QBZ95 5.8mm Automatic Weapons

Last updated: 11 March 2007

The QBZ95 (also known as Type 95) 5.8mm assault rifle developed by NORINCO is the standard military issue automatic weapon equipped by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the Chinese law enforcement departments. The QBZ95 is offered in three variants: QBZ95 assault rifle, QBB95 squad automatic weapon, and QBZ95B carbine. These weapons, together with the QBU88 sniper rifle, formed a family of 5.8mm firearms, all sharing the a common bullpup design. Based on the QBZ95 design, NORINCO also developed a QBZ97 weapon family using NATO standard 5.56mm calibre for the export market.

The PLA began to develop its new-generation 5.8mm assault rifle in the late 1980s. Following the unsuccessful QBZ87 (Type 87) assault rifle, NORINCO introduced the QBZ95 (Type 95) design in 1995. The QBZ95 completely departed from the traditional Chinese rifle design and adopted a rather unusual bullpup configuration, which has been the subject of some debate and criticism. The weapon entered the PLA service in 1997 to replace the older 7.62mm Type 81 assault rifle and squad automatic weapon, but the process has been slow.

The bullpup design of the QBZ95 assault rifle has proven to be controversial. Like most bullpup rifles, the Type 95 allows a shorter overall length, saving weight and increasing manoeuvrability, at the same time the barrel length is maintained so that the trajectory and accuracy is not affected. This feature is welcomed by special operations forces and airborne forces. However, conventional infantry troops often complained that it is difficult to use the QBZ95 for accurate shooting at distance beyond the close quarter battle range due to the way the weapon is held by its user.

Nevertheless, the QBZ95 assault rifle and QBB95 squad automatic weapon finally entered the PLA service in 1997. The PLA Garrison Troops stationed in Hong Kong SAR became the first unit to have received these weapons. By 2006, most front-line units in the PLA ground forces have replaced their Type 81 weapon family with the QBZ95 (Type 95) weapon family, though the Type 81 continued to serve with some second-line units and most PAP units. However, in 2003, NORINCO revealed a new 5.8mm QBZ03 (Type 03) assault rifle using a conventional configuration, suggesting that the debate over the QBZ95’s bullpup design was far from over.

The Type 95 is a gas-operated, magazine fed, automatic weapon. 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 100~500m. The front part of the barrel in the standard version assault rifle is left unobstructed so that it can launch rifle grenades. It also can be fitted with an under-barrel grenade launcher or with a knife bayonet. Fire controls of the Type 95 rifle consist of a trigger and a safety/selector switch, located at the rear left of the receiver, behind the magazine housing. The rifle is fitted with a 30-round magazine and can fire single shots or bursts.

Optional Accessories

• Optical sight (X3 magnification)
• Image intensified night vision (X3 magnification, 200m range)
• knife bayonet
• QLJ91B 35mm anti-riot grenade launcher
• 38mm anti-riot grenade launcher
• LG1 35mm combat grenade launcher
• LG2-II 40mm combat grenade launcher
• Hand grenade ejector
• Blank firing attachment
• Carrying sling
• Cleaning kit
• Laser illuminator
• Tactical tortch

QBB95 Squad Automatic Weapon

The QBB95 squad automatic weapon is generally similar to the QBZ95 in design but uses a heavier and longer barrel to produce higher volumes of fire. It fires the DBP87 5.8X42mm ‘heavy rounds’ cartridge specially designed for uses by machineguns and sniper rifles, but can also fire the standard DBP87 5.8X42mm rifle cartridge.. The weapon is intended to serve as a squad automatic weapon (known as "squad machine gun’ in the terminologies of the PLA), providing effective automatic fire at ranges up to 600 meters.

The QBB95 is fitted with a foldable bipod for accurate shooting. Like the QBZ95, it can also be fitted with a variety of optical or night vision sights on top of its carrying handle for all-weather, day/night operations. The weapon is fed from a 75-round drum, but can also accept the 30-round box magazine used by the QBZ95 assault rifle.

QBZ95B Carbine

The QBZ95B carbine is a shorter and lighter version of the standard rifle with reduced effective range. It cannot fire the rifle grenade or be fitted with a grenade launcher. The weapon’s muzzle has a special funnel-shape flash hider. This weapon was designed for uses by the special operations forces in close quarter battle 9CQB). No operational deployment of the weapon has been reported.

QBZ97 Weapon Family

Based on the QBZ95 design, NORINCO also introduced the export version QBZ97. The weapon is generally similar to the QBZ95 except that it fires the NATO standard 5.56 X 45mm cartridge. The weapon’s magazine well could also accept the STANAG M16 style magazine. The weapon family consists of the QBZ97 (and its improved variant QBZ97A) assault rifle, QBB97 squad automatic weapon, QBZ97B carbine, and QBU97 sniper rifle.

Specifications

Gallery

QBZ95 assault rifle

QBB95 squad automatic weapon

QBZ95B carbine