The QBZ-191 Automatic Rifle () is a Chinese

assault rifle An assault rifle is a select fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge, intermediate-rifle cartridge and a Magazine (firearms), detachable magazine.C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', F.A. Moyer '' ...

chambered for the

5.8×42mm The 5.8×42mm / DBP87 ( zh, p=Dàn, Bùqiāng, Pŭtōng, 87, s=弹，步枪，普通 87, ) is a military bottlenecked intermediate cartridge developed in the People's Republic of China. There is limited information on this cartridge, although ...

intermediate cartridge An intermediate cartridge is a rifle/ carbine cartridge that has significantly greater power than a pistol cartridge but still has a reduced muzzle energy compared to fully powered cartridges (such as the .303 British, 7.62×54mmR, 7.65×53 ...

, designed and manufactured by Chongqing Jianshe as a new-generation

service rifle A service rifle (or standard-issue rifle) is a rifle a military issues to its regular infantry. In modern militaries, this is generally a versatile, rugged, and reliable assault rifle or battle rifle, suitable for use in nearly all environments ...

for the

People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the military of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Republic of China (PRC). It consists of four Military branch, services—People's Liberation Army Ground Force, Ground Force, People's ...

(PLA) and

People's Armed Police ) , abbreviation = PAP ("People's Armed Police") CAPF ("Chinese Armed Police Force"), formerly abbreviated''Wujing'' ( zh , s = 武警 , p = Wǔjǐng , l = Armed Police , labels = no ), or WJ as on vehicle license plates , patch ...

(PAP). The rifle's designation "QBZ" stands for " light weapon (Qīng Wǔqì) – rifle (Bùqiāng) – automatic (Zìdòng)". The new rifle was formally revealed at the 70th Anniversary National Day military parade on 1 October 2019, carried by personnel of the

PLA Ground Force The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF), also referred to as the PLA Army, is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and also its largest and oldest branch. The PLAGF can trace its lineage from 1927 as ...

and People's Armed Police. It is designated as part of the Type 20 () weapon family by the People's Liberation Army.

History

The Chinese military initiated the development of conventional-layout

s in 2014, with multiple manufacturers involved in the development and bidding process. Various prototypes of the new weapon platform were leaked online in 2016 and 2017. The QBZ-191 rifle was designed by

Norinco China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, doing business internationally as Norinco Group (an abbreviation of "North Industries Corporation"), and known within China as China Ordnance Industries Group Corporation Limited (), is a Chinese ...

's 208 Research Institute, which also designed the

bullpup A bullpup firearm is one with its firing grip located in front of the Chamber (firearms), breech of the weapon, instead of behind it. This creates a weapon with a shorter overall length for a given barrel length, and one that is often lighter, ...

QBZ-95 assault rifle. According to the director of the 208 Research Institute, QBZ-191 is a component of the new "Integrated Soldier Combat System" (), which aims to overhaul the PLA's infantry equipment. The QBZ-191 was first announced in the 2019 Chinese national parade and would gradually replace the QBZ-95 rifle family in Chinese military service. The QBZ-191 features several improvements, aiming to resolve the unsatisfactory issues, such as ergonomics, of the Type 95 platform. It was reported since 2021 that the QBZ-191 would eventually replace the QBZ-95 and QBZ-03 in PLA service. Since August 2023, Chinese special forces units use the QBZ-192 with armored infantry units following suit. In August 2024, Thailand reportedly was the first nation to acquire the QBZ-195T for Thai special forces, based on their experience from interactions with Chinese soldiers in joint exercises including “Assault-2023” and “Blue Assault-2023". It was reported that the QBZ-195T had superior performance to the M4 and M16A4 rifles. This is part of Thai efforts to diversify sources of military hardware.

Design

Compared to the bullpup

QBZ-95 The Type 95 automatic rifle () or QBZ-95 is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured by Norinco, and issued since 1995 as the service rifle for the People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police, and various law enforcement in China, la ...

, the QBZ-191 uses a conventional configuration similar to the QBZ-03, with greatly improved ergonomics, ambidextrous usability, and better reliability across different environments. The platform features various

barrel A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden stave (wood), staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers ...

lengths and

handguard A barrel shroud is an external covering that envelops (either partially or full-length) the barrel of a firearm to prevent unwanted direct contact with the barrel (e.g. accidental collision with surrounding objects or the user accidentally touch ...

configurations. A shorter

carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and ligh ...

version was carried by vehicle crews during the 2019 parade. The QBZ-191 rifle features a full-length

Picatinny rail The 1913 rail (MIL-STD-1913 rail) is an American rail integration system designed by Richard Swan that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It forms part of the NATO standard STANAG 2324 rail. It was originally used for mount ...

on the top and comes standard with new 3× daylight prismatic optics called QMK152 and QMK-171A, while a thermal sight is also available. The DMR variant is equipped with a new 3–8.6× scope called QMK-191, and the weapon can also be equipped with the IR5118 digital night vision/thermal scope. The rifle is also equipped with backup iron sights that can be folded down when not in use. The main body is divided into the upper and lower receivers, both are made of

aluminium alloy An aluminium alloy ( UK/IUPAC) or aluminum alloy ( NA; see spelling differences) is an alloy in which aluminium (Al) is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon, tin, nickel and zinc. There ...

and connected by two assembly pins, while the handguard,

pistol grip On a firearm or other tools, a pistol grip is a distinctly protruded handle underneath the main mechanism, to be held by the user's hand at a more vertical (and thus more ergonomic) angle, similar to how one would hold a conventional pistol. ...

and telescoping stock are made of polymer material. The reciprocating charging handle is located on the right side, while the bolt-release button sits on the left, above the "rock-and-lock" magazine insertion well. The weapon features a short-stroke piston gas-operation design with

rotating bolt Rotating bolt is a method of locking the breech (or rear barrel) of a firearm closed for firing. Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse developed the first rotating bolt firearm, the "Dreyse needle gun", in 1836. The Dreyse locked using the bolt handle ra ...

. The rifle has improved ergonomics, modularity and customization options, featuring a 4-position adjustable buttstock, ambidextrous fire selector, and a lengthened

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

release lever located in front of the

trigger guard A trigger guard is a protective loop surrounding the trigger (firearms), trigger of a firearm designed to prevent unwanted contact with the trigger, which may cause an accidental discharge. Other devices that use a trigger-like actuator mechanism, ...

for speed-reloading or easier manipulation when wearing gloves. The new polymer magazine has a redesigned surface texture for better grip and a transparent ammunition-checking window. The handguard has provisions at its 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, which allow small sections of Picatinny rails to be selectively installed through screw holes, so that various accessories such as

flashlight A flashlight (US English) or electric torch (Commonwealth English), usually shortened to torch, is a portable hand-held electric lamp. Formerly, the light source typically was a miniature incandescent light bulb, but these have been displaced ...

, laser module,

foregrip A vertical forward grip or foregrip is a vertical pistol grip mounted on the fore-end of a long-barrel firearm, designed for grasp A grasp is an act of taking, holding or seizing firmly with (or as if with) the hand. An example of a grasp is ...

and

bipod A bipod is a V-shaped portable attachment that helps support and steady a device, usually a weapon such as a long gun or a mortar. The term comes from the Latin prefix and Greek root , meaning "two" and "foot" respectively. Bipods are design ...

can be attached. The weapon platform can also be mounted with

bayonets A bayonet (from Old French , now spelt ) is a knife, dagger, sword, or Spike bayonet, spike-shaped melee weapon designed to be mounted on the end of the gun barrel, barrel of a rifle, carbine, musket or similar long gun, long firearm, allowing t ...

suppressors A silencer, also known as a sound suppressor, suppressor, or sound moderator, is a gun barrel#Muzzle, muzzle device that suppresses the muzzle blast, blast created when a gun (firearm or airgun) is discharged, thereby reducing the sound inten ...

, and under-barrel

grenade launchers A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires a specially designed, large caliber projectile, often with an explosive, smoke, or gas warhead. Today, the term generally refers to a class of dedicated firearms firing unitary grenade cartridges. The mo ...

. According to Chinese media, the QBZ-191 rifle is chambered in the Chinese-proprietary

caliber with a redesigned DBP-191 ammunition that has better ballistic performance at medium to long ranges. The rifle has been designed into three variants: a standard rifle version with a barrel, a carbine version with a barrel called QBZ-192, and a long-barreled DMR version called the QBU-191. The standard QBZ-191 has a full-auto

rate of fire Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. This can be influenced by several factors, including operator training level, mechanical limitations, ammunition availability, and weapon condition. In m ...

of 750 rounds per minute. The full-auto capability is retained on the QBU-191 designated marksman rifle, which could be easily configured into a light support weapon with a drum magazine. Along with the weapon, new accessories were also developed as part of the program, including laser sights, flashlight mounts, optics, foregrips, and magazines. Unlike its predecessor—the

—the QBZ-191 uses the

integration system, thus making the use of the former's modified

dovetail rail A dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a joinery technique most commonly used in woodworking joinery (carpentry), including furniture, cabinets, log buildings, and traditional timber framing. Noted for its resistance to being pulled apart, a ...

-mounted sights incompatible without an additional mount. The weapon is able to feed from the 30-round

and QBZ-95-1 magazines, which was commonly present on prototypes, and from the 75-round magazines of the QJB-95 (QBB-95) and QJB-95-1 light support weapons. A more transparent design and a diamond pattern has been reported, similar to the magazines of the

Heckler & Koch G36 The Heckler & Koch G36 (Gewehr 36) is an assault rifle An assault rifle is a select fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge, intermediate-rifle cartridge and a Magazine (firearms), detachable magazine.C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Ri ...

, commonly used on QBU-191 rifles. A

developed for the QBZ-191, which includes a

design on the bottom surface and an integrated

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word ''laser'' originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radi ...

. An undisclosed under-barrel grenade launcher has been used by the People's Liberation Army.

Variants

QBZ-191

Assault rifle An assault rifle is a select fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge, intermediate-rifle cartridge and a Magazine (firearms), detachable magazine.C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', F.A. Moyer '' ...

with a barrel.https://sadefensejournal.com/seeing-red-a-photographic-exploration-of-recent-infantry-weapons-of-chinas-pla/

QBZ-192

Carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and ligh ...

variant with a barrel.

QBU-191

Designated marksman rifle A designated marksman rifle (DMR) is a modern telescopic sight, scoped high-Accuracy and precision, precision rifle used by infantry in the designated marksman (DM) role. It generally fills the engagement effective range, range gap between a serv ...

with an

effective range Effective range is a term with several definitions depending upon context. Distance Effective range may describe a distance between two points where one point is subject to an energy release at the other point. The source, receiver, and conditio ...

. It is fitted with an accurized long, heavy

free-floating barrel A free-floating barrel is a firearm design used in precision rifles, particularly match grade benchrest rifles, to accurize the weapon system. With conventional rifles, the gun barrel rests in contact with the fore-end of the gunstock, so ...

, extended

, 30-round

box magazine A magazine, often simply called a mag, is an ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm, either integral within the gun (internal/fixed magazine) or externally attached (detachable magazine). The magazine functions by holdi ...

, and a QMK-191 variable-magnification (3–8.6×) telescopic sight. Selective fire with full-auto mode is retained on the marksman rifle, improving its fire suppression capability.

QBZ-195T

A variant of the QBZ-191 meant to be chambered in 5.56mm NATO ammo.

CS/LR42

A variant of the QBZ-191 chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO.

CS/LR42A

A variant of the QBZ-192 chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO.

CS/LR43

A variant of the QBZ-191 chambered in 7.62×39mm.

CS/LR43A

A variant of the QBZ-192 chambered in 7.62×39mm.

CS/LR44

A variant of the QBU-191 chambered in

7.62×51mm NATO The 7.62×51mm NATO (official NATO nomenclature 7.62 NATO) is a rimless, straight walled, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It is a standard for small arms among NATO countries. First developed in the 1950s, the cartridge had first be ...

Users

* : Being adopted by the

and the

. ** : Reported to be seen with HKPF PTU officers during a parade in 2023. * : Acquired the QBZ-195T for Thai special forces units from August 2024.https://thedefensepost.com/2024/08/07/thailand-customer-china-rifles/

References

{{Modern Chinese Infantry Weapons 5.8 mm firearms 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles Assault rifles of the People's Republic of China Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2019 Short stroke piston firearms Carbines Light machine guns Norinco