China · Pistol
QSZ-92
Short recoil (semi-automatic) · 9x19mm Parabellum · introduced 1998
Also known as Type 92, QSZ92, Norinco Type 92
About the QSZ-92
The QSZ-92 is the standard semi-automatic service pistol of the People's Liberation Army, adopted in 1998 to replace the Type 54 (Tokarev TT-33 clone) and Type 64. Designed by Norinco around a polymer frame with steel inserts, it uses a rotating-barrel locked-breech action and is offered in two chamberings: a 9x19mm Parabellum export/service version and a proprietary 5.8x21mm DAP-92 armor-piercing variant for elite Chinese forces.
The QSZ-92's rotating-barrel locking system was an unusual choice for a service pistol, more common in the Beretta Px4 than in any other state-issued sidearm. The proprietary 5.8x21mm version was designed during the same program that produced the 5.8x42mm rifle round, briefly making China the only major military to issue a unified family of indigenous small-arms cartridges across pistols, rifles, and machine guns.
QSZ-92 specifications
General
- Type
- Pistol
- Action
- Short recoil (semi-automatic)
- Firing mechanism
- Double action single action
- Trigger
- Double action
- Calibres
- 9x19mm Parabellum, 5.8x21mm DAP-92
- Magazine capacity
- 15 rounds
- Magazine
- Detachable box magazine
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 111 mm (4.4 in)
- Overall length
- 190 mm (7.5 in)
- Height
- 135 mm (5.3 in)
- Width
- 35 mm (1.4 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 0.76 kg (1.68 lb)
- Weight (loaded)
- 0.90 kg (1.98 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
- Grooves
- 6
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Polymer
- Slide
- Steel
- Finish
- phosphate
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 350 m/s (1148 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 456 J (336 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 50 m
History
- Introduced
- 1998
- Production status
- In service
- Country of origin
- CN
- Designer
- Norinco design bureau (lead designer Li Tianbao)
Available calibres
Features
- Rotating barrel locking
- Polymer frame with steel inserts
- Ambidextrous controls
- Underframe accessory rail
Safety
- Ambidextrous safety decocker
- Firing pin safety
- Magazine disconnect
The 5.8x21mm DAP-92 cartridge is a bottlenecked, pointed-bullet round designed specifically to defeat soft body armor at close range. The QSZ-92 itself is closely related to the Norinco CF-98 export pistol.
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