QBZ95
Export: Type 97
Overview
QBZ95
Right side view of QBZ95 bullpup assault rifle.
Source: Tyg728 -
© CC BY-SA 4.0
Duo Yingxian
1998 - Present? (Type 97)
Type 95
Description
Introduction
The QBZ-95 is a modern era assault rifle of Chinese origin. The QBZ95 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 QBZ95 is very different. It is of a bullpup design, has a polymer body, does not use the Kalashnikov mechanism and fires a new type of 5.8mm ammunition. QBZ95 stands for "Qing Buqiang Zu 1995", which is Chinese for "light rifle family 1995".
Design
The QBZ95 is an assault rifle with a bullpup layout 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 QBZ95 controllable in full automatic fire. 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 an optional 4x optical sight. 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 QBZ95 fires the standard load version Chinese 5.8x42mm round from a 30 round magazine. The light support weapon variant also uses 75 round drum magazines. The export model fires the more common 5.56x45mm NATO round from STANAG magazines. The QBZ95 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 QBZ95 rifle and 600 meters for the QBB95 light support weapon. It is possible to fire rifle grenades and an under barrel grenade launcher or bayonet can be fitted.
Users
The QBZ95 is issued to first line and regular troops of the Chinese military. The QBZ95 is also in use with special units of the Chinese police. The QBZ97 export version has been exported in modest quantities to several nations in Asia and Africa. In the 2010's an updated line of QBZ95-1 rifles was introduced, along with the DBP10 universal load cartridge. In the near future the QBZ95 is to be replaced by the new QBZ141 line of conventional layout assault rifles.
Variants
QBZ95
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 an optical sight.
QBZ95B
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.
QBB95
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.
QBZ95-1
The QBZ95-1, also known as QBZ95G, is an improved version which is to become the next standard version in Chinese service. The improvements include being tailored to use the universal load DBP10 version of the 5.8x42mm round, addition of accessory rails and better ergonomics. Updated variants of the carbine and light machine gun are called QBZ95B-1 and QBB95-1 respectively.
Details
Media
QBZ95
Right side view of QBZ95 bullpup assault rifle.
Source: US DoD
Copyright: Public domain
QBB95
Left side view of QBB95 light machine gun. Note the drum magazine, longer barrel and bipod.
Source: Chinese internet
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
QBZ95 with bayonet
Soldiers of an honor guard of the People's Liberation Army at their base in Nanjing, China, on June 18th 2009.
Source: US Marine Corps
Copyright: Public domain
QBZ95
QBZ95 assault rifle with night vision sight.
Source: Chinese internet
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
QBB95B
A Chinese navy sailor aboard a Chinese frigate seen during a training armed with a QBB95B carbine assault rifle. Note the vertical forward grip and large muzzle device.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Type 97
Right side view of Type 97 assault rifle. Note the different magazine well and STANAG type magazine.
Source: Chinese internet
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
5.8x42mm Chinese
The QBZ95 rifle family resulted in widespread adoption of the 5.8x42mm round in China. The DBP87 standard load round is used. This was supplemented with the DBP95 reduced fouling round. Heavy load DBP88 rounds cannot be used in the QBZ95. The updated QBZ95-1 is optimized for the DBP10 universal round.
5.56x45mm NATO
For export sales the QBZ95 family is marketed as the Type 97 chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO. These rifles use a STANAG type magazine adapter.
QBZ03
QBZ03 is a conventional layout assault rifle chambered in 5.8x42mm. This is used in China by the border guard and armed police. QBZ03 never was a direct replacement for QBZ95.