Type 81 Assault Rifle

Type 81
Type 81-1 (top) and Type 81 (bottom).
Type	Assault rifle Battle rifle (CS/LR14)
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	1983–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Sino-Vietnamese conflicts Sri Lankan Civil War Internal conflict in Burma
Production history
Designed	1971
Variants	Type 81-1 Type 81 light machine gun Type-81S Type 87 Type 87-1 BD-08 BD-08mk2 BD-08LMG
Specifications
Weight	3.4 kg (7.50 lb) (loaded) 4.5 kg (9.92 lb) (empty) (CS/LR14)
Length	955 mm (37.6 in) 785 mm (30.9 in) (butt folded) (CS/LR14) 1,010 mm (40 in) (butt extended) (CS/LR14)
Barrel length	445 mm (17.5 in)
Cartridge	7.62×39mm (Type 81) 5.8×42mm DBP87 (Type 87) 7.62x51mm (CS/LR14)
Action	Short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	Approx. 700–720 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	750 m/s (2,461 ft/s) 760 metres per second (2,493 ft/s) (CS/LR14)
Effective firing range	280 meter 500 meter (CS/LR14)
Maximum firing range	520 meter
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine (20 rounds for CS/LR14), 75-round detachable drum magazine
Sights	Adjustable iron sights

The Type 81 Assault Rifle (Chinese: 81式自动步枪) is a Chinese-designed Kalashnikov and SKS based, second-generation, selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm automatic assault/battle rifle which has been used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) since the mid-1980s.

The weapon was introduced into PLA service in 1981 but did not become widely distributed until the late 1980s. It replaced the SKS and the Type 56 rifle (a Chinese license produced AK-47). Its first combat use came during the Sino-Vietnamese border conflicts of the mid-1980s. The PLA has replaced most of its Type-81s with the Type 95 or Type 03 series of weapons, though it is still in service in the reserves and armed police. It is also used by Bangladesh Army. An improved version has been showed referred as BD-08mk2.

The Type 81 incorporates elements of the Dragunov, SKS, and AK-47 series rifles.

The rifle retains the general layout of the Chinese Type 56 assault rifle (a license produced AK-47), but it has a SKS-like short-stroke gas-piston design and other improvements to reduce recoil and muzzle jump, giving better firing accuracy. Notable physical differences from the Type 56 assault rifle include the stock of the rifle, the length of the action, bayonet, and the positioning of the front sight.

The most easily distinguishable feature of the Type 81 is the more exposed muzzle part of the barrel. The front sight has been moved back as a modification to be able to fire rifle grenades, which are slid over the unobstructed barrel muzzle now formed into a spigot-type rifle grenade launcher.