[Callahan]

I appreciate the patience and helpfulness of people on this site. I have some more newbie questions regarding the G3. I live in France where we have access to "real" G3s ("real" in the sense that it has "G3" stamped on it - most are made by Enfield or another company under license to HK, and all have been neutered to make them semi-automatic). I have just completed 6 months membership in a shooting club (a prerequisite for applying for a gun permit) and I am in the process of requesting my first permits. I'm already committed to buy a friend's S&W 22 lr revolver (there seems to be an unwritten law in France that you are expected to get a 22 as your first gun) and I have reserved a used HK MARK 23, but I would also like to get a long gun. I was most interested in the MR308 and the MR223, but my budget won't allow me to get one new, and used ones are hard to find (and the owners often want as much as a new one). I've discovered that G3s are readily available and much cheaper. I came across a G3A3 (without the scope) a few hours drive from me with an asking price of around $900.

Here are my questions:

1. Is a G3 a shooter's gun or more a collector's gun? (I don't currently have the bank account to be a collector. What I buy will be for shooting at the range, and eventually home defense, if there is a total collapse of society.)

2. For home defense, could the G3 be a poor man's MR308, or should I save my pennies (euros) and wait for a deal on a used MR308?

3. If you could only get one or two HK long guns, would a G3 be at or near the top of your list?

4. In the picture below, you will see that the hand guard is a different color from the stock and the grip. Is that an issue?

Any other thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated and carefully considered.

 

[fordemti]

Can't see any pictures. You are very lucky to be able to get a real G3. Please post up pictures.

 

[Callahan]

The pictures come up for me (but not immediately).

Here are the urls: http://91.68.209.9/bmi/img577.imageshack.us/img577/3504/g31.jpg
http://91.68.209.12/bmi/img718.imageshack.us/img718/3796/g32v.jpg

 

[fordemti]

Still not working. Hmm. Can anyone else see them?

 

[edman99]

I appreciate the patience and helpfulness of people on this site. I have some more newbie questions regarding the G3. I live in France where we have access to "real" G3s ("real" in the sense that it has "G3" stamped on it - most are made by Enfield or another company under license to HK, and all have been neutered to make them semi-automatic). I have just completed 6 months membership in a shooting club (a prerequisite for applying for a gun permit) and I am in the process of requesting my first permits. I'm already committed to buy a friend's S&W 22 lr revolver (there seems to be an unwritten law in France that you are expected to get a 22 as your first gun) and I have reserved a used HK MARK 23, but I would also like to get a long gun. I was most interested in the MR308 and the MR223, but my budget won't allow me to get one new, and used ones are hard to find (and the owners often want as much as a new one). I've discovered that G3s are readily available and much cheaper. I came across a G3A3 (without the scope) a few hours drive from me with an asking price of around $900.

Here are my questions:

1. Is a G3 a shooter's gun or more a collector's gun? (I don't currently have the bank account to be a collector. What I buy will be for shooting at the range, and eventually home defense, if there is a total collapse of society.)

2. For home defense, could the G3 be a poor man's MR308, or should I save my pennies (euros) and wait for a deal on a used MR308?

3. If you could only get one or two HK long guns, would a G3 be at or near the top of your list?

4. In the picture below, you will see that the hand guard is a different color from the stock and the grip. Is that an issue?

Any other thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated and carefully considered.

Here's my input:

1. A shooter's firearm.

2. Get the G3 and be happy.

3. The G3 would be at the top.

4. Not an issue. You might be able to find a matching one later.

I can't see the pictures, either. However, it doesn't matter. If the
G3 is in good condition buy it.

 

[samf]

You can ask for your twelwe authorizations the first time if you can afford it and don't have ask for a 22LR first. There is no such things as unwritten laws in France.
Il me semble que tu as déjà eu cette réponse sur Tirmaillyforum d'ailleurs.

My first authorization was for a Mauser 98K in 8X57 IS and I have had no problem with that.
The second will be for an HK P9S and I'm waiting for my "carte verte".
The third will be for a 1892 revolver.
The fourth will certainly be for a MR 308 or a PSG-1.

What do you mean by "Home defense"?
In France, you can own a firearm for shooting or hunting purposes, nothing else anymore.
A former surplus G3 will stay cheaper than a MR 308 for a long time in France, just because the MR 308 will stay rare in our country.

You can use a G3 for TAR competition, with or without scope. TAR means Tir à l'Arme Réglementaire. That can be translated as "Military weapon shooting."

 

[Callahan]

You can ask for your twelwe authorizations the first time if you can afford it and don't have ask for a 22LR first. There is no such things as unwritten laws in France.
Il me semble que tu as déjà eu cette réponse sur Tirmaillyforum d'ailleurs.

My first authorization was for a Mauser 98K in 8X57 IS and I have had no problem with that.
The second will be for an HK P9S and I'm waiting for my "carte verte".
The third will be for a 1892 revolver.
The fourth will certainly be for a MR 308 or a PSG-1.

What do you mean by "Home defense"?
In France, you can own a firearm for shooting or hunting purposes, nothing else anymore.
A former surplus G3 will stay cheaper than a MR 308 for a long time in France, just because the MR 308 will stay rare in our country.

You can use a G3 for TAR competition, with or without scope. TAR means Tir à l'Arme Réglementaire. That can be translated as "Military weapon shooting."

Thanks for the response (Merci).

As stated in my original post, "home defense" would only apply in the event of a total breakdown of society in which the State is no longer enforcing the law. As I understand French law regarding legitimate self-defense (and I could be wrong), you have to ask a potential aggressor what he plans to use to attack you so that you make sure that you don't have a more powerful weapon than your attacker.

I posted the question about requesting permits on a few French forums and so far all the answers have been the same as yours. So are you French, or like me a foreigner living in France?

 

[samf]

Je t'en prie.
Français pure souche depuis le rattachement de la Bretagne à la France.

In France, you have to reply to violence with an appropriate degree of violence.
The best way to act in front of an assaulter is to protect your family and yourself, call the police and wait; especially if you plan to keep your weapons in the future.

 

[U.S. Praetorian]

As stated in my original post, "home defense" would only apply in the event of a total breakdown of society in which the State is no longer enforcing the law.
This may be right around the corner with the guy you just put in office.



As I understand French law regarding legitimate self-defense (and I could be wrong), you have to ask a potential aggressor what he plans to use to attack you so that you make sure that you don't have a more powerful weapon than your attacker.

You're kidding , right?

...

 

[Callahan]

Je t'en prie.
Français pure souche depuis le rattachement de la Bretagne à la France.

In France, you have to reply to violence with an appropriate degree of violence.
The best way to act in front of an assaulter is to protect your family and yourself, call the police and wait; especially if you plan to keep your weapons in the future.

J'aime beaucoup la Bretagne. Nous y avons souvent passe nos vacances.

Understood and I agree.

 

[Callahan]

Any other thoughts or comments on the G3?