The JH16-1: China’s New 9×19 Subgun
Back in March we reported on Chinese SWAT teams operating with modded Type 79 submachine guns. The venerable Type 79 was developed in the 1970s and despite efforts to improve its modularity the guns are showing their age. They may now be supplanted by a new 9x19mm submachine gun.
While the bullpup QCW-05 PDW is sometimes seen a new submachine gun has begun to be fielded with China’s police forces. The JH16-1 was introduced in 2017, unlike the Type 79 chambered in 7.62×25mm Tokarev, the new weapon is chambered in the ubiquitous 9x19mm round.
The China Defence Blog reports that the new submachine gun weighs in at 2.8 kg or 6.2 lbs unloaded and has a rate of fire of approximately 800 rounds per minute. With an effective range of 200 metres. The new JH16-1 appears to have a polymer lower and an adjustable stock. It feeds from a curved, probably 30 round, magazine – with an MP5-style paddle release. It appears to have an ambidextrous safety/selector lever but is left side charging only.
It has fixed front and rear sights but also has a full length top rail and shares a passing resemblance to the Heckler & Koch UMP. The JH16-1 is heavier than the older Type 79 submachine gun and also had picatinny rail segments at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions.
The JH16-1 is reportedly produced by the Hubei Jianghua Machinery Co Ltd, incorporated as a private company in 2006, formally state factory 9616, in the Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang. It was recently seen during a South China Special Police special skills drill for members of the press. The Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department held a demonstration on 23rd May where a number of officers were seen armed with the new JH16-1.
