Best Type 81 model
- Thread starter Plinkingaway
- Start date
Not really. Deciding which one to buy mainly depends on your style choice and what you generally plan to use it for.
The rifles id say are the best at doing everything well. They are the most compact, lightweight and better balanced of all the versions and they have the greatest aftermarket accessory support. They are however the most likely version to come with misaligned trunnions and loose rivets. They dont have a threaded barrel, the fixed stocks are often considered to be the most uncomfortable of the Type 81stocks and the sight radius is the shortest.
The LMGs are larger and much heavier. Understandably they are fairly front heavy and only pleasent to shoot in a position where the bipod is deployed. Due to its weight, it is the lightest recoiling of the versions to shoot. The clubfoot stock is widely accepted to be the most comfortable of the Type 81 stocks. The sight radius is longer allowing for more accurate aiming. However the bipod reduces accuracy to a point where the system IMO groups the worse out of all the other Type 81s. The bipod however can be removed and so can the carry handle. Stripped of these parts, the LMG essentially becomes a slightly longer, front heavy Type 81 rifle layed out more similar to an AK. Combined with a great amount of aftermarket accessories and the threaded muzzles (M16x1 or M14x1), the stripped LMG becomes a solid choice. The LMGs are likely to have much better aligned parts then the rifles, however they are also more likely to have factory rust.
The SR is essentially a stripped down and redressed LMG. Notable changes being the chopped rear portion of the receiver to allow for a thumbhole stock to be equipped, a LMG profile barrel with different profile steps to locate the gas block and front furrule further forward, and the removal of ugly steps to support the LMG bipod and cleaning rod retainer. As a result the forend is notably longer then the other Type 81s, the SR has also had a trigger overtravel stop added which provides minimal improvement in trigger operation. The SRs like the LMGs have better aligned trunnions however visually misaligned gas piston covers are a common issue. Like the LMGs, they are also more like to have rust from the factory. The SRs come equipped with a gen 1 stock that is very prone to breaking, a gen 2 that supposedly doesnt break is included in the box. The SRs recoil similar to the stripped down LMGs (nicer then the rifles). Its muzzle is threaded in M16x1mm. The stock comes with a detachable cheek pad which is nice for using optics. It currently has the least amount of aftermarket accessory support. It always comes with threaded fire control groups pins and a right hand safety ("optic ready" configuration) however the needed side rail to equip optics is often not included.
All Type 81 versions have the same reliability and debatebly have the same accuracy potential.
I personally prefer the SR and stripped down LMGs as they feel more natural to shoot beyond 200m. And personally find the SR to be the most comfortable (a highly disputed opinion as many find the SVD style stocks uncomfortable).
I own all Type 81 versions.
The rifles id say are the best at doing everything well. They are the most compact, lightweight and better balanced of all the versions and they have the greatest aftermarket accessory support. They are however the most likely version to come with misaligned trunnions and loose rivets. They dont have a threaded barrel, the fixed stocks are often considered to be the most uncomfortable of the Type 81stocks and the sight radius is the shortest.
The LMGs are larger and much heavier. Understandably they are fairly front heavy and only pleasent to shoot in a position where the bipod is deployed. Due to its weight, it is the lightest recoiling of the versions to shoot. The clubfoot stock is widely accepted to be the most comfortable of the Type 81 stocks. The sight radius is longer allowing for more accurate aiming. However the bipod reduces accuracy to a point where the system IMO groups the worse out of all the other Type 81s. The bipod however can be removed and so can the carry handle. Stripped of these parts, the LMG essentially becomes a slightly longer, front heavy Type 81 rifle layed out more similar to an AK. Combined with a great amount of aftermarket accessories and the threaded muzzles (M16x1 or M14x1), the stripped LMG becomes a solid choice. The LMGs are likely to have much better aligned parts then the rifles, however they are also more likely to have factory rust.
The SR is essentially a stripped down and redressed LMG. Notable changes being the chopped rear portion of the receiver to allow for a thumbhole stock to be equipped, a LMG profile barrel with different profile steps to locate the gas block and front furrule further forward, and the removal of ugly steps to support the LMG bipod and cleaning rod retainer. As a result the forend is notably longer then the other Type 81s, the SR has also had a trigger overtravel stop added which provides minimal improvement in trigger operation. The SRs like the LMGs have better aligned trunnions however visually misaligned gas piston covers are a common issue. Like the LMGs, they are also more like to have rust from the factory. The SRs come equipped with a gen 1 stock that is very prone to breaking, a gen 2 that supposedly doesnt break is included in the box. The SRs recoil similar to the stripped down LMGs (nicer then the rifles). Its muzzle is threaded in M16x1mm. The stock comes with a detachable cheek pad which is nice for using optics. It currently has the least amount of aftermarket accessory support. It always comes with threaded fire control groups pins and a right hand safety ("optic ready" configuration) however the needed side rail to equip optics is often not included.
All Type 81 versions have the same reliability and debatebly have the same accuracy potential.
I personally prefer the SR and stripped down LMGs as they feel more natural to shoot beyond 200m. And personally find the SR to be the most comfortable (a highly disputed opinion as many find the SVD style stocks uncomfortable).
I own all Type 81 versions.
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Awesome. Thanks for the detailed info!
Good to know, thanks.
I've had the rifle and the SR, it all depends what you want to do in my opinion and which one suits your personality, unless you want to get into the numbers such as the LMG will give u a slight more accurate MOA then the rifles. I loved my rifle, i took off the stupid (in my opinion) barrel shroud and put on a Sigmaco barrel sleeve and it makes it such a slicker looking firearm. You could also wait out for TI, ive HEARD that they are bringing in something new but it was just hinted on their Instagram a while ago. The rifle has a small pistol grip which can be upgraded cheaply.
Cool, sounds like the lmg might be the best for me.
The sights are pretty terrible but lotsa options for mounting an optic these days and no reason not to. I'm a big fan of a Zhukov folder on a stripped down LMG.
Depends what you want to do, rifle either fixed or folder if you plan on doing any meaningful shooting not sitting at a bench or prone. Removing the rear sights crossbar goes a long way, the sight radius is still shorter than I’d like but still not that bad. Fit of the stocks, tough to say, the fixed stock fits me well, not as nice as the club foot though. If you had a chubbier face than the fixed stock might be hard to get down on as I’m right there when I shoulder it. It has a 13” length of pull, 3/4 to an inch shorter than a traditional rifle stock, feels good squared up, the more bladed your stance the more it becomes noticeable. Grip is pretty narrow I found too. The rifles and lmgs I’ve fired and handled were all of good quality as far as alignment and rivets. I’d want to be able to inspect before purchase even so.
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For those with a spare AR stock and pistol grip who want adjustable length of pull and don't like the Dragonov aesthetics of the SR, Sigmaco Canada makes an AR buffer tube and pistol grip adapter for the SR. One could also use a buffer tube socket to 1913 adapter to run a Midway Industries Alpha AK 1913 stock to get folding, cheek height adjustment, and variable length of pull, though that would definitely eat up a good chunk of the price difference between the SR and LMG or a used folder or fixed rifle.
In 1980 it sure was
Exactly, cut off the butt, put a VZ folder on, no difference.
Hey. I’m looking for my first type 81. Do you mean it’s length to rack it is too long?
Build quality wise the LMG has the best fit and finish, and are the most accurate.
For its original intended use, the Side folders with sleeved barrels are the best for its length of pull and balance, mimics its Soviet contemporary.
The Underfolders are about 1 inch too long with lack of cheek weld, but has a superior barrel that is threaded.
All the fixed stocked models have a bad stock comb height, which was put together as a commercial after thought, poorly executed and was never military adopted for a reason unlike the Side folder.
People who complain about the short LOP are shooting these like fudd static bench guns, which is not how these are intended to be used.
For its original intended use, the Side folders with sleeved barrels are the best for its length of pull and balance, mimics its Soviet contemporary.
The Underfolders are about 1 inch too long with lack of cheek weld, but has a superior barrel that is threaded.
All the fixed stocked models have a bad stock comb height, which was put together as a commercial after thought, poorly executed and was never military adopted for a reason unlike the Side folder.
People who complain about the short LOP are shooting these like fudd static bench guns, which is not how these are intended to be used.
