HK G3A3ZF
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 450 mm
- Weight, empty
- 4.70 kg
- Introduced
- 1959
About
What it is, and why it matters
The HK G3A3ZF is the designated marksman / scoped configuration of the Heckler & Koch G3A3 battle rifle, where 'ZF' stands for Zielfernrohr ('telescopic sight'). It is mechanically identical to the fixed-stock G3A3 but is issued with a STANAG claw-and-rail scope bracket carrying a Hensoldt Fero Z24 4x24 telescopic sight, whose elevation knob carries bullet-drop-compensation settings calibrated for 7.62x51mm NATO ball ammunition from 100 to 600 metres. Built around the same roller-delayed blowback action, stamped-steel receiver and 450mm barrel as the standard G3, the G3A3ZF served as a squad-level marksman rifle for Bundeswehr and allied forces, bridging the gap between the iron-sighted infantry rifle and the dedicated G3SG/1 sniper variant. Factory test-fired rifles were selected to print a 5-shot group of 80mm or less.
The 'ZF' in G3A3ZF simply means Zielfernrohr, German for 'telescopic sight' - the designation that turned an ordinary issue battle rifle into a squad marksman's weapon by bolting a Hensoldt 4x optic onto a claw mount.
The G3A3ZF is a standard G3A3 fitted with a claw-mounted Hensoldt Fero Z24 4x24 optic; it is not a heavily accurized rifle like the G3SG/1 (which adds a set trigger, cheekpiece and bipod). The roller-delayed blowback system is derived from the wartime MG42 / StG 45(M) lineage via CETME. Production of the G3 family ceased around 2000-2001.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Heckler & Koch
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1959 to 2001
- Variant of
- Designated marksman
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 450 mm
- Overall length
- 1025 mm
- Weight, empty
- 4.70 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Roller delayed blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 800 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3042 J
- Effective range
- 600 m
- Maximum range
- 3000 m
- Rate of fire
- 550 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Select fire
Fixed stock
Stamped steel construction
Stanag claw scope mount
Fero z24 telescopic sight
Bullet drop compensator- Designated marksman configuration
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 4.70 kg | 5.04 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 1025 mm | 1116 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 450 mm | 559 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 20 | 15 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the HK G3A3ZF
How much does the HK G3A3ZF weigh?
The HK G3A3ZF weighs 4.70 kg (10.36 lb) empty.
What caliber is the HK G3A3ZF?
The HK G3A3ZF is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the HK G3A3ZF hold?
The HK G3A3ZF holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the HK G3A3ZF?
The HK G3A3ZF is 1025 mm (40.4 in) long overall, with a 450 mm (17.7 in) barrel.
Who makes the HK G3A3ZF?
The HK G3A3ZF is made by Heckler & Koch (Germany). It was designed by CETME / Heckler & Koch.
When was the HK G3A3ZF introduced?
The HK G3A3ZF was introduced in 1959 and discontinued in 2001.
How does the HK G3A3ZF operate?
The HK G3A3ZF uses a roller delayed blowback action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- German Bundeswehr
- 1959
- Turkish Armed Forces
- Türkiye
Provenance
Confidence in this record
76%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/g3a3-zf' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "g3a3-zf", "name": "HK G3A3ZF", "manufacturer": { "id": "heckler-koch", "name": "Heckler & Koch", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 1949, "website": "https://www.heckler-koch.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "ae60994f5b45d604da21fcd14b728cfa9d2e62000c92e596de4c48c4be768979" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "DE", "year_introduced": 1959, "barrel_length_mm": 450, "weight_empty_g": 4700, "action_type": "roller_delayed_blowback"}