Heckler & Koch HK36

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Heckler & Koch HK36
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	West Germany
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch
Specifications
Cartridge	4.6x36mm
Action	Roller delayed blowback

The HK36 was a rifle introduced by Heckler & Koch in the early 1970s. At the time, research in small caliber military cartridges had become more popular thanks to the United States' adoption and combat use of the M16 and its 5.56 mm round.^{[citation needed]}

The HK36 rifle fired a 4.6x36mm spoon point ("Loffelspitz") round designed by CETME's Dr. Gunther Voss. Low bullet weight and the straight line layout of the rifle reduced recoil. The high velocity of the round gave it an almost flat trajectory out to 300 meters (1000 feet), which was also the limit of its effective range. Beyond that point, the bullet lost velocity very quickly.

The HK36 used H&K's delayed blowback system, and reloading was accomplished by inserting a pre-packaged box of cartridges into the open side of the permanently mounted magazine. An unusual departure from modern systems, the concept was intended to reduce weight along with eliminating the handling of individual rounds.

Despite never being accepted for military service, the rifle was notable for introducing the three-round burst concept and integrated optics. The various inovations gave H&K some interesting ideas for the future, which have resurfaced in the Heckler & Koch MP7 PDW and G36 rifle.