Well, like I said, I was able to handle the G3 quite well. I’m a slightly bigger and taller person than average, and I have a physical job, so the weight of the gun and the force you have to use on it for loading/reloading and such, was ok for me. As a hunter, I’m also used to shooting different weapons in civilian life, many with heavier recoils than the G3, so that part is fine by me as well. All shooting experience counts, both for getting your groupings tighter, and for handling a weapon easier and safer. The G3 is an old, roughly built automatic rifle with a heavy, mechanical feel to it. But it is a quality weapon, built to last. Germans really know how to build good weapons!
On the other hand, when a nervous 19 year old recruit gets handed an automatic rifle for the first time, there are a lot of factors that can make it harder for him/her to shoot well. They may be afraid of the weapon. The rifle is heavy. It may be hard to operate. The recoil is tough. The sights are built for robustness, not for accuracy… Anyway, becoming a good shooter requires a lot of training, no matter what equipment you use.