The Chinese QJB-201 Light Machine Gun
The QJB-201 is a significant addition to the new series of small arms designed to modernize the Chinese PLA ground forces. It is intended to replace the QJB-95 and QJY-88 light machine guns and is China’s response to the US SAW. This new weapon and the QZB-191 family of firearms marks a shift in the PLA infantry structure, a clear sign of the modernization of the PLA forces.
The QJB-201 moves away from a bullpup magazine-fed weapon for the squad automatic weapon role to a dual feed system, primarily with the belt-fed increasing the suppressive fire capability of the infantry squad, significantly increasing their lethality. This is another step in modernizing the Peoples Liberation Army’s comprehensive plan and updating its ground-based fighting force. However, operational evaluation is urgent, and immediate action is required to fully understand its potential.
The 201 series produced by Norinco has three machine guns: two light machine guns and one medium or general-purpose machine gun called the QJY-201 in 7.62×51. Here, we will focus on the QJB-201, a standard full-length light machine gun, and the shorter version, the QJS-161 (also called the QJS-201), for airborne forces and special forces. QJB stands for light weapons, machine guns, and squads, while QJS stands for light weapons, machine guns, and paratroops.
Both light machine guns are dual feed, primarily from 100-round belts or the QBZ-191 30-round magazine. The 201 belts are disintegrating like the 5.56×45 M-27 links. The inter-compatible QBZ-95 with the QBZ-191 should make the QBZ-95 75 and the QBZ-95-1 80-round drum usable for the QJB-201 light machine gun. The advertised weight of the QJB-201 and QJS-161 is reportedly 11 lbs. (5kg); most likely, the QJS is a little lighter with its shorter barrel. The rate of fire is from 700 to 800 rounds per minute.
The machine gun is designed for the 5,8×42 DBP-95, DBP-10, and the newest DBP-191 ammunition. Barrel lengths are not stated, but one would speculate from 14.5 inches (368mm) and 16 inches (406 mm). Muzzle velocity is also not stated but is most likely in the range of 3051 fps (930 m/s) to 3149 fps (960 m/s). The effective range is 600 meters, with the rear sight graduated 600 meters and the 3x optical sight with a bullet drop compensator out to 800 meters.
To better accommodate mechanized and airborne operations, a folding adjustable stock that folds to the left of the weapon is used.
The light machine guns are gas-operated, air-cooled, short-stroke firing from an open bolt with a rotating bolt that locks into a barrel extension, and the gas regulator is multi-position. The bolt appears to have either three or four lugs. The barrel locking lever and notch barrel extension are reminiscent of the M-249. The carrier assembly is like the Negev light machine gun, a monolithic design with a flat front and short stroke piston taps during cycling. The carrier incorporates the main spring in the center of the bolt carrier.
There are two retained take-down pins, a top and bottom like that seen on the M-249. Removing the pistol grip and fire control group will reveal a magazine well on the bottom of the housing, incorporating a lateral dovetail for the 100-round ammunition box. An ambidextrous safety lever is also seen in the lower or pistol grip assemblies, with no selector and full auto only.
The feed tray cover is notably short compared to contemporary light machine gun designs. This approach allowed optical sights to be mounted to a solid base on the rear of the receiver. The feed tray cover latch is on the left rear of the cover. Under the feed tray cover, we see some DShK inspiration. An arm on the left riding on a corresponding track in the bolt carrier transfers the bolt carrier’s linear motion. It connects to an arm in the feed tray cover to facilitate feeding to a lateral motion. The front and rear cartridge retaining paws and feed paw assembly are in the feed tray cover, like the M249. The feed tray has two spring-loaded cartridge retainers and a cartridge guide.
Two large bolts are noticeable on each side of the weapon; according to the larger version, the QJS201 patent, these are how the front trunnion is held in the aluminum receiver. A steel bolt guide rail is riveted to the entire length of the receiver’s left side for strength and is most likely attached to a fixed ejector; this may also be a cam pin ramp, though currently unknown until further disassembly can be seen or the weapon examined. The serialized bolt carrier is visible in the casing ejection port; the receiver’s serial number is below that.
A unique feature for changing the barrel is that the feed tray cover must be up, and the bolt must be to the rear before actuating the barrel release on the right of the weapon. This feature is seen on the Negev light machine gun as a safety feature to ensure the ammunition is removed before replacing the barrel. A lack of dust covers on the feed tray cover may lead to debris ingress.
The new light machine gun, the QJB-201, is poised to significantly enhance the combat potential of the Peoples Liberation Army Ground Forces’ infantry structures. With its increased lethality and the volume of suppressive fire, the squad’s capabilities are set to soar with one or two QJB-210 light machine guns per squad compared to the QJB-95 magazine-fed light machine gun. The potential of these new machine guns in their unit structure is not just promising but also a reason for optimism. I look forward to examining them in a positive light, not because the Indo-Pacific theater heated up but because of the significant advancements they bring to the PLA infantry.