QJZ-171
Ultra-lightweight Chinese heavy machine gun for high-altitude operations.
The QJZ-171, also called the Type 171, is a Chinese heavy machine gun built by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army. It fires a specialized lightweight 12.7×108mm round and is designed for use in mountainous and high-altitude infantry settings. Its weight rivals that of many general-purpose machine guns, making it one of the lightest heavy machine guns available. The QJZ-171 replaced the earlier QJZ-89 in PLA service.
The weapon uses an open-bolt, advanced primer ignition blowback system with a recoiling barrel. A hybrid short recoil mechanism, where the barrel, gas system, and bolt assembly move together inside the outer housing, helps reduce peak recoil. A free-floating barrel, an improved muzzle brake, and titanium alloy parts further cut weight and recoil while boosting accuracy. The gun has its own bipod attached to the receiver and can be carried by one soldier or operated by a two-person crew.
Weight figures vary. One estimate puts the gun at 11.9 kg, similar to an M240 or FN MAG, with a 5.9 kg tripod. Another source gives the gun weight as 16.9 kg, or 18.1 kg with an empty magazine box, and the tripod at around 6 kg. Official information states the full combat setup—including ammunition, belts, boxes, and scopes—is 9.5 kg lighter than the same configuration on the QJZ-89. This reduction comes from plastic composite ammo containers, a lighter tripod, and the new lightweight ammunition. The gun alone weighs about the same as its predecessor.
The new 12.7mm armor-piercing incendiary round, made from a special alloy, weighs just 100 grams. The gas system cycles the bolt group while the free-floating receiver recoils inside the outer housing to dampen recoil. Two sets of spring buffers sit around the receiver. The barrel uses an improved multi-chamber muzzle compensator. Compared to the QJZ-89, the QJZ-171’s spread is reduced to 10 cm at 200 m, and it can reliably hit targets within a 24 cm radius at that range. At 1,000 m, it has a 70% chance of hitting vehicle-sized targets.
Two variants exist: the QJZ-171 for Chinese military use, and the CS/LM23 for export. The People's Liberation Army is the sole user.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- China
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Manufacturer
- Norinco
- Weight
- 16.9 kg (gun & bipod) / 18.1 kg (w/ empty magazine) / 5.9-6 kg (tripod)
- Part Length
- 787 mm
- Cartridge
- 12.7×108mm light-weight ammunition
- Action
- hybrid short-recoil and advanced primer ignition blowback
- Range
- 1500 m
- Feed
- 60 rounds of belts in a container box
- Sights
- QMK-171 (5x) daylight optics / passive thermal imaging sight
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The QJZ-171 was designed to replace the earlier QJZ-89 heavy machine gun in People's Liberation Army service. Its development focused on reducing weight for use in mountainous and high-altitude environments, achieved through the use of titanium alloy parts, a free-floating barrel, and a composite ammunition belt with lightweight 12.7×108mm ammunition. The gun operates via an open-bolt, advanced primer ignition blowback mechanism with a recoiling barrel, and features a hybrid short recoil system that reduces peak recoil by having the barrel, gas system, and bolt assembly recoil inside the outer housing.
The weapon is fitted with a bipod attached to the receiver and can be carried by one infantryman or served by a crew of two. The total weight of the combat configuration—including ammunition, belts, boxes, and scopes—is 9.5 kg lighter than the equivalent QJZ-89 setup, thanks to plastic composite ammo containers, a lighter tripod, and the lighter ammunition. The empty weight of the gun alone is similar to its predecessor. The QJZ-171 is also available as the CS/LM23 for export.
Reader's Guide
The QJZ-171 represents a significant shift in heavy machine gun design, prioritizing portability without sacrificing the firepower of the 12.7×108mm cartridge. Its weight, comparable to general-purpose machine guns like the M240 or FN MAG, allows it to be employed in roles traditionally filled by lighter weapons, particularly in difficult terrain. The disputed weight figures—ranging from 11.9 kg to 16.9 kg for the gun alone—reflect the challenge of verifying specifications, but the official claim of a 9.5 kg reduction in combat configuration over the QJZ-89 underscores the design's success in lightening the soldier's load.
The weapon's advanced primer ignition blowback and hybrid short recoil system, combined with a free-floating barrel and improved muzzle brake, contribute to reduced recoil and improved accuracy. The ability to reliably hit targets within a 24 cm radius at 200 meters and achieve a 70% hit probability against vehicle-sized targets at 1,000 meters demonstrates its effectiveness at range. The QJZ-171's adoption by the People's Liberation Army marks a generational upgrade, replacing the QJZ-89 and providing infantry units with a heavy machine gun that can be more readily deployed in high-altitude and mountainous operations.
Did You Know?
- The QJZ-171 is also known as the Type 171 heavy machine gun.
- It fires a specialized lightweight 12.7×108mm ammunition with armor-piercing incendiary rounds weighing 100 grams each.
- The export version of the QJZ-171 is designated CS/LM23.
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