QJS-161

The QJS-161 Paratrooper Machinegun (Chinese: 161式伞兵机枪; pinyin: Yāo liù yāo shì Sǎnbīng Jīqiāng) is a Chinese light machine gun designed and manufactured by Norinco and Airborne Corps.^[2]

QJS-161/QJB-201
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	China
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.

The QJS-161 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).^[3]

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.

The side-folding stock features a fully adjustable buttpad and cheek rest.^[5] 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]

A picatinny rail is located behind the short feed tray cover above the feeding port.^[6]

Variant

QJB-201

The QJB-201 Squad Machinegun (Chinese: 201式班用机枪; pinyin: Èr líng yāo shì Bānyòng Jīqiāng)^[7] has a longer barrel and an adjustable stock intended for the Ground Force.

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)
• M249 light machine gun – (Belgium, United States)
• RPL-20 – (Russia)