First of all, I'm just a middle-aged very late-bloomer with guns.
Have two Minis, an SKS and two MN 44s.
On Saturday a young German guy came to the outdoor handgun range as we walked over there to shoot our carbines at some junk by the backstop.
He had been in the Wehrmacht (G. Army) and had trained with these.
His rifle's safety positions are labeled: 'S' (Sicher/safe), 'E' (Einzelschuss/single shot) and 'F' (Freiheit/'freedom', for the automatic position).
It was my second chance ever to fire a few rounds from a G-3 and in both situations, too much was going on to ask guys about that bolt.
It's a delayed blowback roller locking firing system not a gas or piston driven firearm. The bolt is forward so it can slide back when a shot it fired. The long section is the carrier and is needed to charge the rifle. Not sure if this answers your ? but if not someone will chime in.
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Gun Control: A sharp eye and a steady finger
