Plink, verb: To emit a short, sharp, metallic or ringing sound. The word plink is an onomatopoeia. That’s the English teacher’s proprietary term for a word that is pronounced the way it sounds. Other examples might include gurgle, drip, crash, plop, or moo. Remember that as we dig into the new Heckler & Koch G36 22 LR.
Plink also reflects the act of shooting with a small-caliber firearm. The term intimates a certain recreational component. For those who might have been so unfortunate as to have grown up in urban spaces where plinking was not practical, you have my pity. I sincerely hope you can still recover and make something of yourselves.
Plinking guns typically fire inexpensive .22 rimfire ammunition and offer little if any recoil. They are ideal for neophytes just starting out. Even the most seasoned gunman still enjoys a proper plinking gun. Now, hold that thought.
That brings us to the HK G36 .22 LR. For this review, I shot four .22 LR loads from a simple rest at 25 yards and checked velocity with a Garmin Xero C1 Pro. The best four-of-five group measured 0.4 inch, and I had exactly zero stoppages. The question was whether this full-size G36 facsimile could deliver more than industrial-grade cool points. Spoiler alert: yes it can.
- You want G36 handling with inexpensive .22 LR
- You value tight groups and dependable cycling
- It costs more than many basic rimfire rifles
- The test optics and suppressor cost extra
What Is the HK G36 .22 LR?
The HK G36 .22 is a semiautomatic rimfire rendition of the classic German G36 assault rifle. Featuring the same polymer chassis, superlative ergonomics, and sexy-cool lines, the G36 .22 captures all of that Teutonic awesome in a package priced within reach of the Common Man. Additionally, unlike the original G36, this rifle is actually available.
The G36 .22 can be had with 10, 20, or 30-round magazines. The fire controls and charging system are ambidextrous, and the rifle will run just fine with the stock folded. The G36 .22 offers service rifle performance in a chambering you can afford to shoot.
Why the .22 LR Plinker Still Matters
We Americans often blur the lines between needs and wants. It’s easy to say we need two cars, the latest smart phone, and subscriptions to half a dozen premium streaming services. All we really need is a reliable supply of healthy food, clean water, shelter, and a decent job. However, every responsible American also needs a .22 rifle. To be honest, the government should issue you one when you turn thirteen. We are indeed a nation of shooters. Firearms form the backbone of our great experiment in democracy.
There are only four nations that enshrine the right to keep and bear arms within their foundational documents. Haiti is an ungovernable hellscape. Mexico and Guatemala just ignore it. America, however, still take her guns pretty seriously. The rest of the world pokes fun at us for that. However, I can’t help but note that no other country sports a $30.5 trillion GDP, Yellowstone National Park, Chuck Norris, and 3,748 operational nuclear warheads.
The foundation of the vaunted American gun culture is not the .45ACP combat pistol, the venerable 12-bore shotgun, the 9mm concealed carry gun, or even the ubiquitous AR15. The cornerstone of American shooting is the rimfire plinking rifle.
There are more than five million Ruger 10/22’s in service already. Your grandfather’s old bolt-action single shot .22 is still likely tucked away in a closet someplace. However, nowadays, thanks to HK, you can land a rimfire fun gun that brings more sex appeal than Pamela Anderson circa 1991. If I had it to do all over again, the G36 .22 LR would have been my gateway drug to the many-splendored world of shooting stuff.
The .22 LR’s 140-year history explains how this humble rimfire became the world’s most popular cartridge.
HK G36 .22 LR Design and Features
First adopted by the Bundeswehr in 1997, the G36 has seen service in more than forty countries. It is a perennial favorite in both video games and action movies. The materials science, engineering, and ergonomics are groundbreaking. The polymer chassis offers light weight and rugged durability.
The furniture, buttstock, sights, and optics rail are common between both the service rifle and its rimfire stand-in. The G36 assault rifle fires 5.56x45mm rounds via an AR18-inspired short stroke gas system, while the G36 .22 LR is direct blowback. However, the rimfire version retains that same cool midline charging system.
The G36 .22 sports an 18.5-inch barrel that is threaded 1/2x28. You’ll want to mount up a suppressor just for the cool points. The forearm includes plenty of M-LOK slots. The gun weighs 5.5 pounds empty.
HK G36 .22 LR Optic and Suppressor Setup
The HK G36 accepts grown-up accessories. That means a Trijicon MRO red dot and pivoting magnifier. MRO stands for Miniature Rifle Optic.
The MRO sports perfect glass and a rugged manly chassis. Expect two years of continuous operation on a single battery. The 3X magnifier pops in and out of the field of view as needed.
The SilencerCo Sparrow-Ti is the titanium version of their classic Sparrow rimfire can. The Sparrow was SilencerCo’s first sound suppressor. It was and is apparently perfect.
The Sparrow-Ti will handle .22 LR, .22 Mag, .17 HMR, .17 WSM and 5.7 × 28mm. Its titanium construction makes it all but weightless. When stoked with subsonic ammo, the Sparrow-equipped G36 .22 is placid and comfortable even without muffs.
HK G36 .22 LR Controls and Handling
First, seat a loaded magazine and jack the bolt via the spring-loaded charging handle. This appendage pivots left or right as needed. Point the rifle at something you dislike, thumb off the safety, and squeeze. The trigger is heavy enough to be safe yet remains consistently crisp. The 18.5-inch barrel ensures proper velocity and superb accuracy.
The magazine release is a left-side lever, and the bolt locks to the rear on the last round fired. To reload, swap out magazines and jack the charging handle to drop the bolt. This takes less time to execute than to describe.
HK G36 .22 LR Range Test and Results
The G36 .22 looks cool and is exceptionally reliable. I shot a bunch of bullets during this review and had exactly zero stoppages. That’s really unusual for a rimfire.
| Load | Velocity (fps) | Group Size (in) |
| Winchester 45gr Super Suppressed | 1059 | 0.6 |
| Winchester Wildcat 40gr | 1204 | 1.1 |
| CCI 45gr Clean 22 Subsonic | 1003 | 0.4 |
| CCI 40gr Plated | 1198 | 0.8 |
Group size is the best four of five rounds measured center to center fired from a simple rest at 25 yards. Velocity is the average of five rounds measured by a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph.
Who the HK G36 .22 LR Is For
You could use the G36 .22 to hunt tree rats and bunnies. You could even use it as a defensive tool in a pinch. The rifle was exceptionally reliable. Many folks will rightfully denigrate the downrange horsepower of the .22 LR cartridge. However, I doubt any of those naysayers have ever actually been shot with twenty of them.
I have seen a bunch of folks shot with .22’s. Not one of them seemed to be particularly happy. It is amazing how deep those zippy little 40-grain bullets track in real live flesh. However, that is clearly not the primary mission for this rifle.
Like a supermodel or a sports car, the real forte for the HK G36 .22 is just being awesome. Set this thing up with some proper tactical glass and a decent sound suppressor and be ready for fun on an apocalyptic scale. Shooting steel targets or ventilating empty aluminum cans will remind you of what drew you into this weird quirky sport in the first place.
Our Plinkapalooza 2026 rimfire test takes a broader look at current .22 LR rifles, steel targets and range gear.
The MSRP is $679. There are certainly cheaper options when it comes to rimfire plinking rifles. The Archangel Nomad is a drop-in dress-up kit that turns the Ruger 10/22 into a pretty decent facsimile of the G36. However, that’s still just a 10/22 in disguise. This is the real deal. The controls are the same as is the manual of arms. This rimfire HK G36 is indeed the coolest .22 rifle in the entire world.
For a lighter, more conventional rimfire alternative, our Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber review covers more than 500 rounds, suppressor use and 50-yard accuracy.
Heckler & Koch also offers rimfire versions of the MP5 and the HK416. Each one is a dead ringer for the real steel.
HK G36 .22 LR Review: Final Verdict and Score
- 0.4-inch best group at 25 metres with CCI
- Zero stoppages across four rimfire loads
- Ambidextrous controls and charging handle
- Fires with the stock folded at 28.2 inches
- Threaded 1/2x28 barrel and M-LOK forearm
- Charging system apes the service rifle
- $679 is steep for a rimfire plinker
- Product Origin
- Manufacturer sample
- Test Type
- Range (groups from a simple rest at 25 metres, plus steel and can plinking)
- Ammunition Tested
- Winchester 45gr Super Suppressed; Winchester Wildcat 40gr; CCI 45gr Clean 22 Subsonic; CCI 40gr Plated
- Instrumentation
- Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph; groups are best four of five rounds, centre to centre
- Accessories
- Trijicon MRO red dot with 3X pivoting magnifier; SilencerCo Sparrow-Ti suppressor
- Tested By
- Will Dabbs, M.D.
- Caliber
- .22 LR
- Overall Length
- 28.2 inches folded / 38 inches extended
- Barrel Length
- 18.5 inches, threaded 1/2x28
- Weight
- 5.5 pounds
- Action
- Direct blowback
- Magazine Capacity
- 10 / 20 / 30 rounds
- Forearm
- M-LOK slots
- Chassis
- Polymer
- MSRP
- $679
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