NORINCO 7.62 mm Type 68 rifle
NORINCO 7.62 mm Type 68 rifle Development The NORINCO 7.62 mm Type 68 rifle is of Chinese design and manufacture. In general appearance it resembles the Type 56 (SKS) carbine but the barrel is longer, the bolt action is based on that of the AK-47 and the rifle provides selective fire. It has a two-position gas regulator. It normally uses a 15-round box magazine but if the bolt stop is removed, or ground down, the 30-round magazines of the AK-47 and AKM can be used. There are two versions of the Type 68. The earlier version has a receiver machined out of the solid whereas the later version has a pressed steel receiver. It can be recognised by the large rivets in the side of the receiver. Description The NORINCO Type 68 can be loaded in one of four ways. First, using an empty 15-round magazine, cocking the action holds the bolt to the rear; a 10-round SKS-type charger can then be put into the feed guides and the rounds forced down. Five further rounds can then be pressed in from the next charger. Secondly, if chargers are not available, 15 rounds can be forced down, one after the other, into the magazine. Thirdly, the 15-round magazine can be pre-loaded off the gun and then placed in position. Lastly if the bolt stop has been removed or ground down the 30-round magazine can be used but it must be pre-filled off the gun as the bolt will automatically close on the empty chamber and close off the top feed opening. When the bolt is retracted over the loaded magazine and released, the top round is fed into the chamber as the bolt flies forward. The selector lever is positioned directly in front of the trigger on the right. When the selector is pulled to the rear, reading `0', the trigger is locked. The bolt, however, can be pulled back if required. The middle position, marked `1', with the lever vertical, provides semi-automatic fire and when the lever is fully forward, the gun will fire at full automatic. This position is marked `2'. The sights are adjusted by pressing in on the side locks and moving the sight bar along the leaf to the required range. The position marked III is a battle sight position for all ranges up to 300 m. Normally the gas regulator will be set with the smaller of the two holes nearer the barrel. If it is necessary to use the large hole to increase the gas flow the gas regulator retainer is pressed in towards the cylinder. When it disengages from the handguard, the retainer is pulled out of the gas cylinder and then the regulator is rotated to select the other hole. The retainer is replaced and rotated and the gun should then be ready to fire. The bayonet is similar to that of the SKS. The handle is forced back against the spring and the bayonet then rotated forward and locked at the muzzle. To fire the weapon, the selector lever is placed on `1' or `2'. When the trigger is pulled the hammer strikes the firing pin and the cartridge is fired. Some of the propellant gas passes through the vent and into the gas cylinder above the barrel. The piston is forced back, and the bolt carrier starts to move to the rear and rotate the hammer back. After a period of free travel of about 6 mm, the cam cut in the bolt carrier reaches the operating lug of the bolt. The bolt is rotated, providing initial extraction and then withdrawn. The fired case is held to the bolt-face by the extractor until the ejector pivots it out to the right of the gun. The return spring is compressed. The bolt carrier hits the rear wall of the receiver and rebounds. As it goes forward the next round is fed and chambered. The extractor clips over the cartridge rim and the bolt comes to rest. The carrier continues on and the cam forces the operating lug across and rotates the bolt into the locked position. The carrier, in its final forward motion, after the bolt is fully locked, releases the safety, or automatic, sear and then stops as it reaches the front of the receiver. Specifications Cartridge: 7.62 × 39 mm (Type 56) Operation: gas, selective fire Locking: rotating bolt Feed: 15-round detachable box magazine (30-round box magazine from the AK-47 and AKM can be used only if the holding open stop is removed) Weight: 3.49 kg Length: 1.029 m Barrel: 521 mm Rifling: 4 grooves, rh Sights: fore, cylindrical pillar; rear, tangent, notch Muzzle velocity: 730 m/s Rate of fire: cyclic, 750 rds/min Manufacturer China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) 12A Guang'anmen Nanjie, Beijing. Status Available for export. Service Chinese armed forces and Albania. Photo: NORINCO 7.62 mm Type 68 rifle (T J Gander)
Picture and information courtesy of: Janes Infantry Weapons
