You all know about the H&K G36. For all the good and bad out there about the gun, it is very difficult for US Citizens to have a G36. Well Tom Bostic of Tommy Built is not only making G36s for the masses, he is making pistol G36s with his own injection molded receivers called the T36.

“But Nick, there are G36s in the US.” Sure if you are an FFL with 03/SOT or higher and have a demo letter for a post sample full auto G36. Or if you are law enforcement. For US civilians there was the civilian version SL8 or the Umarex .22lr clone. But to have a G36 required someone like Tom Bostic to perform alchemy on an SL8 and covert it into a G36. I imagine the level of difficulty to convert an SL8 into a G36 or an XM8 is something along the lines of sexual reassignment surgery. It can be done but requires someone very skilled and there is no going back. It is permanent.

So what would one need? Well a donor SL8 for starters and the G36 parts. Then pay Tom Bostic to work his magic. As you can imagine this is not cheap. SL8 go for anywhere from $1600-$2000 and up. Then you need to get the G36 parts. In some cases, Tom had parts made since it would be cheaper than getting a cut up German G36. One of my friends, Andrew H., said it cost about $4,000 all said and done. However he got his SL8 for a decent price around $1600.

photo by Andrew H.

Here is what Tom has on his website Tommybuilt.com about the SL8 – G36 conversion.

TommyBuilt Tactical created the SL8 to G36 rear section conversion around 2007 and has been offering this service for over ten years.

This conversion can be done on both the original grey colored sl8-1 and the newer black SL8-6. Total conversion cost without barrel work including the laser engraving is $950 and the break down is as follows:

• Add G36 rear hinge section to SL8 receiver with laser cut stainless steel support plate, add stock hold open ledge to the top of the shell case deflector, remove top alignment numb from carrier. $525
• Double stack magazine conversion, mill receiver, install laser cut metal support plate, plastic weld cover and refinish area to look factory. $225 (magwell and bolt head required but not induced in price)
• Laser engrave G36 style markings on both sides of receiver. $125
• Convert German G36 lower to semi or swap in SL8 fire control components and modify lower to fit. $75
• Add NFA engraving. $35
• Sl8 to G36C barrel conversion. $350 (gas piston, op-rod/spring set and flash hider required and not included in price)
• SL8 to G36E barrel conversion. $250 (bayonet lug required and not included in price)
• Custom duracoat G36 project in any single duracoat color, including laser engraving and remarking lower. $350
• Barrel installation only. $15
• Mill G36 carier to semi specs. $50
• Dye receiver. $35 (included in rear section conversion)

Turn around times are typically two weeks or less. None of these prices reflect the return shipping cost.

Along with the factory SL8 parts, the basic parts required for a SL8 to G36 conversion are:

• G36 rear section at least 3.5 inches long or TBT rear section
• G36 buffer plate
• G36 push pin
• G36 lower
• G36 Magwell
• G36 bolt head
• G36 stock (of your choice, there are several options)
• G36 stock axle pin

This conversion also requires a firearm to be 922R compliant.. On this platform, 5 parts are required, 6 if you use a German muzzle device. The most popular compliance parts start with the G36 P-mag, which counts as three parts. Boltheads, triggers, sears, gas pistons, barrels, are all available as well. HKparts.net is the best source for G36 parts. However, there are some available on this site.

There are three basic G36 models: the G36C 8 inch barrel SBR tax stamp required, G36K 12.79 inch barrel SBR tax stamp required, G36E 18.3 inch barrel. The required barrel length for title 1 on the G36 platform is 16.5 inches to keep the overall length at 26 inches. If you’re interested in a G36 conversion, feel free to email tom@tommybuilttactical.com with any specifics. If you have the parts and rifle, fill out a work order and follow the instructions on our shipping page.

T36 Is The New G36

Now Tom has been working with Choate Machine & Tool to mold his own G36 receivers that he calls the T36.

What good is a T36 stripped receiver without the parts? Well you can go to HKParts.net and piece meal the parts you would need to complete this. Or just talk to Tom Bostic. He has partnered up with GSG9.US and they are making most of the steel components like the barrels, bolts, etc.

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Here is a recent photo posted on Tom Bostic’s Instagram with Hensoldt optics and T36 receivers.

After meeting up with Tom Bostic to check out the T36 he said he will be offering completed firearms. Rifles, pistols, what ever you want he will make it. The photo at the top is a T36 pistol in .300blk. According to Tom, a complete firearm will be under $3,000. Depending on what you order it could be as low as $2,300. Are you excited yet? I am. Go to Tommybuilt.com and you can pre-order the T36 receiver. They will retail for $749.95 and you can put a deposit down of just $350.