Type 65 (T65)
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.31 kg
- Introduced
- 1976
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Type 65 (T65) is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal since 1976. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 20.0-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3310g (116.8 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The aluminum alloy frame achieves a notable weight reduction compared to all-steel construction while maintaining the structural rigidity required for safe, reliable operation. Safety features include manual safety selector, reflecting modern design standards that prioritize safe handling and operation. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform. With over 49 years of firearms manufacturing experience, Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal brings established expertise in metallurgy, machining, and quality control to every product in their lineup, ensuring each firearm meets the standards expected by today's demanding market of knowledgeable shooters and professionals.
The T65 represented Taiwan's determination to achieve small arms self-sufficiency during a period of diplomatic isolation. When the United States established formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1979, Taiwan's ability to produce its own infantry weapons became strategically vital. The T65's clever combination of M16 ergonomics with a more reliable gas piston system reflected pragmatic Taiwanese engineering -- improving on the American design while maintaining familiar operation for troops trained on M16 variants.
The T65 project began in 1968 as an effort to modernize Taiwan's infantry weapons from the 7.62mm M14 to a 5.56mm platform. While the rifle closely resembles the M16A1 externally with its carrying handle, front sight post, and pistol grip, the internal gas system is significantly different, using a short-stroke gas piston similar to the AR-18 rather than the M16's direct impingement system. The T65K1 variant introduced minor improvements, while the T65K2 added a three-round burst capability and additional refinements. Later production models featured a four-position fire selector (safe, semi, burst, and full auto). The rifle accepts standard STANAG magazines and maintains parts commonality with M16 components where possible. The T65 was eventually superseded by the T91 (essentially an improved T65K2 with a shorter barrel and rail system) starting in 2003.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Taiwan
- Status
- In service
- Produced
- 1976
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Overall length
- 990 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.31 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.76 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated rotating bolt
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Parkerized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 990 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1189 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 600 m
- Rate of fire
- 750 rpm
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.
Select fire
Stanag magazine compatible
Short stroke gas piston
Chrome lined barrel
Carrying handle
Bayonet mount- M16 style ergonomics
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 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 3.31 kg | 3.60 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 990 mm | 920 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 157 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 508 mm | 449 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Type 65 (T65)
How much does the Type 65 (T65) weigh?
The Type 65 (T65) weighs 3.31 kg (7.30 lb) empty and 3.76 kg (8.29 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Type 65 (T65)?
The Type 65 (T65) is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Type 65 (T65) hold?
The Type 65 (T65) holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Type 65 (T65)?
The Type 65 (T65) is 990 mm (39.0 in) long overall, with a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Type 65 (T65)?
The Type 65 (T65) is made by Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal (Taiwan).
When was the Type 65 (T65) introduced?
The Type 65 (T65) was introduced in 1976.
How does the Type 65 (T65) operate?
The Type 65 (T65) uses a gas operated rotating 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
- Republic of China Army
- 1976
- Republic of China Marine Corps
- Taiwan
- Republic of China Military Police
- Taiwan
- Haitian National Police
- Haiti
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
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/t65' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "t65", "name": "Type 65 (T65)", "manufacturer": { "id": "csist-205th-arsenal", "name": "Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal", "countryCode": "TW", "foundedYear": 1976, "website": null, "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "d7aef2fba4b036e7e5ace16458885b5b88a54a633c3aca43b097bea0ef2b3db2" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "TW", "year_introduced": 1976, "barrel_length_mm": 508, "weight_empty_g": 3310, "action_type": "gas_operated_rotating_bolt"}