Quoted:
I've heard the flash hiders are pinned or welded on the Z-43P's, and underneath are odd / nonstandard threads... has anyone heard otherwise?

Also, will they accept a regular HK93 wide forearm?

Quoted:
I'm trying to remember where I heard the pinned and odd thread thing... if it is in fact a standard thread that is easily accessible, and it can take a normal HK93 forearm then I might order one as well.

Quoted:
I'm trying to remember where I heard the pinned and odd thread thing... if it is in fact a standard thread that is easily accessible, and it can take a normal HK93 forearm then I might order one as well.

Quoted:
I am extremely new to HK platforms and know nothing so I'm not sure if I'm even more confused now or what

This is an interesting question. There are many variables that apply. Here are a few to consider.

1. Roller Locked - Not actually "locked" but delayed. This can be both bad and good.

2. Why the delayed blowback roller delayed system in the G3? Not really intended for improved reliability but for simplified production and assembly during WWII when the system and decentralized production methods was first employed.

3. A roller-locked rifle made by HK GmbH versus an after market clone or licensee-made weapon are altogether different animals! - not made to the same specs or quality levels or with the same materials and tooling. Look at how many posts are on HKPro claiming of serious clone or kit functional issues. Roller-locked HK-style weapons are not so easy and straightforward to make and make reliable. There is an art to it and even HK GmbH has lost much of that experience thru retirements.

4. The G3 had MANY teething pains in its early years and there are many 100's of important mods during its lifetime. HK MSG90A1’s still suffered from these unavoidable design issues as late as the mid-1990’s. Even in the end the standard G3 still has issues such as the flawed extractor spring design (gets bent too easily from an obstruction in the receiver, chamber area and then is useless) and locking roller holder (break and can lodge in the mech causing stoppages). I have seen both produce serious stoppages in even HK-made guns so they are far from perfect still today after 50+ years.

5. Well made roller-locked weapons are more ammo sensitive then well made gas guns. Different ammo types and barrel lengths can/do require different locking piece angles. There were over 200+ locking pieces on HK's list each with different angles and coatings and more than 80 for the 7.62x51mm guns alone at one point. Unlike gas guns delayed blowback weapons need a predetermined degree of recoil impulse to make the mechanism run reliably and that impulse changes with ammo types and barrel lengths, even the age of the weapon and accessories used. Without consistent impulse the reliability goes down. The MP5/10 is a classic pistol-caliber example of the need for properly selected ammo (HI versus LO impulse). HK roller-locked rifles and MG’s with different barrel lengths NEED different locking pieces, even just for the difference of 4 inches in length using the same ammo.

6. The good news is the plain Jane roller-locked guns (rifles, carbines, unsuppressed MP5's, the P9S even) run okay when heavily fouled (notable exceptions being the MP5SD and HK21E) but are also harder to clean well without the right tools. While they may take the same or less time to clean than a DI gas gun there is NO COMPARISON to an op rod gas gun like the HK416 or G36 in cleaning time (< 7 minutes versus > 20 minutes or more). The chamber flutes found in roller-locked guns are mandatory for proper function and must be kept reasonably clean. These flutes are not found in most gas guns and can cause serious extraction issues with steel and aluminum cased and overpressure ammo.

7. RIFLE-CALIBER roller-locked guns can be suppressed but it is far harder to do so reliably than with gas guns which is why you seldom see rifle-caliber HK-style guns suppressed without ammo or functional issues or long term damage to the back plate, buffer, receiver, etc. With the right and EXACT set up in ammo, barrel length, bolt gap and suppressor one still has to monitor the gun closely for excessive impulse induced damage (the MP5/10, and MP5/40 to a lesser degree, any 5.56mm full auto rifle with single butt stock pin hole which is all except the full auto G41/G41K, and HK21E first come to mind).

8. Ever wonder why most HK roller-locked guns do not have bolt catches? So the bolt remains closed to keep debris out of the roller locking recesses in the barrel extension. Get too much sand in those recesses and no degree of force will fully close the bolt to permit firing. The absence of “proper” plunger-style forward assists on many HK weapons only makes this worse.

9. HK GmbH conducted various tests of reliability in harsh environments comparing roller-locked HK33's to the G36. Even the specially prepared (hardened receivers to better crush sand in the mech) did not perform as well as the op rod G36. The G36 fired 200 different types of ammo during its development with no changes to the mech. NO 5.56mm HK roller-locked gun would get even close to this performance without a bag of assorted locking pieces on hand.

10. Ever wonder why in the 1990's HK all but abandoned the roller-locking system for more conventional op rod gas systems? They simply are more reliable, easier and less expensive to make and repair, perform better with various ammo types and barrel lengths and are easier for the average operator to use and maintain. They also impart less felt recoil to the shooter, tend to be lighter overall as they do not have to be made of sheet steel and allow for AGR use for special purposes.

Roller-locked guns IF made properly can be very reliable but introduce any one of these variables above and things change, and not in your favor. They had their time in history but the modern op rod gas gun is superior in most every regard.

G3Kurz

Quoted:
Does the oversized charging handle interfere with the rail mount in any way?