Norinco CS/LR35
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 650 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.90 kg
- Introduced
- 2020
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Norinco CS/LR35 is a multi-caliber bolt-action sniper rifle manufactured by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), available in both 8.6x70mm (.338 Lapua Magnum) and 7.62x51mm NATO chamberings. The rifle represents China's next-generation precision sniper platform, succeeding the CS/LR4 with improved range, accuracy, and modular features. The 8.6x70mm variant is designated QBU-202 in PLA service with QMK-201 variable zoom optics, while the 7.62x51mm variant is designated QBU-203 with QMK-201A optics. The two caliber variants can be visually distinguished by barrel length and handguard ventilation pattern -- the 8.6x70mm variant has a slightly longer barrel with a handguard featuring four ventilation holes, while the 7.62mm variant has seven smaller ventilation holes. The manufacturer claims sub-1 MOA accuracy at 1,200 meters with 8.6x70mm ammunition, positioning the CS/LR35 as a competitive long-range precision system for both domestic PLA use and the international export market.
The CS/LR35's deployment to Tibet Military Region highlights China's investment in long-range precision capability along its disputed Himalayan borders, where engagements at extreme distances and high altitudes demand purpose-built sniper systems over adapted infantry rifles.
The CS/LR35 was first observed in PLA service in Tibet Military Region, indicating its deployment to high-altitude border areas where long-range precision capability is operationally critical. The adoption of the .338 Lapua Magnum caliber follows a global trend among military snipers moving beyond 7.62 NATO for extended range engagements. The dual-caliber offering allows export customers to select the chambering that best fits their doctrine and ammunition supply chain. Weighing under 6 kg empty, the CS/LR35 is notably lighter than many comparable .338 Lapua platforms, suggesting a design emphasis on portability for foot-mobile mountain troops.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Norinco
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- China
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2020
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 650 mm
- Overall length
- 1150 mm
- Weight, empty
- 5.90 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 6.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- 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
- 900 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 6560 J
- Effective range
- 1200 m
- Maximum range
- 3500 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.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Free floating barrel
Adjustable stock
Adjustable cheekpiece
Folding stock
Bipod
Picatinny rail
Muzzle brake
Multi caliber capability
Qmk 201 variable zoom optics
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 39 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 5.90 kg | 6.53 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 37 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 1150 mm | 1230 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 39 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 650 mm | 686 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 39 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 5 | 5 | Holds fewer rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the Norinco CS/LR35
How much does the Norinco CS/LR35 weigh?
The Norinco CS/LR35 weighs 5.90 kg (13.01 lb) empty and 6.20 kg (13.67 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Norinco CS/LR35?
The Norinco CS/LR35 is chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum and 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Norinco CS/LR35 hold?
The Norinco CS/LR35 holds 5 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Norinco CS/LR35?
The Norinco CS/LR35 is 1150 mm (45.3 in) long overall, with a 650 mm (25.6 in) barrel.
Who makes the Norinco CS/LR35?
The Norinco CS/LR35 is made by Norinco (China).
When was the Norinco CS/LR35 introduced?
The Norinco CS/LR35 was introduced in 2020.
How does the Norinco CS/LR35 operate?
The Norinco CS/LR35 uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is hammer 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
- 2020
Provenance
Confidence in this record
55%
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/norinco-cs-lr35' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "norinco-cs-lr35", "name": "Norinco CS/LR35", "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": 2020, "barrel_length_mm": 650, "weight_empty_g": 5900, "action_type": "bolt_action"}