Firearms / Assault rifles / QBZ-95

QBZ-95

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Assault rifle

  • ORIGIN
    China

  • NICKNAMES
    Type 95

  • DESIGNED
    Late 1980's - 1990's

  • DESIGNER
    Norinco

  • PRODUCTION
    1995 - present (QBZ-95)
    1998 - present (QBZ-97)

  • PRODUCERS
    China - Norinco

  • QUANTITY
    Unknown

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Limited weight
    Compact
    Lack of ergonomics
    Fires standard load 5.8x42mm ammunition

Introduction

The QBZ-95 is an assault rifle of Chinese origin. The QBZ-95 was developed in the 1990's as a new generation of assault rifles for the Chinese military. Compared to the older generation of Chinese rifles the QBZ-95 is very different. It is of a bullpup design, does not use the Kalashnikov mechanism and uses a new type of ammunition. QBZ-95 stands for Qing Buqiang Zu 1995, which is Chinese for light rifle family 1995.

Design

The QBZ-95 is an assault rifle with a bullpup that fires the 5.8x42mm round, which was specifically developed for this new line of firearms. It uses a short stroke gas system and a rotating bolt. The limited rate of fire and a complex recoil buffer make the QBZ-95 very controllable. The furniture is fully made out of polymer and the barrel and internal mechanism are made out of metal. The rear sights are integrated in the carrying handle, which also has a mount for a 4x optical sight. Several variants that have been developed are a carbine and light support weapon. Although the variants share many components, it is not possible to reconfigure them into another version.

Firepower

The QBZ-95 fires the standard version Chinese 5.8x42mm round from a 30 round magazine. The light support weapon variant also uses 75 round drum magazines. The export version fires the more common 5.56x45mm NATO round from STANAG magazines. The QBZ-95 is a select fire rifle with a limited rate of fire of about 650 rpm. The effective range is claimed to be 400 meters for the QBZ-95 and 600 meters for the QBB-95 light support weapon. It is possible to fire rifle grenades and an under barrel grenade launcher or bayonet can be fitted.

Users

The QBZ-95 is issued to first line troops of the Chinese military. The QBZ-95 is also in use with special units of the Chinese police. The QBZ-97 export version has been exported in modest quantities to several nations in Asia.

Variants

QBZ-95B

The QBZ-95B is a carbine version of the QBZ-95 assault rifle. It follows the same design pattern, but is even more compact than the full size rifle. Since there is no forearm a vertical grip is fitted and the front sight is fitted to the carrying handle. The shorter barrel required a large flash hider and results in a higher rate of fire than the full size rifle.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.8x42mm Chinese
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire800 rpm
Barrel length369 mm
Rifling?
Muzzle velocity790 m/s
StockFixed
Length609 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight2.9 kg empty
SightsIron sights, post front and aperture rear, optional optical sight
Remarks-

QBZ-95

The QBZ-95 is the standard assault rifle version from which all other versions were derived. For specialist use it can be fitted with a grenade launcher or and optical sight. The QBZ-95G is an improved version which is to become the next standard version in Chinese service. The improvements include the ability to use the heavy load version of the 5.8x42mm round, accessory rails and better ergonomics.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.8x42mm Chinese
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire650 rpm
Barrel length463 mm
Rifling?
Muzzle velocity930 m/s
StockFixed
Length745 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.25 kg empty
SightsIron sights, post front and aperture rear, optional optical sight
Remarks-

QBB-95

The QBB-95 is the light support weapon version of the QBZ-95 assault rifle. It has a longer barrel, a bipod, a different forearm and feeds from 75 round drum magazines. The QBB-95 cannot fire rifle grenades or mount an under barrel grenade launcher.

TypeLight support weapon
Caliber5.8x42mm Chinese
Magazine30, 75 rounds
OperationGas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire650 rpm
Barrel length557 mm
Rifling?
Muzzle velocity970 m/s
StockFixed
Length838 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.95 kg empty
SightsIron sights, post front and aperture rear, optional optical sight
RemarksBipod

QBZ-97

The QBZ-97 is the export version of the QBZ-95. It is similar to the QBZ-95, but fires the 5.56x45mm round, uses STANAG magazines and has a slightly longer barrel. It can be chambered in both the M193 and NATO round with corresponding rifling. The QBZ-97A is an improved version with 3 round burst option. The QBZ-97B is the export version of the QBZ-95B carbine. The QBB-97 is the export version of the QBB-95 light support weapon.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire?
Barrel length?
Rifling6 grooves, 178 mm or 305 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity?
StockFixed
Length?
Width?
Height?
Weight?
SightsIron sights, post front and aperture rear, optional optical sight
Remarks-
TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Fire selector0-1-3-F
Rate of fire650 rpm
Barrel length490 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 mm or 305 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity980 m/s (M193), 920 m/s (NATO)
StockFixed
Length758 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.35 kg empty
SightsIron sights, post front and aperture rear, optional optical sight
Remarks-
TypeLight support weapon
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30, 80 rounds
OperationGas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire650 rpm
Barrel length600 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 mm or 305 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity860 m/s
StockFixed
Length870 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.9 kg empty
SightsIron sights, post front and aperture rear, optional optical sight
RemarksBipod

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