Norinco (China North Industries Corporation) · Assault-Rifle · In Production · 1956
| Weight (empty) | 3800 g (134.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 874 mm (34.41") |
| Barrel Length | 415 mm (16.34") |
| Height | 195 mm (7.68") |
| Width | 60 mm (2.36") |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Muzzle Velocity | 710 m/s (2329 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2010 J (1482 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Frame Material | Steel |
Primary Caliber: 7.62x39mm
The Type 56 is a Chinese-manufactured assault rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, produced by Norinco (China North Industries Corporation) since 1956. Developed under a 1956-1957 technology transfer from the Soviet Union, the rifle is a direct copy of the AK-47 initially produced at State Factory 66 (later Factory 626). Early production used a milled receiver identical to the Soviet Type 3 AK-47; from 1962 onward Chinese factories transitioned to the stamped sheet-metal receiver of the AKM pattern. Th...
Country of Origin: China
Designer: State Factory 66 engineering team (Norinco), based on Mikhail Kalashnikov's AK-47 under 1956 Sino-Soviet technology transfer