Китайская штурмовая винтовка QBZ 95: конструкция и характеристики.

Chinese bullpup assault rifle
An export version chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO, the QBZ 97, is used by various countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Africa.

The Chinese military started to develop small caliber weapons in 1971. and the Type 86 bullpup rifle in 1986. In 1989, the People's Liberation Army requested that Norinco develop a new family of small caliber firearms with improved reliability and accuracy, adaptability to different roles, and configurability to different tactical applications. Duo Yingxian, who is credited for the design of QBZ 95, was recruited to serve as the project head in 1991. It is a modern weapon system in a bullpup configuration, where the weapon's action and magazine are located behind the grip and trigger assembly. The weapon was designed to replace the standard issue Type 81 assault rifle. The QBZ 95 had replaced the Type 81 in frontline units by 2006, and is gradually replacing it in second line units and the People's Armed Police. little has been reported about its overall combat effectiveness. It has been shown in televised tests that the weapon can continue to function after being immersed in water, as well as other harsh environmental conditions. What is also known is that the weapon operates using a short stroke gas operated rotating bolt system, similar to most modern military rifles. The selector switch on the rifle has four settings. The selector settings are as follows: "0" for safe, "1" for semi automatic, "2" for fully automatic and, on selected models, "3" for a three round burst setting. The Chinese Army says it has tested its 5.8×42mm cartridge extensively against NATO's 5.56×45mm and its counterpart, the 5.45×39mm from Russia. The PLA claims their cartridge outperforms both with flatter trajectories, and higher retention of velocities and energy downrange. It is also claimed to have a penetration superior to the 5.56×45mm NATO.

The design of the QBZ 95 is completely new with little resemblance to any of the previous Chinese designs. Thanks to the low recoil impulse of the small caliber ammunition and a recoil buffer system, the rifle is claimed to be more controllable in automatic fire. The charging handle is located under the integral carrying handle, similar to early versions of the AR 10. To chamber a round and charge the weapon, the handle is pulled fully to the rear and then released forward to bring a round into the chamber. It is then ready to fire. On the later variants, if the bolt is held open, the charging handle will be locked in the rear position under the carrying handle. One can either use the finger to pull the charging handle to the rear fully or press the bolt release button located behind the magazine latch to release the bolt, one feature the previous design lacks.

The QBZ 95 can be mounted with the Type 87 bayonet, which is based on the M9 bayonet.

Soldiers can mount optical sights for their rifles, due to a dovetail rail built into the carrying handle. The QBZ 95 can also use YMA95 and YMA95 1 scopes. QBZ 95 and QBZ 95–1 series rifles can also be fitted with improved QMK 171 3x scopes. The QMK 171 shares the same design as the QMK 152 scope fitted with the QBZ 191, though the QMK 152 only fits on picatinny rails, whereas the QMK 171 has quick lock lever for dovetail rails.

The carrying handle can be mounted with a short picatinny rail, as well as be swapped to new upper receiver with customization capabilities. Most of the picatinny rail modifications for the Type 95 were designed by Wang Jie and Hong Kong weapon designer Lee Ka Ho The ACP Peak series by Lee has a flat top rail system while "Long Bow" modifications from Wang Jie retain the shape of the carrying handle. Both modifications are fielded within the Chinese police force and People's Liberation Army.

This is a shorter and lighter version of the standard rifle. From pictures seen, the QBZ 95B is seen issued only to naval officers, most likely due to the limited room in naval vessels that would preclude the full length rifle being used in close quarters. Its shorter barrel prevents a grenade launcher or bayonet from being attached, and it has an AKS 74U style muzzle booster. The carbine may also be in use with special forces.

This variant is a QBZ 97 with the addition of a three round burst mode and a bolt hold open device; it also differs from the QBZ 95 and the QBZ 97 by the shape of its grip, now missing the "front grip" part in front of the trigger guard.

This is the carbine version of the QBZ 97. The official distributor of the QBZ 97B assault carbine on the international market, Jianshe Industries (Group) Corporation, advertises and sells it under the denomination "5.56mm short automatic rifle Type NQZ03B (97)".

The light support weapon model of the QBZ 97 is chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition instead of the original Chinese 5.8x42mm cartridge.

The new QBZ 95 1, also called the QBZ 95 "Gai" ("改"; literally: 'modified'), addresses several reliability and ease of use issues, and has improved ergonomics. and has a heavier, longer barrel and a redesigned muzzle brake to use it. The "1" variant has an altered butt stock, trigger guard, and a repositioned thumb fire selector switch above the pistol grip. The carrying handle has retained the Chinese quick release mount rail. In addition, bullet casings eject to the front (1 o'clock position from the barrel) of the weapon, allowing left handed firing. Also, there is a bolt release button located behind the magazine latch. It was observed undergoing testing and evaluation in early 2010. It was later introduced into service, replacing the original QBZ 95 assault rifle. The original QBZ 95 rifles are being handed down to second line and reserve troops, while front line troops receive the QBZ 95 1. The QBZ 95 1 is scheduled to be replaced in the near future by a new assault rifle known as the "QBZ 191".

Improved version of the QBZ 95B with barrel and ergonomic enhancements of the QBZ 95 1 in the carbine platform.

An improved version of the QJB 95 LSW with the ergonomic enhancements of the QBZ 95 1 in a squad machine gun platform. Type 97A carbines became available in Canada in 2008, were classified as "non restricted" by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and sold to the general public. In January 2009, a shipment of Type 97 firearms was approved by the RCMP for retail sale, but was later confiscated and seized by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers. Around the same time, a second shipment of Type 97A restricted firearms was also stopped by the CBSA. On March 22, 2010, about 35 civilian owners of Type 97A carbines originally imported by Lever Arms of BC (the only version ever available for sale) were sent notice by the RCMP indicating that the status of their firearm had been changed to "12.2 prohibited (fully automatic)", and owners without such a firearm license had 30 days to turn in their Type 97A firearms to either individuals or businesses that had such a license, or to police for destruction. Canadian Type 97 owners initiated a reference hearing, to establish legality of re classification of the Type 97 semi automatic weapon to "prohibited" status. In early 2012 the challenge was lost, and the judge ruled that Type 97 firearms are,indeed, prohibited firearms. While the exact details of the modification are kept secret, RCMP firearm technicians, allegedly, demonstrated to an expert on the defense side, that the Type 97 firearm can be readily and easily converted to fully automatic mode of operation in short time and with commonly available tools. As a result, Type 97 firearms were confiscated from the owners, and are no longer legal for civilian ownership in Canada (even for people with the so called "12.2 fully automatic" firearm license). On April 28, 2013, Norinco's new EMEI T97NSR was classified as a "non restricted" firearm by the RCMP with FRT Number 142760, and became legal for dealers to import for those with non restricted possession and acquisition licenses. It is legal in Canada for hunting, varmint control, target practice and competitive shooting. It went into retail stores on September 17, 2013, and costs about $1,000 CAD.

Export variant, chambered in 5.56 NATO.

Shortened variant, chambered in 5.56 NATO.

Enhanced variants with a Picatinny rail replacing the top carrying handle (so called "flat top") have been built in both Canada and China. Two export variants, dubbed the "EM3516" and "T97NSR A", have been unveiled.

12 gauge Shotgun with a similar mechanism of action and outer resemblance, features a gas switch for heavy and light loads.

Myanmar 5.56 NATO unlicensed copy, developed by reverse engineering a small initial export order the extension of which was cancelled due to arms embargoes placed on Myanmar.

Tamil Tigers: Equipped with the QBZ 97.