Type 80 (pistol)

The Type 80 is a Chinese 7.62 mm machine pistol.

History
The Type 80 was built in the late 1970s as a personal defense weapon for vehicle crews and other military personnel of the People's Liberation Army of China. It was accepted into service in 1980.

Construction
The Type 80 was created by refining and upgrading the design of the various Chinese copies of the imported German selective-fire M712 "Schnellfeuer" version of the Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" semiautomatic pistol that were produced and used in China in the 1930s.

The internal design is derived from the basic Mauser action with a slight recoil of the barrel enabling the locking piece under the lightweight bolt to drop out of engagement and borrows from the later Westinger (rather than the Nickl) selector mechanism. There is an obvious family resemblance in outline with the C96 having the magazine well in front of the trigger, slender barrel and exposed hammer. The pistol has a permanent unregulated sight set at a distance of 50 m (the maximum effective distance when firing in bursts). The selector permitted either single shots or automatic fire. The cyclic rate is believed to be around 850 rounds per minute. When firing bursts it is expected that the holster/stock or alternative metal shoulder stock would be attached to the slot at the back of the grip. The pistol grip itself has a more ergonomic shape than the traditional Mauser C96's "Broomhandle". Another slight difference is the slight forward slope to the magazine, intended to give greater reliability in feeding.

The Type 80 was developed in the 1970s and introduced into service in 1980. It was intended to give service personnel such as tank crews an individual weapon compact enough to be carried as standard equipment. Whilst not having the range or power of an assault rifle it would have been more accurate in carbine form than a simple pistol whilst also having the potential of automatic fire. During the 1930s the Broomhandle pistols were highly prized in China, to the extent of becoming a status symbol.

Tactical and technical characteristics

 * Weight, unloaded: 1160 g
 * Overall Length (without buttstock): 300 mm
 * Barrel Length: 140 mm
 * Caliber: 7.62 mm
 * Ammunition: 7.62 x 25 mm Type 51 cartridge
 * Magazine capacity: 10 or 20 rounds
 * Muzzle velocity: 470 m / s
 * Sighting range: 50 m
 * Maximum range: 1000 m
 * Rate: 850 rounds per minute

Disadvantages
The Type 80 was designed as a machine pistol for use in close combat situations. The pistol proved to unsuitable for sustained fully automatic fire. After cycling approximately ten cartridges, the chamber would overheat and risk accidental discharge.