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Georgia-based HK USA announced last week that it is bringing in a rimfire variant of the now-classic G36 rifle design. 

The futuristic-looking HK50 rifle design was adopted by the German Army in 1997 as the Gewehr 36, or G36, and has gone on to serve in more than 40 countries. Chambered in 5.56 NATO and using a short-stroke piston action with a rotating bolt, over 230,000 were produced. At this point, the design has become something of an iconic successor to HK's G3 series of battle rifles. 

While the sporting version of the 5.56 G36 has long been marketed as the SL8 (Selbstladegewehr 1998), that more full-flavored rifle has an entry fee starting around $1,400. 

Now, offering the G36 look without the cost, HK USA is debuting a rimfire model of the rifle available with either 20-round magazines for most or 10-round mags for those in restricted states. Made for HK by Umarex in Germany – which also makes the rimfire MP5 and 416 clones for HK – the G36 has an 18.1-inch barrel and an overall length of 38 inches with the stock extended. The weight is 5.5 pounds. 

 

HK G36 22 rifle in lightbox
HK advises that many of the components of the rimfire G36 are compatible with the original G36, including the handguard, sight rail, and stock. This could be a useful source of often expensive and hard-to-find parts for those making G36 conversions from SL8s, so long as 922 red tape is complied with. (Photos: HK USA)
HK G36 22 rifle in lightbox
With the same legendary look and feel of the original, the G36 .22 offers a rimfire rifle for fun, competition, plinking, or use as a sub-caliber trainer.

 

"The G36 .22 has been a labor of love. The G36 .22 is the enthusiast’s rimfire: from its iconic silhouette, ambidextrous controls, and smooth recoil experience, we ensured that the G36 .22 is no mere imitation – it is a fully functional and fully-featured rifle," said Nathan Schueth, HK USA's director of sales & business development. "Our partners knocked it out of the park. The G36 .22 features wide compatibility with existing G36 accessories and is begging to be customized."

Word is that the MSRP of the new HK G36 .22 is expected to be around $600. 

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