9-Hole Reviews is an excellent data channel, one of the best.
This episode goes into the AK4D, a modern Battle Rifle/DMR type weapon based upon the G3. The H&K roller guns have always had a reputation of being able to be accurized, but in the era where the AR-10 derivatives rein supreme is it still a viable choice?
Short answer, yes.
Roller guns have held onto their place as viable firearms in no small part because of their pleasant shooting characteristics and simplicity. They have a few modern drawbacks, most notably the majority eschew any sort of last round bolt hold open and release. This makes them ergonomically slower than their competition in one aspect, but not as critical an aspect as many would think. Being able to reload efficiently on the platform is more crucial than the platform having a quicker method of reloading.
Most critical shooting scenarios will not involve a reload outside high round count competitive locales. Training events are not about the speed of the reload so much as its efficiency so that is not a crucial factor their. In a defensive or fighting scenario there will either not be any reload for any number of reasons. You are not out of ammunition when the shoot is over or only had one magazine to begin with being two highly likely in the event.
In the event you are reloading under fire the necessity to be somewhere the fire cannot or at least is less likely to hit you is going to fairly well spoil the picture perfect square range reload. So just focus on getting ammo into the gun in the lowest amount of time for the circumstance, and not on the time itself. Time is a measuring tool but we don’t want to ascribe time false powers. My personal reloads on an X95 or M4ishly ergonomic rifle are pretty smooth on a flat range. They are far more haphazard if I happen to be running between two points with the reload going on. Don’t lose track of the fact that you are practicing to make the reload ‘fast’ because then you are practiced enough to reload with five other things going on.
Anyway, enough about reloads.
The G3 derivatives continue to be popular 7.62 NATO platforms and high among the reasons for that is low cost of entry for things like a PTR. The PTR’s have a solid reputation too and you can build one into something approximating the AK4D without coming near the buy in some AR’s cost. An LMT, LWRCi, or KAC could run more for the base rifle than a PTR would after adding the SPUHR stock, a suitable handguard, and optic.
What are you giving up? Bolt hold open on the last round.
