Japan's new Type 20 rifle

**Grand58742** · 05-22-20, 14:07

Originally Posted by chadbag

My wife is from Japan and reads a bunch of Japanese media. China has already been trying to encroach on Okinawa (greater Okinawa island chain) and make claims. A lot of people in Japan are worried that the country is going soft and not opposing China enough when China is pushing into Japanese territory. She is telling me about it all the time from posts from Japan on Twitter and other places where people are reacting to the stories.

I wonder how much of that has to do with the restrictions we placed on them after WWII as opposed to "being soft"?

Regardless, that rifle looks like the love child of a SCAR and M4. Kinda digging it though.

**WillBrink** · 05-22-20, 15:22

Originally Posted by Coal Dragger

Also adopting the HK SFP9/VP9. Congrats HK.

The pistol that stops working when a rain drop hits it? I kid! I wub my Vp9.

**lowprone** · 05-24-20, 20:34

Article led me on a look see @ the March scopes....... interesting !!!

**Buncheong** · 05-25-20, 12:18

Originally Posted by Rider79

"The new pistol will replace a locally-produced copy of the SIG P220 which had been in service since the early 1980s."

Whats the chance of something like this hitting the surplus market?

Exactly zero.

Japan has very strict laws regarding weapons, and exports are completely forbidden.

**Coal Dragger** · 05-25-20, 13:28

Originally Posted by WillBrink

The pistol that stops working when a rain drop hits it? I kid! I wub my Vp9.

Correct. Also the striker will release if you grip the slide like a handle and use the grip with no magazine inserted to hammer on hard surfaces. As pointed out by another member of you find yourself in a bad spot where you have no magazines, and are alternately single loading the pistol and using the wrong end to whack baddies with as a cudgel you might get a dead trigger.

Not to worry though, the Japanese Bushido Code will inspire them to attach a wakizashi to the rail of the VP9 for close quarters combat.

**chadbag** · 05-25-20, 14:06

Originally Posted by Grand58742

I wonder how much of that has to do with the restrictions we placed on them after WWII as opposed to "being soft"?

No, she is talking about the political will and what she calls "spies" -- those politicians that are China-champions in their parliament and celebrities and others that take a soft line pro China view in public.

**Grand58742** · 05-25-20, 23:21

Originally Posted by chadbag

No, she is talking about the political will and what she calls "spies" -- those politicians that are China-champions in their parliament and celebrities and others that take a soft line pro China view in public.

Ah.

Yeah, we don't know anybody that would do something like that...

<sarcasm off>

**Core781** · 05-26-20, 00:15

Originally Posted by Slater

Looks like a SCAR-esque buttstock:

"The new rifle will replace the 5.56x45mm Type 89, adopted 30 years ago, and is approximately 78cm or 30.7in long and reportedly weighs around 3.5 kg or 7.7lbs. The rifle will be indigenously produced in Japan by Howa. Each rifle is expected to cost around 275,000 yen – the equivalent to $2,600. This is calculated from the 2019-20 military budget. It is unclear if this also covers accessories like optics and under-barrel grenade launchers."

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...type-20-rifle/

In any number I would say it would cover more than just the rifle itself. Since an M4A1 itself costs around $300 USD. I bet the $2,600.00 would cover launcher, optic, bayonet, and mags along with a cleaning kit.