QBZ-03

The QBZ-03 (Mandarin: Qīngwǔqi Bùqiāng Zìdòng—"light rifle automatic") assault rifle, also known as the Type 03, is a Chinese gas operated, selective-fire assault rifle designed and developed for the 5.8×42mm DBP87 round.

QBZ-03 assault rifle (Qīngwǔqi Bùqiāng Zìdòng)
QBZ03 automatic rifle
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2003–present
Production history
Manufacturer	Norinco
Produced	2003–present
Specifications
Mass	3.5 kg (7.7 lb) (unloaded)
Length	950 mm (37 in) with stock extended, 725 mm (28.5 in) with stock folded
Barrel length	440 mm (17 in)
Cartridge	5.8×42mm DBP87 5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Gas operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700–750 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	930 m/s (3,050 ft/s)
Effective firing range	500 m (1,600 ft)
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Fixed Type 56 style front sight, flip-up diopter rear sight

Unlike the bullpup QBZ-95, the QBZ-03 is a weapon of conventional design. The weapon is designed to be easily used by soldiers already familiar with previously issued assault rifles and machine guns.

Design

The weapon has a faster rate of fire compared to QBZ-95. Operating system is similar to Type 81 assault rifle featuring rotating bolt locking and short-stroke gas piston.^[1] In 2015, the manufacturer displayed a version with a quad-rail hand guard; the short rear section screws onto the upper receiver.^[2]

Variants

• QBZ-03: Base model.
• EM3513: Semi-automatic export variant, chambering 5.56 mm.^[3]

Users

•  China
  • People's Liberation Army
    • People's Liberation Army Ground Force border defense units^[4][5]
• United Wa State Army^[6]

See also

• QTS-11 - An assault rifle with an integrated 20 mm airburst grenade launcher based on the QBZ-03.

References

1. "Picture". Modern Firearms. 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
2. "Chinese Small Arms from the 7th Beijing Police Equipment Expo". 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
3. "EMEI/5.6mm Semi-Automatic Rifle Model EM3513". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
4. Moss, Matthew (18 December 2018). "POTD: Border Guards with China's QBZ-03 Rifle". thefirearmblog.com. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
5. "Border defense soldiers pass on glorious history on the Pamirs in NW China's Xinjiang - Ministry of National Defense". eng.mod.gov.cn. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
6. "China Supplies QBZ-03 Rifle to United Wa State Army". 7 May 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.

External links

• Media related to Type 03 rifle at Wikimedia Commons