Type 05 / QBZ-05
Summary
| Country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Category | Submachine gun |
| Manufacturer | 208 Research Institute & Jian She Group |
Technical specifications
| Type 05 / QBZ-05 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 5.8 x 21 mm or 9 x 19 mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 30 - 50 rounds |
| Length | 500 mm (19.7 in) |
| Weight | 2.2 kg (4.9 lb) |
| Range | 150 m (492 ft) |
Description
The Type 95, also known as QBZ-95, is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured by Norinco. Small-caliber weapon development began in China in 1971, leading to bullpup prototypes like the WTC-1, WTC-2, and Type 86 in the 1980s. In 1989, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) requested a new small-caliber firearm family with improved reliability, accuracy, and adaptability. Duo Yingxian led the project from 1991, with initial production in 1995. The rifle was first publicly seen in 1997 during the handover of Hong Kong. Designed to replace the Type 81 assault rifle, it largely did so in frontline units by 2006, and gradually replaced it in second-line units and the People's Armed Police. An improved version, the QBZ-95-1, was observed undergoing trials in 2010 and formally displayed with the Hong Kong Garrison in 2012, featuring ergonomic changes, modified ejection, a longer/heavier barrel, redesigned muzzle brake, stronger buttstock, redesigned trigger guard, and a lowered carrying handle for optics.
The QBZ-95 employs a bullpup configuration with polymer construction. It fires the indigenous 5.8×42mm DBP87 cartridge and operates using a short-stroke gas piston system with a rotating bolt. The weapon utilizes a linear striker-firing mechanism, drawing inspiration from the vz. 58. Magazine insertion is performed by rocking the front into the well and rotating the rear upward. The charging handle is located under the carrying handle. The selector switch includes settings for safe ("0"), semi-automatic ("1"), and fully automatic ("2"), with some models offering a three-round burst ("3"). The 5.8×42mm cartridge is claimed to offer flatter trajectories, higher velocity and energy retention, and superior penetration compared to 5.56×45mm NATO and 5.45×39mm rounds. The QBZ-95-1 improved ergonomics with a repositioned thumb safety above the pistol grip and a bolt release button behind the magazine latch. The weapon can launch rifle grenades and mount QLG-91B or QLG-10/A 35 mm under-barrel grenade launchers, and can also accept the Type 87 bayonet. Optics can be mounted via a dovetail rail on the carrying handle, compatible with scopes like the YMA95, YMA95-1, and QMK-171. Picatinny rail modifications are available.
The Type 95 family includes several military variants:
- QBZ-95: Standard rifle firing the 5.8×42mm DBP87 cartridge.
- QBZ-95B: Shorter carbine variant.
- QJB-95: Light support weapon with a longer, heavier barrel.
Export versions include the QBZ-97 chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO with a proprietary magazine well, and its variants: QBZ-97A (adding three-round burst and bolt hold-open), QBZ-97B (carbine), and QJB-97 (LSW). The improved QBZ-95-1 rifle fires the DBP10 round and has the QBZ-95B-1 carbine and QJB-95-1 LSW variants. Civilian, semi-automatic versions like the Type 97 rifle and Type 97A carbine (later the T97NSR) chambered in .223 Remington or 5.56mm have also been developed, fed by STANAG magazines. Export variants NQZ03A and NQZ03B, and enhanced flat-top receiver modifications also exist. The K12 Puma is a related 12-gauge shotgun.
The Type 97 export variants have been hinted to be involved in some foreign conflicts. Televised tests have shown the weapon can continue to function after being immersed in water and in other harsh environmental conditions. The QBZ-95-1 version is scheduled for replacement by the QBZ-191.
The QBZ-95 is the standard service rifle of the People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police, and Chinese Coast Guard. Some Chinese police departments also use the export QBZ-97 variant. Other known users include Cambodia (using QBZ-97 variants), Laos, Myanmar (using QBZ-97 and local unlicensed production DI MA-1 Mk. III), Pakistan, Philippines (QBZ-97), Rwanda, Solomon Islands (training with reported replicas), Sudan (QBZ-97 with UBGL selected for Kombo system, locally produced as Sinan), and Venezuela (using QBZ-97A in specific military units). Non-state actors equipped with the QBZ-97 include the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Wa State.