Type 86 (T86)
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 375 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.17 kg
- Introduced
- 2000
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Type 86 (T86) is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal since 2000. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 14.8-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3170g (111.8 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 T86 represented Taiwan's experiment with the global bullpup trend of the 1990s, joining the FAMAS, Steyr AUG, and L85 as bullpup service rifles. However, the ROC military ultimately decided that the conventional-layout T91 carbine better met their needs, making the T86 one of the shortest-lived bullpup programs in military history. The rifle remains in limited service as a niche weapon despite the shift to the T91 as the primary service rifle.
The T86 was produced in limited numbers between 2000 and 2002, with fewer than 5,000 units manufactured. It was intended as a compact alternative to the full-size T65 for vehicle crews, special operations, and urban combat roles. The bullpup conversion reuses much of the T65 platform's internal mechanism while significantly reducing overall length. The T86 is compatible with standard STANAG magazines as well as 100-round C-Mag drum magazines for use in the light machine gun role. The rifling twist rate of 1:178mm (1:7 inches) is optimized for heavier 62-grain SS109/M855 NATO ammunition. Despite its innovative design, the T86's limited production run and the subsequent introduction of the T91 carbine in 2003 meant it saw only limited adoption. The T86 served as an important developmental stepping stone, providing lessons that informed the T91 program.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Taiwan
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 2000 to 2002
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 375 mm
- Overall length
- 880 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.17 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.62 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
- 840 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1411 J
- Effective range
- 400 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.
Bullpup configuration
Select fire
Stanag magazine compatible
Short stroke gas piston
Chrome lined barrel- C mag drum compatible
Carrying handle
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 | 3.17 kg | 3.60 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 880 mm | 920 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 157 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 375 mm | 449 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Type 86 (T86)
How much does the Type 86 (T86) weigh?
The Type 86 (T86) weighs 3.17 kg (6.99 lb) empty and 3.62 kg (7.98 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Type 86 (T86)?
The Type 86 (T86) is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Type 86 (T86) hold?
The Type 86 (T86) holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Type 86 (T86)?
The Type 86 (T86) is 880 mm (34.6 in) long overall, with a 375 mm (14.8 in) barrel.
Who makes the Type 86 (T86)?
The Type 86 (T86) is made by Combined Service Forces 205th Arsenal (Taiwan).
When was the Type 86 (T86) introduced?
The Type 86 (T86) was introduced in 2000 and discontinued in 2002.
How does the Type 86 (T86) operate?
The Type 86 (T86) 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
- 2000
- Republic of China Marine Corps
- Taiwan
Provenance
Confidence in this record
83%
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/t86' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "t86", "name": "Type 86 (T86)", "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": 2000, "barrel_length_mm": 375, "weight_empty_g": 3170, "action_type": "gas_operated_rotating_bolt"}