Type 79 Sniper Rifle
China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) · Sniper Rifle · Discontinued · 1979
Also known as: NDM-86, Chinese Dragunov, Type 79 SVD
Overview
The Type 79 Sniper Rifle is a Chinese-manufactured copy of the Soviet Dragunov SVD, produced by Norinco beginning in 1979 for the People's Liberation Army. The rifle is functionally identical to the original SVD, utilizing the same short-stroke gas piston operating system and rotating bolt, chambered in 7.62x54mmR. The Type 79 was China's first dedicated sniper rifle and was produced in response to the PLA's need for a designated marksman capability identified during the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979. Like its Soviet progenitor, the Type 79 features a skeletonized wooden stock with an adjustable cheek piece, a 10-round detachable box magazine, and compatibility with the PSO-1 type telescopic sight. The Type 79 served the PLA until it was gradually replaced by the improved Type 85 sniper rifle in the mid-1980s, and later by the entirely indigenous Type 88 and QBU-88 designs.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4400 g (155.2 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4620 g (163.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1225 mm (48.23") |
| Barrel Length | 620 mm (24.41") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 25 N (5.6 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 830 m/s (2723 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3304 J (2437 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2800 m (3062 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 320 mm (12.60") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Chrome Lined Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x54mmR · primary — also known as 7.62x54R, 7.62 Russian, 7.62 Mosin-Nagant
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Adjustable Cheek Piece, Flash Hider, Cleaning Kit In Stock, Pso Scope Mount
Variants
- Type 85 Sniper Rifle — Improved
- NDM-86 — Export
Base model
Service history
Operators
- People's Liberation Army · adopted 1979 · as Type 79
- People's Armed Police
- Albanian Armed Forces
- Myanmar Armed Forces
- Cambodian Armed Forces
Conflicts
- Sino-Vietnamese War (1979)
- Sino-Vietnamese Border Conflicts (1979-1990)
Production
Production years: 1979-1985
Exact production numbers not publicly available. Produced in significant quantities for the PLA before being superseded by the Type 85. Export versions (NDM-86) continued to be produced and sold commercially.
Origin
Country of origin: China
Discontinued: 1985
Notes
The Type 79 was reverse-engineered from Dragunov SVDs obtained from the Soviet Union during the Sino-Soviet alliance period. Chinese manufacturing quality was initially lower than Soviet production, resulting in somewhat reduced accuracy compared to genuine SVDs. The rifle was produced at State Factory 296 (later incorporated into Norinco). The export variant, known as the NDM-86, was sold commercially and is chambered in both 7.62x54R and 7.62x51mm NATO. The Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979 highlighted the PLA's lack of precision shooting capability, directly motivating the accelerated adoption and production of the Type 79. The rifle was replaced relatively quickly by the Type 85, which incorporated minor improvements to reliability and manufacturing quality.
Background
The Type 79 was China's first dedicated sniper rifle, born from the urgent lessons of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War. During the brief but bloody conflict, PLA units found themselves outmatched by Vietnamese snipers equipped with Soviet-supplied Dragunov SVDs. The experience prompted the PLA to accelerate production of their own copy, which had been in development since obtaining Soviet examples during the earlier period of Sino-Soviet cooperation. The Type 79 represented China's entry into the precision rifle field, a capability the PLA had previously neglected in favor of massed infantry tactics.