Firearms / Assault rifles / HK 33

HK 33

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Assault rifle

  • ORIGIN
    Germany

  • NICKNAMES
    Type 11 (Thai production)

  • DESIGNED
    1960's

  • DESIGNER
    Heckler & Koch

  • PRODUCTION
    1968 - 2001 (German production)
    1998 - ? (Turkish production)

  • PRODUCERS
    Germany - Heckler & Koch

    License production:
    France - MAS
    Malaysia
    Thailand
    Turkey - MKEK
    United Kingdom - RSAF

  • QUANTITY
    Unknown

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Very accurate
    Reliable
    Heavy
    Expensive
    Difficult to maintain

Introduction

The HK 33 is an assault rifle of German origin. In the 1960's Heckler & Koch wanted to capitalize on the success of the G3 rifle by developing a version for the upcoming 5.56mm market. The result was the HK 33 rifle which differs only slightly from the G3. One of the unique variants of the HK 33 was the HK 53 sub machine gun. It was the first 5.56mm sub machine gun to be widely adopted by law enforcement units.

Design

The HK 33 is a derivative of the G3 rifle firing the 5.56x45mm round. Besides the different caliber the HK 33 is virtually identical in design to the G3. It uses the same roller locked delayed blowback mechanism. This makes the HK 33 very accurate and reliable but also heavy and expensive. The fixed stock models are designated A2, while the retractable stock versions are called the A3. Unlike the MP5 the HK 33 family never received different denominators for burst fire trigger groups. During its production life it has been improved on several occasions. The newer production models are called the HK 33E.

Firepower

The HK 33 fires the 5.56x45mm round. The original M193 round was used in early models and later models use the NATO version with faster twist rate. The HK 33 uses very reliable 25 round metal magazines. Later on 40 round aluminum and 30 round steel magazines were introduced, but they never became as common as the 25 round ones. The cyclic rate of fire is 750 rpm. The effective range of the HK 33 is 400 meters.

Users

The HK 33 was mainly intended for export sales and was not adopted by German forces. The HK 33 was a successful design but did not sell as much as the G3. Since 2001 the HK 33 is no longer in production, except for license production in Turkey. The HK 33 was widely exported to Asia and South America and remains in service with many of its users. Especially law enforcement units still like it for its accuracy and reliability.

Variants

HK 53

The HK 53 is the short carbine variant of the HK 33 rifle. It is often classified as a sub machine gun due to its compact size. The HK 53 looks like it has similar proportions as the MP5, but the magazine well and forearm and flash hider are longer, making it a slightly longer weapon. The flash hider is longer and of a four prong design while the flash from such a short barrel is much larger. Virtually all HK 53Â’s are fitted with a retractable stock, making them the HK 53A3. It is possible to fit fixed stock, resulting in the HK 53A2. During its production life the HK 53 received upgrades similar to the HK 33E such as a new retractable stock and a new flash hider but was never rebranded.

TypeSub machine gun
Caliber5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine25, 30, 40 rounds
OperationRoller locked delayed blowback
Fire selector0-1-F or 0-1-3-F
Rate of fire700 rpm
Barrel length211 mm
Rifling6 grooves, right hand 178mm twist
Muzzle velocity750 m/s
StockRetractable
Length775 mm / 563 mm
Width58 mm
Height210 mm
Weight3.05 kg
SightsIron sight, post front and dioper rear, 100 to 400 m gradation, 390 mm sight radius
Remarks-

HK 33-K

The HK 33-K is the carbine version of the HK 33 rifle. Except for the shorter barrel it is completely similar to the full size version. Most HK 33-K models are fitted with the retractable stock, making them the A3 model. With a fixed stock it would be an A2. A bipod and 4x scope are optional, but uncommon on the carbine model. Over time it received the same changes as described in the full size model.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine25, 30, 40 rounds
OperationRoller locked delayed blowback
Fire selector0-1-F or 0-1-3-F
Rate of fire700 rpm
Barrel length332 mm
Rifling6 grooves, right hand 178mm or 305mm twist
Muzzle velocity880 m/s
StockRetractable
Length865 mm / 675 mm
Width58 mm
Height210 mm
Weight3.89 kg
SightsIron sight, post front and dioper rear, 100 to 400 m gradation, 480 mm sight radius
Remarks-

HK 33

The HK 33 is the standard full size rifle model of the HK 33 family. It is available with a fixed stock in the A2 model and a retractable stock in the A3 model. During the production lifetime the HK 33 received several upgrades. These included ambidextrous burst fire trigger groups, new concave retractable stocks and the twist was changed to a faster one for use with NATO ammunition. The improved versions were sometimes sold as the HK 33E, with the E demeaning Export. A bipod and 4x scope are optional. Scoped rifles should not be confused with the HK 33SG/1 model that delivers better performance as a marksman rifle.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine25, 30, 40 rounds
OperationRoller locked delayed blowback
Fire selector0-1-F or 0-1-3-F
Rate of fire750 rpm
Barrel length390 mm
Rifling6 grooves, right hand 178mm or 305mm twist
Muzzle velocity950 m/s
StockFixed
Length920 mm
Width58 mm
Height210 mm
Weight3.65 kg
SightsIron sight, post front and dioper rear, 100 to 400 m gradation, 480 mm sight radius
Remarks-
TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine25, 30, 40 rounds
OperationRoller locked delayed blowback
Fire selector0-1-F or 0-1-3-F
Rate of fire750 rpm
Barrel length390 mm
Rifling6 grooves, right hand 178mm or 305mm twist
Muzzle velocity950 m/s
StockRetractable
Length940 mm / 735 mm
Width58 mm
Height210 mm
Weight3.98 kg
SightsIron sight, post front and dioper rear, 100 to 400 m gradation, 480 mm sight radius
Remarks-

HK 33SG/1

The HK 33SG/1 is a similar sniper development of the HK 33 as the G3SG/1 is of the G3. Most of the rifle is similar to the full size HK 33. The barrels are handpicked for accuracy, a cheekpiece and bipod are fitted and a 1.5-6x Zeiss or Schmidt & Bender scope was fitted as standard. The trigger group is replaced by a set trigger group that allows for semi automatic and full automatic fire. In semi automatic fire a button behind the can set the trigger for a very light and crisp trigger pull.

TypeSniper rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine25, 30, 40 rounds
OperationRoller locked delayed blowback
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire750 rpm
Barrel length390 mm
Rifling6 grooves, right hand 178mm twist
Muzzle velocity950 m/s
StockFixed
Length920 mm
Width58 mm
Height210 mm without optics
Weight4.6 kg with scope and bipod
SightsIron sight, post front and dioper rear, 100 to 400 m gradation, 480 mm sight radius
RemarksDetachable foldable bipod

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