The QJZ-171, also known as the Type 171 heavy machine gun, is a Chinese heavy machine gun designed and manufactured by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army. It fires a type of specialized 12.7×108mm light-weight ammunition. The weapon is intended to replace the QJZ-89 heavy machine gun.[1]
| Type 171 Heavy machine gun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| Used by | China |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 18.5 kg (40.79 lb) (gun only) 6 kg (13.23 lb) (tripod) |
| Cartridge | 12.7×108mm light-weight ammunition |
| Action | hybrid short-recoil and advanced primer ignition blowback |
| Effective firing range | 1,500 m (1,600 yd) |
| Feed system | 60 rounds of belts in a container box |
| Sights | QMK-171 (5x) daylight optics passive thermal imaging sight |
Description
editThe QJZ-171 is designed as an ultra-lightweight heavy machine gun, similar to American XM312 and XM806. The machine gun system weighs 18.5 kg (40.8 lb) and the tripod weighs 6 kg (13.2 lb).[2] The weight of combat configuration, which includes ammunition cartridges, belts, boxes, and scopes, is 9.5 kg (20.9 lb) lighter than the same configuration on QJZ-89.[2] This is achieved by ammo container made of plastic composites, lighter tripod, and more elaborate scope.[2] The empty weight of the gun alone has a similar weight compared to its predecessor, QJZ-89.[2]
The gun features a free-floating barrel, improved muzzle brake, composite ammo belt with new lightweight ammunition, and titanium alloy gun parts to reduce recoil and weight.[3] The machine gun is fitted with its own bipod attached to the receiver and can be carried by one infantry or served by a crew of two. .[4]
The machine gun is an open-bolt and advanced primer ignition blowback mechanism with a recoiling barrel.[5] The hybrid short recoil system reduces peak recoil, achieved with the barrel, gas system, and bolt assembly recoiling inside the outer housing.[6]
The weapon features several improvements to reduce weight, mitigate recoil and increase accuracy. The new 12.7mm armor-piercing incendiary round made of special alloy only weighs 100 grams. The gas system cycles the bolt group with the free-floating receiver recoils inside the outer gun housing to decrease recoil. Two sets of spring buffers are mounted around the receiver. The barrel is fitted with improved muzzle brake. Comparing to QJZ-89, the spread of QJZ-171 is improved to 10 cm (3.9 in) at 200 m (656.2 ft), and it can reliably hit targets with a radius of 24 cm (9.4 in) at 200 m (656.2 ft). At 1,000 m (3,280.8 ft), the gun can engage vehicle-sized targets with a 70% hit probability.[7]
Users
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Marine Corps renewed its 12.7 mountain heavy machine gun and ran with one hand. Four foreign heavy machine guns". Inf News. 14 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d "我国QJZ-171大口径机枪重量只有10.8公斤？单手拎着满山跑？(Verification on QJZ-171 weight. Is it only 10.8kg?)". NetEase News. 17 March 2019.
- ^ "国产新型重机枪：重量相当于轻机枪，1人拎着跑，轻到没朋友". Tencent News (in Chinese). 23 March 2021.
- ^ "QJZ171大口径"轻"机枪下放到步兵班？理想丰满，现实骨感". net ease News (in Chinese). 20 January 2021.
- ^ "171山地机枪曝光，射击稳如老狗，我国轻武器一下追到世界前列". SoHu. 12 June 2022.
- ^ "12.7mm QJZ171 machine gun (China)". Modern Firearms.
- ^ "我军测试新型重机枪：有4大优势 非常适合高原部队". Sina News. 1 August 2020.