Heckler & Koch's Modular Machine Gun: the HK21E

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In 1961, Heckler & Koch introduced a new light machine gun based on their roller-delayed blowback system as a companion piece to the G3/HK91 rifle. While the German military was quite happy with its MG3 machine guns, H&K expected that other, smaller nations adopting the G3 would be interested in a support weapon that worked the same way. They were not wrong, and the first adopter was Portugal, in 1968. By 1977, some 20,000 had been sold to more than 20 different nations.
In the early 1970s, a number of improvements were made (including a clubfoot stock and optics mounting points on the receiver) and the HK 21A model was introduced. Additional major improvements in the early 1980s created the HK 21E “export” model. This had a longer receiver, longer barrel, strengthened receiver, improved recoil buffer, and was fully modular, able to be assembled into a model HK11, 21, or 23 (that is, magazine fed 7.62mm and belt fed in either 5.56mm or 7.62mm). Today, the model has been replaced in HK catalogs by the new MG4 and MG5 machine guns, but licensed production of the HK 21 in Portugal and Mexico ensures that the guns will be around for many years to come.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@alexdemoya2119]

"Picked up a couple of pounds along the way" is going to be the name of my autobiography

[@iododendron3416]

Well, if it's only 1.5 pounds, you're lucky.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Picked up a couple pounds along the way, lost a couple inches down below, 😂

[@thefunkosaurus]

How my road trips usually work out.....

[@thesturm8686]

Well, if you're British then you're lucky

[@Snoky5313]

Ah, I see you're a man of humor as well

[@rrphantom8194]

Oh no, Ian has broken in HK's vault again

[@ziqqerlad]

He's a madman. There's no stopping him

[@KapteinFruit]

He's been binge watching TheLockPickingLawyer and now he just wanders in there unattended whenever he feel like doing so. xD

[@victor1w]

who says he left?

[@tlmessage9196]

*Janitor pokes his head in* Ah crap he's back. *Grabs broom* shoo! Go on get!

[@TheArklyte]

Can't wait until he'd be able to break into AK vault! As well as several others. Pity that there isn't any sort of central museum of firearms in Russia either so it'll take a lot of planning and a lot of different cities.

[@ON-O]

G3: your regular battle rifle MP5: G3, but smaller MP5SD: G3, but smaller and Ivan shouldn’t hear you HK21: G3, but you need more lead in the air G3SG1: G3, but Ivan stands waaaay over there

[@WintersTheSixth]

Why did I laughed at this

[@finkamain1621]

G11: G3 but not G3 and more environmentally friendly and extremely expensive to manufacture and maintain

[@gohunt001-5]

@@finkamain1621 Correction: G11: G3, but not G3, it is c l o c k

[@vash_the_stampede6570]

My man is saying Ivan because of The Metal Gear and Ranbowsix games lmfao.

[@WintersTheSixth]

Mg4 and 5: G21 and g23 but modern

[@serkif1]

I LOVE the fire selector on this. It's hilariously simple, and I imagine remarkably effective at communicating across languages and cultures

[@Rhynome]

Click Pew Pew Pew Pew PEWPEWPEWPEWPEPWPWPE

[@george2113]

It does seem to consume a fair bit of real estate

[@BuckarooBoya]

They could change it for only the American market Safe: No pew Semi: pew Three round burst: pew pew pew Auto: pew pew pew pew pew

[@ShangZilla]

@@BuckarooBoya Too bad Americans can't read.

[@jamesonaudette8744]

@@george2113What else could go there?

[@davidweikle9538]

I’ve had the pleasure of shooting an HK21. It was the most unique beltfed I’ve ever used.

[@j.yossarian6852]

How so?

[@paulsteinhauser434]

How heavy was it?

[@davidweikle9538]

Paul Steinhauser it was heavier than the average battle rifle, but certainly not a terrible load if it was mounted. It did seem lighter than a comparable beltfed.

[@paulsteinhauser434]

@@davidweikle9538 How many round could it fire magazine fed 20-30 or was it always belt fed?

[@davidweikle9538]

J.Yossarian the fact that: it’s feeding mechanism is under the bolt; it seemed incredibly lightweight for a beltfed in its caliber; dat HK slap.

[@jacobmichael1911]

10:25 You forgot to mention that the bipod can be repositioned at the start of the barrel shroud, below the carry handle. There's an equivalent cut out to the frontal one there for it. Most people aren't aware of that fact. In my unit we were told it's placed there when used for a defence role (so suppressive fire from a pillbox position for example).

[@kurukuru4120]

I love how the fire control symbol goes from no bullet, 1 bullet, 3 bullet to a lot of bullet.

[@AllAboutMiims]

ALL THE BULLET

[@heimdalshorn]

In Germany, the HK21/HK21E was and is used too. It was the standard Machine Gun of the old Federal Police "Bundesgrenzschutz" (Federal Border Guard) as the G8 (Gewehr 8) replacing the MG42/1/2 and is still in use with the new Federal Police "Bundespolizei" (Federal Police) as a special squad wapon and also mounted on the "Sonderwagen 4" armoured cars. The GSG9 also uses the G8. It was and is in use with the German Armed Forces special forces, the Armys KSK ("Kommando Spezialkräfte") and the Navys KSM (Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine) "Kampfschwimmer" (German Navy-SEALs counterpart).

[@sneakeypete]

What on earth are the federal police expecting to happen that needs a light machine gun

[@herocommand]

@@sneakeypete Russians. Remember that our Nation was split with a wall. Oh and terorrists like the RAF. Plus asking that is like asking ''what are the SWAT expecting to happen that needs a lightmachinegun''.

[@oldls7t_211]

@@sneakeypete would you say no to a few truckloads of machine guns if they were offered to you?

[@mahartma]

@@sneakeypete For the same reason the FBI wanted the BAR Monitor, because they're awesome :)

[@a.m.7165]

@@sneakeypete one example I know of is guarding israeli airlines at Frankfurt airport.

[@timtim8468]

Actually the bolt of the G3 can be silently closed by bumping the stock on the ground. Not teached official, but known in the Bundeswehr.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Probably paid for by American tax dollars, since Germany can't even pay its NATO dues. Deutschland has been a toilet since 1945.

[@herocommand]

@@TheRoadhammer379 Not realy. it's paid by german Marks at the time and we can't pay our Nato dues because the GDP is to high and we can hardly blow the ammount of money requested on the ammount of soldiers we have or should i say we are allowed to have. so no you're paying jackshit for us especially not when we rearmed and bought the G3. what you are paying for is your presence in other countries for your own national interest :) Plus you know we're one of the stronges Economies in europe and as far as i remember ranked pretty high internationally aswell so if you think you're actually paying for anythign we get then you must be pretty special.

[@timtim8468]

@@TheRoadhammer379 Today I know the game in this world. The powers work together behind the curtain. They share technology and let us kill each other. I've seen how the system works, and my service was like a Kindergarten party. Some never get it, even if they get hit by a 762.

[@Chrinik]

@@TheRoadhammer379 "NATO dues" is an oxymoron...nobody owes NATO anything and the agreement of 2% GDP on defence spending is non-binding. And the american tax-dollar is buying us nothing, except what the soldiers spend when they are off-base in the surrounding shops and pubs, really. This argument of "defending Germany" isn't the point of the troops there...you should really look into what Ramstein AFB and other ex-territorial bases are used for before complaining about something that isn't their purpose. They are your bases, you should know what they do. You could pull all of the troops from Germany, it's not going to magically make the population more militarist nor delete the US defence obligation to Germany through NATO

[@a.m.7165]

@@herocommand like a former german state secretary said "2%? How many aircraft carriers do they want us to build?"

[@TheNewsDepot]

I absolutely love the safety and select fire switch on this weapon. Someone deserves a cookie for coming up with that.

[@PrototypeSpaceMonkey]

No Dakka Dakka DakkaDakkaDakka DakkaDakkaDakkaDakkaDakkaDakkaDakka!

[@teaser6089]

Come on, can't he have two cookies? :P

[@maxkronader5225]

Pfeffernusse, of course.😀

[@OTElron]

The way everything clicks with such satisfying, solid sounds really helps you imagine how well this is built. Disclaimer: I'm german, and an engineer.

[@elvispresley7529]

Ian reviewing an HK gun: Let me show you its' M O D U L A R I T Y.

[@Face2theScr33n]

You've probably never seen BardicBroadcasts channel, but maybe you have. He always talks about "M U S C U L A R I T Y" when talking about artwork for fantasy boardgames. It came to mind when Ian said modularity. Check out "Why HeroQuest is so great" (or something like that) on BB's channel, I think it's funny!

[@FALguy-rl3yn]

Todd Howard: D Y N A M I C

[@iLLeag7e]

L I T T Y = possessing the properties of a thing that is lit

[@Face2theScr33n]

@@iLLeag7e The Wizard in HeroQuest is totally lit!

[@Face2theScr33n]

Actually, I went back to the Bard and that video has a lot of views. I was under the impression he made the video just for me...

[@jasonalmendra3823]

Remember the Indonesian G3 episode. He said that Rheinmetall eventually got the contract to make the MG3. H&K got the contract to make the G3. So H&K wanted to cut into Rheinmetall's business.

[@lairdcummings9092]

Standard business tactics.

[@Alphonselle]

to be fair rheinmetall has been making mg42 years ago so they gotta know what they are doing

[@HellbirdIV]

More recently H&K made the MG4 as the 5.56 squad-support replacement for the MG3 (the MG3 remaining in use as the 7.62 big boy gun of choice).

[@ArcturusOTE]

@@fallingumbrellahunter205 the MG3 afaik is still in service, they recently upgraded it as the MG3 KWS

[@moccagringo2311]

@@ArcturusOTE with mg5 still in the works, modernized mg3 could probably services as stopgap before mg5 design reached maturity.. MG3 was and still is one of the best designed LMG, but it might suitable for today requirements with optics, silencers, red dots..etc being the norm.. Already getting long on the tooth..

[@leandro9311]

The Portuguese Armed Forces only now are replacing the HK21 with the Minimi Mk3. There´s photos of HK21´s with both belt-feed configurations as well drum magazines

[@ricardosilva7594]

*Ultramar intensifies*

[@maxkronader5225]

I wonder what the troops think of the change. I know that replacing a popular and reliable old workhorse is often met with dismay by the men who have to use the new firearm. There were plenty of British soldiers who bitterly resented the decision to cashier the trusty old FN.

[@leandro9311]

@@maxkronader5225 I wonde that too, i don´t serve so

[@ricardosilva7594]

@@leandro9311 The real question is: How did our government get the money to pay for all of those Scars rifles.

[@leandro9311]

@@ricardosilva7594 Good question but is worth noting that the deal comprised the Minimi as well so i believe that while the Scar is more expensive then the HK416 its not bya huge diference while the MG4 or 5 is a lot more expensive then the Minimi Mk.3 wich should cost around 12k against 16K of the MG5. I mean, if you buy a Minimi you can afford a Scar for the cost of 1 MG5

[@harosokman]

As a slight correction/note, an open bolt weapon CAN have a cook off. It occurs when the barrel is so hot and expands so much you have a failure to fire and extract, then a "round in the chamber". For an M249/Minimi system, the drill is to call "ROUND IN THE CHAMBER" Aim the weapon downrange/in a safe place, fire the trigger to drop the sheers and send the bolt forward (with the top cover closed obviously) and if it doesn't fire, you wait in place for it to cool. I've done it a few times. Although cook off is super rare, it can happen and there are drills specifically for it.

[@leeross3950]

In the book Delta Force by Col Beckwith, he discusses how Delta had a few operators that carried the HK21E on the failed Op Eagle Claw mission. He also discussed that during initial stand up and training of Delta how they used M3 grease guns and Wlather MPL's prior to the MP5

[@thesturm8686]

Alright, who's gonna put it into MP5K furniture?

[@M4xFr4gg]

A beltfed HK53 would already be pretty crazy

[@user-njyzcip]

@@M4xFr4gg I present to you the HK51, although not belt-fed

[@M4xFr4gg]

@@user-njyzcip and not a real existing gun. AFAIK HK51 is just a term constructed based on the HK naming scheme for SMG-sized G3 modifications, but was never used by HK

[@themidnightanimal1555]

@@M4xFr4gg As far as I know you are right. They had a smaller version of the G3 called the G3K and I believe it had a 12 or so inch barrel. The 51 moniker came about from people chopping those down into 8-8.5 inch barrels, staying in line with the HK naming scheme, as you said already.

[@user-njyzcip]

@@M4xFr4gg It does exist. Although it wasn't made by HK kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2bchWyqpdaaaKM

[@captainconundrum6175]

H&K slap at 9:42

[@davidweikle9538]

Tyfys

[@themidnightanimal1555]

Thank you Bröther.

[@GuardianOfTheHeaven]

Never gets old :3

[@Aliyah_666]

It's a dirty girl lol

[@loganjefferies3927]

John Smith HK21 likes it rough lmao

[@teknoaxe]

I really like my job- NOTIFICATION: Forgotten Weapons featuring the HK-21. *Considers Resignation*

[@fafhrdkreig4739]

I work in a gun shop so Forgotten Weapons is work related research.

[@TaliesinKnol]

Don't be hasty. You'll need a second job if you want to afford and HK-21.

[@DB-yj3qc]

@@TaliesinKnol And third n fourth.

[@victorvukonich4680]

Its like an mp5 with a lot of testosterone

[@yuribezmenov1552]

I NEED COLA

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

That's because its exactly what it is.

[@truckerallikatuk]

@@LazyLifeIFreak Well actually, it's pretty much the other way around... Both are adapted G3 platforms, the MP5 is the shrunk lil baby G3 of the family, this is the oversized beefed up G3 that spent 30 years at the gym...

[@TheArklyte]

@@truckerallikatuk so... he's right, that's basically what it is, but you needed to specify the development history?

[@109Eken]

I would say that's the MC51

[@hockeywarrior]

It's always such a joy to look at the functioning of HK guns ... they're always so meticulously engineered as you'd expect from a bunch of smart Germans.

[@veleriphon]

That barrel change looks similar to the MG-42, but without the extra armature.

[@S7eveThePira7e]

Am I the only one who always checks the background guns? In some ways, that can be almost as interesting as the rest of the video

[@Preussenpenner]

Yeah I would love to see that 1944 Johnson LMG on the range one day.

[@S7eveThePira7e]

@@Preussenpenner am I mistaken in thinking he's got Johnson LMG range time video uploaded?

[@Preussenpenner]

Nah there's footage of the 1941 semiautomatic Johnson rifle but not the 1944 LMG

[@dbmail545]

Hardly. And I think Ian is very cognizant of how many of us do so. He always has an interesting but not cluttered background.

[@dbmail545]

@@Preussenpenner I believe he did one on the Isreal Dvor LMG which is heavily based on the Johnson design. Like the Johnson rifle he shot, he felt that the Dvor had excessive perceived recoil.

[@shrapmagnet]

I had the opportunity to fam-fire the HK21 when I went through the SF weapons course. It was also in limited use in some US Special Operations units. It has gone away, and the FN MK48 serves in that role now.

[@BerndFelsche]

I'm surprised that H&K didn't find a way to hold the chamber open when the selector is on automatic.

[@MDADigital]

Yeah, they should have been able to fix a mechanic so when you let go of the trigger the bolt stays open, and when you press it again it closes and the firepin goes off. That would have given the best from two worlds

[@shakul12]

This looks like something straight outta Wolfenstein

[@Darren_Xero]

In fact, the assault rifle in Wolfenstein since New Order was largely based on G3

[@Paddy-zn4oo]

@@Darren_Xero they practically are just g3s and ars

[@pulverkussenaka9357]

@@Paddy-zn4oo given that the G3 is basically a CETME and the CETME being a Gerät 06(H) which itself is being a STG44 makes it all pretty much following a proper arms development road from WW2

[@TheArklyte]

@@pulverkussenaka9357 except ammo. If it continued germans wouldn't have fucked around with "no less then .300!", "it should be american!" and all that bullshit that lead to current NATO ammo standards:D

[@1r0zz]

But real wolfenstein is set in ww2...

[@jasonarmstrong5750]

I remember this from MGS4 always wondered how Drebin got a hold of one of these things

[@JunkyardBashSteve]

Cuz Drebin is just cool like that

[@TheGM-20XX]

Gunbroker.

[@fakegeek5462]

Dude is an international gun broker and the game has a shit ton of guns that makes it cool to see it on this channel.

[@ajeje1996]

👁️✊🏻👇🏻

[@collinmclaren6608]

The past year I've fallen in love with the HK11E. Just the idea of having a full power LMG, magazine fed for quick and easy reloading, capable of the signature HK slap. I desperately want to see it utilized in an action movie.

[@283blood]

The US did buy some of these for special operations. I remember them popping up in different units here and there in the 80's.

[@markhusseymh1]

They not HK But m63 stoner weapons system which was used by special forces

[@283blood]

@@markhusseymh1 Nope. HK 21 with an optic on it. There weren't any 63's around in the 80's. Last 21 I remember seeing was an op with 2nd Bat Rangers earlyish or mid 80's. I have a little time on the Stoner, I know the difference.

[@markhusseymh1]

@@283blood my dad as both models of stoner weapons system real nice guns to use i also ex military formerly of the 160th SOAR Nightstalkers

[@jonathangriffiths2499]

I believe they were to be used in the second abortive Iranian hostage rescue attempt

[@scratchy996]

During Vietnam the Navy SEALs noticed the gun's accuracy, so they even used it in a designated marksman role.

[@steelshepherd6843]

I really like all of the HK stuff, from the G3 all the way to the MP7.

[@RyTrapp0]

Hey Ian, are we going to see more videos giving an overview of firearm class evolutions, like the SMG video? Maybe not strictly a generational breakdown of development, but rather highlighting the most notable design features of certain firearm types over their evolution - like the mention of LMGs adopting hinged top covers as apart of their basic fundamental architecture.

[@sanguinemoon9201]

Portugal seemed to be very interested in modernization in the fifties through the seventies. That's pretty cool for a small nation.

[@Nikp117]

I think the G3/HK21/MP5 design is the most beautiful profile for a firearm, hands down

[@Bagster321]

A blessing from the lord! Was just watching older FW videos I had not watched yet. Fantastic!

[@-YELDAH]

damn, now i want this in h3vr speaking of, imagine if ian helped with testing the mechanics of how the guns work to make it more realistic, that could be an amazing collab

[@durandal441]

antonio banderas pls

[@tyson5811]

I can see loading this is going to be a pain in the ass since you have to lift gun up just a little to hinge the feed tray open but I loved the idea that one can have soooooo many options for just 1 platform

[@TheFanatical1]

I am very impressed by the pins-in-the-stock system. You can't even complain they aren't captive when you have something like that

[@tangero3462]

I'd love to hear an interview with Chuck Pressburg about his experience with the 21E. I seem to recall him having one in his toolbox as he did small kill team stuff in AWG.

[@gigaflynn_]

I love the Safety/selector lever labelling on this weapon: "How much pew would you like? You can choose from: No pew 1 pew pew pew pew pew pew pew pew pew pew"

[@julian7247]

We call it "Soldatensicher" ( soldierproof > idiotproof)

[@TLUNDY77]

Many memories of me and the boys playing Terrorist Hunt on Villa with this bad boy

[@PapaSchultz74]

The MG42 and the G3 had a love affair and gave birth to this beauty

[@PapaSchultz74]

@bill billiams and the obvious barrel swap?

[@tristanholland6445]

Swappable barrels was not a thing unique to the MG42. Numerous machineguns had this feature before the MG42. The MG42 "thing" was that it was easy and cost effective to mass produce because it's mostly stamped steel.

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

*Heckler & Koch* "Yo dawg! I heard you like modular modularity with your modularity."

[@killswitch1982]

Mike Otte at Michael's Machines makes an excellent HK21E using as many original H&K parts as possible. His work is top notch and his welds are actually far nicer than those on factory H&Ks. It's not a cheap weapon at about $12,000, and it's semi-auto only, but if you have a transferable auto sear for H&K style rifles such as those from Fleming, it's about the most affordable way for an individual to own a brand new, modern belt-fed machine gun. Mike also makes an HK11 style rifle that is kind of a combination between the original HK11 and the more modern HK11E in that it has a fixed G3 style magwell, but it has the lengthened handguard, and you can order it with the receiver strengthening rails welded in place. He can also add optics mounts or M1913 Picatinny rails and has a variety of barrel options. He also offers HK13E/HK23E style weapons, and is branching out into 7.62x39mm Soviet versions.The HK11E style rifles he offers are more affordable than the HK21Es since they have fixed magazines and use normal G3 style bolts and cannot be converted to HK21Es, and they start at $3,250 and go up depending on the options you order. The HK21Es he makes, of course, can be converted to HK11Es if you have the magazine adapter.

[@The_Meat_Man69]

Me: *laying in bed at 4am* Forgotten weapons: *uploads video* Me: “yah I got time”

[@zachgarcia2465]

Lmao same

[@aswedishguy682]

*laughs in european*

[@xgford94]

10pm here in 🇦🇺

[@jamesjross]

Isn't the Term "Midget" considered pejorative? I just wondered if the two of you preferred the term "little person" or maybe Dwarf. Or is using the "M" word a bit like African American rappers using the "N" word. Like its a form of empowerment - You could say you're taking the word back?

[@xgford94]

@@jamesjross ??

[@Mrgunsngear]

top notch info; thanks 🇺🇸

[@MitchellCH]

Love that stock profile.

[@wk3818]

Safe, semi, and auto makes sense. Adding a complicated burst fire to the control group is just unnecessary. Train to release the bang switch.

[@yvindreistad2380]

The grooves in the bolt visible thru the ejection port can be used as a forward assist, and for more silent closing of the bolt. This is what we were taught back when we used the G3.

[@revolverDOOMGUY]

I wish someone would made a Fallout 4 mod that would add this weapon and the stoner 63 as the 2 main weapons. Think about it, they would lore friendly (the stoner 63 would fit really nicely and the g3 was the standard rifle in Fallout 3) and thanks to the customization you cpuld easilly have all the weapons you need. The stoner 63 would be the assault rifle, carbine and 5.56 lmg while the hk series would be the battle rifle, DMR and 308 lmg.

[@Nerdnumberone]

I can see many possible advantages to a modular firearm, but it seems like there would be some major tradeoffs. What advantages actually come into play in real life? - Training: Is the main advantage the ease of training someone used to the rifle version so they can use other configurations? - Semi-interchangeable parts: Is there major logistical or manufacturing advantages of having at least certain parts of the guns interchangeable so you can carry fewer spares? - Personal Customization: Do soldiers mix parts from different configurations at all? - On the fly changing: Does the special weapon soldier ever carry parts to reconfigure their weapon in the field, benefitting from reduced weight over having a second weapon? - Emergency repairs: Does a soldier ever need to replace damaged parts of a broken specialist weapon and benefit from being able to make do with components from another configuration? I'm guessing most of these are going to be more common in fiction that real life.

[@alancranford3398]

Imagine how Imperial Germany would have loved the HK-21 in 1916!

[@dillong7951]

Over powered storm troopers

[@RiderOftheNorth1968]

I think the MP-5 would get even more love!!

[@GreenMeanExemption]

@@RiderOftheNorth1968 for real!

[@forcea1454]

I'm sure the 1916 Grand Fleet would have loved Polaris Chevaline even more.

[@apoth90]

The BAR done right

[@fabianstark5772]

Hi Ian, the German Military also use the HK 21. It was brought into Service in small scale at the KSK and the naval special forces SEK (M). the German Border Police use this gun mounted on vehicles. And the GSG 9 special Police Force use also the HK21 Greetings from Germany

[@KageNoTora74]

The Mexican Army has used HK21Es alongside G3A3s and G3A4s, but all three are getting phased out. G3s are still in use, if only because they haven't found an under barrel grenade launcher to replace the M203. They've adopted a version of the FN Minini Para to replace the 21E.

[@FN_FAL_4_ever]

What does the Mexican government do with their weapons when they’re phased out? Do they just put them in storage, destroy them, hand them over to the Federales and other police agencies? I don’t even know what they did with their FN-FALs after they got the G-3.

[@KageNoTora74]

I can find no information on that. Maybe they get demilitarized and are sold publicly as semi autos or are deactivated and sold as military collectibles.

[@richieb7692]

I love the design of this gun, you can Change things like barrel, belt feed to mag feed, and even swap about with different calibres. An elegantly simple design that must have been a bloody nightmare to design and get working.

[@TheBananaDealer]

M60: *Exists* 1960s HK: "Ok, so how can we make the most over-designed LMG out of this G3 rifle..."

[@spiderjerusalem8284]

Jammy McJammy vs German Clockwork.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@spiderjerusalem8284 Mine never had issues, but they were brand new as of 2001. The issued-in-Vietnam M60s really needed to be replaced by 1980.

[@spiderjerusalem8284]

@@ScottKenny1978 Yeah, thankfully they were updated, further updates (E4) even reduced the weight that was other of it´s disadvantages. I think you are one of the few guy´s I´ve heard were issued with a M60, the M240 was far more common.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@spiderjerusalem8284 well, I was Navy, our sub got issued a few M60s (E3 or E4, I don't remember now) after 9-11. I think the Seabees also kept the M60s in service, but Army and Marines have the 240s.

[@sssIX86]

I knew the variant know as hk11 beltfed and shot it twice in the range as a greek infantry conscript this year and it packed quite a punch compared to my personal squad weapon the 5.56 minimi but i liked a lot also the barrel change is a cool feature reminiscent of the mg3

[@gabbycross32]

HK really perfected modularity as early as the 60s.

[@Hansengineering]

I believe the Stoner 63 was likewise perfected in the 60's.

[@herocommand]

@@Hansengineering Difference being that the Stoner63 was fragile and only issued to specialist troops while this is like the base G3 a tank and can take a beating.

[@TheArklyte]

@@herocommand likewise Ian not that this gun had gained 1.5 kg purely from strengthening components. Give Stoner same weight budget on fixing fragile parts and what would you get, hmm? Nothing. Because lobby would dictate different gun:D

[@Hansengineering]

@@herocommand the Stoner 63 was not fragile in the slightest.

[@herocommand]

@@Hansengineering Yes it was aswell as being finicky as fuck and needing extra care . Ian literally mentions it when he's looking at the gun in the videos he made about it. It's not a bad gun but there is a reason only the Seals got to use it and for once cost wasn't the biggest one. This however is literally just a G3 with beltfeed so it's a tank of a rifle that a retard can operate but with more capacity.

[@nomadnametab]

i see these every time i go to mexico. their infantry have a bunch of them. usually mounted on a rollbar in the back of a pickup.

[@laangelsfan]

Same! Mexican army does use this HK-21 Light Machine gun to their Units, They either usually have them on their Pickup transport truck, and Humvee Vehicle and Sometimes on the Armored SandCat Vehicle

[@MPC_2117]

Aaaaaaahhhh, that blissfull moment when Gun Jesus finally covers your favorite gun of all time. Que the memes boys!

[@GuardianOfTheHeaven]

I shall do the honor. HK21E gang rise up!! OwO/

[@RZM_Phoenix]

The casual HK slap was so satisfying after changing the barrel, such a cool rifle.

[@justacrow9847]

G3 has been standard rifle in Iran's army for decades. They have manufactured hundreds of thousands of it. Its nick name is hand cannon, because of the power of a single shot compared to likes of AK 47.

[@pdalia]

Uruguay 🇺🇾 was on of the early users back in the eighties along the whole set of roller delayed systems that HK had at that time, ah , and they still are in use till today.

[@cola98765]

A belt fed G3? I NEED IT!

[@Gordonseries385]

Nice! wow the field strip is quick love to get this in heat mode

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

Moral: if you want a successful support weapon version of your rifle you're going to have to modify the parts so much there's almost no commonality.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@@TheFirstCurse1 Recent history is littered with examples of such failures, the L86 managed to be even worse than the L85A1, some achievemement.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@@TheFirstCurse1 The list goes on and on. The attempts to make support weapons from the M16 could fill a book.

[@talisikid1618]

Seems pretty accurate.

[@tylersmith3139]

​@@Matt_The_Hugenot The C7 LSW is a fairly good lmg version of the M16.

[@Geyer70]

The german Bundeswehr issued a small number and named it G8. It was used by the Kampfschwimmer (german navy seals)

[@grayhantzell1957]

OHHH MYY....my favorite machine gun❤️❤️❤️

[@davidweikle9538]

It is pretty 🔥🔥🔥

[@grayhantzell1957]

@@davidweikle9538 ohohoo yeahh...indeed

[@xAOAxCryptic]

the best channel of youtube. hands down.

[@Darren_Xero]

I really like how universal it is for the G3 as modular weapon system since the Cold War. It can be made ranging from a GPMG such as this HK21 to the iconic MP5. Minus its advantage to accept drum mags & standard 20-rounds mag, the HK21E proven to be comparable to the PKM in terms of performances, as a lightweight GPMG

[@stalincat2457]

Watching this after watching the M60. Barrels without bipods/sights/kitchen sink bolted to it. No (soggy) cardboard ammo boxes, A place to store mounting pins. The gun not puking it's guts out at the beginning of the field strip, Captive recoil spring, bolt carrier that isn't a work hazard. Hard to imagine these products existed at the same time.

[@dallesamllhals9161]

...and now we(Denmark) has the M60E6 :-/

[@ubernoob103]

This video was brought to you by BO1 gang

[@stijnpaspont]

*battlefield 2 euro force gang

[@ubernoob103]

@@TugaAvenger I entirely agree. I liked the brutal damage it had, but the Stoner shat on it in every single way. Even then, the FAMAS was too damn overpowered, even after the nerf.

[@jacobmichael1911]

Even though it's incorrect, BO1 calls it an HK 21 although it's an HK 11

[@ubernoob103]

@@jacobmichael1911 correct me if i’m wrong, but I’d imagine the one in BO1 was just a HK21 with the magazine setup opposed to a belt system?

[@jacobmichael1911]

@@ubernoob103 even if it was, as said in the video, an HK 21 with the mag adapter is called an HK 11 as well. In the army we called them HK 11s too, though I will give the benefit of the doubt for misinformation on that regard. So I think you'd still call it an HK 11 since it then would be an automatic mag-fed 7.62 weapons platform.

[@calvinbrodhead6199]

Really love your Channel. The content is so great that delivery is so clean everything is just nice and easy to watch it's a great way for me to relax and have a nice educational moment. Wish I had the money to be a patreon. Thank you sir for everything that you do

[@jsmith6564]

kino der toten nostalgia

[@crossan008]

Bruhhh you just took me back 🔥🔥🔥

[@abz817]

2010

[@Greger88]

I have always loved the H&K 21/23 machine guns, there is just something neat and interesting and unusual about them. Machine Gun Mike also has a great video on the 23 I belive where he takes it apart and shoots it.

[@dude97x]

HK seems to be the absolute master of weapons manufacturing and especially designing Like, if I would be a mercenary, I'd probably just carry this. It can be an assault rifle when needed and heavy support LMG when needed. And to an extent, a medium range sniper rifle when a scope is attached.

[@GuardianOfTheHeaven]

Exactly my kind of ideas for traveling across the world. A gun that can use multiple kinds of calibers definitely fits like a glove indeed :3

[@patrickbo2045]

It made me a bit proud to see how ridiculously easy it was to replace that barrel...

[@AlexNaanou]

You seem to have missed showing the rear bipod mount ;)

[@NuclearNarwhal1]

I love how the iron sights adapt allll the way to 1100 meters, like anyone has eyes good enough to burst a guy to death with that thing at 1100 meters. And if you do, how did you come to challenge yourself this much in life bc you don't just pick this thing up and go "hmmm lemme snipe a guy with it"

[@ryanm9105]

This gun was in Global Operations(featured a lot of firearms that were supposed to be the next big thing).

[@GuardianOfTheHeaven]

Yup. It's a personal favorite, due to how accurate this LMG is when fired in 3-round burst. Fell in love with it since then, and haven't found any other MGs better than the HK21E.

[@dronenoobFL]

Okay, this HK21E is got to be one of the most attractive rifles of more modern times i've ever seen.

[@quatro_quatro]

So the HK21E is the equivalent of trying to win your ex-girlfriend back by hitting the gym?

[@venturatheace1]

That hits a bit too close to home

[@quatro_quatro]

​@@venturatheace1 Been there, buddy. You'll get by. ;)

[@flavio_spqr]

Although in increasing smaller numbers, both the 21 and the MG3 are still in use with the Portuguese Army and Navy (Marines). In the army they are being replaced (as is the G3) by FN Minimi Mk3's, in both 5.56 and 7.62. Except for Special Operations. Those guys are running 416's and MG4's.

[@archerbascha8757]

"Do you want a battle rifle, a DMR or a light machine gun?" . . . . . "Yes"

[@jacknewman7989]

3:29 the safety switch is amazing

[@mrkeogh]

A 3-round burst setting on a belt-fed 7.62mm machine gun is probably the most HK gun HK have ever made.

[@murphy7801]

Pull trigger on burst hopefully get one tracer

Micheal's machines made these on PTR receivers, and I had a chance to use one. I loved it, i think it was a very capable mg, but there's just no replacing FN and MG42/3 at the time this came out.

[@mclaclan]

Ian- "It picked up a couple pounds along the way" Me- Looks at wife

[@desijrichert]

Thank you for pronouncing "cache" properly. You don't know how many arguments/discussions I've had about this.

[@soudadmaouas7058]

To be honest, i love all the german guns, the g3 is one of my favourate, because the round is more powerful than the ak. All the g3 serious are awesome, the vid of this light mashine gun is goid to watch, ian is my hero, you have a very huge knowledge id weapons. You have my respect. Id love to have my own collection of g3 series of weapons

[@andersjjensen]

Having lugged around a G3 for long periods of time I'm a bit on the fence about it. I've never actively been in a situation where the 7.62's superior penetration power over the 5.56 became relevant in the slightest. And in the few instances where destructive power mattered the 50 BMG guys were on top of it.. and trying to solve the problem with a 7.62 would have been a hail marry to say the least. I got much better range result with my G3 than I did with the Canadian AR15 clone that eventually replaced it (My old G3 from the 70s was accurate to over 300m all day every day), but in practice I've never been in a situation where I had that kind of visibility. For some strange reason skirmishes always happens in vegetation or dense urban environment... it's kinda like everyone knows that being visible from far away is a stupid fucking idea :P That being said: Lugging a modern AR15 clone around is just much more pleasant. But I WILL take an MP5 over just about anything on the planet if I ever have to do security detail again. Fucking hell those things are accurate and reliable. And pack a much bigger punch than most people seem to think.

[@soudadmaouas7058]

@@andersjjensen well its a fact the penitration from a g3 round is far more deadly to a 5.56. Just compare the shell casing of ak 47 m 16 and a g3. The g3 is much bigger there fore a more deadly round. One shot from a g3 and thats it, you are going down.

[@andersjjensen]

@@soudadmaouas7058 Oh, I'm not saying that it isn't. I'm saying that human beings are so soft that at normal combat range (up to 200m) the 5.56 is plenty powerful enough to make them incapable of fighting after a torso shot. Despite being a smaller round it has a higher velocity (the bullet weight to gun powder amount is much better on the 5.56) so it reaches the target quicker on close range making it easier to hit moving targets. You need to shoot at targets 250-300 away before the 7.62 "catches up" because it doesn't lose velocity as fast as the 5.56 Obviously the 7.62 has a much better penetration on harder targets, but that's the thing: unless you're fighting idiots who think a small wooden shed is actual cover, then it doesn't matter. Brick, concrete and tamped dirt structures are enough to stop it. Armored vehicles stop it. Normal cars, however, are not enough to stop a 5.56 either, so there it doesn't matter. As I've said, I've used both on multiple deployments, and having the LMG guy on 7.62 is obviously a nice backup, but I do prefer the lighter rifle with a 30 round magazine when trotting around at ground level in dense environments because the benefits of the 7.62 never really comes into play there. Now if I'm at an elevated position doing over watch with great visibility I'd obviously prefer the extended range... but at the end of the day, once you put a bullet in the target the caliber doesn't really matter. They either die or get pulled away screaming. Both of which means you don't have to worry about them any more. Sometimes the screaming can actually be of benefit: It occupies someone else for a while.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

There was also the HK 25 version which never went past prototype stage chambered in 12.7x99NATO (.50BMG).

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

How is headspace effected by changing barrels? Are the barrels matched to the gun, or will any properly spec'd barrel work?

[@christopherdean1326]

I sometimes think that the HK series of guns is like the Stoner 63 writ large. Like H&K just send you a whole crate of barrels, trigger groups, buttstocks etc, and you build them into whatever gun you need at the time...

[@spiderjerusalem8284]

I still think this gun isn´t appreciated enough even if it was so succesfull, this clearly it´s superior to that era´s MG3, FN MAG and M60 , lighter than all the previous ones, the perk of being able to shoot in bursts, and by having a system so similar to the G3, Accuracy shouldn´t be an issue.

[@jakemunoze7430]

These videos are so awesome. It'd be really cool if he went back and review older guns that he's done with even more detail like the "streetsweeper" and the "jackhammer". Or guns that aren't forgotten like the aa12.

[@My_Name_Suc]

Hopefully one day you will get ur hands on a M2 browning :D

[@evanpimental]

It's crazy that HK made such a perfect platform that it could be adopted from a belt fed light machine gun (HK21E) to one the best semi-auto sniper rifle of all time (HK PSG-1). Testament to why HK is my favorite gun manufacturer.

[@ronaldg.4371]

Ah yes, the bigger mp5

[@skygrasper_47]

9:42 ah yes, wouldn't be complete without that good 'ol HK slap.

[@GunsNGames1]

Ah, the Germans, they make art while manufacturing firearms, just look at this beauty.

[@MidnightSvn]

It really is majestic

[@maxkronader5225]

Yes, the people who brought us the C-96, the P-08 and the MG-34. Poetry in steel.

[@maxkronader5225]

@Samantha Beaner So you hate Beethoven, Durer, Brahms, Bach, etc, etc?

[@GunsNGames1]

@@maxkronader5225 "poetry in steel" that is an absolutely perfect description.

[@uazfoursixnine]

very nice video. It showed a few details I didn't knew about before