The Chinese Global Times reported that the new QBU-191 marksman rifles are set to replace the QBU-88 sniper rifles currently used by Chinese Army, People’s Liberation Army (PLA). According to the source, PLA soldiers stationed in Southwest Tibet already have received the new marksman rifles.
The weapon expected to continue being used to some special operations forces has a 30-shot magazine and variable magnification scope that can increase long-distance hit precision.
Military hardware observers have noted of the rifle’s long barrel and variable magnification scope would improve the rifle’s hit precision over long distance and tests in the Tibetan plateau’s extreme cold will help in ascertaining the rifle’s performance in extreme environments so that it can be improved in the future.
The source also noted that that the QBU-191 marksman rifle is part of a series that is designed for hi-tech warfare, as it can be used with components such as night-vision devices.
The Army recognition, another military hardware experts and observers noted that the QBU-191 is the marksman version of the QBZ-191 that exists in four versions; the shortened, standard-issue, light machine gun and sniper/marksman.
Another source, Light Weapons Magazine noted that the new QBZ-191 is thus likely to have been built with a modular design so some parts can be shared between the four versions.
