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Liu Zhen

China’s small arms – less conspicuous than its cutting-edge fighter jets but just as significant – are undergoing a major transformation.
The QBZ-191 assault rifle, designed to eventually replace the People’s Liberation Army’s long-serving QBZ-95 family, reflects China’s commitment to boosting combat effectiveness to meet the demands of future conflicts.
Designated among the Type 20 rifle family, the firearm made its public debut during the 2019 National Day parade in Beijing.
The full family – including the base model QBZ-191, the compact carbine QBZ-192 and the precision variant QBU-191 – was revealed in 2021.
The models were featured again in the most recent Victory Day parade in Beijing, held on September 3.




Assault rifle evolution
The PLA’s assault rifle development has mirrored the nation’s military and industrial evolution since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.
In the 1950s, newly established Chinese arms factories started by copying Soviet designs, such as the popular Type 56 rifle – a licensed version of the AK-47. This rugged and reliable weapon served as the PLA’s backbone for decades, and was even widely exported around the world.
As China’s defence industry matured, it began to seek a more domestically tailored solution. The Type 81 assault rifle in the early 1980s was a successful outcome that combined elements of the AK-47 and SKS carbine. It was known for its accuracy and durability, becoming a symbol of the PLA’s growing self-reliance in arms manufacturing.
When the QBZ-95 (or Type 95) assault rifle, first designed in the late 1980s, was officially introduced in 1997, it was seen as a radical leap. It was one of the first mass-produced bullpup rifles in the world, with its unique design placing the action and magazine behind the trigger group.
The configuration enables a shorter, more compact profile without sacrificing barrel length. It also uses a new, smaller 5.8x42mm round, which allows soldiers to carry more ammunition without added weight, while lower recoil and bolt forces make the weapon lighter and more accurate on full automatic.
However, the bullpup design was controversial for its unconventional ergonomics and limited customisation options because of its fixed layout, which led to the development of a more modern, adaptable rifle – the 191 series.


Shooter-friendly design
The 191 series abandons the bullpup design and returns to the more conventional layout, featuring a collapsible stock with four-stage length-of-pull adjustment to accommodate shooters of various body sizes. It is the first Chinese-made rifle with an adjustable stock.
By returning the magazine to the front of the trigger, the 191 series has significantly improved ergonomics compared to its predecessor, the Type 95. Improved shoulder comfort, reduced recoil and easier magazine release have earned the new rifle widespread acclaim. And its ambidextrous design of fire selectors makes it easy to operate by both left- and right-handed soldiers, although the charging handle is still on the right.
A key feature is the full-length Picatinny rail on top, which allows for the rapid mounting and removal of various tactical accessories, such as red dot sights, holographic sights, night vision devices, lasers and tactical lights, either individually or in combination.
The various customisation options enable the 191 series to adapt to diverse combat environments, from urban fighting to jungle warfare, under any weather.
Additionally, a shorter rail underneath the handguard supports more mission-specific accessories such as a bayonet or under-barrel grenade launcher.
The 191 series continues the 5.8mm calibre as used in the 95 family but introduces a new generation of 5.8×42mm ammunition engineered for improved performance, such as the DBP-191 standard round and the DBU-191 designated marksman round. The new ammunition enhances ballistic efficiency and reportedly doubles barrel life from 10,000 to 20,000 rounds.
Moreover, the remaining round count can be seen through the 191 series’ plastic magazine in sufficient light so the shooter can adjust tactics accordingly.




The 191 family
The original QBZ-191 assault rifle is designed to provide a dependable, effective and balanced general-purpose weapon for standard army infantry units as well as armed police.
It is around 900mm in length, of which 368mm is the barrel. Its unloaded weight is around 3.1kg (6.8lbs), which is relatively lightweight thanks to the aluminium alloy receivers and partial use of plastic materials.
In automatic mode, the QBZ-191 has a cyclic rate of 750 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 400 metres (1,312 feet).
The QBZ-192 carbine rifle is a compact variant intended for special forces, airborne troops, armoured vehicle crews and other units that require a more portable weapon. The shortened 267mm barrel significantly reduces the overall length and weight to enhance agility. It also comes with a 3x optical scope, the same as the base model.
The QBU-191 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) is designed for precision shooting at medium to long ranges. It features a longer, heavier barrel – up to 551mm – to minimise barrel vibration and enhance accuracy. The variant is typically equipped with a high-magnification variable-power optic scope of up to 25x, and the effective range is increased to 800 metres.
Despite its role as a precision rifle, it retains the capability to load a drum magazine for automatic fire for suppression. The modular design of the 191 family means the DMR can also use standard DBP-191 cartridges in addition to its precision DBU-191 round, with fully interchangeable magazines.


New trends
The deployment of the 191 series represents the PLA catching up with global trends. The full-rail modular design, ergonomic optimisation and improved performance put it in the same generation as world-class combat rifles, such as the US M4, Belgian SCAR and the German HK416, prioritising modularity and reliability.
With much greater expandability and accessory compatibility than their Chinese predecessors, the 191 series grants PLA soldiers a similar level of tactical freedom as their Western counterparts.
Meanwhile, the 191 has begun to compete with foreign elite rifles on the international market. In 2024, the Royal Thai Armed Forces announced the decision to buy a specially developed QBZ-191 variant – reportedly designated QBZ-195T and chambered for 5.56×45mm Nato rounds – for its special operations units, marking a significant export milestone.
Notably, the 191 rifles have built-in ports for extensions connecting with the soldier’s individual information system, according to media reports.
This suggests that the 191 series was designed not just as a firearm, but as a node in an integrated soldier digital combat network. It is likely to connect with advanced fire control systems, night vision equipment and tactical communications systems for information sharing in intelligent warfare.


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191 series shows PLA is catching up with global trends to match world-class combat rifles like the US M4, Belgian SCAR and the German HK416


191 series shows PLA is catching up with global trends to match world-class combat rifles like the US M4, Belgian SCAR and the German HK416.


QBZ-191 assault rifle gives Chinese small arms tactical and export edge

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}191 series shows PLA is catching up with global trends to match world-class combat rifles like the US M4, Belgian SCAR and the German HK416

Assault rifle evolution

191 series shows PLA is catching up with global trends to match world-class combat rifles like the US M4, Belgian SCAR and the German HK416