Type 56 assault rifle
| Type 56 | |
|---|---|
Type 56 rifle | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1956–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) War in Iraq (2013–2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia‒Thailand conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1956 |
| Manufacturer | State Factory 66 Norinco PolyTech |
| Produced | 1956–present |
| No. built | 10,000,000+ |
| Variants | Type 56 Type 56-1 Type 56-2 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Type 56: 3.8 kg (8.38 lb) Type 56-1: 3.7 kg (8.16 lb) Type 56-2/56-4: 3.9 kg (8.60 lb) QBZ-56C: 2.85 kg (6.28 lb) |
| Length | Type 56: 882 mm (34.7 in) Type 56-1/56-2: 874 mm (34.4 in) w/ stock extended, 654 mm (25.7 in) w/ stock folded. QBZ-56C: 764 mm (30.1 in) w/ stock extended, 557 mm (21.9 in) w/ stock folded. |
| Barrel length | Type 56, Type 56-I, Type 56-II: 414 mm (16.3 in) QBZ-56C: 280 mm (11.0 in) |
| Cartridge | Type 56 variants -7.62×39mm Type 84S – 5.56×45mm |
| Caliber | 7.62mm |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 650 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | Type 56, Type 56-I, Type 56-II: 735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) QBZ-56C: 665 m/s (2182 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100–800 m sight adjustments. Effective range 300–400 meters |
| Feed system | 20, 30, or 40-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Adjustable Iron sights |
The Type 56 (Chinese: 56式自動步槍, lit. 'Type 56 automatic rifle') is a Chinese 7.62×39mm assault rifle and Kalashnikov rifle variant.