Weapon Name- MG3
Round Type- 7.62mm x 51mm NATO
Over-all length- 1,225 mm (48.2 in)
Barrel length- 1,097 mm (43.2 in) (without stock)
Weight- 11.5 kg (25.35 lb)
Rate of Fire- 900, 1200, or 1500 RPM (fixed)
Feed Mechanism- Disintegrating Linked Belt Fed
Round Capacity- 50 (Drum-Fed), 100+ Belt
Effective Range- 800 Yards Point Target
Range- 1200 yards
Accuracy- 1.5 MOA at 800 meters
Accessories- Picanty Rails
Quick switch firing mechanism- N/A
Scope/Sights- Picanty Rails
Muzzle Velocity- 840 m/s
Firing System- MG3 Firing System
Miscellaneous/electronic information-
Basic Information
The MG 3 is an automatic, air-cooled, belt-fed short recoil-operated firearm. It features a roller locked bolt mechanism that consists of the bolt head, a pair of rollers, the striker sleeve, bolt body and return spring. The bolt is locked securely by a wedge-shaped striker sleeve, which forces two cylindrical rollers contained in the bolt head outward, and into corresponding recesses in the extension of the breech of the barrel. On firing, both the barrel and barrel extension recoil to the rear. The resulting impact (much like a Newton's cradle) moves the carrier to the rear withdrawing the wedge and both rollers as they are cammed inward and out of their sockets by fixed cams, unlocking the bolt head. The bolt carrier and bolt then continue to the rear together guided by fixed guides while the barrel and barrel extension return to battery. Upon return of the bolt forward, the impact of the rollers against the camming surfaces on the breech carry the rollers from their seats, and, together with the surfaces on the striker sleeve, force the rollers outward, locking the bolt head into the barrel extension and ensuring a complete lock. The bolt also houses a spring-loaded casing extractor and ejector. Ejection is carried out when the ejector strikes the buffer head, sending a push forward through the ejector bar, which hits the ejector pin. This pin pushes the top of the base of the cartridge, which is still held by the extractor at the base, causing the empty casing to rotate and eject downward through the ejection chute.
The MG 3 has a quick-change, chrome-lined barrel with 4 right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 1 in 305 mm (1:12 in), and as fit by most German Productions, come complete with polygonal rifling (which is ordinarily expensive). The barrel is integrated with the barrel breech. The barrel should be changed frequently during sustained firing. The gun is cocked and the barrel catch on the right of the barrel shroud is swung forward. The breech end of the hot barrel swings out and can be removed by elevating or twisting the gun. A fresh barrel is then inserted through the barrel catch and the muzzle bearing. When the catch is rotated back the barrel is locked and the machine gun can resume firing. Both the receiver housing and ventilated barrel casing are made from pressed sheet steel. A muzzle device is mounted at the end of the barrel and it acts as a flash suppressor, muzzle brake and recoil booster.
The machine gun is equipped with a synthetic polymer stock, a folding bipod and open-type iron sights (sliding rear U-notch on a ramp with range settings from 200 to 1,200 m). A flip-up anti-aircraft sight is also provided. In a stationary, heavy machine gun role the MG 3 is mounted on a buffered tripod called a Feldlafette and outfitted with a periscope sight that can be used to engage indirect targets. It is full capable of 900, 1200, or 1500 RPM, depending on it's application, and is controlled completely mechanically via roller delayed action depending on it's implementation.
Due to the polygonal barrel and tight fixture to the breech, the gun is much more accurate than a standard machine gun, or 7.62mm battle rifle for that matter. The weapon also uses heavier but slower moving projectiles than most machine guns, I.E. standard ammunition weighing in at 9.5 grams that achieves roughly 840 m/s rather than an 8 gram armor piercing ammunition that achieve roughly 905 m/s. Still, the weapon is fully compatible with armor piercing ammunition, although it's accuracy is moved to 2 MOA, it's muzzle velocity is 905 m/s, and it's effective range is roughly 600 meters.
While not quite as reliable, or quite as recoil reducing, or even quite as light as other weapon designs, the weapon still has the highest rate of fire and accuracy of most modern machine guns. It should also be noted that the higher the RPM, the quicker the barrel needs changes, the quicker jams occur, and the quicker the weapon wears out; at 1500 RPM, the weapon wears out three times faster and overheats twice as fast than at 900 RPM; although it has a service life of roughly 60,000 rounds before it needs direct replacement of long term parts.
