Notes: The Type 77 heavy machinegun is designed targets ranging from aircraft to personnel. It is primarily meant for air defense, though it can also be used against ground targets. It uses a direct-impingement gas system similar to the action of the M-16 assault rifle, but of course on a much larger scale and greatly modified. Ammunition feed is from the right. The Type 77 can use the same tripod as the Type 85, but is much more likely to be found on a special tripod which is adjustable for height to such a degree that it may be used as a ground mount from the prone position up to an antiaircraft mount from a crouched position. (This tripod weighs about 20 kilograms.) The Type 77 is provided with a hooded post front sight and an adjustable tangent rear sight; the rear sight may be flipped up, revealing a circular antiaircraft sight which doubles as a leaf sight. The barrel is 40.2 inches long, tipped with a huge pepperpot-type muzzle brake. The Type 77 is fired using spade grips; no stock of any kind is provided.

Notes: For the most part an improved Chinese copy of the Russian PKM, the Type 80 has some weight and dimension differences, but has improved recoil buffers and is lighter in weight. The Type 80 can use the standard Pact Light Tripod, is but is more likely to be found on a tripod common in Chinese service with highly-extendible legs that allow it to be used anywhere from the prone position to a standing crouch for antiaircraft use. (This tripod is quite light in weight, weighing only 4.72 kg.) In addition to standard disintegrating-link belts, the Type 80 can be fed from a 50-round drum; feed is from the right in all cases. A modification of the Type 80 is an almost universal coaxial armament on Chinese armored vehicles; it is known as the Type 59 in this guise.

Type 85

Notes: This is a new Chinese heavy machinegun (also known as the W-85, particularly when vehicle-mounted), meant to replace the DShK in Chinese service, and has seen some export sales; one of its purposes is apparently to compete on the international market directly with the DShK. The Type 85 is a very light weapon for its role (some 58% lighter than the DShK); some have been seen with a stock and pistol grip, similar to the NSV. The Type 85 also fires a new tungsten-cored APDS round, which has a similar effect to the .50 BMG SLAP round. It uses a new lightweight tripod (Chinese Heavy Tripod, or CHT, weight 18.7 kg); and can also use the tripods used with newer versions of the DShK, or an antiaircraft mount. The Type 85 also has a bracket to allow the use of night vision equipment or even a telescopic sight. Despite the light weight, the Type 85 is still constructed largely of steel, though it is thinner steel of higher strength.

The Type 89 is essentially a smaller version of the Type 85, designed for heavy support for smaller units than the larger Type 85. Though the Type 89 was designed to be used with a stock-and-pistol grip firing configuration like that of the Type 85, it is often seen with spade grips instead. Reliability has also been increased, particularly in the area of case and belt-link ejection.