In a previous article published in SADJ, we examined the QBZ95 (Type 95) assault rifle used by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in China.  In this issue we expand our remit to look at a wider range of standard small arms used by infantry units in China’s enormous military.  As before, the photos and much of the technical data derive from the Hong Kong Garrison of the PLA.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) returned to China’s bosom on 1 July 1997.  The HK Garrison is a force of carefully selected PLA personnel; somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 soldiers strong.  Strategically, it may not be a large garrison for the PLA, but it does represent a politically symbolic force for the Chinese government.  Thus, the force is often among the vanguard to field new weapon systems.

We will examine a total of nine different weapons operated by the HK Garrison, and of course these are representative of what are used by the wider PLA.  The weapons have been arranged in general order of size.  We would also point out that the nomenclature used here is that favored by the PLA itself.  Whereas many Western sources add hyphens in weapon designations, the PLA does not do so (e.g. QLZ87 rather than QLZ-87).

A QSL92 pistol in 5.56mm caliber belonging to the Hong Kong Garrison of the PLA. Note the ambidextrous safety/decocking lever that is mounted on both sides of the handgun.

QSZ92 Pistol
The QSZ92, a product of Norinco, has been the standard semiautomatic pistol used by the PLA since it was introduced in the late 1990s.  It is believed development commenced around 1994.  Of conventional design with some idiosyncrasies, it can be chambered in either 9x19mm Parabellum or 5.8x21mm caliber (referred to as the QSZ92-9 and QSZ92-5.8 respectively).  The frame is made of polymer and it is recoil-operated and has a locked breech.  The barrel rotates upon recoil to lock and unlock itself from the slide using two rows of split locking lugs.

A total of 15 9mm rounds, or 20 rounds of 5.8mm ammunition, are dual-stacked in the magazine.  The pistol employs a double-action trigger mechanism and a three-dot fixed sight.  A laser light or flashlight can be fitted on an integral rail underneath the barrel.

The PLA’s preferred caliber for soldiers (e.g. special forces) is 9mm, while commanders and officers are issued the 5.8mm-caliber version.  The handgun is also commonly used by police forces in China.  The QSZ92 has been adopted by the militaries of Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Weight:760 g
Length:190 mm
Barrel length:111 mm
Magazine:15 rounds (for 9mm)
Muzzle velocity:350 m/s
Effective range:50 m

The PLA’s 5.8mm QCW05 submachine gun is easily identified by the carry handle, whereas the JS has a Picatinny rail fitted instead. Note the silencer that is here attached to the barrel.

QCW05 5.8mm Submachine Gun
The QCW05 (its name Weisheng Chongfeng Qiang literally means ‘Silenced Assault Gun’) is a 5.8x21mm-caliber submachine gun that joined PLA service after winning a competition to replace Type 79 and 85 silenced submachine guns in 2001.  Although it bears some familial resemblance to the standard QBZ95 assault rifle, it was jointly developed by the 208 Research Institute and Jianshe Industries (Group) Corporation in Chongqing.  The latter is part of China South Industries Group, and the QCW05 was officially unveiled at the International Police Equipment Expo in Beijing in 2005.

The QCW05 of bullpup configuration operates on the blowback principle, firing from an open bolt.  It is said to possess easy construction characteristics, and polymers are used for elements such as the shoulder stock and pistol grip.  The weapon can fire in single, 3-round-burst or fully automatic modes.  The gun is fed from a four-row box magazine that holds 50 rounds.  Like the Type 95 rifle, spent cases eject only from the right side, meaning it is not advisable to fire left-handed.  It has a deliberately low rate of fire to aid controllability.  It has a flip-up rear sight.

The PLA fires 5.8x21mm cartridges with the QCW05, and it is typically issued to non-combat personnel such as vehicle crews and aircrews.  Its compact size makes it easy to use in cramped environments like vehicle interiors.  Of course, it is also intended for Special Forces use, hence the detachable silencer that can be fitted.  The 5.8x21mm DCV05 subsonic round is available when the silencer is employed.

When chambered in 9mm caliber, it is known as the JS, and it is commonly used by the People’s Armed Police (PAP).  The JS has a lower-capacity 30-round magazine owing to the larger 9mm rounds.  The QCQ05 is a version without a suppressor.

Weight:2.2 kg
Length:500 mm
Barrel length:250 mm
Magazine:50 rounds
Muzzle velocity:150 m/s (w/ silencer)
Effective range:50 m (silencer fitted)

A QBU88 sniper rifle seen with its bipod and 4x telescopic sight attached. It offers a longer range than the standard QBZ95 assault rifle. It has adjustable iron sights fitted as standard.

QBU88 5.8mm Sniper Rifle
The QBU88 (or Type 88) is more of a designated marksman rifle than a true sniper rifle, and it is perfectly capable of providing aimed semiautomatic fire at longer ranges.  This is a significant weapon since it was the first of a new generation of Chinese weapons to use the proprietary 5.8x42mm caliber.  As indicated by its Type 88 designation, it was adopted by the PLA sometime in the late 1980s or thereafter.

The gas-operated QBU88 fires a heavier 5.8x42mm round, although it can still shoot the regular 5.8mm cartridge used with the Type 95 assault rifle.  The short-stroke gas piston is located above the barrel, and it utilizes a three-lug rotating bolt.  Diopter-type adjustable iron sights are standard, but typically it is fitted with a 4x magnification scope.  A night sight is also available, which can be fitted on a short rail.

This weapon is used by both the PLA and police in China.  Generally it is used in conjunction with a detachable bipod.

Weight:4.2 kg
Length:920 mm
Barrel length:620 mm
Magazine:10 rounds
Effective range:800 m

This QJY88 general-purpose machine gun is mounted on a tripod for sustained fire. It can alternatively be operated with just a bipod for the light machine gun role.

QJY88 5.8mm Machine Gun
The Type 88 is a 5.8x42mm general-purpose machine gun that replaced the incumbent Type 67.  It has an integral bipod or it can be mounted on a lightweight tripod for sustained fire.  A standard crew in such a role comprises two soldiers.

Despite its name incorporating the digits 88, it seems the weapon only entered PLA service earlier this millennium.  This light machine gun from the Norinco stable is reportedly not so popular among troops because it lacks the range and lethality of its predecessor.  Although lighter than the Type 67 machine gun, it is still considerably heavier than foreign counterparts such as the FN Minimi.

The QJY88 is air-cooled and gas-operated with a long-stroke gas piston, and the barrel can be quickly detached.  The weapon is fed from a 200-round disintegrating steel belt contained in a plastic box mounted on the left.  The standard round is 5.8x42mm.

Weight:11.8 kg (16 kg w/ tripod)
Length:1,160 mm
Barrel length:600 mm
Magazine:200 rounds
Muzzle velocity:895 m/s
Effective range:800 m

A QJZ89 heavy machine gun on display at the PLA’s Stonecutters Island Naval Base in Hong Kong. It is mounted on an adjustable-height tripod and an optical sight is fitted.

QJZ89 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun
The QJZ89 is the Chinese equivalent of the M2 .50 cal. machine gun commonly used in the West.  This crew-served weapon offers sustained fire support for ground troops and it can also be mounted on light vehicles (the Dongfeng EQ2050 4×4, for example).  As well as attacking lightly protected targets and lightly armored vehicles, it could be used in the antiaircraft role too.  A standard weapon crew is three men, and it is fielded at both the battalion and company levels within the PLA.

The air-cooled Type 89 uses a gas-/recoil-operated action.  The machine gun is typically mounted on a tripod and the QJZ89 is fed from a 50-round belt contained in a box mounted on the left.  The detachable barrel can be quickly changed, while the muzzle brake is particularly large.  Its first public appearance was with the Hong Kong Garrison in 1997.

This heavy machine gun usually features an optical sight for improved long-range accuracy, but a night vision sight can also be mounted.  Its rate of fire is 450-600 rounds per minute, and it fires a 12.7x108mm round (armor-piercing, high explosive and incendiary are available).  The gunner operates the weapon by holding a pistol grip with rifle-type trigger, supported by a tubular shoulder stock.

Weight:17.5 kg (26 kg w/ tripod)
Length:1,920 mm
Barrel length:1,002 mm
Magazine:50 rounds
Muzzle velocity:825 m/s
Effective range:1,500 m

A QLZ87 35mm automatic grenade launcher displayed with an optical sight and rubber shoulder pad. Note the fitted 15-round drum magazine, and the smaller 6-round drum alongside.

QLZ87 35mm Automatic Grenade Launcher
This automatic grenade launcher (AGL) of 35mm caliber was developed by Norinco in the late 1980s, building upon studies of the Russian AGS-17 and development of the W87 export type.  Issued in the mid-1990s, it is notable for being the first such weapon to enter PLA service as standard issue.  It is issued at the platoon and company level to give direct fire support to infantry.

Great effort was invested into making the weapon as light as possible, which explains why a locked-breech action was chosen.  The QLZ87 can be operated in two ways: as a standard 12 kg type with bipod fired by a single soldier and with a range of 600 m; or a 20 kg tripod-mounted heavy version served by three crewmen and with a 1,750 m maximum range.  The tripod allows 360º traverse and an elevation range from -10º to 70º, which thus gives it a theoretical capability against low-flying aircraft.  It is gas-operated (direct impingement) and air-cooled.  A 3x optical sight is fitted as standard.  The QLZ87 can also be fitted on vehicles and helicopters to give them a degree of firepower.

The AGL fires a range of 35x32mm rounds, including high explosive (HE), high explosive anti-tank (HEAT), incendiary and smoke grenades in either single or burst mode.  Its sustained rate of fire is 45 rounds per minute.  The grenades can be loaded in either a 6-round or 15-round drum magazine underneath the weapon instead of a more complicated belt feed.  The 35mm grenades, weighing 250 g each, have a better blast radius performance (claimed 10 m kill radius) and armor penetration capacity (up to 80 mm) than 40mm grenades of the American Mk 19 AGL.

An unusual feature is the position of the pistol grip that extends laterally from the right side alongside the trigger and safety/fire selector.  Its rate of fire, especially when using the light version, must make accurate shooting difficult.  Another problem is the very low drum magazine capacity.  The PLA obviously opted for maneuverability instead of firepower with this AGL.  As the first generation adopted by the PLA, the QLZ87 apparently had some teething problems, and this would explain why the belt-fed QLZ04 AGL was later fielded.

Weight:20 kg (heavy variant)
Length:970 mm
Magazine:6 or 15 rounds
Muzzle velocity:200 m/s
Effective range:1,750 m

The QLT89 is a handheld grenade launcher that fires 50mm rounds at targets up to 800 m away. The lightweight weapon is fired by one man and there is no bipod attached.

QLT89 50mm Grenade Launcher
This is a handheld grenade launcher of 50mm caliber (i.e. it has no bipod), with the design being finalized in the early 1990s.  It weighs just 3.8 kg and is capable of lobbing a round out to 800 m to produce a suppressive-fire effect.  Components include the tube assembly, seat assembly, trigger assembly and strap.  A simple flip-out sight at the end of the tube helps with basic aiming.

The PLA highlights the QLT89’s lightness and ease of handling, as well as the fact that it does not produce smoke or flash, and makes minimal sound, when fired.  It is utilized by platoons and companies within the PLA.  The main round is a 50mm anti-personnel grenade that produces 800 fragments in a 16 m-radius kill zone. The grenade weighs 700 g and is 330 mm long. Smoke, incendiary and illumination grenades are also available for the QLT89.  An improved QLT89A has since been developed.

Weight:3.8 kg
Length:600 mm
Effective range:800 m

A PP87 mortar viewed from the front right. This is the standard 82mm mortar used by the PLA. Its maximum range is 4.66 km.

PP87 82mm Mortar
This is a larger crew-served mortar produced by Norinco.  The medium-caliber Type 87 replaced the older Type 67 and it is widely used at the battalion level.  The PP87 can fire three types of round – HE, smoke and illumination.

Weight:39.7 kg
Length:1,400 mm
Effective range:120 m – 4,660 m

This battalion-level PF98 rocket launcher is fitted with the more substantial digital fire control unit. The PLA weapon is here mounted on a regular tripod.

PF98 120mm Rocket Launcher
The final weapon we are presenting is the PF98 anti-tank rocket launcher from Norinco, which succeeded outdated Type 78 and 65 recoilless rifles.  Development of this more modern anti-tank weapon commenced in the 1990s, resulting in the PF98, and it fills the gap between individual rocket launchers and more sophisticated anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).  The PF98 fires 120mm rockets designed to destroy enemy tanks, armored vehicles, bunkers and fortifications.

This weapon was first seen in the Macao Garrison of the PLA in 1999, but the PLA now widely fields the rocket launcher at battalion and company levels.  It can fire either a 120mm HE multipurpose or HEAT round, with the PLA claiming an 800 mm penetration capability for the latter.  This 6.3 kg HEAT round has a tandem warhead and an electronically controlled timer fuse.  The 7.5 kg HE round, meanwhile, contains 120 steel balls and incendiary material that can pierce 400 mm of armor.

The PF98 exists in two versions – one with a basic fire control unit with optical sight (with night vision channel), laser rangefinder, fire control computer and LED display (referred to as the battalion-level PF98); and the other with a simpler 4x optical sight with night vision channel (known as the company-level PF98).  The former version offers a much better chance of a hit since the system makes ballistic calculations for the gunner.

In 2010, the Hong Kong Garrison displayed a newer version called the PF98A.  The most obvious difference is a modified fire control unit that offers enhanced accuracy and fewer buttons to press (25 keys reduced to about 12).  The sight is improved & a new rocket was developed in 2006 too.  The PLA gives the PF98A’s length as 1.25 m, which reflects the altered and lighter launch tube (now approximately 7 kg in weight).

The one- or two-man crew can fire the PF98 from a tripod (with -6º to +30º elevation range, and 360º traverse) or from the shoulder.  Reaction time from target acquisition to firing for the original PF98 is 10 seconds, and between four and six rounds can be fired per minute.  The older fiberglass reusable tube launcher weighs approximately 10 kg.  Bangladesh, Indonesia and Zimbabwe have also acquired the PF98 system.

Weight:29 kg
Length:1,191 mm
Effective range:800m (HEAT), 1,800m (HE)

This same rifle remains in service with the Hong Kong Garrison of the PLA, a force that boasts carefully selected personnel of only the highest mettle and discipline.  Interestingly, Chinese soldiers are rarely seen outside their barracks to ensure their image goes untarnished in the territory, and perhaps at the same time to prevent them from being ‘tarnished’ by Hong Kong’s more liberal philosophies than those espoused in communist China.  This article examines the important Type 95 rifle in service with the PLA, utilizing information gained from the author’s long-time residence in Hong Kong.

It is unclear how large the Hong Kong Garrison is, with even the Hong Kong government confessing it does not know.  However, the best estimates put the number of troops stationed in the territory somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000.  It may not be a large garrison strategically for the PLA, but it does represent a politically symbolic force for the Chinese government.  The Hong Kong Garrison is unique in that it integrates PLA, PLA Navy (PLAN) and PLA Air Force (PLAAF) contingents in one combined-arms battle group.  The core of the PLA ground force is infantry battalions supported by helicopters and 6×6 armored vehicles.

Soldiers play the role of Red Force (the ‘good guys’) during a simulated battle at the San Wai Barracks. The nearest soldier has a laser duel simulation device on the barrel of his QBZ95 rifle.

Description
The Qing Buqiang Zu 95 (QBZ, literally ‘Light Rifle Family’) is a bullpup design with the action and magazine located behind the grip and trigger assembly.  While a number of sources write weapon designations with a hyphen (e.g. QBZ-95), the PLA does not use a hyphen in its nomenclature and so this article follows this convention for the sake of accuracy.  The QBZ95 is now the standard firearm of the PLA, and it is produced by Arsenal 266 of China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) and Arsenal 296 of Jianshe Corporation, China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC).  It is also widely used by the People’s Armed Police (PAP) and other law enforcement agencies within the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Development of the weapon began in the late 1980s, and by 1995 its design had received certification (hence its Type 95 designation).  It followed on from NORINCO’s unsuccessful QBZ87 (Type 87) rifle.  The Type 95 replaced the incumbent 7.62mm Type 81 assault rifle (an AK-47 copy), and at the time it represented a distinct departure from previous designs owing to its bullpup configuration.  Its housing was manufactured from polymers, and it was designed specifically to fire the new Chinese-developed 5.8x42mm round known as the DBP87 that had been developed in the late 1980s.  The small-caliber mild steel-cored bullet can be likened to the NATO 5.56x45mm SS109 and Russian 5.45x39mm cartridge, although China claims its cartridge is superior in terms of penetration, flatter trajectory and higher retained velocity.  Nevertheless, it is important to recognize such assertions could emanate from Chinese rhetoric.  In actual fact, for budgetary reasons, the DBP87 cartridge used cheap and corrosive powder, as well as lacquered steel casings, that affected performance.  The DBP87 and updated DBP95 cartridge that weigh 4.26g have a muzzle velocity of 930m/s when fired from the Type 95 rifle.

By 2006, the Type 95 rifle had pretty much replaced the Type 81 in frontline units.  Although the latter has continued in service in most PAP units and second-line PLA units, it is gradually being supplanted by its successor.  A bayonet can be fitted and the QBZ95 can also launch rifle grenades from the muzzle using special blank ammunition.  Another accessory is the 35mm QLG91B (Type 91B) under-barrel grenade launcher.  Weighing 1.45kg and measuring 310mm in length, this breech-loading grenade launcher can fire both lethal and nonlethal rounds (tear gas, high explosive and illumination).  It can thus be used to disperse crowds during anti-riot missions.  A grenade’s muzzle velocity is officially listed as 75m/s.

The Type 95 rifle was first seen publicly when the Hong Kong Garrison arrived on 1 July 1997. The change to a new 5.8mm caliber was a surprise move on China’s part. These are Special Forces reconnaissance soldiers.

Similar to other modern rifles, China’s QBZ95 operates with a short-stroke, gas-operated piston and rotating bolt.  The rifle has an integrated carrying handle that incorporates the rear sight and mounting points for optical or night vision scopes.  The standard open sight is graduated from 100-500m.  Official data obtained from the PLA lists the weapon’s weight as 3.5kg and its length as 746mm.  Its maximum effective range is 400m.

The selector switch is located, very inconveniently, at the left rear of the receiver behind the magazine housing.  It has three settings: 0 (safe); 1 (semiautomatic); and 2 (fully automatic).  It can still fire, even after complete immersion in water, as witnessed in televised tests.  It is claimed the rifle is more controllable in automatic fire mode because of the small-caliber 5.8mm bullet and effective recoil buffer system.  Because the Type 95 has not been directly observed in conflicts, it is difficult to draw overall conclusions about the weapon’s combat effectiveness.

The 30-round magazine inserts into the magazine well behind the pistol grip.  It is inserted front first and then rocked into position in similar fashion to an AK-47.  The magazine is released by pressing the magazine release rearwards and pivoting the magazine forward to disengage.  The charging handle is positioned on top of the receiver under the integrated carrying handle.  It is pulled fully to the rear and then released forward to chamber a round.

This is the QJB95, the Light Support Weapon variant of the QBZ95 extended family. Observe the 75-round magazine as well as the bipod and telescopic sight. It offers a longer reach with its 600m range.

The bullpup design has proved somewhat controversial, with some infantrymen complaining it is not well suited to accurate shooting at distances longer than close-quarter battle (CQB) ranges.  On the other hand, its shorter length and greater maneuverability are appreciated.  In 2003, NORINCO revealed a new QBZ03 (Type 03) assault rifle of conventional design that also fires the 5.8mm DBP87 round.  The QBZ03 appeared in the hands of airborne troops in the 60th Anniversary parade in Beijing in 2009, but it is unclear how widely it has proceeded into service with the PLA.  Some have speculated that its introduction suggested the QBZ95 was not fully satisfactory in the eyes of the Chinese military.  However, as the following section on the modified QBZ95-1 indicates, the PLA clearly plans to stick with the Type 95 design.

QBZ95-1 Modifications
After extended experience in the field, several issues with the QBZ95 needed addressing and these were rectified in the modified QBZ95-1 (sometimes wrongly referred to as the QBZ95 Gai or ‘G’; Gai translates as ‘Modified’).  The QBZ95 had also drawn criticism for being rushed into production too quickly for political purposes in order to meet Hong Kong’s handover deadline in 1997.

Certainly, the new type is more reliable and easier to use thanks to improved ergonomics.  For example, its greatest flaw was the safety switch awkwardly located far from the shooter’s hand, making it difficult to rapidly move from ‘safe’ to ‘fire’ modes.  In the QBZ95-1, this selector switch has been repositioned above the pistol grip, allowing the operator to use his thumb to quickly transition to ‘fire.’

These Special Forces soldiers have most interesting additions to their weapons. They are QBZ95 rifles fitted with red-dot aiming sights on the carrying handle, as well as pairs of flashlights fitted to the muzzle.

Another problem was that spent casings were expelled from an ejector port on the right side of the weapon, meaning the weapon could not be fired left-handed.  No version existed with the ejector port on the left side.  However, the new type moves the port forward by approximately 5mm and it now ejects casings at a 45º angle to allow, theoretically at least, left-handed firing. A bolt hold-open button is now found behind the magazine port too.

The first QBZ95-1 rifles were seen in early 2010 whilst undergoing trials.  However, it took time for the modernized type to reach frontline units.  Again, the first formation to publicly unveil the Type 95-1 was the Hong Kong Garrison, with these being first observed in July 2012 on the occasion of a military parade in honor of President Hu Jintao at Shek Kong Airbase in Hong Kong.

The QBZ95-1 is designed for the new 5.8x42mm DBP10 round.  The DBP10 features non-corrosive primer, clean-burning propellant and copper-coated steel casings.  The bullet body reportedly has a copper-alloy jacket and hardened steel core.  The weapon has a longer and heavier barrel to give better accuracy and to cope with this heavier round, which will eventually become standard on all Chinese 5.8mm weapons.  The rifle’s muzzle brake is also redesigned to compensate for the heavier round.  The hand guard has a more diamond-shaped cross-section that better dissipates heat from the barrel.

As well as the aforementioned thumb-operated fire selector switch repositioned above the pistol grip, the QBZ95-1 can be quickly identified by the stronger butt stock and redesigned trigger guard.  The front grip/trigger guard combination has been deleted, and this will allow custom front grips to be added in the future, plus installation of the 35mm quick-firing QLG10A grenade launcher, although the author has not yet seen this device in service.

A member of the Hong Kong Garrison provides covering fire with his Type 95 assault rifle. All Chinese soldiers are taught to fire right-handed because of the position of the ejection port.

The weapon retains a quick-release mount rail on the carrying handle, which has been lowered to allow more comfortable integration of scopes and sights.  A pair of short rails at the base of the front sight allows soldiers to mount proprietary tactical accessories such as flashlights, laser sights and other accessories.  The fluorescent illumination dots on the front sight have been replaced by a pair of long-lasting tritium illumination dots.  As the new type is introduced, older QBZ95 weapons will be handed down to second-line and reserve troops within the PLA.

According to official information from the PLA, the QBZ95-1 weighs 3.3kg (100g less than its predecessor).  It is 744mm long and its maximum effective range remains the same at 400m.  As before, the new type is available as a whole family line, including the QBZ95B-1 Carbine and QJB95-1 Light Support Weapon.  It is likely the QBZ95-1 will continue to evolve, with the most obvious next step being the addition of a common mounting system such as the Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny rail instead of the current proprietary Chinese mounting system.

Variants
There are three basic variants of the QBZ95.  Specifically these are the standard assault rifle as already discussed above, plus a shortened Carbine and a Light Support Weapon.

QBZ95B Carbine
The QBZ95B Carbine is a slightly shorter and lighter version of the standard weapon.  Because of the shorter barrel, neither a grenade launcher nor a bayonet can be fitted.  It is suitable for naval personnel working in confined spaces aboard ships, as well as CQB by special operation forces.  Its effective range is shorter because of the reduced barrel length, and the muzzle has a special funnel-shaped flash suppressor.  To date, the author has not seen the Carbine in service in Hong Kong, not even in the hands of Special Forces.

This QBZ95 weapon is fitted with a Type 95 bayonet. This soldier is a member of the honor guard and he is well versed in precision drills. The blue dress uniform is that of the PLAAF.

QJB95 Light Support Weapon
This is used by a squad machine gunner and it comes equipped with a bipod.  Thanks to a longer and heavier barrel, it is well suited to the fire support role with a maximum effective range of 600m.  It has a faster firing rate and heavier cartridge that fits inside a drum magazine.  Although some sources list the drum as holding 80 rounds, official PLA documentation seen by the author lists the capacity as 75 rounds.  The QJB95 weighs 3.95kg and it is 840mm long.

QBZ97 Assault Rifle
The QBZ97 is specifically an export version of the standard QBZ95 in use with the PLA, and a mirror image of the PLA’s family is available.  The only differences are that it has been re-chambered for 5.56mm NATO ammunition, and it possesses a deeper magazine well to accept STANAG magazines.  The QBZ97A adds a three-round burst mode and a bolt hold-open device.  In fact, this is the only family variant to have seen sales success outside China.  It is used by Cambodia’s 911 Special Forces unit and by the Myanmar Army, for instance.  Sri Lanka is believed to be another user.  An export Carbine version is also available and this is called the QBZ97B.  The Light Support Weapon variant is the QBB97.

Technical Data for QBZ95

Caliber:  5.8x42mm
Action:  Gas-operated rotating bolt
Length:  746mm
Barrel length:  520mm
Weight (unloaded):  3.4kg
Maximum effective range:  400m
Rate of fire:  650 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity:  30 rounds