
The DShKM is a Soviet heavy machine gun chambered in 12.7x108mm. It was developed as a modernization of the earlier DShK 1938 heavy machine gun. The DShKM features a gas-operated action with a rotating bolt and an air-cooled, finned barrel. It is fed from a 50-round continuous metallic-link belt. The weapon is used as an anti-aircraft, anti-vehicle, and infantry support weapon. The DShKM has been one of the most widely used heavy machine guns in the world.
How does the DShKM compare?
Pick any other firearm for a side-by-side spec breakdown.
Explore related weapons and popular picks, or compare their specifications with DShKM.
The QJZ-89 is a Chinese 12.7x108mm heavy machine gun designed for lightweight portable infantry use. It uses a unique short recoil action combined with a gas assist system to reduce overall weight. At approximately 26.5 kilograms with tripod, it is one of the lightest heavy machine guns ever produced. The weapon was developed to improve the mobility of Chinese infantry units.
The M134 Minigun is a six-barrel rotary machine gun chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. It is based on the General Electric M61 Vulcan design scaled down for the 7.62mm cartridge. The Minigun uses a Gatling-style rotating barrel assembly driven by an electric motor. It has a rate of fire of 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute. The weapon is typically mounted on helicopters, vehicles, and naval craft. It is widely known from its use on the AC-130 gunship and in various films.
The M2 Browning is a belt‑fed, recoil‑operated heavy machine gun chambered in .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) that epitomizes durability and firepower. Designed by John Moses Browning in the early 1930s, its purpose was to provide long‑range, anti‑material and anti‑personnel capability for infantry, vehicles, aircraft, and naval mounts. Its hallmark features include a short‑recoil, toggle‑locked action, a quick‑change barrel, and an exceptionally high cyclic rate of 450–600 rpm. The weapon’s rugged construction, ability to fire armor‑piercing and incendiary rounds, and its adaptability to a wide range of mounts have earned it a legendary reputation as “the most successful machine gun ever designed.” Unique characteristics such as the external gas‑vented barrel and the ability to sustain fire for extended periods without overheating set it apart from contemporaries.