POTD: Type 81 SR

In today’s Photo Of The Day, we have a rather interesting Chinese rifle imported to Canada by Tactical Imports Corporation. This SVD/PSL lookalike called Type 81 SR is based on the Type 81 rifle which has a hybrid design that merges the Type 56 (Chinese AK-47 variant) and Type 63 (Chinese rifle based on the SKS) rifle designs. The Type 81 SR is chambered in 7.62x39mm and like the Iraqi Tabuk, tries to push this intermediate cartridge into the DMRosphere.

The Type 81 is a gas operated, magazine fed, semi-automatic rifle. It uses a short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, and a two-position gas regulator. The bolt group (of the rotating bolt type) is borrowed from the Type 63 rifle. Type 81 rifles also retains the Type 63 bolt hold-open device, which catches the bolt in the open position after the last round has been fired from magazine. The fire selector – safety switch is located at the left side of the receiver, just above the pistol grip, and can be easily operated with the right hand thumb. The open sights are marked from 100 to 500 meters, with the front sight being mounted just ahead of the gas block.

Developed by the Chinese military as a replacement for their Type 56 rifles (license produced AK-47). Was designed to have a longer service life, higher accuracy, improved durability and better controllability in full automatic firing. The Type 81 is used by multiple military and police forces across the globe.

The chrome-lined barrel of the Type 81 SR rifle is 520mm (20.5″) long. The overall length of the rifle is 1005mm (39.5″) and it weighs in at 4.6kg (10lbs 2oz). Tactical Imports Corporation was able to achieve 1.5-3 MOA (5-shot groups at 100 yards) accuracy with this rifle when using Hornady Black 123gr SST and American Eagle 124gr FMJ 7.62x39mm ammunition.

The price of the Type 81 SR rifle in Canada starts from 1,499 CAD. This price does not include the NPZ PO4x24-1-01 scope that the gun is shown with in the pictures, but it can be added when ordering the rifle.