A Small Arms Comparison – India or China? Who Takes the Cake?

India and China are two of the major neighbourhood arch-rivals one would think millions of times before starting to go against them. But how does the small-arms power of India actually stand up against those of the Chinese small-arms. Well, you are in for a treat! Be ready with your snack plate because the journey is long. Pistol Prowess: QSW-06 China's People's Liberation Army Ground Force uses three types of pistols all of which are indigenously made and are known in military terms as are QSZ series - namely the QSZ-92, QSZ-193 and QSZ-11. They use the standard 9mm Parabellum rounds or the 5.8x21mm DAP92, a home-grown Chinese armour-piercing round for handguns. The QSW-06 is a suppressed variant of the QSZ-92. Domestic powerhouse Norinco is responsible for the design and manufacturing behind these handguns. But the important thing is, that there isn't any verified source or concrete data about their potential reliability and moreover they don't have registered combat usage. Glock-17 Beretta Px4 Storm On the other hand, Indian Armed Forces have a pretty good handgun weapons line. The Pistol-Auto 9mm-1A or better known as the IOF 9mm, is the most widely used pistol used by the Indian Army - a semi-automatic, self-loading 13-round magazine holding, suppressor-ready handgun, which is actually a licensed version of the Browning Hi-Power and is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum cartridges. The Browning Hi-Power has a stellar military service record so it automatically implies that our licensed version is a pretty much beastly version of itself. Apart from these, Indian army and mostly the Special Forces use the Austrian Glock 17, Glock 26 and the Italian Beretta Px4 Storm. These are highly reliable, combat-proven pistols to be used by our Armed Forces and are supposed to have the edge over the rather unproven Chinese handguns. SMG Factor: Indian Armed Forces have a variety of sub-machine guns, each capable of flaunting their quality and deadly firepower. The Micro-Uzi has an astonishing fire rate of 1200 rounds per minute. Although a much smaller variant than the original Uzi, it can be stacked with Picatinny rails, red-dot sight and foldable stocks - a tiny gun that can cause an absolute bloodbath. The Heckler & Koch MP5, one of the most popular SMGs, has been a favourite of our Special Forces due to its recoil mitigation, fire rate, integrated suppressor and effective close-quarter battle capabilities. India also has the Brügger & Thomet MP9, although in fewer numbers than the previous entries in the Army and the Special Forces. India's existing SAF 2A1 Carbines (Sterling SMG) will also be replaced by the indigenously designed and built Modern Sub Machine Carbine (MSMC). Chinese QSW-05 Contrary to the mix of indigenous-foreign variety that India possesses, China's in-service sub-machine guns are all homegrown, namely the QCQ-171, CS/LS06 (for the Special Forces), QCW-05 and the Type-79. China doesn't have a good run for SMGs and also there is a lack of reliable data on their actual combat specifications and capabilities. The Type-79 SMG is quite an old gun which was designed in the 1970s and is still in service. Today, they are mostly kept in serviceable conditions using retrofitting methods to make them able to work with newer rails/sights/muzzle brakes etc. The QCW-05 is one of the main service SMGs of China which has a bullpup design with select fire features. But according to reports, it has much more recoil than other 9mmm SMGs and its detachable suppressor is not particularly effective. Moreover, bullpup designs for SMGs is not very advisable for very close-combat/room clearance engagements. Indian Armed Forces MP5 In the field of sub-machine guns, India has explored quite a distinct variety. Moreover, our SMGs are used by many other countries Special Forces and leading military powers. The MP9 has experienced War in Afghanistan and has also seen limited action in the ongoing Russo-Ukraine War. The Uzi and its variants are one of the most used SMGs in the military, law enforcement, police and private security applications and have seen too much action around the world. The MP5 is a gun on the costlier side but it's one of the most favourite SMGs for Special Forces around the world and has been experiencing battle scars for a long time. With a mix of this foreign firepower, India's entry into SMG indigenization with the MSMC is also game-changing. Unlike the diverse real-life scenarios Indian SMGs have faced, the Chinese counterpart is not so reliable and practical, and the sub-machine guns are even less likely to beat India's team up of training and quality. Kalashnikov Charisma: China had been using a copied version of the original Soviet AK-47 and named it the Type-56. It was the primary weapon for Chinese frontline infantry officially till the 1980s but is still in service among Army reserves and militia. The design was very much outdated and had severe flaws. They even lack the chrome plating of barrels and gas systems and weren't much corrosion resistant. The effective firing range was limited to 300-400m but lacked accuracy and consistency. Even the People's Liberation Army was never fully satisfied with the performance of the Type-56. After this, China deep-dived in a serious way to make a reliable firearm, which later was known as the Type-81. The Type-81 has features incorporated from the Russian SVD, SKS and AK series, and is a family of automatic assault, semi-auto assault rifles and a light machine guns. It was a much better approach from them towards setting up a stable standard rifle as the Type-81 was decently reliable and was able to shoot 15000 rounds on average without any breakage of parts or need of replacement. Chinese soldiers were satisfied with it and it could be upgraded with Picatinny rails and has a provision of an under-barrel grenade launcher. Chinese soldiers in practise with their Type-81 China may have its shares but considering the legendary AK platform, India is miles ahead. Indian Army and Special Forces use the original Soviet AK-47s, AKM, upgraded AK-203 and the AR-M1, a Bulgarian AK derivative. AK-47's reliability, simplicity and the fact that it is extremely useful even in very harsh conditions make it an absolute beast when unleashed in automatic barrages of fire. The original AK-47 gets its name due to years of fine-tuning, torture-testing and combat experience. Unlike the Chinese copy variants, India's AR-M1 is a highly effective rifle too. It has an effective firing range of 600m, and all sorts of attachments can be fully utilized including under-barrel 40mm grenade launchers. India's AKs are supposed to have a greater edge over their Chinese counterparts because paired with the already-known reliability, firms are always competing for bagging deals in weapon upgrades. The old-school AKMs and Ak-47s have already undergone the contract of a SOPMOD upgrade in the hands of SSS Defence where they are being changed with folding buttstocks, mil-spec Aluminium alloy quad-rails, M-LOK compatible handguards and all-round optics and accessories usage. Also Read, SSS Defence Delivers Upgrade Kits For The Indian Army’s AK-47 Rifles AK-203 SSS Defence’s upgraded AK-47 China has their line of self-made assault rifles but India too isn't just an importer. The home-grown INSAS Rifle family (Assault rifle plus LMG) has been used as the standard infantry weapon of the Indian Armed Forces for the last three decades and is still in service. With an effective firing range of 400m, this old dog is no joke as apart from us, its export version is also used by the Royal Bhutan Army, Nepalese Army and the Royal Oman Army, and has seen enough combat in the Kargil War and the Nepalese Civil War. However, India’s INSAS rifles will be replaced rifles by the deadlier AK-203. India bagged the deal of the procuring 6,01,427 AK-203s, 70,000 rifles of which have been already bought off the shelf from Russia's Rosoboronexport and the rest will be produced with full Transfer of Technology (ToT) in the Korwa ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. It will significantly increase our firepower once the whole batch gets produced and formally inducted into the Indian Army. The direct shift from INSAS's 5.56x45mmm to the 7.62x39mm ammunition will be a huge pain for the side receiving those rounds. In fact, the shift to deadlier ammunition and access to more ergonomic features and combat accessories is helping in the modernization of the Indian Armed Forces. QBZ Domination? India's Reply? Currently, China boasts of a bunch of assault rifles, designated in military terms as the QBZ. The QBZ-95 (Type-95) is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured by Norinco and has been issued as the service rifle for the People's Liberation Army, Police and paramilitary law enforcement agencies. It has an exterior polymer design with select-fire settings and is available in a 35-round detachable box or 75-round detachable drum magazines. In fact, this rifle is used by a few other countries such as Pakistan, Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Sudan, Venezuela and Cambodia Special Forces, and has experienced quite a lot of combat scenarios including the Sri Lankan Conflict, Burma internal conflicts, Xinjiang conflicts and the North-West Pakistan War. During the introduction of this gas-operated piston-driven, bullpup rifle was speculated to be copied from the French FAMAS but later on, it became clear that it was one of the very few honest Chinese approaches towards firearms production and incorporated a clean sheet design. QBZ-191 China had introduced its new QBZ-191 as a next-generation assault weapon for its armed forces. It is a 5.8x42mmm intermediate cartridge chambered, "new-generation" service rifle manufactured by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army and Armed Police and is being used as an active service rifle since 2019. According to China, it is a huge upgrade over the QBZ-95 due to its lighter weight, better ergonomics and controls, transparent magazines and a longer service life with the capability of firing upto 20,000 rounds. But the QBZ series isn't as good as our neighbours advertise. The QBZ-95 wasn't a very good rifle even by bullpup standards. Ergonomics were very poor according to experts and controls weren't ambidextrous. The ejection port is made on the right side only and the fire mode selector switch is present behind the magazine which is not advisable during rapid shooting scenarios. Also, the triggers are reportedly gritty, heavy and of a long pull, and there is no safety lock near the trigger hand. Although the QBZ-191 is a legit upgrade over the other one with its better features, it still has some issues. There have been reports of some serious accuracy issues even in very short ranges, and the alleged lack of spin put to the bullets while firing. There were also concerns about the actual reliability of the barrel contrary to what the Chinese promoted about its rifle. Our home-grown variant may not be perfect but compared to the QBZs, WE DO NOT FALL BEHIND. Pretty decent iron sight with provisions of attachments in modified ones and an all-around combat proved excellence review from the Kargil War to harsh-environment training and multi-national combat practises - our INSAS rifles are as good as they can be for effectiveness in needed situations. But hold on, we have a lot more! Indian Army uses the high-end 716I and 716 Patrol G2 rifles made by the American firearms manufacturer, Sig Sauer. These are two of the most versatile rifles in our arsenal. They deal a better punch due to the more lethal 7.62mm NATO unlike the 5.56mm and have better utilization of their range and efficiency in close-combat situations. In direct comparison against our Chinese counterparts, our SIGs, although on the costlier side, shine brighter due to their better ergonomics, premium quality and all-around versatility. The QBZs lack the advanced features, ease of operability and quality control which our SIGs possess. M4A1 Apart from the INSAS, AKs and SIG 716Is, we have also got other battlefield badboys. Our Army and Special Forces notably use the 5.56mm NATO SCAR-L and the 7.62mm NATO SCAR-H of Belgian FN Herstal, the IWI Tavor Tar-21, the US-made AK-competitor M4 and a few units of the T91 Assault rifle. These rifles are used by distinct and leading military powers around the world and have got more combat experience than their entire assault rifle division. Taking cumulatively the variety and quality, Indian Armed Forces assault rifles are supposed to win by a long shot over our neighbours. Also Read, AK 203 vs AK 47: Why Is AK 203 Nearly 5 Times More Expensive Than AK 47 Rifle? DMR Demolition: Although a Cold War-era weapon, India's Dragunov-SVD is no joke and is used both as a designated marksman rifle and a sniper by the Indian armed forces. It utilizes the match-grade 7.62x54R ammunition with a short-stoke piston system and a last-round bolt hold for faster reloads. Feature packed for its era, it features the still-impressive PSO-1 optic which has an illuminated reticle, two turrets for windage and elevation adjustment, a 4x magnification and a stadiametric rangefinder. Although it will be phased out in the coming years, the original SVD is still a deadly gun if your body shows up in the optic! But China uses a Norinco-made direct copy of the original rifle, which also features a direct copy of the PSO-1 optic, known as the Type 79. The Chinese Type-79 mainly differs in the overall measurements but is largely similar to the Soviet design - although it turned out to be a serviceable rifle and a decent copy of the actual SVD. They also have an export variant called Type-85, which is still in service in Bangladesh, Bolivia, the Philippines and Niger. Compared to the Indian counterpart, the Chinese have produced it as a more budget-conscious approach but India may still have the combat edge due to its actual battle-proven statistics. An Indian NSG-sniper with HK PSG-1 India also has the somewhat old Heckler & Koch PSG-1 and the SIG Sauer 716I. The PSG-1 has been one of the staple medium-long range sniper rifles for our Army, NSG, MARCOS etc. and is equally capable for the DMR roles. With an effective firing range of 1000m, this gun defines the quality that HK is known for a long time, and has experienced a fair share of scars from the Iraq War and the Yemeni Civil War. Coming to a modern version, the 716I is an equally brilliant platform. Although it has faced its own issues due to a lack of iron sights and inoperability with indigenous ammunition leading, the pairing of powerful SIG factory-made optics and an effective range of 500m, the SIG 716I can be a beast. Compared to these Indian powerhouses, China fields the QBU-88 - a short-stroke gas piston-operated, bullpup DMR. It was the first of China's latest new-gen firearms. But according to experts, the QBU-88 bullpup design is not ergonomic and manoeuvrable as conventional/Western bullpup rifles are, which in a way lowers the gun-operator capability. Long-Range Lethality: QBU-201 Sniper rifle CS/LR-4 Sniper rifle China has got quite a bunch of dedicated sniper rifles which are again all home-grown and go by the military designation of QBU series. China specifically relies on five of its bolt-action rifles for their dedicated sniper roles which include the QBU-141, QBU-202/203, CS-LR4 and the AMR-2, all of which are manufactured by the local defence powerhouse NORINCO. All of them use the conventional .308 Winchester, .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition or some of their specifically designed ammunition. The QBU-141 is chambered in DBU-141 5.8x42mm cartridge which Norinco promotes as very high-precision ammunition and much superior to NATO 5.56mm. Similarly, the ant-material rifles, QBU-201 and AMR-2 use the 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun ammo which is taken as a direct competitor of the American-made .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) rounds. As much as the other guns face criticism, Chinese snipers are relatively low on that radar and don't have enough concrete data for direct matchups - all others can do is compare with the specifications that China show us. China also has a Norinco-made, semi-auto anti-material sniper rifle called the QBU-10, which can allegedly destroy armoured targets more than 1500 metres away. Then again, none of these snipers has any verified combat experience. Barrett M82 On the other hand, India has the 7.62mm NATO chambered IWI Galil Sniper used by the Indian Army and Special Forces, and the Sig Sauer SSG 3000, both of which have an effective firing range of 900m. The previously mentioned PSG-1 and the Dragunov are also used extensively as sniper rifles despite their DMR characteristics. The frontline soldiers along the LoC and the International Border have already got the recently procured Sako TRG-42, which is an excellent .338 Lapua Magnum chambered sniper rifle and is supposed to have the upper hand against unproven Chinese snipers in high-altitude border conflicts. India also boasts of having the extremely reliable and battle-proven Barrett M82/M107 and the M95 anti-material rifles, although most are in possession of Special Forces. Then there is the OSV-96, a Russian-origin heavy semi-auto precision rifle that uses the specialized 12.7×108mm 7N34 59.0g Full Metal Jacket and Armour-Piercing Rounds and has the capability to engage moving infantry at 1800m or anti-material roles up to 2500m. It is also battle-proven in the Syrian Civil War and can destroy enemy encroachments against those untested sniper Chinese rifles. In the indigenous entry, India has the Vidhwansak anti-material/sniper rifle, which is considered to be a competitor of the South African Denel-NTW. It uses devastating 20mm rounds and the resultant force can be hardly considered as 'small arms'. Also Read, Why Is The Sako TRG-42 A Good Fit For Indian Armed Forces? A Conclusive General Analysis: Quantity - China is currently the nation with the largest army with approximately 2 million soldiers while India, although a big gun in the game, is still dwarfed at 1,45,000 military personnel. So in the quantity of guns, China indeed has a major advantage. Quality - China may have the quantitative advantage over us but Chinese firearms have always severely lacked in quality with most being just copies of other successful guns and they have a history of serious flaws/snags/inaccuracy issues/maintenance concerns/poor bullet ballistics/technical jamming etc. and can absolutely prove fatal to the operator itself if such things happen during combat. Indigenization - China has a commendable indigenous firearm production industry and Norinco is a major player in the game for this homegrown industry. India's firearm industry is on the move but when compared to us, China is on a whole other level with the capability of designing and manufacturing every type of firearm, enough to be serviceable by this huge army. This also reduces the cost of weapons significantly. India has a very diverse family of firearms do need to spend a lot more, as we are pretty much dependent on foreign quality procurements and each gun has different maintenance needs. Foreign support - China is practically void of any long-term or profitable support/partnership from Western countries. The only country whose footprints are there in the Chinese arms industry is Russia. Even those Russian weapons are of the Cold-War era and currently China is solely thriving on its indigenous arms industry. Although China can be considered a major export market for Myanmar, Philippines, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Currently, China is just a big threat to the West with aggravating enmity due to the advancements towards Taiwan. The USA is ready to pounce if Taiwan faces severe danger while India, South Korea and Japan are almost direct military competition while other countries completely disregard the government norms, and all admit China as a potential pan-world threat considering its massive military threat. On the other hand, India is an eye of friendship for every other country, and weapon firm always line up for military tenders due to the possession, recognition, reliability and reputation India has in the military market. Data classification - Weapons of the Indian Armed Forces are in use around the world and are backed by the data and specifications which make them insanely reliable. But China has always resorted to secrecy with very limited concrete data and experts Drills - Paired with India's variety and quality in every side of the weapons industry, we have the extremely competent training and skills our soldiers possess. India is known for holding bilateral/multilateral drills with countries including the USA, UK, Russia, UAE etc. and these greatly increase intra-national and international teamwork, synergy and interoperability. China on the other hand hardly gets to participate in multinational military drills due to the enmity among other nations and merely continues its military exercises in its own homeland or neighbouring seas mostly. Also Read, The Great Indian CARACAL Deal Service History - Almost all of India's arsenal are known for its efficient operational history and combat experience around the world at some point the time or another in history. Our indigenous weapons have shown great feats in our wars while the foreign procurements all have stellar combat reliability and are used by leading military and Special Forces around the world. Contrary to this, China's secrecy and classified specifications have made their weapons’ reliability a mere simulation and one can hardly speculate these wild scenarios sitting at home. So however the number of guns China might possess, India is still supposed to have an upper hand in terms of the raw finesse of small arms firepower.

A Small Arms Comparison – India or China? Who Takes the Cake?

Subhodip Das

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