Norinco JW-15
China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) · Rifle · In Production · 1980
Also known as: JW-15A, Interarms JW-15, Norconia JW-15
Overview
The Norinco JW-15 is a Chinese .22 Long Rifle bolt-action rifle, a simplified copy of the Czech Brno Model 2 sporting rifle. Produced by Norinco from around 1980, it uses a heavy steel receiver, a bolt with dual rear locking lugs, and a detachable box magazine. Norinco applied cost-saving 'value engineering' to the original Brno design, including a simpler trigger guard and a trigger mechanism closer to a Mauser 98 than the CZ 452. Widely exported as an inexpensive plinking and small-game hunting rifle, it has been sold under the JW-15 and JW-15A designations, with the magazine-fed JW-15A being the most common variant on export markets.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2600 g (91.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1060 mm (41.73") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 330 m/s (1083 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 141 J (104 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle · primary — also known as .22 LR, 22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Iron Sights, Scope Mount Compatible, Detachable Magazine, Dual Rear Locking Lugs
Variants
- Norinco JW-15A - Magazine Fed
- Norinco JW-23 - Caliber Variant
Service history
Operators
- Civilian sport shooters
Production
Production years: 1980-present
Long-running production with high export volumes; total figures not publicly disclosed
Origin
Country of origin: China
Designer: Zbrojovka Brno (original Model 2 design)
Notes
A direct lineage from the Brno Model 2; design rights were reportedly transferred from Czechoslovakia to China in the 1960s. Some rifles were imported into the United States by Interarms in the 1990s. The JW-23 is the .22 WMR (Magnum) chambering and the JW-25 is a Mauser KKW-pattern training/hunting variant.
Background
The JW-15 traces its design to the Czech Brno Model 2, a refined sporting rifle whose tooling and rights made their way to China in the 1960s. Norinco's no-frills reproduction became one of the most widely traded budget .22 rifles of the late 20th century, valued for its solid steel build despite simplified internals.