QBZ,191, look up QBU191 big difference with the barrel and handguard.
QBZ-191 service rifle family
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
PeoplesPoster
Junior Member
Do we have any idea on the cost of a QBZ-191? I saw a post on Chinese social media saying that a QBZ-191 was more than 5000USD equivalent, which seems a little high if its not including any kind of optics.
That’s very high, but could be explained by a lack of a civilian market. Manufacturers are kept alive by these contracts. The us pays around 600 for an m4 from what I understand, based off a contract from 120000 costing 77 mil. It also requires re-tooling which is a massive cost.
5000 USD equivalent would be pure graft, and an oversight committee would immediately purge whoever worked the procurement for that.
Chinese rifles are very likely produced at half cost or less what it takes in the US. Their export rifles through CJAIE,SDM (Norinco) are generally the cheapest in their respective foreign markets while retaining acceptable quality.
I can see retooling for the 191 being somewhat costly, adding an extra 20% over something like the 95 but only for initial runs.
Give or take, the 191 is made for 300-600 USD equivalent imo.(1000-2000RMB)
Edit: I remember there being mention of the 191 being less subject to cost pressure, and development of mechanisms emphasizing quality and reliability, so I’ve revised my estimates upwards a bit. But given how you could pick up 97s and CQ-As for little over 450CAD (300USD equivalent, 1000RMB) I doubt it breaks the upper range I’ve estimated.
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by78
General
$5000? That sounds implausible. You can easily tell the rifle has been made cheaply, with cost control being a top priority. The coating flakes off from just a few months worth of handling. It doesn't even have a full-length metal top rail, instead opting for a polymer half-rail atop the handguard that has poor ergonomics. Everything about this rifle screams compromise and corner cutting, and if it cost anywhere over $1000 to $1200 per, then graft would be the most likely explanation along with institutional incompetence.
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I would like to comment on the coating issue. DLC isn't feasible for mass production like nitriding(there are different kinds), anodizing or chroming (barrel). The process is expensive and would cost much more and would take more time per batch. Cerakote or other analogue is also time intensive. Rifle has a lot of nooks and crannies that need to be painted, so it's not like painting flat pieces. Robots can do it, but it's not fast as nitriding or anodizing.
You also have to take into account (especially today), how those paints look under night vision. Do they shine like crazy? One of the good things about the, "100 colors of FDE" rifles, is that they brake silhouette under nods.
All coatings will chip and scratch if you use your rifle in harsh conditions (one of examples would be, training in prone on gravelly terrain). I would say like the meme, "Nyet rifle is fine". Maybe improve the anodizing somewhat or use a better aluminum (I'm not sure what the body is made of, I'm guessing 7075), but generally don't see the issue with the patina of the rifle. If it works and is reliable, I think it's a good mix of compromises (like all rifles are).
You also have to take into account (especially today), how those paints look under night vision. Do they shine like crazy? One of the good things about the, "100 colors of FDE" rifles, is that they brake silhouette under nods.
All coatings will chip and scratch if you use your rifle in harsh conditions (one of examples would be, training in prone on gravelly terrain). I would say like the meme, "Nyet rifle is fine". Maybe improve the anodizing somewhat or use a better aluminum (I'm not sure what the body is made of, I'm guessing 7075), but generally don't see the issue with the patina of the rifle. If it works and is reliable, I think it's a good mix of compromises (like all rifles are).
Preach, brother. Where did you read about all this stuff?
This was false information by the way about 500 USD tops.
I'm interested in military equipment manufacturing (and generally manufacturing). So I've read about these things all over.
PeoplesPoster
Junior Member
yea I figured, the number seemed way too high, maybe they wrote 38,000rmb instead of 3800 lol.