Tarkov 1.1.0 New Weapons: QBZ-191, Howa Type 20

Patch 1.1.0.0 added three new rifles to Tarkov and, more notably, a brand-new caliber. This page covers what arrived; it deliberately does not include damage or recoil statistics, because weapon-data sites already hold those and they shift with balance patches.

The new caliber

The headline addition is the Norinco QBZ-191 chambered in 5.8x42mm — a caliber new to the game, arriving with four ammunition types spanning general-purpose through armour-piercing tracer. A new caliber means new ammo to learn, new trader unlocks to chase, and a fresh set of penetration questions that the established 5.45, 5.56, and 7.62 lines do not answer.

The other two rifles

• Howa Type 20 in 5.56x45mm — slots into the well-understood 5.56 family, so its ammo ecosystem is already familiar.
• HK416A5 in RAL 8000 — a colour variant of an existing platform, not a new mechanic.

A related unlock change

Tactical Clothing is now permanently unlocked once purchased, which removes a small recurring grind from the cosmetic and practical clothing layer.

How to approach a new caliber in practice

A new caliber does not just add one gun — it adds an entire ammo economy you have to relearn. The four 5.8x42mm rounds arrive on the patch’s shifted loyalty timeline, so their trader unlocks and prices follow the same slowed curve as everything else in Kord Breach. Early on, expect the QBZ-191’s attachment ecosystem to be thinner than established platforms until the community maps its mod support, and expect the best 5.8 rounds to sit behind loyalty gates that open later than you might want. If you enjoy learning a weapon family from the ground up, this is the season to commit early; if you prefer proven kits, the 5.56 Howa slots into ammo you already understand and is the lower-friction choice.

How to read this page

This is a “what was added” list, not a “which is best” ranking. Weapon performance comparison belongs to the data sites that track it patch by patch. The Kord Breach overview places the additions in the season, the economy changes page explains the broader shift, and the three-profiles page shows where the content lands across modes.