The Type 63, often incorrectly referred to as Type 68 by Western sources, is a Chinese-designed rifle with a resemblance to the SKS. However, the weapon uses a rotating bolt working system from the AK-47 assault rifle, rather than the tilting bolt system of the SKS.
The origin of the Type 63 is based on the Type 56.The Type 63/68 rifle is a select-fire weapon, feeding by proprietary "cut-down" 20-round magazines or standard AK-47 30-round magazines, although these require minor modifications (removal of the bolt hold-open device) to fit. The fire selector is placed on the right side of the weapon right above the trigger guard, at index finger reach. The Type 63/68 rifle also features a non-removable folding spike-bayonet and a gas regulator system to use standard live ammunition or blank ammunition for the launch of rifle grenades.
The Type 63/68 was an outdated design already at the moment of its adoption, much like the American M14 rifle. It responded to a military philosophy based on the use of masses rather than of weapons, a philosophy that wanted the troops to be able to stop the enemy advance by rifle shots at extremely long distances, and relying on the use of the bayonet for the final close-quarters engagements. As such, the Type 63/68 had the accuracy and range of an “old time” rifle, but was too long and heavy to be serviceable, and lacked the firepower of a true modern assault rifle as it resulted less than controllable in full-automatic fire. Additionally, design flaws and poor manufacturing qualities erupted with user experience gaining a reputation of unreliability. Poor performance and increasing availability of more modern weapons (Chinese-made AK clones) in Chinese service led to the final withdrawal of this weapon from PLA use in 1978.
Several thousand of these rifles, with welded semi-auto only selectors, were imported as surplus into Australia and sold to the public in the late 1980s. It was shown that the guns could be converted back to select fire, albeit requiring a reasonable knowledge and skill of metalworking plus having access to the right machinery. Customs made an attempt to recover them but many were not, it's unknown as to how many were recovered. Several dozen have turned up in the hands of OPM rebels in West Irian provence of Indonesia, they have also been seen in the recent fighting in Bangladesh as to whether or not they come from Australia is unknown as the Chinese did "sell" many Type 63/68s on to other interested parties.
The Type 63 can be loaded in 4 different ways, owning to its system:
- Using an empty 20-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. A second charger can be used to fully load the magazine.
- 20 rounds can be forced down, one after the other, into the magazine.
- A 20-round magazine can be pre-loaded off the gun and then placed in position.
- If the bolt stop has been removed or ground down, a 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.
| Type 63 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1968–1978 |
| Used by | Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia, China, Vietnam |
| Wars | Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Cambodian-Vietnamese War, Sino-Vietnamese War, Soviet War in Afghanistan |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1959–1963 |
| Manufacturer | PRC government arsenals |
| Produced | 1969–1978 |
| Number built | Approx. 6,000,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.8 kg (8.38 lb) |
| Length | 1,033 mm (40.7 in) |
| Barrel length | 531 mm (20.9 in) |
| | |
| Cartridge | 7.62x39mm |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 680–725 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 100–800 m sight adjustments |
| Feed system | 20-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Hooded front post, rear U-notch on sliding tangent |
