The C93, or That Other 5.56mm Rifle

During the months and years following the official end of WWII, the West, to include the United States, Canada, and most of western Europe, had a new threat…the Soviet Union with its mission to spread the evils of communism across the globe. On April 4th, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed as a defense against the expansionist policies of the USSR.

Taking lessons learned from WWII, in which almost every country used different guns and ammunition, NATO members came up with the Standardization Agreement, shortened to STANAG. STANAG got all the allied members of NATO to agree in principle to use the same small arms ammunition as well as communications, logistics, equipment compatibility, and training procedures.

While STANAG wasn’t always followed to the letter — it took the USA until 1986 to officially adopt a 9x19mm NATO pistol — in many areas it was adopted. 

For instance, the 7.62x51mm rifle cartridge was officially accepted as the primary NATO rifle round in 1954. This set off an arms race by member states to adopt rifles chambering that round. Arguably, the FN FAL, the G3, and the Garand-action M14 (the BM59 for Italy) were the top battle rifles chambered in 7.62 NATO and all was right with the world. And then something happened.  

5.56mm NATO

By the mid-1960s, NATO members, especially the United States, were beginning to rethink the standard military rifle cartridge. The Soviets had armed their troops with the AK-47 which soon became the AKM. Communist China, in typical fashion, followed along and produced the Type 56 rifle, for all intents and purposes a Chicom Kalashnikov. The standard magazine for these rifles held 30 rounds. At that time, the standard mags for the NATO 7.62mm rifles held 20 rounds. 

Despite the demonstrable success of the Rhodesian Light Infantry armed with FN FAL rifles against the communist terrorists using AKMs, the powers that be decided NATO needed a smaller rifle round so troops could carry more ammo per pound and load more in their rifles. Enter the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge.

We all know the stories that our fathers and grandfathers have told about deploying to Vietnam with an M14 only to have it taken away and swapped for a “plastic toy.”  This is not a retelling of that story.

HK33 / HK93

West Germany (yes kids, there used to be a country called West Germany) as a member of NATO had adopted the select-fire Heckler & Koch roller-delayed action G3 along with the semi-auto HK91 in 7.62 NATO. The G3 wasn’t only extremely popular in Europe, it was used by nations in Africa and South America as well as some parts of Asia. Most NATO countries, having spent hundreds of millions to equip their armies with 7.62mm rifles, weren’t in a big hurry to swap them out for 5.56mm NATO guns.

However, the die had been cast so development of 5.56mm replacement rifles began. In West Germany, the logical step was to take the vastly popular G3 rifle and scale it down to 5.56mm. That’s essentially what HK did. The HK33 was basically an HKG3 chambered for the new NATO rifle cartridge and it had magazines in 25, 30 and 40 round configurations.

The HK33 was a select-fire. The HK93 became the semi-automatic version that looked and functioned identically, with the exception of full-auto capability. But here is the rub…the HK33 was primarily designed for export to countries that were jumping onto the 5.56mm NATO bandwagon. It was the space age-looking HK G36 that eventually replaced the G3 officially.

C93 Sporter

Due to its popularity and long tenure in the German Army (among others), most gun people are familiar with the G3. Naturally in the USA, you have the original HK91, plus Century Arms, MKE, PTR, and Zenith International have been selling exact clones for decades to American gun buyers. But, what about the HK93 or its clone, the C93 Sporter? 

When it comes to 5.56mm in the United States, AR-style rifles and pistols are naturally the Kings of the Hill and most American gun buyers think of the Stoner-based guns first when the .223/5.56mm is brought up. Given that there are an estimated 40 million of those AR rifles and pistols in the hands of the approximately 80 million American gun owners, it’s not hard to understand why the previous assertion is true. Nonetheless, does the HK93 or the C93 Sporter, as featured here, have something to offer the American gun owner?

 

Range Time

The C93 that I had on hand originally came from Century Arms. I have had it for about 13 or 14 years now. You likely noticed that I covered the original black with OD green Duracoat camo.

I just couldn’t help myself. Century no longer has these rifles in their catalog, but they do have the new AP53 which is essentially a pistol version of the gun. My C93 came with two 40-round aluminum magazines. Those are tough to come by now and expensive when you find them. Although I’m leery of ProMag products based upon years of experience, I rolled the dice and ordered a couple of HK93 magazines from that company. 

As for ammunition, I took some Black Hills .223 Remington, some M193 surplus 5.56mm as well as some steel cased .223 that I wanted to try out. With all the aforementioned loaded up in the truck, I headed to the range with my son-in-law.

Naturally, having had the rifle for years, this wasn’t my first range trip. The two new things I wanted to try out were the ProMags and the steel ammo.

I learned a couple of important lessons on a Saturday morning at the range; first the C93 rifle did not like the gray steel-cased .223. At all. It refused to feed more than a few rounds without stoppages from the aluminum factory mags.

Secondly — and more importantly — the ProMags ran like champs! You could have knocked me over with a feather, but the two 40-round HK93 ProMags fed the rifle without flaw when loaded with the Black Hills ammo and the M193 surplus. Will wonders never cease?

Wrap Up

For this review, my son-in-law and I put about 150 rounds through the gun. Over the years I have likely put a couple thousand rounds of brass-cased .223 through the gun with the original factory mags. The rifle’s dislike for the steel-cased ammo and its fondness for the ProMags were the prime benefits from this review. 

While the AR is truly American Rifle, there are some interesting other options out there chambering the .223/5.56mm. The HK93, or in this case, the C93 Sporter are definitely interesting diversions from the norm and worthy additions to your personal armory. 

Specifications:

Caliber: 5.56mm
Action:  Roller-delayed, semi-automatic
Capacity: 25, 30, 40 rounds
Barrel Length: 16.25 inches
Overall Length: 36.5 inches
Weight (empty): 8 lbs, 6 oz with magazine

 

 

Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.