Chinese Assault Rifle (Fallout 3)

The Chinese Assault Rifle is a weapon in Fallout 3. It is affected by the Small Guns skill.

Characteristics
The Chinese Assault Rifle is a second-tier, general purpose automatic firearm. Chambered in the same 5.56mm ammo, it is the most powerful of the generic assault rifles: in DAM, DPS, and durability. It has the same ammo capacity, AP cost, and spread statistic as other assault rifles. However, the Chinese Assault Rifle appears less accurate in practice. It may also suffer the same weakness in close quarters combat as other rifles (see below). Regardless, it remains a formidable automatic weapon for any Small Guns character in the early to mid-game.

The Chinese Assault Rifle does more damage and has higher weapon health then the R91 Assault Rifle. It lacks the sound suppressor and scope of the Infiltrator (weapon), but hits considerably harder in base damage.

A unique version, the Xuanlong Assault Rifle is available by completing the unmarked Jiggs' Loot quest.

Related Quests

 * Economics of Violence

Acquiring the Chinese Assault Rifle
The Chinese Assault Rifle seems to be less common than the R91, but plenty can be found in many locations throughout The Capital Wasteland and from certain NPC's. At higher PC levels, super mutants carry this weapon thus making it more accessible.

Background
It was designed and manufactured by Chinese industrial conglomerate Norinco for the People's Liberation Army during the Resource Wars, for the purpose of equipping the Chinese infiltrators and American fifth-columnists. To this end, it was chambered for the abundant NATO 5.56mm round.

Thousands of these weapons were smuggled into the US for use by Chinese operatives and sympathizers on the East Coast, and many remain functional even two hundred years after the Great War. These rifles are also proven to be ready for manufacturing in post-war conditions.

Surviving examples are used by various groups and individuals in the Capital Wasteland, including super mutants (particularly super mutant masters), Talon Company mercenaries (on lower levels), Chinese commandos (before and after the war), certain scavengers and some members of the Brotherhood of Steel. It's also carried by Lucas Simms, sheriff of Megaton. Jericho is also armed with this weapon.

Operation: Anchorage
In the first DLC pack certain weapons have been re-skinned to make them look like actual pre-War weapons. The Chinese Assault Rifle is among the small group that was chosen for use in the DLC.

The new looks include brown-colored hand- and foregrips, and the outer plating is a darker black with fewer scratches than the post-War version. The stats and name are exactly the same, but the durablity (as with every in-simulation item) is near-infinite, making the weapon (almost) impervious to damage and frequent use. The only downside is that the condition must be lowered dramatically if you wish to repair this weapon up to 100%.

Despite the barriers the developers have placed to prevent looting, it is possible to acquire as many of these as you can carry and take them out of the simulation into the rest of the game, by using a combination of glitches. To do this you'll first need to prepare the simulation pod so you can take your pre-War items out of the simulation. A guide including a video with instructions can be found on the Operation: Anchorage page, under the 'Glitch' section.

After you're done preparing, enter the simulation and just keep playing until you're at the US Army HQ, and the quest Paving the Way begins. Now acquire the Scoped Gauss Rifle via the Quartermaster, but do NOT initiate any missions with Sgt. Montgomery.


 * 1) As already mentioned, acquire a Gauss Rifle, and also another weapon of your choice (except the Assault Rifle) along with its matching ammo.
 * 2) Find a Chinese soldier holding the gun (it is advisable to eliminate any other units), and knock him down using the Gauss Rifle (it is advised to aim for his weapon). It is best to perform this in the Ice Camp, as its front “area” is small and can be attacked from a distance.
 * 3) Once he is knocked down, crouch next to him and repeatedly “interact” with him until his inventory shows up (meaning you have pickpocketed him). Now remove his 5.56mm ammo (you have a 100% chance of success here), and instead plant the other weapon you picked and its ammunition.
 * 4) Once the soldier gets up, wait until he equips his new weapon, then knock him down again (aim for the weapon) using the Gauss Rifle. Once again, pickpocket him, and now remove your brand new Chinese Assault rifle!

Bugs

 * In close quarters conditions, the rifle can clip targets or level geometry. This causes all shots to miss or be absorbed by geometry, even when the muzzle protrudes beyond the obstruction. Also in V.A.T.S. mode, point-blank bursts sometimes inflict little or no damage.

Behind the scenes
The rifle's appearance is based on the AK family of weapons, not specific to anyone weapon actually, the fact the gun is Chinese doesn't make it a chicom 56, the weapon is actually a mix of all features of AK based weapon systems, the gas system, forward sight and muzzle break are actually off of a Galil, not an RPD, the forward sight is mounted on the gas block not the tip of the barrel, the gas system is double railed like an AK, not bottom released long single stroke, the rear sight and hammer release delay are off of an AKM and other modern variants of the AK-47,the delay doesn't exist on any late model type 56, the receiver is more of a stamped box off of Kalashnikov's prototype of 1946 rather than an angled stamped or milled found all models afterwards, and the charge handle is non-reciprocating, which is only found on the 1946 prototype, the only thing from a RPD is the forward hand guard

Appearances
Chinese Assault Rifles appear only in Fallout 3.