QJS-161

The QJS-161 Paratrooper Machinegun (Chinese: 161式伞兵机枪; pinyin: Yāo liù yāo shì Sǎnbīng Jīqiāng), also known as the QJB-201 Squad Machinegun (Chinese: 201式班用机枪; pinyin: Èr líng yāo shì Bānyòng Jīqiāng),^[2] is a Chinese light machine gun designed and manufactured by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and Airborne Corps.^[3]

QJS-161/QJB-201
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	China
Service history
Used by	People's Liberation Army
Production history
Manufacturer	Norinco
Specifications
Mass	4.4 kg (9.7 lb) (empty)
Length	900 mm (35.4 in) (stock unfolded)
Cartridge	5.8×42mm DBP-191
Action	Gas-operated short-stroke piston, rotating bolt, open bolt[1]
Rate of fire	700-800 rounds/min[1]
Muzzle velocity	930–960 m/s (3,051–3,150 ft/s)[1]
Effective firing range	600–800 m (2,000–2,600 ft; 660–870 yd)[1]
Feed system	30 round box magazine 75 round QJB-95 drum magazine 100 round belt with disintegrating links[1]
Sights	QMK-204 (3x)

Development

The QJB-201 and QJS-161 are designed to replace China's QBB-95 series squad automatic weapon and QJY-88 light machine gun.^[1]

Design

The QJS-161 features two types of barrel varied in length, presumably for different requirements from the PLA Ground Force and the PLAAF Airborne Corps. As an open-bolt machine gun, the QJS-161 uses 5.8×42mm ammunition that can feed either from a disintegrating belt in fabric container loaded into the feed port on the left side of the weapon, or a standard Chinese 5.8×42mm box magazine inserted vertically into the magazine well at the bottom of the weapon,^[4] and the non-reciprocating charging handle is located on its right. A picatinny rail is located behind the short feed tray cover above the feeding port.^[5]

The squad automatic machine gun features a weight reduction design, such as lightweight material for the gun body and the fabric detachable box magazine, reducing the empty weight to 4.4 kg (9.7 lb).^[6] The side-folding stock features a fully adjustable buttpad and cheek rest.^[7] The barrel change requires the opening of the feed tray cover, which is a safety feature ensuring ammunition is removed before barrel replacement process.^[1]

Users

•  China: People's Liberation Army

See also

• List of machine guns
• List of dual-feed firearms
• QJY-201 – (China)
• QBB-95 – (China)
• QJY-88 – (China)
• FN EVOLYS – (Belgium)
• Heckler & Koch MG4 – (Germany)
• IWI Negev – (Israel, Vietnam)
• M249 light machine gun – (Belgium, United States)
• RPL-20 – (Russia)