12.7mm QJG-89 heavy machine gun (PR China)

QJG-89 heavy machine gun with tripod set to low-profile position; gun is fitted with IR / Night sight

Caliber 12.7x108 mm
Weight 17.5 kg (gun body) + 8.5 kg (tripod)
Length 2119 mm
Barrel length 1003 mm
Feed belt, 50 rounds
Rate of fire 450 - 600 rounds per minute

Very little relibale information is so far available on this heavy machine gun. It is claimed to use combination gas / recoil operated action that is used to decrease peak recoil, which otherwise must be significant (to say the least) for such a light (26 kg / 57 lbs complete with tripod) but powerful gun. Gun uses direct impingement gas system, apparently borrowed from Type 77 HMG.
The exact detals of the gas / recoil operated action of the QJG-89 machine gun are still unknown (email me if you know any details for sure!), but we may speculate that the direct gas action is used to unlock the rotary bolt from the barrel, and the short recoil of the barrel group is used to cycle the bolt group through the accelerator lever. Type 89 / QJG-89 heavy machine gun uses standard belt feed with belt movement direction being left to right. Barrel is quick-detachable and is fitted with massive muzzle brake. Standard furniture includes pistol grip with rifle-type trigger and a tubular shoulder stock. Gun is used from lightweight tripod of adjustable height, which can be used for both ground and AA applications. On most illustrations the QJG-89 is also fitted with some sort of optical or IR / Night sight, although adjustable iron sights also available by default.