As the leading manufacturer, we feel that the time has come to depict the bolt system of the G3 rifle in such a manner that, in addition to the circle of knowledgeable weapons experts, it can also be understood by technically interested weapons enthusiasts, without neglecting technical and physical accuracy. Numerous tests confirm the validity of the theoretical principles described below.
Let us assume it is known that the simplicity and ruggedness of automatic weapon bolts, comprised only of a mass and a spring cannot be surpassed.
For this reason, our discussion should begin with this type of simple bolt system (Figure 1), especially since the bolt system of the G3 rifle represents nothing more than an elegantly designed modification of an inertia bolt.
In an inertia bolt, the projectile momentum, i.e. the impact of the expanding gases, is transferred to the bullet (2) in one direction and to the bolt mass (4) via the cartridge case (3) sliding out of the chamber, in the opposite direction. The recoil spring (5) supports itself agains a mass (6) and returns the bolt mass to its initial position.
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Figure 1: Transfer of impact to the bolt mass
The ratio between projectile and bolt velocity is just as simple as this of the major components arrangement.
At any moment during barrel time,
(bullet mass + 0.5 x load mass) x bullet velocity = bolt mass x bolt velocity. The cartridge case obturation has been ignored in this case, as it is of no importance in considering the bolt system.
If a weapon with an inertia bolt were to be designed for 7.62 x 51 NATO ammunition, the bolt would have to weigh approximately 14 kg or 31 lbs.
To reduce this weight, much too high for practical purposes, without increasing the corresponding cartridge case extraction velocity (which could cause the cartridge to burst), the HK roller locked bolt is built in two sections. In such a manner that during a certain time, the bolt head, driven by the cartridge case as it slides out, imparts a velocity greater than its own to the bolt head carrier, connected to it by a roller transmission.
Thus the bolt head drives the bolt head carrier by means of an interposed transmission.
The lever transmission is especially well suited for explaining the bolt system of the G3 rifle.
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Figure 2: Transmission ratios in the G3 Bolt
The distance ratio a:b at the lever (6) is 1:4 in the G3 rifle, for example. With reference to the receiver (9), the path of the bolt head carrier (7) quadruples with respect to that of the bolt head (5). Because of the form locking connection between the two sections of the bolt, both sections travel their different distances in the same amount of time, i.e. during the duration of the effect of the impact (3), so that the velocities of both sections remain in the same ratio as the distance traveled. Bolt head and bolt carrier move longitudinally within the receiver; the lever (6)must support itself in point A to provide the distance and/or velocity ratio between the bolt head and carrier.
Because of this support in the receiver, the impact, (3) transmitted to the bolt head (5) through the cartridge case (4)and occurring while the powder burns, affect the bullet (2) in one direction and simultaneously the bolt head carrier and the receiver in the opposite direction. Meant by receiver or mass, are all parts which are rigidly connected with the receiver, e.g. barrel (1), and trigger assembly housing.
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Figure 3: Momentum diagram in the G3 bolt.
If the lever ratio a:b = 1:4 is used as the distance and/or velocity ratio for the receiver mass m3, the ratio a:c = 1:3 applies for the distribution of momentum, i.e. 1/4 of the bolt head face momentum drives the bolt head carrier and the remaining 3/4 drives the receiver and the parts rigidly connected to it.
Applied to the bolt system of the G3 rifle, this means the following:
The velocity ratio R = a:b between bolt head and bolt carrier, characteristic of this rifle's bolt system, related to the receiver, permits a reduction of the bolt weight required in a pure inertia bolt to a value which results from the formula
Bolt weight
R2
In order to drive the bolt carrier with the increased velocity during the unlocking period, the G3 bolt system does not have a lever, but an angular transmission, installed symetrically to the axis of the bore, with two rollers as transmission elements.
The ratio of the bolt head carrier with the locking piece travels backward four times faster than the bolt head, and only as long as the rollers move on the inclined surfaces of the barrel extension and locking piece.
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Figure 4. Ratio between bolt head and bolt head carrier with locking piece
During the last phase of the bolt's rearward travel, i.e. locking, the bolt head carrier forces the bolt head forward via the locking piece. This causes the laterally projecting locking rollers to engage again. the bolt head comes to rest at the cartridge base and the rollers against the cam surfaces of the locking piece.