Hey I am a HUGE fan of the G36 Series by Hk (and all their airsoft manufacturers) and I found it very frustating that when I started searching for more information about these, they were often mislabeled.

As my eagerness to purchase my first G36 from STAR (Still saving, man! they're expensive!) spilled beyond my control, I spend a whole day drawing and researching to post a mini-guide to the G36 series so that the mislabeling will stop.

I am no expert nor am I really THAT knowledgeable, I am just sharing what I know so that hopefully some people won't be as frustrated as I was when searching for this information.

The guide is mainly to help recognize the different models and point which companies I am aware that manufacture/sell them.

Without further mumbo jumbo, here is my WORK IN PROGRESS mini-guide:

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G36


This is the base model of the series. Easily identifiable by the longer barrel length and the longer handguard. Easy tip to differentiate this model from the "K" model is by counting the number of cooling vents on the handguard; the G36 has 6 while the G36Ks have 4.

There are 2 models of G36s (more confusion) I will describe the 2nd one next. This model has the dual scope consisting of a 3X Optical sight and a 1X Red Dot reflex sight (On top).

The only airsoft company (that I'm aware of) that manufactures this G36 is STAR Airsoft.

G&P Makes an aftermarket handguard for the G36 and MG36 models.
NOTE: STAR G36s include a Bipod which is not necessarily standard on all Real Steel G36s



G36E


This one is the 2nd model of the G36s and the most common one. The "E" stands for "Export", this is the model sold outside Germany (Real Steel of course).

It is identical to the G36 except it lacks the Reflex sight and the Bipod included with some G36s

STAR does not manufacture these as they exclusively sell the G36 model, however, Classic Army sells this model standard (Often wrongfully labeled "G36". Remember no red dot means G36E). Hang in there!

SRC makes a MPEG model of the G36E as well. Its description site at Airsplat is correctly labeled. YAY
NOTE: The real steel G36E is built with a 1.5X zoom scope instead of a 3.5X zoom

G36K


This is essentially a Carbine version of the G36. NOTE that the "K" does not stand for a German-misspelled Karbine, it stands for "Kurz" which means "short". Makes sense right?

I found conflicting info on the "K" family but this is what seems to be correct. Shorter handguard with 4 vent holes and the same dual sight as the G36, also a shorter barrel with a sleeker flash hider. I this description is correct, then no Airsoft company makes this model since they ALL sell it with just the bottom scope which makes them a......

G36KE


No clever nomenclature here. Same deal as the G36s. E for Export. STAR has this model available. Classic Army also has their own G36KE as well, I think this is the most common.
NOTE: STAR's G36KE has a a rail mounted over the scope. I reserched this and it seems to be a STAR Airsoft feature and it does not apply to the real steel.
NOTE: The real steel G36KE is built with a 1.5X zoom scope instead of a 3.5X zoom

G36C


Yay, the famous and loved CQB weapon. It has the shortest barrel and handguard of the G36 Series. Picatinny rails are mounted on the sides and underneath the handguard. The Optical sights were replaced with a long top-mounted picatinny rail equipped with Iron sights. This is the most iconic of the G36 Series.

They are manufactured by MANY airsoft companies. My mission was not to list them all or the discuss which is best, there are other threads for that.
Built by:

• Echo 1, JG (Jing Gong), GB (Golden Bow) NOTE: They are all the same gun/same company
• Classic Army
• Tokyo Marui
• KWA, KSC
• Many Others

Finally,

MG36


A Light machine gun version of the G36. Essentially, it is a reinforced G36 equipped with the Bipod and a Drum/C - Magazine. It DOES include the dual sight/scope from that G36 model.
No airsoft company makes this AEG but a STAR G36 with a Drum mag fits perfectly.
NOTE: There IS in fact a MG36E (Export) with the 1.5X scope but I thought listing it here was over the top.

SL-9


Still researching this one some more.
It is a modified version of the older SL-8 Civilian rifle. If my sources are accurate, it is a militarized update to the SL-8 Civilian rifle. It is still not capable of loading a 30rnd or drum mag without heavy modification (Real Steel Only). It features a completely redesign stock and a top-mounted picatinny rail like the one found on G36Cs minus the iron sights. It is meant to mount a scope (obviously and/or DUH). You can tell the difference between this one and the Sl-8 sometimes from the frame color since the SL-8 is a lighter grey, but more surely by the unique longer top rail mounted on the SL-8.

STAR sells this SL-9 (and the SL-8), but I believe that Tokyo Marui has a full conversion kit for their G36s. Other companies also offer a kit.

NOTE: The SL-9 was easier to draw so I uploaded it first. SL-8 coming soon

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Anyways. I hope my purpose of enlightening people about the G36 series was fulfilled. Any mistakes or additional information/comments are appreciated. Once again, I am merely a newbie sharing what I know so no flames here, please.

I apologize ahead of time if this is the incorrect forum. I searched and this one seemed appropriate.

I will hopefully soon be adding the SL series that go hand-in-hand with these rifles.

Yes, I drew the pictures by myself, mostly by hand so mistakes are expected. I used as much reference material as I could find.


Thank you for reading, and enjoy.




Semper Fi
-Thun

This post has been edited by thun712: Oct 7 2007, 09:33 AM

Wow... you'd make a great Librarian..

and you are a great drawer...

I do believe that there is an aftermarket foregrip with a bipod available for it, but I am not sure who makes it.


Other than that, very nice guide, and great drawings.

This post has been edited by The Inferno: Oct 6 2007, 10:27 PM

Is the SL8 considered part of the G36 family?

Good job with the info! Very helpful. As for the SL8, I think that it is technically part of the G36 family, as (if my info is correct) it was just a strip down of the G36 in order to make a weapon sell able on the US market.

What would you call a G36 or G36K with the picanny carry handle from the G36C? Or is that only in airsoft?

BTW what did you use to draw the pics?

I agree with you. I will research this a little more before I add the SL8 and SL9


As far as I am aware, it is considered an accessory/modification so it will just be called a modified/custom G36/G36K



Paintshop Pro

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Thanks a lot for the compliments! I am happy that it is being helpful.





-Thun

I'd say yes, but it is a neutered civilian version. In real steel it can't take G-36 mags because that could run it afoul of civilian firearms regs. In airsoft it can.

http://hkpro.com/sl8.htm
World.guns.ru seems to be down or I'd link to that as well.

This post has been edited by WeeGee: Oct 6 2007, 11:27 PM

That is correct. Here is an additional quote from Wikipedia:





-Thun

HK no longer uses the "E" designation. They only sell the "standarad" and the "variant", the G36 or the G36V. Every deviation from the origional design gets teh V designation, so a G36K with a C style rail carry handle would be a G36KV.

Also, the MG36 never made it past the prototype stage. The origional hand a heavy barrel, but that never really worked out. No MG36s were sold to any government or civilian.

Kool, I will make a note of that. I'd still rather keep using the "E" designation because there are still so many sources that reference this designation, and I think it makes a little more sense.



Interesting, I will note this also. I will leave the MG36 up because even if it failed production it is still very widely know. Also, the German military does in fact use the MG36 or at least a G36 variant that they have called "MG36". Even without the few division in Germany that may be using the MG36 it still falls into that category of rifles that are well known but are not necessarily active. I.E. XM-8.



Thun

This post has been edited by thun712: Oct 7 2007, 01:09 AM

Quick update to the Guide!

SL-9 added.

Just thought I'd get one more before bed!






-Th....zzzzz ...... zzzzz

Hey! Another quick update. Links added





Thun

Great guide, I must say. It should really clear up some common misconceptions regarding the G36 series.

Nice guide. I wish there was a guide like this but for the m4/m16 series.
EDIT: Just one quick, unimportant note: The selector switches are messed up in your drawings. don't pay attention to this thou, still great guide.

This post has been edited by CMP: Oct 7 2007, 09:52 AM

I *could* try to do the M16/M4 series but there is just too many of them.
Here we go. M16 (Vietnam), XM177, M16A2, M16A3, M16A4, M4A1 Carbine, M4A1 Carbine CQB, M4A1 Carbine RIS, M16A4 RIS, M733, M16A3 DMR, M4A1 TSF, M4A1 SPC, M4A1 Commando, AR15 ...
That's just off the top of me head. Catch my drift?

The selector switch is correct depending as to which version of the rifle you see. Mine are true to the German Bundeswehr versions as far as I could tell.





Thun

This post has been edited by thun712: Oct 7 2007, 10:13 AM

awsome freakin drawings and guide man!!!!

I am now in the clear about all the g36 models!!!!!!!!!!!

Awsome ness to its besst!~!!!

Nice job!

I have to say this a great guide. I am planning to by a G36c myself. I would reccomend this to get pinned.

Nice Job

I was thinking about doing an M4/M16 guide too... but I realized I don't know enough to make one..

Ah so the CA G36K's in airsoft are really g36KE's?

And slightly off topic, do any of CA G36's and varients perform better or worse than the others?

error!
g36c stocks are shorter than K/E/g36 stocks, and one of the two (I think the longer) is slightly modified to allow casings to eject when folded.

I wouldn't be so sure. When folded, the stock on all models will snap on the clip that is right behind the cartridge ejection slot. Because of the stock design it already leaves the necessary space. If the G36C stock was shorter, then IT would block firing when the stock is closed, which is not the case.

EDIT: Okay I rechecked what little I could find and the G36C stock is just a little bit shorter than the G36 and K models. Only about 1 1/2 inch shorter and VERY hard to spot.

Reference:

G36C


G36K


Thanks a lot for the info and I will update my data soon.




Thun

This post has been edited by thun712: Oct 8 2007, 01:21 AM

You may not see the length as a major difference (although I do) but the notch is a big difference.

I will update the reference pics when I can get back to my lappie. What I did was re-use the original body/stock I used amongst the models so I did not have to re-draw it, but like I said in my post, it's not perfect.

Sorry that I am over replying but I am having problems editing my older posts. I understand there is a limit, but it would be MUCH easier to edit the guide with new information rather than re-post it. How do I go around that?

The point was that I am ready to update the pics/data with the new facts that were brought to my attention. Thanks






Thun

You could quote your old post, and put in the new stuff, and ask a moderator to paste it in.

become a librarian, I vote yes on you

That would be cool, but I understand that I can't request it (and I won't, that was not my original intention) and although I honored by the recommendation *sniff* I really don't think my skills can evaluated by and admin based on a single thread. But Thank you. Heck, I have like less than 30 posts, I read a lot but post a little.

That would be really cool though.

Anyways. As recommended by "The Inferno", I will actually POST my guide again in a quote and when I'm satisfied it is done I will ask and admin to amend the 1st post. I am finishing up the SL8 and should post it tonight




Thun

This post has been edited by thun712: Oct 8 2007, 02:41 PM

Once again, following the previous suggestions I have update the guide. Changes to the Pictures and information was made as well as the addition of the SL-8. Man! was that one hard to draw!

without further mumbo jumbo her is the...


UPDATED GUIDE:




I will ask a moderator to amend the posts to clean them up a little once the guide feels done.
Thank you for reading







Thun

This post has been edited by thun712: Oct 8 2007, 04:26 PM

For the G36 owners, is the stock size correct now? Specially when closed. I reference a bunch of pics but nothing beats having access to one. I would have bought mine already but car problems got in the way...



Thun

Yep, pretty much like my G36C...

Well good! Then that means I am about finished then! I don't think there might be anything else for me to add to this guide so I might ask a mod to wrap things up. It would be nice if we had an open reference section for things like this. If popularity and demand rises I was thinking about continuing the guide towards first the FN P90 series, and then the Kalashnikov series. What do you guys think?







Thun

isnt there only two diffrent types of p90s? Kalashnikov would be cool.

3 words:
BEST GUIDE EVER
I always find it annoying when you have a g36 and everyone calls it a g36k and what not
this will clear up a few misconceptions
I first of all vote this be pinned and I also say you would make a great librarian

This post has been edited by superhobo: Oct 18 2007, 08:14 PM

yes, pin! pin! pin! pin!

OMG, Xhado, where'd you get that scope mount for the g36c?? I really need one for me G36KE.

EDIT: Oh yeah, this should be pinned. Good stuff, and I happen to be a fan of the G36 series myself

This post has been edited by RenegaderWillis: Oct 19 2007, 12:59 PM

There is actually the P90, the P90 TR, the P90 LV/IR. The PS90 and the PS90 TR. They are nearly identical though. And thanks a lot for the compliments! I think I will begin working on a Kalashnikov guide once my classes ease up in school.



The picture that he provided seems to be from real steel G36's. The accessories mounted are probably available from that sort of stores.




Thun

This post has been edited by thun712: Oct 19 2007, 10:38 PM

Well if you live in madrid or willing to pay shipping:
http://www.airsoftmadrid.com/index.php?opt...4&Itemid=26
(near the middle bottom)

Wow, some of those are pretty but expensive. Oh! and my G36 came in the mail today! I am so happy