China Vs. India: Assault Rifle Comparison

"China vs. India" might not seem like a plausible scenario, but these two gigantic countries have unsettled border disputes, compete for influence in Southeast Asia, and China is a staunch ally of India's long-time enemy of Pakistan. Any of these factors could contribute to a future conflict between the world's first- and second-most populous countries, either directly or by proxy, and that is why a comparison of their light weapons becomes so important. Light infantry arms are the stuff of military aid around the world, so it is not entirely unlikely that one might see Chinese troops fighting guerrillas equipped with Indian weapons one day, or Indian and Chinese infantry fighting in the highlands of the Himalaya.

China's Assault Rifle
The main assault rifle of China's People's Liberation Army is the QBZ-95, and as it has carbine and squad automatic weapon variants, the QBZ-95 is the backbone of the country's light infantry weaponry. The weapon is a bull-pup, meaning the magazine and action are located behind the trigger and inside the stock, making the overall weapon shorter. The QBZ-59 fires a high velocity 5.8 mm round, comes with either a 30-round magazine or a 75-round drum, and version of the weapon fire at either 650 rpm or 800 rpm. Tests show that the 5.8 mm round has a flatter trajectory and transfer more energy to the target than the NATO 5.56 mm round. The heavy use of lightweight composites in the rifle's construction means it weighs a mere 3.25 kg.

India's Assault Rifle
India's principle rifle is the INSAS, essentially a 5.56mm copy of the famous Kalashnikov (AK-47), The INSAS incorporates ideas used in other AK-inspired rifles like the Israeli Galil, as well as entirely different weapons like the FN FNC and the H&K G3. The INSAS comes in rifle and squad automatic weapon variants, and only the squad version has full automatic fire with a rate of fire of 650 rpm. The standard rifle has a 3-round burst capability only. INSAS has been used in combat, and early problems with cold weather conditions have been corrected. The rifle version weighs 4.25 kg and uses 20- and 30-round magazines.

RESULT: CHINA
The QBZ-95 reflects an entirely new firearm design rather than an evolution of existing ideas, and while it must be said that the INSAS has proven itself as a durable design, the QBZ-95 clearly has more potential. The round it fires is slightly more accurate and puts more hurt on the target, two factors that shine in the hands of professional infantry or under-trained conscripts. The 75-round drum and higher rate of fire of the squad automatic weapon version of the QBZ-95 enables it to deliver far greater firepower than the INSAS variant of the same type, while the carbine version means the rifle can be issued to tankers, truck drivers and all sorts of soldiers who must use an sub-machine gun in India. All of this comes in a lightweight package to boot, allowing troops to carry more ammunition. Both the INSAS and QBZ-95 are good weapons, but the QBZ-95 has an edge in just about every category.

Sources: world.guns.ru/assault/as67-e.htm; world.guns.ru/assault/as39-e.htm