50 caliber rifle becomes a very popular weapon across many military powers in recent years. Chinese Army also adopt a domestically developed 50 caliber rifle, the QBU-10.
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This rifle is a relatively new weapon in China. It fires soviet designed 12.7×108 ammunition, plus purpose built high precision ammunitions.
It has roughly the same power as western 50 caliber rifles, fed by a 5 round magazine. It is paired with a highly advanced fire control unit, making it one of the most advanced rifle in the world.
The QBU-10 rifle, similar to many western 50 caliber rifles, is not designed to be sniper rifle, its main targets are vehicles, electrical equipment, and other types of high value targets. Its accuracy can not be compared to purposely designed sniper rifles.
The QBU-10 has a computerized fire control unit, collecting environment data and calculate optimal trajectory, providing aiming adjustments automatically to the shooter. This fire control unit consists of night vision telescope with 8X magnification, removable infrared imaging scope unit, built-in laser rangefinder, and ballistic computer. The unit can be controlled by buttons on the pistol grip. With this unit, the rifle can deliver the powerful 12.7mm round to the target at hundreds of meters away.
When paired with special 12.7mm sniper round, the accuracy can be greatly improved. Its effective range is believed to be over 1000 meters.
The rifle is a gas operated, semi-automatic, short-stroke gas piston rifle. It can be easily separated into a few components. When disassembled, the rifle can fit into military backpack.
It has back-up iron sights, folding bipod, retractable rear monopod, and integral Picatinny-type rail atop of the receiver.
To reduce recoil, the QBU-10 rifle has a large muzzle brake. Rubber pad is added on the shoulder stock. Recoiling barrel also helps. But the scope design has a rubber cap almost touching the shooter’s orbital bones. In the video we have seen the shooter’s face actually contact the rubber cap when recoil happens, which is not ideal.
It is also report new generation of Chinese 50 caliber rifle is being tested in the Army.
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Photo and video: Wiki common, CCTV7 site, Junshiluntan Weibo, Chinese Army weibo
