Classic Battle riffle FN or G3

[BattleRife]

The G3 also has better build quality for the most part.

I don't know about that. I associate G3 build quality with a lot of GTAW welds that are obviously left as-welded, except for the cover of a thick layer of paint. Nothing compared to the crisp machining that dominates the surfaces of my British L1A1.

G3. Handy when your cutting and carrying logs, and Central American thugs are using your daughter to make you do one last job.

Just remember to store your HK91 downwind of your worksite.

 

[Curtis264]

I don't know about that. I associate G3 build quality with a lot of GTAW welds that are obviously left as-welded, except for the cover of a thick layer of paint. Nothing compared to the crisp machining that dominates the surfaces of my British L1A1.



Just remember to store your HK91 downwind of your worksite.

G3 were not painted, they were parkerizied and parkerizing leaves a very thin coating and would not hide bad welds, the HK-91 the civilian version was painted

 

[870P]

I don't know about that. I associate G3 build quality with a lot of GTAW welds that are obviously left as-welded, except for the cover of a thick layer of paint. Nothing compared to the crisp machining that dominates the surfaces of my British L1A1.

The G3 is not artisanally crafted by any means, but it's more likely to be in-spec than its contemporaries.

Back then H&K was about the best in the business in terms of QC and engineering details when it came to mass produced guns, and it helped that the G3 was designed to be easy to manufacture.

 

[pure.black.xiii]

I would love either one, but as a HK fanboy a G3 would be #1!!!

 

[Bartok5]

G3 were not painted, they were parkerizied and parkerizing leaves a very thin coating and would not hide bad welds, the HK-91 the civilian version was painted

Not true. My 1970s G3A3 manufactured by MAS (France) for the Lebanese Army still bears its original coat of semi-gloss, Dark Gray enamel paint over parkerizing. To the best of my knowledge, all genuine HK German G3 exteriors bear a Satin Black painted finish over parkerizing. The licensed manufacturers may use different colours of paint (exhibit - my French G3A3) and may even forego paint entirely leaving only an exposed parkerized finish. This maybe what you are recollecting and referencing....

 

[Curtis264]

I was just talking to the owner of RTG Parts, they are one largest supplier of HK parts in the USA, the owner told me that all HK manufactured G3 were parkerizied, mine is a German HK made G3 and it is only parkerized

 

[Bartok5]

I was just talking to the owner of RTG Parts, they are one largest supplier of HK parts in the USA, the owner told me that all HK manufactured G3 were parkerizied, mine is a German HK made G3 and it is only parkerized

Well then, the owner of RTG Parts was also wrong unless he was talking specifically about German HK and none of the many licensed HK manufacturers found worldwide (France, England, Turkey, Greece, Pakistan, Thailand, etc, etc). Most of the parts sold by HKParts.net, RTG and other US vendors are actually contract pieces produced under license by various international factories with HK tooling and the data package. You will find that most of the spare G3 parts on the current market are either US or foreign (not German) manufacture unless specifically stated otherwise. Those licensed parts are usually painted HK Satin Black.

My original, unaltered MAS G3A3 pictured above is proof positive that the license-built rifles feature paint over parkerizing. Not much more to be said on the subject.....

 

[johnny1984]

FN everytime.

Set the gas to zero and blast away all day. Just a pleasure to shoot ergonomics and all.

 

[zupermann]

G3 Would be ok if it had a last round bolt hold open. I like the HK sights.
But the FN (especially the Para model) wins imho.

 

[Stormer]

Fn fal.

 

[shortandlong]

Fn long branch

For some good reading
https://captainstevens.com/military/weapons/snipers/c1-c1a1-sniper-rifle-sniper-scope-c1/

Apparently we had select fire fn s in the navy

 

[Scarecrow]

G3 would be my first choice for reliability and accuracy.

 

[Deaus]

G3 for me. Would not be disappointed with either though.

 

[OneBarfly]

Not true. My 1970s G3A3 manufactured by MAS (France) for the Lebanese Army still bears its original coat of semi-gloss, Dark Gray enamel paint over parkerizing. To the best of my knowledge, all genuine HK German G3 exteriors bear a Satin Black painted finish over parkerizing. The licensed manufacturers may use different colours of paint (exhibit - my French G3A3) and may even forego paint entirely leaving only an exposed parkerized finish. This maybe what you are recollecting and referencing....

Sounds familiar

 

[albayo]

I like the metric FN FAL over the inch pattern FN and the G3.

 

[albayo]

Shortandlong that is a good source of info on the FN C1A1. I have the base for the C1 Sniper just need the scope.

 

[jimbo45]

I loved all my fn rifles when I was allowed to own them but I also loved my hk rifles when we were allowed to own them I shot numerous moose with my g3 a few past the 3 and 4 hundred yard mark with open sights the fn can shoot but the hk rifles go circles around it in accuracy and with the delayed roller locking system are a dream to shoot. I do have a soft spot for the fn though having fired thousands of rounds through them as a cadet in ipperwash Borden and petewawa

 

[jakester]

The Germans never felt encumbered by a lack of a Bolt hold open device on the G3. They loaded, a tracer round(s) into the mag somewhere within the first 5 rounds, then ball rounds after that to mag capacity. Once the mag got down to where the operator saw trace, it was time to think about changing out the mag. Their idea was to never run the rifle empty, therefore no need for a bolt holding device.

Having had a G3 back in the day, that would be my choice. I have shot the FN as well. I liked the Canadian C1's rear sight better than the G3's diopter sight, but liked the G3 rear better than that of the Brit L1A1's. I also liked that the G3 had more add on options available than the FN, and a much better optic mount. They were also shorter, and hence a bit handier, although also a bit heavier.

The recoil on the G3 was sharper than the FN due to the delayed blowback roller locking system, but the rifle easier to strip with less parts due to no gas system. Trigger pull on the FN was much better though.

Both were good rifles, but the G3 back then just fit me better.