Type 88 (QBU-88)
Norinco · Sniper Rifle · In Production · 1997
Also known as: QBU-88, Type 88 Sniper Rifle
Overview
The Type 88, officially designated QBU-88, is a Chinese semi-automatic designated marksman rifle chambered in the indigenous 5.8x42mm cartridge, utilizing a bullpup configuration. Designed by Norinco and adopted by the People's Liberation Army in 1997, the QBU-88 uses a short-stroke gas piston located above the barrel with a three-lug rotating bolt, mounted in a compact steel receiver enclosed within a polymer bullpup housing. The 640mm hammer-forged match-grade barrel provides excellent accuracy for the relatively light 5.8mm cartridge, with the bullpup layout keeping overall length to just 920mm. Originally designed for the DBP-87/95 heavy ball ammunition with a streamlined steel-core bullet, the rifle has been updated to use the improved universal DBP-10 cartridge that delivers up to 1,900 joules of muzzle energy. By modern Western standards, the QBU-88 functions as a designated marksman rifle rather than a true sniper rifle, intended for aimed semi-automatic fire at ranges beyond standard infantry assault rifles.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4100 g (144.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4400 g (155.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 920 mm (36.22") |
| Barrel Length | 640 mm (25.20") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke Piston |
| Firing Mechanism | Rotating Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 25 N (5.6 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 950 m/s (3117 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1900 J (1401 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1200 m (1312 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 30 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 5.8x42mm DBP-10 · primary — also known as 5.8x42mm Chinese, 5.8x42mm DBP-87, 5.8x42mm DBP-95
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Disconnector
- Features: Bullpup Layout, Match Grade Barrel, Hammer Forged Barrel, Integrated Bipod, Scope Mount, Carrying Handle, Chrome Lined Barrel, Gas Regulator
Service history
Operators
- People's Liberation Army · adopted 1997 · as QBU-88
- People's Armed Police
- Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps
Production
Production years: 1997-present
Mass-produced for the PLA. Standard designated marksman rifle for Chinese infantry squads. Exact numbers not publicly disclosed.
Origin
Country of origin: China
Notes
The QBU-88 was developed as part of China's unified 5.8mm small arms family alongside the QBZ-95 assault rifle. The rifle uses a special heavy-bullet loading of the 5.8x42mm cartridge with a longer, streamlined bullet and steel core optimized for accuracy and terminal performance at extended ranges. The DBP-10 universal round introduced in the 2000s consolidated the separate rifle and machine gun cartridge variants into a single loading. The bullpup layout, while compact, presents typical bullpup ergonomic challenges including a long trigger linkage and difficulty with left-handed shooting due to right-side-only ejection. The QBU-88 is being gradually supplemented by newer designs in PLA service.
Background
The QBU-88 is part of China's ambitious effort to develop a fully indigenous small arms family around the unique 5.8x42mm cartridge, which Chinese ballistics engineers claim offers performance between the 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO rounds in a package lighter than either. The rifle serves as the PLA's squad-level precision asset, giving every infantry squad a designated marksman capability.