Data Quality83%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the machine pistols category.
01 / Overview
Type 79 submachine gun
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1979–1992
Quantity
200,000
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · COLD WAR
16
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
78
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the machine pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1981
- Service Entry Year1979
- DesignerLiu Zhitong
- Weight (Empty)1.75 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersPeople's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police, Public Security Police
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
- Cartridge7.62×25 mm Tokarev
- Calibre7.62 mm
- Case Length25 mm
- Calibre Class7.62mm pistol
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation8MOD.8
- Action TypeGas-Operated
- Fire Modesselect fire
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity20
- Cyclic Rate of Fire1,000
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typemanual safety
◇Ballistics2MOD.2
- Muzzle Velocity515 m/s
- Effective Range (point)200 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length250 mm
- Sight TypeRear sight notch
- Optic RailYes
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction7MOD.7
- Length (stock folded)470 mm
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialwood or polymer
- Folding / Collapsing StockYes
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularitymultiple aftermarket conversion kits (ACE Mod, PEAK 79, TAPS79, MAPS79, Defender series, Chengying)
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost4MOD.4
- Total Production200,000
- Production Start1981
- Production End1992
- Variants6
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1979Production started
- 1992Production ended
47
years in service
13
years in production
200,000
units produced
1
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
05 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
53MACHINE PISTOLS16COLD WAR · MACHINE PISTOLS217PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA · ALL WEAPONS34PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS
ⓘ Rankings are within theMachine Pistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE7terms
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
A firearm stock that can be folded or collapsed to reduce overall length for storage or transport.
Firearm action type where expanding gas from a fired cartridge cycles the mechanism, typically via a piston or direct impingement.
Uses high-pressure gas to cycle the action, rather than recoil energy.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
A mounting system for attaching optical sights to rifles.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources