HK-91 can handle different cartridges?

[ks_shooter]

I have a friend who has an HK-91 (actually it's a G3, but that's another story). He claims he was told by a knowledgeable fellow that this rifle can digest different .30 cal cartridges without modification. He claims that it can shoot 7.62x39 besides .308, and that this is an advantage that allows you to use captured ammo. He didn't claim that the 7.62x39 would be accurate just that it would go bang and the gun wouldn't be harmed.

Now I know that the HK roller-lock action is unique when it comes to headspace issues, but this sounds goofy to me. Can anybody confirm a BS call on this one?

 

[shoobe01]

Absolutely not.

I heard this about all .308 rifles, like the M14, (and similar stories about the AK series) but not since the mid 80s.

I've even seen them in medium-reputable print. No idea where they got started. Its not just .30 is .30 confusion, as they are usually very specific, like your friend's "G3s only" rumor.

 

[cslinger]

I am not a gunsmith, nor do I play one on TV but I do have a little bit of friendly advice.

Me thinks you should not do this for fear of bad mojo happening. Me thinks you should stand far back from your friend should he pursue this idea and possibly even have 911 on standby.

Chris

 

[Feanaro]

A 7.62x39 round will fit on the G3 bolt-head... sorta. It wiggles all over the place and it doesn't feed well. I'm not even sure the firing pin would hit the primer. It might fire but it would be dangerous. The case might break, too much room in the chamber. Plus the 7.62x39 uses .311 bullets, 7.62x51 uses .308.

 

[RooK]

The .003" in bullet diameter difference isn't a big deal. The fact that the cartridge won't rest it's shoulder on the chamber (assuming the extractor held it in place for firing) means that the case would rupture at the forward end and the bullet would not be in alignment with the barrel. It's like asking for trouble.

 

[shoobe01]

I can also manage to get a .38 Special into the barrel of a Beretta 92, and the hammer WILL fall. Have I done this with a live round though? Of course not.

Hey, .45 ACP fits on .308 bolt heads just fine. Lets try that running that thru an autoloading .308 and see how it goes. What's .150 between friends?


Use only cartridges for which your gun is chambered.

 

[MrMurphy]

The guy's full of it.


They did make an HK G3-type rifle chambered in 7.62X39mm due to a possible market but it barely went past prototype stage. Can't remember the model number, it was similar to the HK33.