Type 56 assault rifle (PR China)

Type 56 assault rifle with machined (milled) receiver

Type 56 assault rifle with stamped steel receiver

Type 56-1 assault rifle with bottom-folding stock and bayonet in opened (combat)position

Type 56-2 assault rifle with side-folding stock; note that bayonet is discardedalong with its integral mounting

Type 56-1S semi-automatic rifle in 5,56x45 / .223 Remington caliber (export-only"civilian" version)

Type 56C compact assault rifle, with side-folding stock, short barrel and 20-round magazine

Caliber: 7.62x39 mm

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length: 874 mm

Barrel length: 414 mm

Weight: 3.80 kg

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute

During the early post-WW2 period, the newly established Peoples Republic of China was a close "friend" to the Soviet Union, so it was natural for the much less advanced country to adopt the weapons of a more advanced ally. In 1956, the Chinese military adopted two Soviet designs, both carrying the same Type 56 designation, and both being chambered for Soviet 7.62 x 39 ammunition. One was the semi-automaticSimonov SKS carbine, the other was the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle. Both weapons were made in large numbers and used by the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army of China), as well as exported into various countries. The original Type 56 assault rifle was an almost exact copy of the Soviet AK-47, with its milled receiver.Later on, Chinese designers switched to AKM-type stamped receivers, under the same Type 56 designation. The only notable differences were the markings in Chinese instead of Russian, and the folding non-detachable spike-shaped bayonets, which replaced the original detachable knife-bayonets of Soviet origin.

During early 1980s PLA adopted a new assault rifle of domestic origin, known as Type81, which gradually replaced Type 56 rifles in front-line service. Despite of that fact, Type 56 rifles are still manufactured by Chinese state arms factories in a variety of versions, for export purposes. NORINCO corporation also sells "civilian" versions of the Type 56 rifles, semi-automatic only and in several calibers, including 7,62x39 M43 and 5.56x45 / .223 Remington.

Another interesting note is that Chinese designers produced a compact version of the Type 56 rifle, known as Type 56C. It is apparently still in service with PLA, despite the fact that its full-size "brothers" have long been retired from general PLA service.

Type 56 is a gas operated, selective fire weapon. The receiver is machined from steel in early versions, the two lugged bolt locks into receiver walls. Later models, however, were made with stamped-steel AKM-type receivers, but retained the same Type 56 designation. The Type 56 has AK-47-style controls with a reciprocating charging handle and a massive safety / fire selector lever on the right side of the receiver. The furniture is made from wood, and a compact version with an underfolding metal buttstock is also available (designation is Type 56-1). Alternatively, a version with side-folding buttsock is produced as Type 56-2. The only visible difference from the Soviet AK-47 is a permanently attached spike bayonet, which folds under the barrel when not in use.

Some sources said that quality of those guns was worse than of Soviet original ones. Most notably, at least some Type 56 rifles lacked the chrome plating in the barrel and gas system area, and thus were much less resistant to corrosion.

Type 63 (68) assault rifle (PR China)

Type 63 assault rifle with 20-rounds magazine

Caliber: 7.62x39 mm

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overalllength: 1029 mm

Barrel length: 521 mm

Weigth: 3.49 kg

rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 20 rounds detachable box magazines

Following significant ideological disagreements between PRC and USSR during 1960s, China decided to develop its own small arms,based on the earlier licensed designs. The first domestically designed and mass produced assault rifle was the Type 63 (sometimes also erroneously referred to as Type 68 rifle). As its name implies, was initially adopted by PLA in 1963. It is interesting development because it represents a mix of features taken from other designs, mostly from the Type 56 assault rifle (Kalashnikov AK) and the Type 56 carbine (Simonov SKS). It is believed that Chinese factories produced well over 1 million of Type 63 rifles before a more advanced design, the Type81 assault rifle, was adopted to replace it.

The Type 63 / 68 rifle is a gas operated, selective fire weapon. It shares the stock design and receiver outline with the SKS, but instead of atilting bolt it has an AK-47-type rotating bolt with dual locking lugs.The gas system is somewhat original being not entirely the same as the SKS or the AK-47, and has a dual-position gas regulator. This rifle is fed from detachable box magazines of various capacities, which are externally similar to, but not compatible with, AK-47 magazines. The Type 63 rifles feature a bolt hold open device, also borrowed from the Simonov SKS, which holds the bolt open after the last shot had be enfired. The bolt carrier also has the charging clip guides machined into its forward part, so the rifle can be reloaded with the magazine in place, using 10-round SKS stripper clips. Selective fire capability is controlled by the single safety / fire mode selector lever, located at the front of the trigger guard. All rifles are fitted with a wooden stock and a non-detachable, spike-shaped, down-folding bayonet

Type 81 assault rifle (People Republic of China)

7.62x39 Type 81-1 assault rifle, folding butt version, left side

5.8x42 Type 87-1 experimental assault rifle, used to develop and test 5.8mm DBP87 cartridge for QBZ-95 rifle

Type 81S (late production export version with fixed butt) assault rifle (top) and Type 81 MGS light machine gun (bottom)

Caliber: 7.62x39 mm M43

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length: 955 mm (730 mm with butt folded for Type 81-1)

Barrel length: 445 mm

Weight: 3.5 kg

Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Type 81 assault rifle appeared in the early 1980s. This is a further development of the Type 63 / Type 68 rifles, and it is easily distinguished by the separate pistol grip, handguards and buttstock instead of the SKS-style wooden stock found on earlier types. The Type 81 was more than a single assault rifle – it was a family of infantry firearms, much like the Soviet Kalashnikov AK / RPK family. Type 81 weapons were made as an assault rifle with a fixed butt, an assault rifle with a folding butt for paratroopers (Type 81-1), and a heavy barreled Type 81 Squad Automatic weapon / light machine gun, fitted with a bipod and issued with 75-round drum magazines instead of the typical 30-round boxes. Despite being externally somewhat similar to the AK-47, it is significantly different from it, with its most easily distinguishable feature being an exposed muzzle part of the barrel, with the foresight moved back. This was done to be able to fire rifle grenades from the barrel. Type 81 rifles replaced some obsolescent Type 56 assault rifles and carbines, as well as Type 63 / Type 68 rifles, in most PLA units, and saw some action in border clashes between China and Vietnam during the late 1980s. This rifle was also exported through the NORINCO state company into several neighboring countries. During the late 1980s and early 1990s the Type 81, under designation of Type 87, served as a development platform for the next generation of PLA small arms, being used as a test-bed for 5.8 x 42 ammunition.

The Type 81 is a gas operated, magazine fed, automatic rifle. It uses a short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, and a two-position gas regulator, along with a gas cut-off valve for launching rifle grenades. The gas system, as well as the bolt group with the AK-47 type rotating bolt, is reminiscent of those of Type 63 rifles. Type 81 rifles also retain the bolt hold-open device, which catches the bolt in the open position after the last round has been fired from magazine. The fire selector – safety switch is located at the left side of the receiver, just above the pistol grip, and can be easily operated with the right hand thumb. The late production Type 81S rifles have a separate SKS-type safety switch just behind the trigger. The open sights are marked from 100 to 500 metres, with the front sight being mounted just ahead of the gas block, leaving the front portion of the barrel free for the rifle grenade launcher. Ammunition is fed from Type 56 (Kalashnikov) 30-round magazines, or from 75-round drums intended for the Type 81 light machine gun.

At the first glance, the Type 81 assault rifle looks much like the KalashnikovAKM, but, on closer inspection, there are some significant external differences, most notably in the receiver cover shape and front sight location. There is also a significant gap between the trigger guard and the magazine on Type 81 rifles, while on AK-47 type rifles the magazine is adjacent to the front of the trigger guard. On Type 81 rifles the obsolete spike-shaped non-detachable bayonet, preferred by the PLA before, is also replaced with the more "modern" detachable knife-bayonet. Most probably this was required to leave the significant portion of the muzzle area of the barrel unobstructed, which is required for launching of rifle grenades.

NORINCO Type 86s rifle (PR China)

Caliber: 7.62x39 mm

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length: 667 mm

Barrel length: 438 mm

Weight: 3.59 kg empty

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (AK-47 type)

Type 86s rifle was produced by Chinese state arms factories as a commercial, export-only item, and sold worldwide through Chinese NORINCO corporation during late 1980s and 1990s. It is not known if this weapon was originally made for PLA (Chinese People'sLiberation army), but present author suspects that it was intended for export only from the start. The simple reason behind that suspicion is that by the time of appearance of this weapon (late 1980s), PLA has standardized on Type 81 assault rifle as its primary infantry arm. Type 56 assault rifle (Kalashnikov AKM clone), which served as a basis for Type 86, was declared obsolete in PLA, and mostly sold for export. It is possible that Type 86 rifle was offered in selective-fired version for various government buyers, but I have no proof for that. So far all specimens of this weapon were encountered in civilian semi-automatic only configuration. Type 86s semiautomatic rifle was sold worldwide, and at least some found its way into USA before president Clinton vetoed importation of Chinese small arms into USA in 1994.

Type 86s rifle is another adaptation of previously existing weapon of traditional layout into more compact bullpup layout. It was probably inspired by Finnish-made Valmet M82 weapon, which appeared about 4 years before Chinese version of the same basic Kalashnikov-type action. In the case of Type 86s, the basic receiver with all internals was"borrowed" from late production Type 56 assaultrifle with stamped receiver and semi-automatic only "civilian"trigger. All furniture, along with characteristic safety lever and cocking handle was discarded. A new cocking handle was attached to the top of gas piston rod, under the integral carrying handle, and a new manual safety was installed on the right side of the weapon, just above the trigger guard. A short metallic buttplate was pinned to the bottom of the receiver at its rear end. Couple of features were copied from other designs; those included SteyrAUG-style folding front grip and FAMAS-style integral carrying handle with built-in open sights and top-mounted cocking handle. Type 86s rifle uses standard Type 56 / KalashnikovAKM magazines for 7,62x39 ammunition.

QBZ-95 and QBZ-95-1, QBZ-97 [Type 95, 95-1 and 97] assault rifle (People Republic of China)

5.8x42mm QBZ-95 assault rifle, left side view

5.8x42mm QBZ-95 assault rifle, right side view; magazine is removed and a 4X telescope sight is installed

5.56x45mm QBZ-97 / Type 97 assault rifle; note different magazine port, designed to accept STANAG / M16-type magazines

improved 5.8x42mm QBZ-95-1 (Type 95-1) assault rifle

5.8x42mm QBZ-95-1 (Type 95-1) short assault rifle (carbine) with new 35-mm underbarrel grenade launcher

Data for QBZ-95 (QBZ-97 in parenthesizes, where differs from QBZ-95)

Caliber: 5.8x42 mm (5.56x45 mm NATO)

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length: 760 mm

Barrel length: 520 mm

Weight: 3.4 kg unloaded

Rate of fire: ~ 650 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

In the late 1980s Chinese designers developed a 5.8 x 42 cartridge, apparently designated DBP87, which is claimed to be superior to both the 5.56 mm NATO and the 5.54 mm Soviet. This cartridge develops a muzzle velocity of 930 metres per second from a standard barrel, with a bullet weighing 4.26 gram.

As soon as the ammunition was ready, the PLA began to develop an entirely new and much more modern family of small arms based on the same action. This family, known as QBZ-95 ('Qing Buqiang Zu' = Light Rifles family, 1995), was first displayed outside the PLA in 1997, when China took over Hong Kong; it was observed that the Chinese guards were armed with a new, modern looking bullpup rifle. In fact it is one of an entirely new family of weapons, all designed around the same action and bullpup layout, which include the assault rifle, a shorter carbine, a light support weapon (with a bipod, a heavier barrel and large capacity magazine), and a sniper rifle. While being quite similar inside, these guns have different body shapes and cannot be converted from one configuration to another. The QBZ-95 line of weapons is now spreading throughout the PLA, commencing with elite units.

The QBZ-95 is a gas operated, magazine fed, automatic weapon with a bullpup layout. It has a short stroke gas piston and a rotating bolt. The charging handle is located at the top of the receiver, under the carrying handle. The housing is made from polymer, with an integral carrying handle, which holds the rear sight base, and has mounting points for optical or night vision scopes. The ejection port is made only at the right side of the weapon, so it cannot be fired from the left shoulder. Standard sights are of the open type, graduated from 100 to 500 meters. The front part of the barrel in the standard version is left unobstructed, so the QBZ-95 rifle can be used to launch rifle grenades. It also can be fitted with an underbarrel grenade launcher or with a knife bayonet. A compact carbine version, sometimes referred to as the CAR-95, cannot use either a grenade launcher or a bayonet, because of the much shortened barrel. Fire controls of QBZ-95 rifle consist of a trigger and a safety/selector switch, located (quite inconveniently) at the rear left of the receiver, behind the magazine housing. QBZ-95 can fire single shots or bursts.

The export version, QBZ-97, which is chambered for popular 5.56 x 45 NATO ammunition, is internally similar to QBZ-95, but has a different, much deeper magazine housing, which accepts a NATO-standard (M16-type) magazines.

During 2010-2011 PLA has adopted an improved version of the Type 95 / QBZ-95 rifle, known as Type 95-1 / QBZ-95-1. This rifle includes several important improvements, based on the field experience with original rifles. Polymer stock is made stronger, barrel is mproved to provide longer service life and better accuracy. Pistol grip and trigger aguard are redesigned, and selector / safety switch is moved to much more comfortable position, right above the pistol grip. Other improvements include addition of the bolt hold-open device and gas regulator. Ejection port is moved forward slightly to ensure that spent cases are ejected forward and to the right, allowing for left-hand shooting if necessary. Type 95-1 / QBZ-95-1 rifles and carbines now can be equipped with new, 35-mm underbarrel grenade launcher, known as QLG-10A. Rifle grenades still can be fired from the muzzle using special blank ammunition.

Type 03 / QBZ-03 assault rifle (China)

Type 87 experimental assault rifle, a predecessor to Type 03

Type 03 (QBZ-03) assault rifle, with bayonet attached

Type 03 (QBZ-03) assault rifle, partially disassembled

Caliber: 5.8x42 mm

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length: 950 mm (725mm with butt folded)

Barrel length: n/a

Weight: 3.5 kg

Rate of fire: ~650 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Type 03 (QBZ-03) assault rifle is most recent development of Chinese state arms factories. For various but unpublished reasons the bullpupType95 / QBZ-95 assault rifle was apparently found not entirely satisfactory in PLA service. Therefore it was decided to develop a new 5.8mm assault rifle of conventional layout, which will provide necessary competition and backup to its older bullpup brother. In some respects this new weapon, known as QBZ-03 (Type03 / 2003), is reminiscent to the experimental Type 87 rifle, which was developed in mid-1980s for testing of the new 5.8x42mm DAP-87 cartridge. It is not yet known if Type 03 rifle will enter widespread service with PLA troops to replace or complement Type 95 rifle.

Type 03 (QBZ-03) assault rifle is gas operated, selective fired weapon, which fires 5.8mm cartridge of indigenous design. Basic action of the Type 03 rifle is based on the older 7.62x39 Type 81 assault rifle, with similar rotating bolt locking and short-stroke gas piston. The gas block, which is integral to the front sight base, contains a 2-position gas regulator. Muzzle of the barrel contains a combination flash-hider which also serves as a grenade launcher for rifle grenades. Receiver is made from stamped steel, and unlike earlier designs consists of two parts, upper and lower, which are connected by two push-pins. Upper receiver hosts the barrel and entire bolt group; lower receiver hosts the magazine port, trigger unit, pistol grip and folding shoulder stock. Small safety / fire selector switch is located on the left side of the lower receiver, above the pistol grip. Skeletonized shoulder stock is made from polymer and folds forward and to the right to save the length. Standard sights are of open type, with hooded front post and flip-up type diopter rear. Additionally,every Type 03 rifle has a proprietary scope rail on the top of the receiver,which will accept a variety of day and night scopes.

CQ / M311 assault rifle (China)

Original CQ rifle

CQ-M4 carbine

Typical receiver markings of CQ rifle

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length: 986 mm

Barrel length: 508 mm

Weight: 2.9 kg empty

Rate of fire: 900 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Chinese CQ rifle, as offered for export through NORINCO corporation, is a straightforward copy of the American M16A1 assault rifle. CQ first appeared during early 1980s, produced by Chinese state arms factories for export only. This rifle was made in both military(selective-fire) and civilian (semi-automatic only) versions. Recently, Chinese factories also copied US M4A1 carbine under the same CQ designation. This rifle is not used by PLA (Chinese army) or PAP (Chinese police), but apparently it has found some buyers in Asia; Iran makes a copy of CQ rifle as S-5.56.

CQ rifle operates exactly the same way as M16A1 rifle; it uses same two-part aluminum receiver, same direct gas action and same rotating bolt design. Magazines also are compatible. The only visible differences between CQ and M16A1 are different shape of pistol grip, handguard and buttstock.

QBS-06 underwater assault rifle (PR China)

QBS-06 underwater assault rifle

special underwater cartridge 5.8x42 DBS-06

QBS-06 underwater assault rifle is patterned after older Soviet APS underwater assault rifle. QBS-06 weapon is in use by Chinese frogmen (combat divers of Chinese Navy). QBS-06 underwater assault rifle uses specially developed 5.8mm DBS-06 ammunition, which is built using lacquered steel cases of the PLA’s general issue 5.8x42 ammunition, loaded with long, needle-like projectiles intended for submersible use. These hydrodynamically stabilized projectiles have no stabilization when fired above the water (in the air).

The QBS-06 underwater assault rifle is gas operated, rotary bolt weapon. It is fed using specially developed detachable plastic magazines with 25-round capacity. Rifle is equipped with simple fixed iron sights and retractable shoulder stock, made of steel wire. Simple furniture (pistol grip and forend) is made from plastic.