Heckler & Koch G28
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 420 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.50 kg
- Introduced
- 2012
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Heckler & Koch G28 is a designated marksman rifle adopted by the German Bundeswehr in 2012, based on the HK417 battle rifle platform. Featuring a free-floating barrel, short-stroke gas piston system, and match-grade two-stage trigger, the G28 provides sub-MOA accuracy in a semi-automatic platform that allows rapid follow-up shots. The rifle was selected by the United States military as the M110A1 Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS), replacing the Knight's Armament M110 SASS.
The G28's selection as the US military's M110A1 CSASS marked the first time a German-designed semi-automatic precision rifle was adopted as a standard-issue American military weapon. The rifle beat out several American competitors, a testament to HK's engineering of the short-stroke piston system that delivers both precision accuracy and the legendary HK reliability in adverse conditions.
The G28 is derived from the HK417 but with significant modifications for the precision shooting role including a match barrel, improved trigger, and enhanced optics mounting system. The Bundeswehr procured the G28 in two configurations: the Patrol variant with a shorter barrel for general use, and the Standard variant with a longer barrel optimized for precision shooting. The US M110A1 CSASS variant is chambered in 7.62 NATO and uses a 16.5-inch barrel, slightly shorter than the German standard variant. The G28's short-stroke gas piston system provides excellent reliability while keeping the action cleaner than direct-impingement systems.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Heckler & Koch
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2012
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 420 mm
- Overall length
- 1025 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.50 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 6.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke piston
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Trigger pull
- 20.0 N
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer adjustable
- Finish
- Tan cerakote
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 780 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2890 J
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 1500 m
- Rate of fire
- 600 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.
Free floating barrel
Picatinny quad rail
Adjustable gas regulator
Suppressor ready
Adjustable buttstock
Adjustable cheek piece
Ambidextrous controls
Hk proprietary upper receiver
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 | 5.50 kg | 5.04 kg | Heavier than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 1025 mm | 1116 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 420 mm | 559 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 20 | 15 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the Heckler & Koch G28
How much does the Heckler & Koch G28 weigh?
The Heckler & Koch G28 weighs 5.50 kg (12.13 lb) empty and 6.20 kg (13.67 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Heckler & Koch G28?
The Heckler & Koch G28 is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Heckler & Koch G28 hold?
The Heckler & Koch G28 holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Heckler & Koch G28?
The Heckler & Koch G28 is 1025 mm (40.4 in) long overall, with a 420 mm (16.5 in) barrel.
Who makes the Heckler & Koch G28?
The Heckler & Koch G28 is made by Heckler & Koch (Germany).
When was the Heckler & Koch G28 introduced?
The Heckler & Koch G28 was introduced in 2012.
How does the Heckler & Koch G28 operate?
The Heckler & Koch G28 uses a gas operated short stroke piston 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
- 2012
- German Kommando Spezialkräfte
- 2012
- United States Army
- 2016
- United States Marine Corps
- 2018
- Lithuanian Armed Forces
- Lithuania
- French Special Forces
- France
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
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/hk-g28' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "hk-g28", "name": "Heckler & Koch G28", "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": 2012, "barrel_length_mm": 420, "weight_empty_g": 5500, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke_piston"}