QBU-10

About the QBU-10

The QBU-10 (Type 10) is a Chinese semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle chambered in 12.7x108mm, designed and manufactured by Norinco. First introduced in 2010, the QBU-10 serves as the People's Liberation Army's primary anti-materiel sniper system for engaging light vehicles, crew-served weapons, radar installations, and personnel behind cover at extended ranges. The rifle features a unique gas-operated short-stroke piston action combined with a recoiling barrel to manage the substantial recoil of the 12.7x108mm cartridge, fed from 5-round proprietary detachable box magazines. Each QBU-10 is issued with a YMA09 8x telescopic sighting unit that integrates a ballistic computer and laser rangefinder for rapid target acquisition. The rifle uses the DBT-10 12.7x108mm precision sniper cartridge with aerodynamically optimized bullets achieving a muzzle velocity of approximately 820 m/s. At 13.3 kg empty, the QBU-10 is relatively portable for a semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle, designed to be operated by a two-person sniper team.

The QBU-10's semi-automatic action gives Chinese snipers a decisive advantage in anti-materiel engagements -- the ability to rapidly engage multiple targets or deliver follow-up shots without breaking their sight picture, a capability most competitors lack with their bolt-action designs.

QBU-10 specifications

The QBU-10 is notable for its semi-automatic action in the anti-materiel rifle class, where most competing designs use bolt-action or single-shot mechanisms. The combination of gas operation and recoiling barrel provides a unique dual-recoil-management system that makes the rifle controllable despite the powerful 12.7x108mm cartridge. The integrated YMA09 optic with ballistic computer represents a significant investment in first-round hit capability, reducing the time required for range estimation and holdover calculation. The QBU-10 has been widely photographed in PLA exercises and was prominently featured during the 2015 Beijing military parade. It supplements rather than replaces the bolt-action Norinco M99 anti-materiel rifle already in PLA service.