great rifle, and an excellent attempt on the part of Heckler & Koch to produce the next generation of military rifle for Germany, but it was not to be.  The engineers took the best of all NATO standards for a battle rifle, and incorporated them into the G41.  Features such as 1:7 twist rifling for the stabilization of the NATO standard SS109 62 grain projectile, a forward assist, a carrying handle, a bolt that locked open on the last round fired, and in the most overt desire to win over the M16 users, the ability of the rifle to accept actual M16 magazines. 

Only available with a three round burst trigger group, (in HK vernacular a three round burst group is also capable of full automatic fire. The gun was to be everything an M16 lover wanted, but in a more robust package, featuring the time tested roller locking design.

I suspect the one thing that killed the G41 more than any other factor was price.  Where the M16 could be procured world wide for a song, the G41 was being priced in the U.S. at $1700.00 per copy for law enforcement.   That would buy more than a few M16s.  Though heavier, the G41 is a truly great rifle, capable of anything the M16 series is.   As most know by now, the G41 was cancelled, and the HK50, better known as the G36 was adopted as the new Bundeswehr service rifle for the forseeable future.

Somewhat rare for collectors, there are reportedly only three Pre 1986 dealer samples of the gun in the United States, and one is being touted as the only pre 86 dealer sample on a Florida tactical website, and priced at more than $10,000.

There are two main variants of the G41:  The G41 rifle and G41K carbine.  The only difference is barrel length, 450 mm v. 380 mm.  Both were available with either fixed or retractable stocks.  A third but not true variant was the G41TGS, which added an HK79 forearm mounted 40mm grenade launcher.

 

 

 

 

 

  
Ground Zero Links
HK Sites
 - Heckler & Koch
 - HKPro
Weapon Sites
 - Security Arms
 - U W S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yright 2000 PRAZ, Inc., All rights reserved                                                                         Contact Information | Copyright Policy