Norinco QBZ - 95 The Norinco QBZ - 95 a Chinese bullpup assault riflecreated by Norinco in 1997 to replace the Type 81 assault rifles in the Chinese Military , the QBZ - 95 uses the newly developed 5 . 8x42 DBP87 . History and Design . In the late 1980s Chinese designers developed a 5 . 8 x 42 cartridge , apparently designated DBP87 , which is claimed to be superior to both the 5 . 56 mm NATO and the 5 . 54 mm Soviet . This cartridge develops a muzzle velocity of 930 metres per second from a standard barrel , with a bullet weighing 4 . 26 gram . As soon as the ammunition was ready , the PLA began to develop an entirely new and much more modern family of small arms based on the same action . This family , known as QBZ - 95 ( ' Qing Buqiang Zu ' = Light Rifles family , 1995 ) , was first displayed outside the PLA in 1997 , when China took over Hong Kong ; it was observed that the Chinese guards were armed with a new , modern looking bullpup rifle . In fact it is one of an entirely new family of weapons , all designed around the same action and bullpup layout , which include the assault rifle , a shorter carbine , a light support weapon ( with a bipod , a heavier barrel and large capacity magazine ) , and a sniper rifle . While being quite similar inside , these guns have different body shapes and cannot be converted from one configuration to another . The QBZ - 95 line of weapons is now spreading throughout the PLA , commencing with elite units . The QBZ - 95 is a gas operated , magazine fed , automatic weapon with a bullpup layout . It has a short stroke gas piston and a rotating bolt . The charging handle is located at the top of the receiver , under the carrying handle . The housing is made from polymer , with an integral carrying handle , which holds the rear sight base , and has mounting points for optical or night vision scopes . The ejection port is made only at the right side of the weapon , so it cannot be fired from the left shoulder . Standard sights are of the open type , graduated from 100 to 500 metres . The front part of the barrel in the standard version is left unobstructed , so the QBZ - 95 rifle can be used to launch rifle grenades . It also can be fitted with an underbarrel grenade launcher or with a knife bayonet . A compact carbine version , sometimes referred to as the CAR - 95 , cannot use either a grenade launcher or a bayonet , because of the much shortened barrel . Fire controls of QBZ - 95 rifle consist of a trigger and a safety / selector switch , located ( quite inconveniently ) at the rear left of the receiver , behind the magazine housing . QBZ - 95 can fire single shots or bursts . The export version , QBZ - 97 , which is chambered for popular 5 . 56x45 NATO ammunition , is internally similar to QBZ - 95 , but has a different , much deeper magazine housing , which accepts a NATO - standard ( M - 16 - type ) magazines Variants . ABZ - 95 ( Rifle ) . This is the standard version of the rifle used domestically , chambered for the 5 . 8x42mm DBP87 round . The PLA has reportedly undertaken a program to improve the Type 95 . The lead designer of the Type 95 program Duo Yingxian ( 朵英贤 ) , who ' s now retired , has stated that the project is being worked on by some of his students . Known goals for the program are to : 1 . Improve the rifle ' s ergonomics / controls . 2 . Chamber it for new ammunition with double the effective range . 3 . Add a quick - firing grenade launcher . R & B - 95B ( Carbine ) . This is a shorter and lighter version of the standard rifle . From pictures seen the QBZ - 95B is seen issued only to Naval Officers , possibly due to the limited room in Naval vessels that would prohibit the full length rifle being used in close quarters . QBB - 95 LSW ( Light Support Weapon ) . This light support weapon fulfills the role as the squad machine gunner . It ' s in the same respect as the QBZ - 95 Rifle with modified longer and heavier barrel , higher firing rate , heavier cartridge and is equipped with larger 75 - round drum magazine . QBU - 88 . Sniper rifle variant of the QBZ - 95 used by the People ' s Liberation Army QBZ - 97 ( 5 . 56 mm Assault Rifle ) . The Chinese have constructed an export version , the QBZ - 97 , which is similar to the QBZ - 95 in all respects except that it is chambered for 5 . 56 mm NATO instead of the original Chinese 5 . 8 mm cartridge and has a deep magazine well designed to accept STANAG magazines . QBZ - 97A ( 5 . 56 mm Assault Rifle ) . This variant is a QBZ - 97 with the addition of a 3 - round burst mode and a bolt hold - open device ; it also differs from the QBZ - 95 and the QBZ - 97 for the shape of its grip , now missing the " front grip " part in front of the trigger guard . This weapon is the only QBZ - 95 variant to have seen commercial success and military use outside of China ; QBZ - 97A rifles are in use by 911 Special Forces of Cambodia Special Operations personnel . QBZ - 97B ( 5 . 56 mm Carbine ) . This is the carbine version of the QBZ - 97 . The official distributor of the QBZ - 97B assault carbine on the international market , " Jianshe Industries ( Group ) Corporation " , advertises and sells it under the denomination " 5 . 56mm Short Automatic Rifle Type NQZ03B ( 97 ) " . QBB - 97 LSW ( 5 . 56 mm Light Support Weapon ) . The light support weapon model of the QBZ - 97 . QBZ - 95G . The new QBZ - 95G addresses several reliability , ease - of - use issues , and has improved ergonomics . QBZ - 95 variant titled " G " fires the heavier 5 . 8x42mm round , with a heavier longer barrel and a redesigned muzzle break . The " G " variant has an altered butt stock , trigger guard , and a repositioned thumb fire selector switch above the pistol grip . The carrying handle has retained the Chinese quick release mount rail , but also has added the Picatinny rail as a supplement . It has been seen in service in small numbers for testing and evaluation in first quarter of 2010 . It has been speculated that this variant will enter full service in late 2010 , replacing the original QBZ - 95 assault rifle introduced into service in 1995 . The original QBZ - 95 rifles will be handed down to second line and reserve troops , while front line troops receive this variant .