JS 05 (QBU-09)
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 1050 mm
- Weight, empty
- 13.50 kg
- Introduced
- 2005
About
What it is, and why it matters
The JS 05, also designated QBU-09 in PLA service, is a Chinese bolt-action anti-materiel rifle chambered in 12.7x108mm. Developed by Norinco as China's primary man-portable anti-materiel solution, the JS 05 features a bullpup layout that keeps its overall length manageable despite the massive 12.7mm cartridge. The rifle is designed to engage high-value targets including light armored vehicles, radar equipment, communications installations, and fortified positions at ranges up to 1500 meters, providing PLA infantry units with organic long-range destructive capability.
The JS 05 is China's answer to the Barrett M82, but where the Americans chose semi-automatic firepower, the Chinese opted for bolt-action precision in a compact bullpup package. The design philosophy reflects PLA doctrine that emphasizes first-round hit probability over volume of fire for the anti-materiel role.
The JS in the designation stands for Jianjishou (Sniper) in Chinese. The bullpup configuration reduces the overall length significantly, making the weapon more practical for motorized and mechanized infantry. The rifle features a substantial muzzle brake and internal recoil buffering system to manage the 12.7x108mm cartridge's punishing recoil. The bolt-action mechanism was chosen over semi-automatic for improved accuracy and reliability with the high-pressure cartridge. The JS 05 has been displayed at various Chinese defense exhibitions and is believed to be in widespread PLA service. Some sources also list a variant chambered in the domestic 12.7x108mm DJP-05 armor-piercing incendiary round optimized for anti-materiel work.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Norinco
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- China
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2005
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 1050 mm
- Overall length
- 1480 mm
- Weight, empty
- 13.50 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 14.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 30.0 N
- Capacity
- 5
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 820 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 16230 J
- Effective range
- 1500 m
- Maximum range
- 6000 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Bullpup layout
Muzzle brake
Integral bipod
Optical sight mount
Carry handle
Recoil buffer- Anti materiel capability
Padded recoil pad
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 430 sniper rifles | 13.50 kg | 5.40 kg | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 429 sniper rifles | 1480 mm | 1150 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 434 sniper rifles | 1050 mm | 620 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 434 sniper rifles | 5 | 6 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the JS 05 (QBU-09)
How much does the JS 05 (QBU-09) weigh?
The JS 05 (QBU-09) weighs 13.50 kg (29.76 lb) empty and 14.20 kg (31.31 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the JS 05 (QBU-09)?
The JS 05 (QBU-09) is chambered in 12.7x108mm.
How many rounds does the JS 05 (QBU-09) hold?
The JS 05 (QBU-09) holds 5 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the JS 05 (QBU-09)?
The JS 05 (QBU-09) is 1480 mm (58.3 in) long overall, with a 1050 mm (41.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the JS 05 (QBU-09)?
The JS 05 (QBU-09) is made by Norinco (China).
When was the JS 05 (QBU-09) introduced?
The JS 05 (QBU-09) was introduced in 2005.
How does the JS 05 (QBU-09) operate?
The JS 05 (QBU-09) uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- People's Liberation Army
- 2009
- People's Armed Police
- China
Provenance
Confidence in this record
65%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/js-05' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "js-05", "name": "JS 05 (QBU-09)", "manufacturer": { "id": "norinco", "name": "Norinco", "countryCode": "CN", "foundedYear": 1980, "website": "https://en.norincogroup.com.cn", "logoUrl": null, "description": "China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco), a state-owned enterprise founded in 1980 and headquartered in Beijing. Among the world's largest defense contractors, producing firearms and military equipment.", "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "5286c8a850a565bc4d9bd2e7a8e4b18084a491b62d93d828ac7de90983853065" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "CN", "year_introduced": 2005, "barrel_length_mm": 1050, "weight_empty_g": 13500, "action_type": "bolt_action"}