HK 53
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Although Heckler und Koch states that the Heckler und Koch 53 (short: HK 53) should be considered an assault rifle because it fires the 5.56mm NATO round, many consider it to be a submachine gun because of its small size - virtually identical to the MP5 submachine gun. The two weapons' dimensions are so similiar, in fact, that many parts are interchangeable between them. The HK53 is technically a variant of the HK33 rifle, based on the proven delayed roller lock bolt system introduced with the G3 battle rifle scaled down to 5.56mm NATO. The gun is useful because it combines the power of an assault rifle, including the ability to penetrate body armor, with the handling characteristics of a submachine gun. It is, however, being rapidly eclipsed by short-barrelled versions of conventional assault rifles such as the M4, AKS-74U, and the G36C variant of HK's G36 assault rifle, and next-generaton PDWs such as the MP7 and P90.
External links
- Modern Firearms (http://world.guns.ru/assault/as13-e.htm)
- HKPRO's HK53 page (http://www.hkpro.com/hk53.htm)