The Type 81 (Chinese: 81式自动步枪; literally; "Type 81 Automatic Rifle") is a Chinese-designed selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle. It replaced the semi-automatic Type 56 carbine as the standard service rifle of the People's Liberation Army during the 1980s. [2]

The Type 81 (Chinese: 八一式马步枪, lit. "Type 81 carbine") was a Chinese bolt-action rifle, developed and used by the Chinese Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The Type 81 is a gas operated, magazine fed, semi-automatic rifle. It uses a short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, and a two-position gas regulator. The bolt group (of the rotating bolt type) is borrowed from the Type 63 rifle.

The result was the Type 81 which used a short stroke gas operated action with a two-lug rotating bolt. The rifle chambered 7.62×39mm and fed from 20 or 30 round box magazines. The rifle initially had a wooden buttstock, however, this was replaced with a folding stock similar to that used in the Type 56.

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt Overall length: 955 mm (730 mm with butt folded for Type 81-1) Barrel length: 445 mm Weight: 3.5 kg Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute Magazine capacity: 30 rounds . Type 81 assault rifle appeared in the early 1980s.

barrel of the Type 81 protrudes well beyond the fore sight and the design of the cocking handle and ejection port differs considerably from Kalashnikov-pattern weapons, such as the Chinese Type 56. Variants and their distinguishing features VARIANTS (Model/manufacturer) • Type 81, China • Type 81-1, China points to include when recording ...

Mar 2, 2015 · Type 81 rifles also feature a bolt hold-open, which catches the bolt in the open position after the last round has been fired from the magazine. There’s no separate manual bolt release lever; it has to be released by pulling it slightly back from locked position and then releasing the handle.

Mar 1, 2005 · The Type 81 differs from the RPK in the gas system, fire selector switch, trigger group and sights. Chambered for the Russian 7.62x39mm cartridge, the overall length is 1,024mm, weighs 5.15kg unloaded, and is fed from the standard 30 …

Feb 9, 2023 · It was chambered primarily for the Soviet 7.62x39mm cartridge and relied on a short-stroke, gas-operated piston and rotating bolt action. Overall length was 955mm with a barrel measuring 445mm long. Weight was listed at 7.5lb. The weapon produced a rate-of-fire of up to 720 rounds-per-minute and featured a muzzle velocity of 2,460 feet-per-second.

The Type 81's bolt, bolt carrier, return spring with guide-rod assembly and the ribbed receiver cover. Photo courtesy of Craig Adams www.gunsandammomag.com