Firearms / Assault rifles / QBZ-03
QBZ-03
General Facts
- TYPE
Assault rifle - ORIGIN
China - NICKNAMES
Type 03 (nickname) - DESIGNED
2003 - DESIGNER
Norinco - PRODUCTION
2003 - present - PRODUCERS China - Norinco
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Rugged and reliable
Better range than Type 81
More cumbersome than QBZ-95
Introduction
The QBZ-03 is a modern assault rifle of Chinese origin. It was developed as a less costly alternative to the QBZ-95 for second-line use. The QBZ-03 features a a conventional design and the internal mechanism is derived from the proven Type 81 rifle. In 2007 a version that fires the 5.56x45mm round was developed for export.
Design
The QBZ-03 is an assault rifle of a conventional design. The design is based on the older Type 81 assault rifle. The QBZ-03 uses a short stroke gas piston and rotating bolt. Unlike the Type 81 a plastic furniture and polymer magazines are used. The stock is able to fold to the left.
Firepower
The QBZ-03 fires the Chinese 5.8x42mm round from a 30 round magazine. It is a select fire rifle with cyclic rate of fire of 700 rpm. The maximum effective range is 400 meters. It is possible to fire rifle grenades with the QBZ-03. An export version that fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round from 30 round STANAG magazines is also available.
Users
The QBZ-03 is in limited used with the Chinese People's Armed Police and People's Liberation Army. The QBZ-03 is also available for export.
QBZ-03
QBZ-03: The QBZ-03 is an assault rifle that fires the 5.8x42mm round. It has a conventional design. Besides a version chambered in 5.56x45mm for export no variants have been developed.
- Specifications:
- QBZ-03
| Type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.8x42mm Chinese |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 650 - 700 rpm |
| Barrel length | ? |
|---|---|
| Rifling | ? |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 960 mm / 710 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.8 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights |
| Remarks | - |
Type 81
The origin of the QBZ-03 can be traced back to the Type 81 assault rifle. This rifle has the same operating principle as the QBZ-03, but is chambered for a different round and uses a wooden furniture.