QBZ-95 at a Glance

Caliber: 5.8x42mm Length: 760mm Weight: 3.34kg

The Qing Buqiang Zu (light rifle family) 95, or QBZ-95 is manufactured by Norinco, and is a bull pup design that utilizes a three lug-rotating bolt, carrier, and adjustable short stroke gas piston system. It is designed to fire the new Chinese 5.8x42mm cartridge. It is made from high tinsel aluminum and modern synthetic materials, and also features a cold hammer forged barrel for increased accuracy. The QBZ-95 has a S-E-3-F trigger group, and since the ejection port is located on the right side of the rifle it is not ambidextrous. It is issued with thirty round synthetic magazines.

The charging handle is similar to that of the FAMAS F1, and is located underneath a carrying handle similar to that of an M-16. The rear sight is located to the rear of the carrying handle, and a variety of scopes and laser sights can be mounted upon the carrying handle. It can utilize all STANAG, and Chinese components meaning it can mount grenade launchers such as the US M203 and Chinese copies of it, and also STANAG optics. The QBZ-95’s bayonet can be used as a field knife, and also has a built in wire cutter.

The QBZ-95 first showed up in 1997 in the hands of Chinese troops in Hong Kong. It is now in service with Chinese Army Special Forces, and will someday replace the AK-47 as the standard service rifle for both Chinese police and military units.

The QBZ-95 is not the only new weapon the Chinese have developed to fire the new 5.8x42mm round. There is also a carbine version of the QBZ-95 the CAR-95, the KBU-88 a semi-automatic sniper rifle, the QBB-95 a squad automatic weapon, and the QJY88 a general-purpose machine gun.

The squad automatic version of the QBZ-95 the QBB-95 features a longer heavier barrel with a bipod, and is issued with a seventy five round drum although the thirty round magazines will still work with it.

There is also an export version of the QBZ-95 the QBZ-97, which is chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO round.