The New Chinese 20E 8.6mm Belt-Fed Machine Gun

The 20E, a new machine gun unveiled by the Chinese at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, is a part of the 201 series and is chambered in the unique 8.6mm caliber. As the world is on the brink of a .338 revolution for machine guns, this caliber is a standout feature of the 20E. However, the specific .338 cartridge used is not specified in available information, leaving room for speculation. It could be the 8.6x70mm Lapua Magnum, the .338 Norma Magnum, or a proprietary cartridge. Notably, China is currently a producer of the .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition.

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The 20E appears based on a smaller general-purpose machine gun called QJY-201, chambered in 7.62×51. Although the 20E features an unusual caliber, sources speculate it is intended for export. The patent for QJY-201 depicts a gas-operated system that employs a hybrid short recoil system. This design effectively harnesses energy from the weapon’s recoil, allowing the barrel and bolt to move together rearward to absorb energy before unlocking, which enhances control and accuracy during firing and mitigates excessive or harsh recoil. There is no stated weight of the weapon system yet, but it is easy to carry in one hand with no issue, according to the available video demonstrating the weapon.

From initial observations, the bulge on the right side of the weapon houses the feed paw assembly, which rides on a track in the carrier assembly, like that seen on the PKM. The feed paw assembly moves from left to right during each carrier pass, pulling in the belt. The feed tray cover assembly is dovetailed with a keyed locking pin located at the top right of the bracket; this is attached to the front trunnion of the weapon. A locking mechanism is likely situated beneath the feed tray and is not visible when the cover is lifted.

To remove the feed tray cover, it slides right and upward out of the dovetail and off the pin. This design keeps the feed tray cover spring under tension, eliminating the need for disassembly when removed and keeping it in a self-contained unit. The top of the feed tray cover houses the spring-loaded retaining paws and front and rear cartridge retaining paws. With China’s move to disintegrating links for most of its machine guns, it can be suggested that 20E uses disintegrating links, though there has been no physical evidence.

The 20E’s feed tray cover, designed to be short like that of QJB-201 and QJY-201, allows for mounting optics on the solid rear section of the receiver, a wise design choice, depending on the length of the optic. The feed tray cover release is conveniently located on the rear left of the cover, consistent with all models in the 201 series. This design accommodates optical sight to better advantage the weapon’s potential range with day, night, or thermal optics, increasing its combat capability.

One notable difference from QJY-210 is that instead of having two springs as part of the short recoil operation, the 20E has one large spring on the right side of the barrel, which the carrying or barrel change handle attaches to. This single-offset spring configuration may lead to uneven wear patterns and excessive lateral movement during operation. The design accommodates a forward half accessory rail, providing M1913 Picatinny accessory mounting options at the 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions while leaving the right side (3 o’clock) clear to facilitate barrel changes. The visible mechanism for barrel changes shows a large barrel locking latch inspired by designs from Stoner machine guns. However, it remains to be seen whether the Stoner barrel locking method is used in this system.

The receiver is constructed from aluminum, with the upper and lower receiver sections riveted together and likely featuring bolt guide rails on both sides. A separate support piece on the left side of the receiver aligns the captive top and bottom takedown cross pins for the rear-end cap and stock assembly. Given the stock’s diameter, it suggests the presence of a type of buffer assembly to help manage recoil and diminish and decelerate the carrier at the end of travel. The stock itself is collapsible and adjustable for the length of pull, complete with an adjustable cheek rest or stock comb to better accommodate a variety of optics. The stock has a section of M1913 on the bottom, most likely for a monopod that is not present, in an odd way, to stabilize a machine gun.

Under the weapon is a dovetail mount for an ammunition box or pouch; the quantity is unknown currently. In front and behind the ammunition mount are small sections of M1913 Picatinny rails, which is an odd place, and the purpose is unknown; with no other type of tripod mounting hard points, it could be a new type of tripod mounting.

The ongoing question is which .338 cartridge is being used in the domestic variant of the Lapua for the 20E machine gun. It is likely capable of an effective range of 1500 to 1700 meters, but details regarding barrel length or twist rates have not yet been disclosed. The muzzle device is a larger birdcage version of the QBZ-191, potentially featuring a toothed ratcheting collar to accommodate a suppressor or other attachments. Also, at this time, there is no advertised rate of fire.

If the 20E machine gun is intended for domestic use, it could significantly enhance the Peoples Liberation Army Ground Forces infantry small arms ranges and combat capability. These guns would likely be deployed as company assets, with at least two per platoon fulfilling the medium machine gun role. China’s current use of machine guns is primarily for point target purposes, but with the right tripod and knowledge, the 20E could become a formidable system. Its maneuverability and firepower could make it a more versatile long-range weapon than the lightweight 12.7×108 QJZ-171, complementing it for dismount use. The potential applications of the 20E machine gun are vast, and its integration into the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces arsenal could revolutionize their infantry small arms capabilities.