When introduced in 1997, the Heckler & Koch G36 marked a departure from the company’s tried-and-true roller-delayed blowback system, with its rotating bolt, short-stroke gas system and extensive use of polymer. The G36 has remained elusive in the American market, available only in the form of expensive custom-made firearms or H&K’s “sporterized” version, the SL8. Though still not the real thing, H&K USA is going one step further to getting a G36 into the hands of American enthusiasts with the company’s new-for-2025 G36 chambered for .22 LR.
H&K’s partnership with German manufacturer Umarex (the parent company of Walther Arms) has yielded several .22 LR versions of classic H&K products, including the HK416 and MP5. The G36 .22 LR follows these models as a full-size version of the original, but chambered for the rimfire cartridge and employing a blowback-operated action. H&K calls it “the most realistic civilian version of the G36 yet,” and the G36 .22 LR is so close to the real thing, H&K claims that many original accessories and pieces of furniture designed for the centerfire rifle will fit.
Controls are ambidextrous, like the original, and the magazine well follows the pattern of the STANAG (AR-15) conversion available for the G36. The rifle utilizes the same magazines as H&K’s .22 LR 416. A 20-round magazine is supplied with the rifle, a 30-round version is available as an accessory, and a 10-round option can be had for those who live in jurisdictions with capacity restrictions.
The buttstock folds, and the handguard is of the original G36 full-length, six-vent style. The rifle has an 18” barrel with an authentic four-prong flash hider and its muzzle is threaded 1/2×28 TPI. Sights are like those used on the G36A3, They consist of a Picatinny optics rail mounted on the rifle’s carry handle with built-in folding back-up iron sights. Disassembly is similar to the original, with the rifle using push pins that attach components together. The rifle weighs 5.5 lbs.
The H&K G36 .22 LR has an MSRP of $679. For more information, see the company’s website.
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