- August 29, 2018
- Weapons and ammunition
- Human
To hunt large animals, bullets of various designs are used. There are a large number of their types - there are more than two hundred patented ones alone! And how many more artisans produce! But hunting bullets for smooth-bore weapons are often made by outdoor shooters themselves.
general information
It is popular among hunter-inventors to develop new bullet designs or improve existing ones. Descriptions of unknown ammunition devices can be found quite often in specialized literature. But, as practice shows, most of them are inferior in performance to developments that are already available to hunters. Therefore, despite the fact that more than 200 different types of bullets have been patented, and who knows how many are produced by artisans, only about two dozen have become widespread in various countries.
To assess the negative and positive qualities of different species, it is necessary to conduct comparison tests. You can evaluate how good a bullet is for a hunting rifle either from your own experience or by using tables prepared by manufacturers, research and specialized organizations, as well as individual hunters. In addition, sensitivity must be paid to the quality of the combat of individual barrels. Particular attention should be paid to the accuracy of the combat, initial speed, its fall in flight and impact energy. Such indicators are best determined at special stands.
What influences the indicators?
What determines the result that a hunting rifle bullet can show? In short, this is:
- Impact energy. The designation “projectile manpower” is also used. This indicator depends on the mass of the bullet, as well as its speed at the moment it hits the target. The higher they are, the greater the lethality. But the impact energy is also greatly influenced by the cross-sectional area. What is its significance? The fact is that at equal speeds and masses, bullets with a large cross-section can cause significant damage. That is, they have the highest lethality.
- Bullet design. They are working on it to increase its lethality. A bullet of a special design for a smooth-bore hunting rifle, capable of easily deforming or unfolding in the animal’s body, allows for the best result. To characterize this indicator, the concept of lateral load is often used. What does it mean? This indicator is defined as the ratio of the mass of the bullet to its cross section. The drop in speed and, accordingly, the impact energy at the moment of hitting the target depends on it.
- Material used for manufacturing. This affects the degree of deformation of a hunting rifle bullet at the moment of firing. That is, ballistic properties depend on the material. Bullets are usually made from alloys. They are based on lead, to which additives are added to increase its hardness. These are antimony, arsenic anhydride and many others. Although bullets made from other alloys and metals are also not uncommon. For example, brass, copper, steel.
It is best if the gun uses a cylindrical drill barrel. If a choke is used, this slightly degrades the quality of the shot produced. This especially applies to round bullets.
Bullets for smoothbore hunting weapons
To defeat large animals (bear, elk, deer, etc.) from smooth-bore rifles at a distance of 50-100 m, bullets that give a high-power impact, high penetrating effect with the destruction of bones and the most important organs for life and provide reliable results battle. The hunter must equip bullet cartridges himself, since bullet cartridges produced by the domestic industry can be used with a guarantee of safety only for cylindrical drill guns.
It is prohibited to use bullet cartridges of unknown equipment.
Over the last century, more than two hundred samples of bullets for smoothbore guns have been patented and mass-produced around the world, but only a few have stood the test of time. In addition to mass factory production, a large number of bullets are used, manufactured in the handicraft industry or personally by hunters. In our country, there are more than two dozen variants of bullets produced by factories and manufactured by hunters themselves.
The main disadvantage of most known bullets for smooth-bore shotguns is their significantly greater dispersion when shooting at distances further than 50 m compared to shotguns with special bullet-shot drilling of barrels “paradox” (rifled “choke”).
The bullets used differ from each other not only in type (group), system (design) and pattern (variant); The quality of bullets produced by factories and hand-made by hunters themselves is very different and often extremely low. Therefore, you should approach the choice of bullet for your gun very responsibly and carefully, and not only because the shot with a bullet
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It is usually carried out on a large, often dangerous animal. Randomly taken bullets produce non-random misses, and even worse, wounded wounds, which you then cannot reach. Such bullets are unsafe for the weapon and the shooter.
Bullet requirements
A good modern bullet for shooting from shotguns must meet the following requirements: ensure targeted destruction of large game at a distance of up to 100 m or more; have high fighting qualities (lethality); have a simple design and manufacturing technology, and be convenient when loading cartridges.
Due to the fact that modern smooth-bore weapons mostly have barrels with choke constrictions, samples of bullets of all systems must have centering belts or longitudinal ribs that give the bullet the correct position when moving along the bore, easily crumple in the muzzle constriction and provide a minimum clearance between the outer diameter of the bullet and the bore, as well as between the diameter of the bullet body and the inner diameter of the bore at the choke. The latter is important because bullets calibrated according to the internal diameter of the bore have better ballistic properties than uncalibrated ones, and provide excellent combat in terms of accuracy and consistency of hitting the target.
Requirements for shotguns
When selecting bullets for loading cartridges, you should know that currently our hunters have guns from a wide variety of brands with bores of different diameters and a wide variety of choke constrictions. Our industry has recently not produced guns with cylindrical and special drill barrels for firing bullets. The overwhelming majority of shotguns have barrels with half-choke and choke drilling and a paper sleeve. For double-barreled shotguns, the greatest choke point will be on the left or top barrel. Choke-bored shotguns have a maximum choke constriction of 1 mm. Our factories do not make large choke constrictions, since when firing from such
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barrel shot is greatly deformed; It is impossible to shoot a bullet, even one well calibrated by the muzzle narrowing, from such guns due to a sharp increase in the pressure of the powder gases in the barrel, which will cause it to swell or rupture.
Cylindrical barrels give the best bullet fighting. A round caliber bullet can only be fired from them, like any other. Other types of bullets can be fired from barrels with any choke, provided that the body of the bullet (or bullets with a container for bullets in containers) passes through the largest choke with a gap of 0.4-0.6 mm. The leading belts and aerodynamic ribs are crushed when passing through the choke constrictions without harm to the barrel. However, with choke constrictions of more than 1 mm, it is still better not to take risks and use sub-caliber bullets in containers: in the 12th - 16th caliber bullets, in the 16th - 20th caliber, etc.
All bullets produced by our industry are created specifically for guns with choke constrictions. However, taking into account the differences in the diameters of the barrels of Tula and Izhevsk guns, as well as differences in the sizes of bullets from different batches, each bullet must be measured before loading and checked for passage through the choke.
Often hunters who make their own bullets ask what the diameter of the leading bands should be, say, for a Blondeau bullet. Only the owner of the gun himself can answer this: after all, the diameters of the barrels of specific guns differ significantly from each other. Thus, 12-gauge shotguns are found with bore diameters from 18.1 to 18.9 mm. It is clear that for a gun with bore diameters of 18.1 mm, it is necessary to make driving bands of a different diameter than for barrels with bore diameters of 18.9 mm. It is important to ensure that the diameter of the driving belts is equal to the diameter of the bores of your gun ±0.05 mm. That is, if you have a TOZ-34 with barrel bore diameters of 18.5 mm, then the diameter of the leading belts should be 18.45-18.55 mm.
Classification of bullets
Bullets can be divided depending on (1) the material from which they are made (pure lead, lead with antimony and arsenic additives, brass, steel); (2) the presence of a shell (lead without a shell, lead with a brass shell -
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neither steel, with an incomplete shell - semi-shell); (3) according to the destructive effect in the animal’s body (expansive and non-expansive); by stabilization in flight and design features (round, pointer, pointer-turbine, turbine).
Modern hunting smokeless powders develop quite high pressures in the barrel and impart such acceleration to the bullet that deformation of the soft lead is inevitable while still in the barrel. Hunting literature sometimes contains photographs of such bullets as they exit the barrel, which to a certain extent should convince us that accurate and accurate combat cannot be expected from such deformed bullets.
This problem is not new. Gunsmith designers encountered deformation of lead bullets back in the last century, although this concerned bullets for rifled weapons. A solution was then found: the lead bullet was enclosed in a hard shell and a projectile was obtained that was not inferior in weight to a lead bullet, capable of withstanding the highest pressures in the barrel.
Attempts to reduce the deformation of shotgun bullets have been made for a long time. It was proposed to place the bullet on a sawdust shock absorber (Mayer bullet) or use lead deformation to crimp part of the bullet on the shank (Polev bullet), but an indispensable condition for the accurate firing of these bullets is a small charge of gunpowder.
Hunters also use bullets made of practically non-deformable material. This is the Blondeau bullet (steel), widely known abroad, as well as the Rubeykin bullet (brass). These bullets can withstand any pressure permissible in smooth barrels, but the lack of deformation when hitting an animal reduces the affected area and the stopping effect of the bullet.
The bullet should not pierce the animal's body and carry away some of the unspent energy. For this purpose, they are made expansive (semi-shell, with a void in the head part, composite and with a shifted center of gravity). When the bow is lightened, the center of gravity shifts closer to the tail and when a bullet hits an obstacle, it tips over, causing significant damage to a living organism. For the first time such a bullet was proposed by the British captain Lee in 1895, again for rifled weapons, and it “became famous” during the Anglo-
Boer War 1899. The nose of the bullet was filled with paper.
Attempts to increase the lethality of bullets continue for both rifled and smooth-bore weapons. For example, the problem of ensuring the hardness of a bullet at the moment of firing and its strong deformation when hitting the target was solved about a hundred years ago. Such a bullet was again used in rifled weapons and was called semi-sheathed. The durable shell did not cover the head of the bullet, which, when hitting the target, led to severe deformation, and at high speeds even to the bullet bursting (express effect).
Currently, the following types of bullets are best known in our country: 1. factory-made: (Yakana, Brenne-ke, Vyatka, Mayer, Kruglaya (Sputnik), Ideal, VVOO-Ilyina, BS - Sokolov brothers); 2. - factory production in containers (Poleva, Kirovchanka, Strela); 3. - homemade lead (cap, Diabolo); 4. homemade turned ones (Blon-do, Rubeykina). In addition, several types of bullets are known for shotguns with a Paradox drill. Most often, when describing bullets, they are divided into ordinary (round), pointer, pointer-turbine and turbine.
Ordinary bullets
This group combines bullets whose design does not provide for self-orientation in flight after leaving the gun barrel. As a rule, bullets of this type have a monolithic body, their structural systems are very simple, and the center of gravity is located in the middle.
Of the bullets that are not stabilized in flight, the most famous is the ordinary round, smooth bullet (Fig. 13).
A caliber ball bullet in guns with cylindrical barrels gives reliable combat at a distance of up to 100 m, has a large impact force with good centering in the barrel, and therefore has good ballistic and combat qualities. A round, smooth caliber bullet is made of pure lead; it passes along the barrel with slight friction, is stable in flight towards the target, and deviates little when encountering minor obstacles (grass, thin branches, etc.), which is important when shooting in the forest. The simplicity of the bullet design, the low labor costs for making the bullet and the bullet itself make it possible to make it even in
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field conditions, and therefore it is no coincidence that this bullet has found wide use among amateurs and commercial hunters and is successfully used by them in game hunting.
It can also be used in shotguns with check barrels, provided that the bullet is calibrated to the muzzle hole and the cartridges are specially loaded. Such a bullet is called a sub-caliber bullet. A sub-caliber smooth round bullet should pass quite freely through the muzzle constriction, while having a small gap of 0.5 mm in the choke channel. In practice, they select it like this: they interfere with the muzzle opening of the barrel, hit it with the palm of their hand, and it should enter the barrel - it gives a good fight at 60-70 m.
Round bullets
Must be truly spherical, of the same size and weight. The round bullets available in the retail chain and sold under the same caliber are not always uniform in size and correct in shape. Therefore, you need to select them personally for each barrel of your gun and prepare them with a reserve. If the deviations in the weight of the bullets are large, then some of the metal is scraped off with a knife or removed with a file. For this purpose, they also use a steel tube pointed at the end of a slightly smaller diameter than the bullet itself. The bullet is rolled along the blade of the tube and the excess metal is cut off. To prevent the surface of the bullets from oxidizing, after fitting it along the barrel, it is covered with a thin protective layer, dipped in molten wax, stearin or paraffin. At the same time, it glides better and leads the barrel less.
There is an opinion that only a round bullet is dangerous when hunting, as it causes a ricochet. This was one of the reasons for its discontinuation. In 1948-1949 In many countries around the world, shooting with a round bullet is prohibited by law. In our country, this bullet is prohibited in collective hunts.
It cannot be denied that a round bullet is more dangerous than other designs from the point of view of ricochets, but even with
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When shooting with elongated bullets of all systems, you need to be careful, since when they hit hard obstacles (frozen tree trunks in winter, stones, frozen ground, ice, water, etc.) they all give a ricochet and are dangerous when they violate the rules of round-ups, when in excitement, the hunter shoots along the line of shooters or towards the beaters.
For shooting from guns with barrels with choke constrictions, our industry is currently producing a round Sputnik bullet with centering bands and point tides on the body (Fig. 14).
The Sputnik bullet, well centered in the cartridge, when fired from shotguns with cylindrical and check barrels, provides a satisfactory fight up to 70 m. However, every hunter must remember that when equipping cartridges with a Sputnik bullet, as when equipping bullet cartridges
With other bullet systems with centering bands and longitudinal ribs, control measurements of the outer diameter of the bullet along the centering bands and ribs and the diameter of the bullet body between the centering ridges should be carried out. Such a measurement is mandatory for all samples of bullets purchased by a hunter from each batch produced by the industry, since the use of large-diameter bullets can lead to severe swelling of the barrel at the choke, or even to its rupture. For the same reason, you cannot use other people's bullet cartridges.
The outer diameter, coordinated with the barrel of the Sputnik bullet, together with the belts and bosses, must correspond to the diameter of the caliber bullet for cylindrical drill barrels, and the diameter of the bullet body must be 0.5 mm less than the diameter of the barrel at the choke.
It should be noted that the round Sputnik bullets produced by the industry have an unreasonably low weight, which reduces the initial speed of the bullet, the impact force, and
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consequently, the degree of target destruction. In addition, the leading belts, point protrusions and depressions between them on the bullet negatively affect the accuracy of its flight due to additional air resistance.
Arrow bullets
Arrow group bullets are designed like an arrow. Unlike round bullets, they have a lightweight stabilizer shank designed to self-orient the bullets in flight after leaving the gun barrel. As a rule, the head part of such bullets is weighted compared to the tail part, that is, the center of gravity of these bullets is shifted to the front head part, which provides them with a more correct flight and does not allow them to roll over.
Bullets of this type have a wide variety of designs.
Witzleben bullet
The oldest and most famous in the past among Siberian hunters and commercial hunters were Witzleben
factory and handicraft production
(Fig. 15).
The first sample of the Witzleben bullet consisted of two components - a cylindrical lead bullet body (body) and an elongated wooden stabilizer shank with a longitudinal ribbed surface around the perimeter (Fig. 15A).
The diameter of the bullet head corresponds to the muzzle constriction, the ribs
Rice. 15: Witzleben Bullet
A - 1st option B - 2nd option
1 - lead bullet body,
2 - wooden shank,
3 — centering belts
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wooden shank, it is centered in the cylindrical part of the barrel and crushed when passing through the narrowing of the “choke”.
This bullet is characterized by a simple design, is well centered in the barrel, does not turn around when encountering minor obstacles along the way to the target and provides a satisfactory fight.
However, this design of bullets, like all other composite systems consisting of two parts - the bullet itself and the shank, is characterized by disadvantages due to the braking effect of the stabilizer shank, which protrudes beyond the outer diameter of the bullet body. Therefore, the body of the bullet and the shank must be strictly coaxial, which is impossible to achieve completely, and this leads to additional deflections of the bullet in flight towards the target. In addition, the bullet has a blunt head, and the long stabilizer when loading cartridges with a bullet does not allow it to fit entirely into the cartridge case. As a result, the head of the bullet protrudes outward from the barrel, which contributes to misalignment and worsening combat.
Witzleben, in an improved version, made the wooden ribbed shank shortened, and applied two annular belts to the top and bottom of the lead part of the bullet to improve its centering and obturation of powder gases (Fig. 15B).
The bullet became compact, its combat qualities increased.
VVOO-Ilyin bullet
Of the domestic arrow-type bullets, the “VVOO-I” bullet became widespread in our country 15-20 years ago (Fig. 16),
designed by the chief engineer of the management of production enterprises of the Central Council of the All-Army Military Hunting Society G. Ilyin.
The Ilyin bullet,
like the Witzleben bullet, also consists of two parts - the head and tail. The head part (the bullet itself) is solid, cylindrical, conically pointed at the front. Flat rectangular ribs on the body of the bullet are located parallel to its axis of symmetry. At the bottom of the bullet there is a flat annular guide belt.
The composite tail consists of a lightweight polyethylene three-bladed stabilizer pressed into the body
Rice. 16: VVO-Ilyin bullet 1 - bullet body, 2 - centering belt, 3 - p/f. 3x blade stabilizer, 4 - ribs, 5 - shank belt.
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bullets. The shank at the top has a centering belt, the stabilizer blades are directed along the axis of the bullet.
The role of the outer ribs is reduced to centering the bullet in the barrel, ensuring its correct position until it leaves the gun barrel. Further orientation of the bullet is achieved due to the presence of a light stabilizer shank and a shift of the center of gravity to the head of the bullet. The annular belts on the body and shank of the bullet also ensure obturation of the powder gas in the space behind the projectile when fired.
The “VVOO-I” bullet of the Ilyin system, although of good manufacturing quality, has a significant design flaw: its polyethylene stabilizer is weak and crumples when fired, unable to withstand the shock load of powder gases. This leads to the deflection of bullets in flight and their large dispersion on the target.
Bullet "Vyatka"
Also composite. A characteristic feature of the design is its drop-shaped shape (Fig. 17).
The thickened spherical part of the body is the head of the bullet, the thinned and straight-cut part is the base. A polyethylene stabilizer wad is attached to the base of the bullet body using a lead rod passed through and riveted at the end. To center the body, there are six directly directed narrow ribs, the height of which increases from the head to the base of the bullet.
Fig. 17: Vyatka bullet
1 - bullet body, 2 - ribs,
3 - p/floor. wad stabilizer.
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The Vyatka bullet is distinguished by its compactness and streamlining; the wad-stabilizer quite reliably covers the barrel and prevents the breakthrough of powder gases when fired.
Polev's bullet
It also consists of two parts - head and tail. The head part is drop-shaped, pointed, with a skirt, the tail part is in the form of a lead rod more than half the length of a bullet.
The center of gravity is shifted towards the head. A polyethylene wad-stabilizer is attached to the tail elongated part, which gives the bullet rotation and does not separate when it leaves the barrel (Fig. 18A).
The length of the stabilizer is equal to the length of the bullet. A special feature is that a strong and reliable connection of the head with the stabilizer occurs during the shot due to the deformation of the lead head resulting from overloads during acceleration. Before the shot is fired, the bullet does not sit very tightly in the stabilizer; it can rotate and be pulled out. The bullet has a simple design and does not have guide ribs. Passage through a choke-type choke is ensured by a plastic container, a polyethylene stabilizer and the fact that the diameter of the bullet is 2.5 m smaller than the diameter of the wad. The presence of a plastic container simplifies the loading of the cartridge. Both halves of the container are separated immediately after leaving the barrel, and the wad-stabilizer often remains on the outer side.
Rice. 18: Polev's Bullet:
A - Polev bullet: 1 - bullet body, 2 - stabilizer, 3 - container made of
2 halves;
B - Polev bullet, modified by V. Blokhin: 1
expansive void, 2 - M5 threaded rod, 3 - threaded
hole, 4 — stabilizer
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us targets, since it has a significantly larger diameter than the diameter of the lead bullet body (for 12 gauge 18.3 mm versus 15.8 mm)
The bullet is distinguished by its high flight speed compared to bullets from Mayer, Sputnik, Kirovchanka, Yakan, etc., as well as combat accuracy: the spread of bullets at a distance of 50 m is 65-112 mm, subject to equipment recommendations. The bullet, however, has a low weight - the weight of the lead body of a 12-gauge bullet without a stabilizer is 26.5 g, which corresponds to the normal weight of a 20-gauge bullet. Therefore, the stopping effect of the Polev bullet is lower than that of Brenneke-type bullets and Rubeykin bullets. Nevertheless, the lethality of the bullet is high due to its high speed. The 12 or 16 gauge is indicated on the bottom of the stabilizer wad.
Let us present some technical data about this 12-gauge bullet, set out in an article by N. Alexandrov (OiOKh, No. 10, 1994). The figures are indicated for original and serial samples of 12 gauge, respectively: bullet mass, g - 30.8+0.2/28±0.2; mass of the damaging element - 27.8±0.2/24.5±0.2; weight of “Falcon” gunpowder, g. - 2.1/2.1; flight speed at a distance of 50 m, m/s -312±4/ 325+6; dispersion diameter at 50 m, cm - 6.5/6.6. The bullet is good for shooting medium-sized ungulates.
A second model of the Polev bullet with an expansive void in the head has been developed. It is significantly superior to other models of bullets available to the bulk of hunters in terms of accuracy, range and damaging effect, but, like any hollow bullet, it is afraid of thickets. In general, the Polev bullet of the second model can be recommended for hunting medium and large animals in more or less open places.
To enhance the stopping effect and simplify its production at home, V. Blyakhin (OiOKH, No. 11, 1991) offers the following modification. The bullets he made (Fig. 18B)
elongated due to the wad-stabilizer in such a way that when they are equipped with cartridges for rolling, no more than 3 mm of the cartridge case tube remains. The stabilizer wads have six straight guide ribs with flat top ends instead of the nine inclined ones in the original. At the bottom of the blind hole of the wad-stabilizer there is a rod with an M5 thread, which, when assembling the bullet, is screwed into the threaded hole of the shank (central rod) of the lead part of the bullet, thereby achieving
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their reliable connection is ensured. The top of the bullet is cut perpendicularly with an expansive void in it 8 mm deep (Fig. 18B).
The weight of such a 12-gauge bullet assembled with a wad-stabilizer is 33-33.4 g, the container is 1.9 g. When fired, the thread on the rod is cut off and then all the processes characteristic of a Po-lev bullet occur. To make it easier to roll the skirt of the lead part of the bullet into the neck of the wad-stabilizer, its thickness is reduced to 1.5 mm, and the edge is made at an angle of 45°.
Shirinsky-Shikhmatov bullet
Designed more than 100 years ago by Prince A.A. Shirins-kim-Shikhmatov for hunting bears (OiOKh, No. 7-8, 1992). Initially, the bullet was a lead cylinder with a diameter 2 mm smaller than the diameter of the bore. At the bottom the bullet had a caliber rim, and at the top there was a conical hole up to 3/4 of the height of the bullet and cross-shaped cuts to the depth of the hole. The incised parts were connected by a lead belt, the void was filled with lard, the hole was closed on top with a “centre-shot” type capsule so that the lard would not be squeezed out of the incisions during the flight of the bullet (Fig. 19.A).
This version of the bullet was intended for guns with cylindrical barrels and did not have a wad in the tail.
| Rice. 19: Bullet of Prince Shirinsky-Shikhmatov: A - 1st option; B - 2nd option |
The second version of the bullet was made for guns with choke constrictions, which made it possible to shoot it from barrels with chokes (Fig. 19. B).
For this purpose, the bullet has two leading bands, as a result of which it is well centered in the barrel: the bands in the choke are easily crimped, and the bullet
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gets the right direction without creating a danger to the strength of the barrel. There is an express void in the front part, and four cuts on the sides so that the bullet, when it hits an obstacle (target), turns around correctly and breaks into large pieces. The empty space was clogged with wax. This 12-gauge bullet weighs 37.5 g. Although it does not have a rotational movement when flying in the air, it still provides compact fire and excellent lethality. In terms of its ballistic qualities, the Shirinsky-Shikhmatov bullet is much more advanced than many bullets.
When loading the bullet, Shirinsky-Shikhmatov used a high (about 20 mm) felt wad, which made it possible to place the bullet directly on the powder charge, without the use of additional wads. It took almost 80 years to return to this idea (Polev's bullet). Until 1917, both factory-made bullets and bullet makers for making bullets at home were sold.
The invention was noticed by such prominent experts in hunting weapons as L.P. Sabaneev and S.A. Buturlin. In his “Hunting Calendar” Sabaneev gives a description of the Shirinsky-Shikhmatov bullet. Vol.1 of the book “Shooting with a Bullet,” published by S.A. Buturlin in 1912, contains the following lines: “The most reliable projectile is, perhaps, the bullet-draw of Prince Andrei Aleksandrovich Shirinsky-Shikhmatov... The advantage of this projectile is that it when hitting the carcass of an animal, it breaks easily, without expending significant force of impact on the rupture, since the parts are already cut. Then it breaks in a very specific way, always in the same way, and not depending on the case. Finally, it breaks into pieces - four crosses and a bottom - large enough that each one inflicts large lesions, goes deep and hits the bones. The bottom even sometimes goes through the bear..."
After 1917, there is almost no information about the Shirinsky-Shikhmatov bullet in the hunting literature; the industry, apparently, never produced it. The reason for such unjustified oblivion was not the imperfection of the bullet, but, undoubtedly, the origin of its inventor.
The main disadvantage of this bullet is the same as all others, which have expressive emptiness and cuts that facilitate deployment upon impact: when meeting an obstacle, it is capable of
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turn around and lose direction. Therefore, the Shirinsky-Shikhmatov bullet is good for those hunts for which it was created - for bears in dens, for ungulates in open areas.
Bullet Alexandrov
The design of N. Alexandrov’s bullet is a further improvement of the Witzleben bullet; it is made of modern materials - steel and polyethylene (Fig. 19a).
The impact surface of the bullet is flat, cylindrical in shape, the elongated shank is made of polyethylene. The originality of the design is the presence in the center of the bullet of a movable plastic aerodynamic rod-tip, which moves forward from the body of the bullet during the shot. Due to the extended tip, aerodynamic drag is reduced when the bullet flies at supersonic speeds. The weight of a 12-gauge bullet is 35±0.2 g, the weight of the striking element is 32±0.2 g, the speed at a distance of 50 m is 480-672 km/h, the dispersion diameter at a distance of 50 m is 6.3-8.1 cm. According to other data, the dispersion diameter at the same distance is 7-9 cm.
Rice. 19a: Alexandrov's bullet.
1- retractable core,
2- container
Shooting ungulates (elk and wild boar) with such bullets showed sufficient lethality. When fired at distances up to 40 m, these bullets cause severe hematoma and increased swelling of the muscle tissue around the bullet hole compared to other bullet models. When a bullet hits large bones, it crushes them and causes significant damage. When it hits the body of an animal at an acute angle, it practically does not deviate and maintains the direction of movement. The damaging effect, if superior to other bullet models, is no more than 20-30%.
N. Aleksandrov's steel bullet has its advantages. Precision in the manufacture of bullets (they are turned) gives small deviations in the weight characteristics of the entire batch, for lead
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For factory-made bullets, deviations can be significant (± 1.5 g), low ricochet ability is an advantage when shooting in thickets (bush, reeds, tall grass, etc.) and when shooting at animals at sharp angles, especially large cleavers with a thick Kalkan.
The Alexandrov bullet can be recommended for hunting in dense thickets, especially for wild boar and bear.
Bullet "Kirovchanka"
It is manufactured in two modifications K1 and K2, complete with a polyethylene container that allows passage through choke-type choke constrictions. The shape of the bullet is significantly different from all other bullets - two short cylinders, as if connected by truncated cones (Fig. 20).
The creators of the bullet sought to achieve stability due to the fact that the center of mass is closer to its front part, and the center of pressure is closer to the tail part, and the greater this distance, the more stable the flight of the bullet.
Opinions about the Kirovchanka bullet are ambiguous. Thus, it is called an unfinished bullet and is not recommended due to low shooting results (OiOKh No. 4, 1985); in another report it is considered more preferable than the Mayer bullet (OiOKh No. 12, 1989). Hunter V. Shcheglov (OiOKh No. 11, 1990) believes that the main reason for unsatisfactory shooting results lies in the design of the bullet container, and recommends remaking it as follows: using a sharp small knife, each half of the container along the edges, on all sides, is slightly cut off, as if to overwhelm; From dense and elastic rubber, cut two gasket strips along the length of the container halves, up to approximately 0.8 mm thick; put the bullet into the halves of the container, and insert cut rubber gaskets into the gaps between them. In case with inserted gaskets
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If the container with the bullet does not fit into the sleeve, then the surface of the container is evenly cut with a knife to the required diameter along the sleeve. This operation is most necessary for Izhevsk guns, since their bore diameter is smaller than that of Tula guns.
At the moment of firing, the container takes almost the entire overload, and when passing through the muzzle narrowing, the inserted strips do not allow the bullet to deform and become one with it. With this modification of the container, when the bullet leaves the barrel, it is instantly released from both halves of the container.
Tests of bullet cartridges with the modified “Kirovchanka” were carried out from guns of different models: TOZ-34, TOZ-54, MTs-9, IZH-27, MTs21-12 and IZH-58. All guns gave good shooting results at distances of 50 and 75 m. The holes did not come out of a circle with a diameter of 5-10 cm. It was noted that, for some unknown reason, the best results when shooting were shown from external trigger guns TOZ-54 and MTs-9.
Cartridges with “Kirovchanka” were loaded as follows: 12-gauge polyethylene or paper sleeve, “Zhevelo” capsule, “Falcon” gunpowder - 2.3-2.5 g; a polyethylene wad-obturator was sent to the gunpowder; then - an elastic, moderately greasy felt wad up to 10 mm high; on it there is a cardboard spacer up to 1.5 mm thick (no thicker).
After this, a “Kirovchanka” bullet, prepared in the manner described above, is inserted and the warrior is seated; For rolling with a table twist, 2-3 mm is left.
1.8.6.8. Bullet "Diabolo" »
Made by the Latvian engineer Gorbantes for shooting from smoothbore hunting rifles at the “Running Boar” target. It is a well-known bullet for shooting from air rifles, but increased to sizes 12 - 32 calibers (Fig. 21).
Ballistic data for shooting bullets are within normal limits: the average maximum pressure is -545 kgf/cm2, the highest is 644 kgf/cm2, the lowest is 422 kgf/cm2. The average speed at 10 m from the muzzle is 384 m/s, the highest is 398 m/s, the lowest is 378 m/s. The dispersion of bullets at a distance of 50 m is 26 and 12 cm, respectively, with Sokol gunpowder weighed at 1.8 g and 2.2 g. The bullet gives a reliable and stable
97
Fig. 21: Diabolo bullet (sectional view)
firing from guns with different choke constrictions, has great penetration power, good stopping effect and is easy to manufacture.
Sharykin's bullet
It is handmade for 28-caliber shotguns and consists of a lead cylinder with a wooden shank (Fig. 22).
The total length of the bullet is 25 mm, the lead body is 18 mm, the shank is 7 mm. The center of gravity is strongly shifted towards the head for stabilization in flight. Bullet weight is 25-24 g. The diameter of the bullet body is 0.3-0.4 mm less than the diameter of the muzzle narrowing of the barrel. The shank is made of soft wood, its diameter is equal to the diameter of the choke. The blank for the shank is turned on a lathe or woodworking machine. The protrusion for seating the shank into the bullet is processed with a knife. The bullet is cast from a mixture of soft and battery lead (1:1). It does not deform when fired. Stable in flight. Does not require increasing the gunpowder charge. The recoil when firing a bullet does not exceed the recoil when firing a shot shell.
The bullet is installed in a cartridge case with a short cross made of two strips of cardboard 2-2.5 mm wide and 70 mm long; The bullet sits tightly in the case and does not require additional fastening.
When shooting for accuracy at a distance of 50 m, 9 bullets fell into a circle with a diameter of 89 mm, one bullet deviated from the landing point
Rice. 22: Sharykin bullet for 28-caliber rifles 1 - bullet body, 2 - shank.
98
aiming at 112 mm. Penetration capacity - 67 mm of pine wood.
The 28-caliber cartridge is loaded as follows: the sleeve is under the "Centro-fight", under the primer - adding black powder, "Falcon" gunpowder - 1.3 g, a cardboard pad of 2.5-3 mm on it, then a felt wad of 9-10 mm, on Again, there is a 1-1.5 mm cardboard wad on which the bullet is dropped.
Foster's Bullet
A. Foster in the USA, especially for deer hunting, created a lightweight bullet weighing only 28.3 g, the design of which successfully used the property of lead to deform at the moment of shooting. Foster's bullet is used in factory loading of cartridges in the USA and Canada. The Foster bullet for the 12 gauge has a diameter of 17.3 mm, but at the moment of firing it expands to the actual size of the bore, i.e. by about 1 mm. When passing through the muzzle narrowing, this hollow bullet is compressed, so shooting with it is completely safe for guns with the strongest chokes (Fig. 23).
⇐ Previous6Next ⇒
Classification of species diversity
It should be noted that there are a large number of possibilities for dividing into groups. So, caliber, execution, shape - all this can act as a basis for classification. To better address the topic, attention will be paid to two approaches to identification:
- An ordinary bullet. Does not have stabilization in flight.
- Switch-turbine type. It is stabilized in flight by rotation due to the gyroscopic aerodynamic effect, which is created by external inclined ribs with wads, which are rigidly attached to the tail of the projectile. It is also characterized by a shifted center of gravity closer to the head.
- Arrow type. It stabilizes in flight, rotating due to the shock aerodynamic effect created by the shape of the projectile.
- Turbine type. Stabilization in flight is carried out through rotation due to the gyroscopic aerodynamic effect, which is created by the ribs located in the internal cavities of the projectile.
It should be noted that such a division is very conditional. It is based on external design features and speculative conclusions of their behavior during flight. Although some question the properties of the types considered due to the fact that all the ribs must be deformed when the muzzle passes. And many people believe that bullets fired from smoothbore guns do not rotate. And ballistics depend on the shape, stabilizing wads and center of gravity.
General information about calibers
Now we come to what every hunter should know. The calibers of weapons and ammunition are something you can’t do without. Their correct selection is very important. If a shooter shows up on a duck hunt with a 10-gauge rifle and bullet cartridges, he will only cause laughter. But the wrong choice can end tragically. So, if you go after a bear with a twenty gauge and shot, it will be sad for the hunter. What conclusion can be drawn from this? One simple fact: caliber is one of the main characteristics. For rifled weapons, it corresponds to a linear diameter value, which is expressed in millimeters or inches. But a bullet for a smoothbore hunting rifle is measured using a different system. How did this happen? The fact is that when these guns came into use, the most advanced country in terms of production was England. The British Empire traded all over the world, so their system of measures was adopted wherever their goods were circulated. This is also true for smooth-bore hunting weapons. For him, the caliber is equal to the number of suitable round bullets of the same size that can be smelted from one English pound of lead. Therefore, the lower the numerical value, the larger the bore diameter. Although this formula causes confusion among many, you will have to come to terms with it.
Purchasing ammunition under a weapons license
The question often arises: if it is prohibited to sell ammunition for weapons, in the absence of a permit for such weapons, then why does the purchase license indicate that the license to purchase weapons and
(or, or - depending on the license)
cartridges for it
?
The question is quite reasonable, perplexing not only gun owners, but also some sellers and employees of the Russian Guard.
Let us turn again to the Federal Law “On Weapons”.
Its preamble (introductory part before the first article) says:
“This Federal Law regulates legal relations arising
in the circulation of civilian... weapons
on the territory of the Russian Federation
...
The provisions
of... the Federal Law
also apply to the circulation of... ammunition
for weapons.”
The circulation of weapons and ammunition includes, among other things, their sale and acquisition (Article 1 of the Law).
As is easy to see, the requirements set out in the Law apply only to the territory of Russia.
But citizens
our country
is not prohibited from buying weapons and ammunition outside the Russian Federation
.
To import weapons and ammunition purchased abroad into Russia, you must obtain an import permit (from the LRR Office of the Russian Guard in Moscow), and to obtain this permit, you must provide an acquisition license from your LRR unit.
So, if you want to buy both weapons and ammunition outside your homeland
, You will be given an appropriate license for the purchase of one weapon, which will also include the number of purchased cartridges.
Based on this license, in Moscow, they will issue a permit to import weapons and ammunition, marked “for certification” (Order of the Russian Guard dated September 28, 2019 No. 338).
This applies not only to hunting weapons and cartridges, but also to traumatic weapons (to traumatic weapons only if they were produced in Russia).
About the variety of calibers
To understand this issue, it is necessary to turn to the origins of smooth-bore weapons. Such an ancient non-systematic unit of measurement as the English (also known as trade) pound has a precise weight value, which can be expressed in grams with a value equal to 453.592g. Knowing the calculated volume of a geometric ball, as well as the specific density of lead, allows us to derive a general formula for the diameter of the barrel channel of any caliber. This value is 42.5 mm. It is divided by the cube root of the numerical value of the caliber.
But that's not all. The inverse formula, divided by the diameter and raised to the third power, allows you to determine the numerical value of the caliber for a known barrel diameter. Also, based on these data, you can obtain the estimated weight of the balls that are needed to load one cartridge. The optimal weight of a bullet (buckshot or shotgun load) can be calculated by dividing 453.6 by the caliber value. Based on this, an international system of cartridges for smoothbore shotguns has emerged. It has calibers from 4 to 36. One interesting fact! In the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, gunsmiths produced guns for all integer calibers - first, second, third and so on.
24 caliber shotguns
Photo by Evgeniy KOPEYKO
Please explain why 24-caliber shotguns were banned? Best regards, G.G. Ternikov
24 caliber shotguns
It is clear that from time to time hunters deal with 24-caliber smoothbore shotguns - they have many spectacular examples, reliable and well decorated, but the problem with cartridges does not change. For a long time now, the 24 gauge continues to be included in the generally accepted list of calibers for hunting smooth-bore weapons, accepted everywhere in all countries without exception, including the International Commission CIP
It is an equal and authoritative caliber alongside the 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge and others, even the rare 36 gauge, better known as the .410 by its inch markings. No one has ever banned the 24 caliber anywhere and never will; no one would even think of such a thing. However, what was popular and attractive in the past remains in the past.
24-caliber shotguns are fully-fledged weapons, the nominal bore diameter is 14.71 mm, and according to the rules of the CIP commission it can be in the range of 14.70–15.20 mm. The barrel is also conical in shape; its diameter at the groove under the welt is 16.8–16.9 mm, and at the transition cone 16.5–16.6 mm.
Relatively recently, by weapons standards, only a hundred - one and a half years ago, because guns last for tens and hundreds of years, 24-caliber weapons were smooth-bore and rifled. The rifle was used for a long time: back in the 1960s, game warden Kukartsev V.A. I hunted with an old European 24-caliber rifle in the Kirov region. However, with the development of bullet rifled weapons chambered for high-pressure centerfire cartridges, 24-caliber rifled weapons became irrelevant. And in the 20th–21st centuries, the 24th caliber became the parameter for smooth-bore weapons.
With regard to 24-gauge smoothbore shotguns, you should take into account the popularity among hunters and distribution in the market. Not later than the second third of the 20th century, such guns were preferred by hunters with gun dogs.
The relatively small mass of 24-caliber double-barreled shotguns and cartridge shells, combined with excellent performance in combat with shot, including small shot, ensured them wide appreciation among hunters. With their low recoil and elegant proportions, they are also popular among women who like to hunt and shoot lightly; such guns were called “ladies’.”
Venerable gunsmiths in our and other countries produced very serious and quite expensive 24-caliber double-barreled shotguns. I’ll mention at least the Tula horizontal system of A.P. Ivashentsov with locks on the side plates and chambers 70 mm long for shells of larger 20-gauge shot, he himself hunted for many years with such a gun, equipping the cartridges with a shell of lead shot No. 6 weighing 25 grams.
It is worth mentioning at least a few 24-caliber shotguns on our market, including a small Belgian hammerless rifle with 65 mm chambers, the owner of which not only hunts, but also shoots on a bench; double-barreled shotgun Sauer XIV; a Sauer II trigger from the early 1920s; Belgian Francotte trigger; a 1905 Francotte double-barreled shotgun made to order from the St. Petersburg company JM Larderet; the long-standing compact single-barrel IZH-5 2; German single-barrel Tell.
24-caliber shotguns with chambers 70 mm long were offered by the ITOZ plant, as follows from its “Prices for hunting rifles...” of the early 1900s, and with barrels made of ordinary steel for 44 rubles. And depending on the design, grade of barrel steel and the amount of labor invested, the cost was 55 or even 67 rubles.
Long barrels up to 710 mm were installed on 24-caliber shotguns, which gave good performance in combat with small and medium-number shotguns. 24-caliber barrels were also mounted on multi-barreled weapons, such as the two upper barrels on the German trigger tee of the 1930s.
These and other 24-caliber specimens, domestic and foreign, elegant and spectacular, are now carefully kept by hunters and collectors; they are used with them on the most difficult hunts, to the envy of others weighed down with heavy weapons.
Cartridge factories abroad produced 24-gauge paper cartridges with a length of 65 and 70 mm for a “jewel” capsule, while domestic enterprises produced brass cartridges with a length of 70 mm for a “centrifuge” capsule. Fortunately, in our country the unified chamber length of 70 mm for hunting smoothbore weapons of any caliber was adopted more than a hundred years ago. There's no need to worry about muzzle-loading 24-gauge models—they don't require ammo.
But in the last quarter of the 20th century, arms factories sharply reduced the range of calibers of smooth-bore weapons, citing the need for unification. Behind this is the desire to reduce costs as much as possible in order to extract the greatest profit - in a monetary society the goal is quite clear: profit by any means. But consumer hunters are deprived of the goods they need.
Now guns of 12, 20 and occasionally 28 caliber are offered - it is clear that it is easier to produce weapons of one caliber, albeit multifunctional. It is also important that cartridge companies have reduced the range of calibers of hunting cartridges; in fact, there are no 24-caliber cartridges. But with this technique, weapons and ammunition enterprises deprived themselves of a circle of fans of small-caliber weapons and, accordingly, a share of the profit.
Hunting conditions change, and so do the hunters’ capabilities: they go out rarely, they shoot poorly, so they choose to shoot with large projectiles at extreme distances. While hunting with a 24-caliber gun requires a sincere passion for hunting, knowledge of the biology of birds and the landscape of the land, and a desire to overcome difficulties in the meadow and swamp.
The number of weapons of a particular caliber on the market is determined by demand, while modern hunters are subject to enormous pressure from advertising, financed by manufacturers interested in the greatest profit at the minimum cost.
First, under the pressure of certain factors, the demand for guns of a certain caliber decreases, then, under this pretext, the production of cartridges and cartridges is reduced and stopped, and eventually the guns leave the market. Thus, the 24-caliber shotguns, once prized by hunters with dogs, virtually disappeared.
It is clear that reducing the calibers of smooth-bore hunting weapons is partly a short-sighted policy, which is especially noticeable in the example of weapons and cartridges of the weaker 28 caliber compared to the 24 caliber.
After all, there are 28-caliber weapons and ammunition on the market, albeit not many. Obviously, the striking distance and small size of available game radically curb the proliferation of 28-caliber weapons and ammunition. But with 24-caliber smooth-bore weapons, experienced hunters also caught roe deer.
Now manufacturers of smooth-bore weapons and cartridges have one argument against the 24-caliber - there is no wide range of consumers, although they played a certain role in its reduction. The hunters were not given a choice - take what they give, not what you want.
There is also an objective factor: now hunting is not the main male hobby, there is a lot of other things on the market, including for the promising category of hunters - youth and beginners, the number of hunters is decreasing, and the number of hunting trips is also decreasing for various reasons.
Hunters contain the costs of hunting and everything else associated with it by dividing them among other hobbies. In such conditions, truly diverse weapons may not find wide demand, because weapons must be properly presented, offered and advertised; simply putting them up for sale in stores is clearly not enough; considerable costs, labor and financial, are required.
The unified technology of manufacturers allows them to produce anything they want, weapons of any caliber - just change the equipment on standard equipment, but they are content with those calibers that they can immediately and without special costs entrust to the trade.
The domestic industry produced 24-caliber brass cartridges for hunting weapons, 70 mm long, with a “centrifugal” capsule, for example, cartridges from 1946 or cartridges from 1957. Packed in standard cardboard boxes of fifty pieces and layered with paper strips, they were offered in most stores.
It is these cartridges that hunters have preserved; owners of 24-caliber shotguns treasure them, reloading them carefully, the main thing is that in the center of the socket the anvil for the “centrifuge” primer does not get dented. It is easy to straighten it with a specially machined matrix and punch, but only until its edge is worn out so much that the capsule cannot be reliably pierced. There are no difficulties with reloading; 20-caliber wads are suitable for 24-caliber brass cartridges; they are always on sale.
You can ask your question to Evgeniy Kopeiko by email
Evgeniy Kopeiko November 28, 2016 at 00:00
What is the most popular?
The following calibers are most in demand in our country:
- 12 – corresponds to the average diameter of the bore, which is 18.5 mm. This is the most popular option among hunters. In the future, the emphasis will be on bullets for 12-gauge smoothbore weapons. Their feature is the availability of models of various designs and versatility. This caliber can be used for hunting any type of game.
- 16 - corresponds to the average diameter of the bore, which is 16.8 mm. Has rather weak recoil. Often found in a pump-action version without a stock. This option is often used by security agencies.
- 20 - corresponds to the average diameter of the bore, which is 15.6 mm. Sometimes gunsmiths also call it “female” due to the very weak recoil due to the small powder charge. But this does not detract from the merits of this caliber. At one time, it was very willingly used by professional fishermen.
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Catalog view
Cartridge Fetter 12/70 containerless, shot
The use of this cartridge in combination with medium and large numbers (up to No. 1) makes it possible...
Article number 121842230 ₽
Cartridge Fetter 12/70 shot 32 gr.
The main cartridge in the line of 12-gauge hunting cartridges, depending on the shot number it can...
Article number 121492030 ₽
Cartridge Azot 12/70 b/c Siberia 32 gr
Cartridge "Nitrogen"
Siberia" are assembled using imported gunpowder; each type of shot has its own... Article number 121845425 ₽
Cartridge Azot 12/70 b/c Russian Hunter 32 gr.
Azot "Russian Hunter" is assembled using domestic gunpowder.
Article 121843424 ₽
Fetter cartridge semi-magnum 36gr 12/70
The cartridge is designed to ensure more reliable destruction of game from weapons by increasing...
Article number 121490637 ₽
Cartridge for Hunting 12/70, b/c 32 gr.
Standard shot cartridge 12/12/70 from the Glavpatron company.
Article 121875823 ₽
Cartridge Fetter Magnum 12/76
The main purpose of this FETTER magnum cartridge is hunting wary and tough game.
Article 121451138 ₽
Cartridge Azot 12/70 Russian hunter 32 gr
Azot "Russian Hunter" is assembled using domestic gunpowder.
Article 121841424 ₽
Cartridge Fetter 12/70 BIOR, shot 32 gr., high speed
The principle of creating hunting cartridges FETTER 12/70 Bior 32 grams is based on a high...
Article number 122100431 ₽
Cartridge Azot 12/70 Siberia 32 gr
Cartridge "Nitrogen"
Siberia" are assembled using imported gunpowder; each type of shot has its own... Article number 121835725 ₽
Cartridge Record 16/70 shot b/c
Shot cartridges of 16 gauge are used for hunting with smoothbore weapons for waterfowl,...
Article number 121439521 ₽
Cartridge CHASE 12/70, 32g. BIOR
The main cartridge in the line of 12-gauge hunting cartridges, depending on the shot number it can...
Article number 121817221 ₽
Cartridge Tekhkrim 366 TKM vol. FMJ-2 13 gr.
The bullet consists of a lead core and a copper alloy or brass shell.
If it gets into... Article 121837539 ₽
Cartridge Tekhkrim 9.6*53 Lancaster
Bullet cartridges caliber 9.6 53 Lancaster hunting with jacket bullet
Article No. 121837055 ₽
Cartridge Nitrogen 12/70 NRG Auto 36 gr
Cartridges from this line were created with an emphasis on use in semi-automatic weapons
Article No. 121866330 ₽
Cartridge Record 12/70 shot b/c
Shot cartridges of 12 gauge are used for hunting with smoothbore weapons for waterfowl,...
Article number 192097624 ₽
Cartridge Fetter 12/70 shot 32 gr., high speed
The high initial speed of the cartridge allows you to take smaller leads on cross-flying game...
Article number 121948431 ₽
Cartridge for Hunting 12/70, 32 gr.
Standard shot cartridge 12/12/70 from the Glavpatron company.
Article 121878023 ₽
Cartridge Fetter 12/70 buckshot
This cartridge with buckshot is intended mainly for shooting wild boar weighing up to 100 kg at close range...
Article number 121488435 ₽
Cartridge Glavpatron 12/70 shot BIO 32gr (b/c)
Shot cartridges 12/12/70 “Bio” are loaded with 32 g of shot
. Article number 121805725 ₽
Cartridge Record 16/70 shot
Shot cartridges of 16 gauge are used for hunting with smoothbore weapons for waterfowl,...
Article number 121608221 ₽
Cartridge SKM 12/70 buckshot
Cartridges of the “Buckshot” series of 12 gauge are equipped with buckshot of various diameters based on imported...
Article number 121400434 ₽
Cartridge Tekhkrim 366 TKM lead in polymer, Dary bullet 13.5g
The bullet is coated with an anti-friction polymer coating.
Article 121836237 ₽
Cartridge SKM 12/70 shot
Shot cartridges 12 gauge for shotguns with a chamber of at least 70 mm.
A distinctive characteristic... Article number 192064328 ₽
Cartridge SKM 12/70 Rus b/k, shot
The Rus series cartridges are 12 gauge shotgun cartridges for shotguns with a chamber of at least 70 mm….
Article 121844227 ₽
Cartridge CHASE 12/70, 32g.
The main cartridge in the line of 12-gauge hunting cartridges, depending on the shot number it can...
Article number 121822121 ₽
Cartridge Tekhkrim 366 TKM semi-jacketed bullet Kion SP15 15 gr.
Radial shape with expansive recess.
Durable bimetallic shell (0.45 mm) for... Article No. 121871140 ₽
Cartridge Record 20/70 shot
Standard 20 gauge shotshells are used for hunting with smoothbore weapons...
Article number 121608917 ₽
Cartridge Glavpatron 12/70 shot (32 g)
Shot cartridge 12/70 with 32 grams of shot.
Cartridges can be loaded with almost all shot numbers Article 121497625 ₽
Cartridge Tekhkrim 366 TKM semi-jacketed bullet Kion 13 gr.
Radial shape with expansive recess.
Durable bimetallic shell (0.45 mm) for... Article number 121837237 ₽
About other representatives
Less common are calibers 24 and 28; the bore diameter for them is 14.7 and 13.8 mm, respectively. Shotguns of this type use small shot ammunition, mainly for hare or duck hunting. But they assume that the shooter has significant experience or at least quality training with them. There are also samples of weapons with 32 and 36 calibers. They have a diameter of 12.7 and 10.2 mm, respectively. The 32nd is designed for the use of ammunition that is used in rifled weapons. 50th under the English system. The 36th, also better known as 410, appeared in Russia from the moment the Saiga conversion smoothbore was launched into production.
It is worth mentioning large calibers, namely 4th and 8th. They have a diameter of 26.5 and 21.2 mm, respectively. They are not produced by the domestic arms industry. The only exception is farm carbines for firing syringe cartridges, which are used to euthanize cattle, as well as means for shooting with smoke, gas and flash-noise pellets, which are in service with the security forces. Signal (starting) pistols also have 4th caliber. However, foreign manufacturers also do not produce them en masse.
Purchase of cartridges for hunting weapons and self-defense weapons
When there is a conversation about buying cartridges, it mainly means purchasing them in gun stores or from the manufacturer.
Documents for purchasing cartridges
In this case, you need to know that in accordance with Part 4 of Article 18 of the Federal Law “On Weapons”, these legal entities -
...it is prohibited to sell ammunition for weapons to citizens who have not provided permission to store or store and carry such weapons...
That is, until you register the purchased weapon and receive permission for it, you will not be able to buy cartridges from official sellers (except for cases where, in violation of this prohibition, they “meet” the buyer halfway).
Also, paragraph 8(5) of the above Rules determines that the sale is carried out upon presentation of a passport by the consumer.
To purchase cartridges in a store you need two documents
:
- passport;
- permit for the weapon for which ammunition is purchased.
A question may arise with the purchase of cartridges for gas weapons, because they are purchased, stored and carried on the basis of a license
LOA series.
Part 3 of Article 13 of the Federal Law “On Weapons” states that this license is also a permit to store and carry weapons.
But there is a nuance here. On the back of the license it is indicated that storage and carrying of purchased weapons is permitted if there is registration on the back of the license with the body or department that issued the license
.
This means that this license acquires the status of permission to store and carry only after the weapon is registered.
Specific points
There is no need to think that this is all there is to it. When talking about which bullet is best suited for a smoothbore hunting rifle, it is necessary to take into account the structural features of the barrel channel, as well as the size of the chamber. Even single-caliber representatives of different brands may differ. It's no secret that each gun company creates its own unique features in the bore. This is typical even for our country, in which everything from A to Z is standardized. For example, Izhevsk and Tula-made barrels for 12 gauge can differ by almost one millimeter. Therefore, when a choice is made, it is difficult to give unambiguous advice.
Which caliber to purchase depends not only on stopping power and firing range. The hunter’s personal preferences also have a strong influence. They can overcome any theoretical calculations and find counterarguments to all the arguments put forward. Of course, a reasonable person would agree that attempting to kill a bear using a .36 with buckshot is doomed to fail. The choice within reasonable limits always remains directly with the hunter himself. At the same time, it is important to choose not only your caliber, but also a suitable system, to select a weapon that is ideal in terms of overall dimensions and weight, so that it fits in your hand like a glove. This is just as important as understanding ammunition and its intended purpose.
Purchasing ammunition for decommissioned weapons
Let’s return to the above prohibition contained in Article 18 of the Federal Law “On Weapons” and read it to the end:
“...it is prohibited to sell ammunition for weapons to citizens who have not provided permission to store or store and carry such weapons, with the exception of those types of weapons and ammunition for which a license is not required for the purchase
«.
Article 9 of the Law states that a license is not required to purchase decommissioned weapons
, and also that it is not subject to registration with the Russian Guard (you do not need to obtain permission for it).
So in a gun store to buy light and sound cartridges for decommissioned weapons
You only need your passport.
You can take a passport for a decommissioned weapon so that with the help of the seller you do not make a mistake with the caliber of the cartridge.
Why only light and sound cartridges?
According to the definition of decommissioned weapons (Article 1 of the Federal Law “On Weapons”):
«Decommissioned weapons
- firearms, in each main part of which technical changes have been made....
which is intended for use in cultural and educational activities with the possibility of simulating a shot from it with a light-sound cartridge
... ".
They will not sell any other cartridges for it.
Example consideration
Overall attention was paid to everything. Now let's talk more specifically. And let’s touch on bullets for 12-gauge smoothbore weapons. This is a universal solution that can be used for any game: wolves, bears, moose, hares, ducks. In addition, it is also suitable for self-defense.
Special rubber bullets for hunting rifles are produced that have a traumatic effect on the target. Why are they so popular? The fact is that the killing power of a 12-gauge hunting rifle bullet allows you to hunt even the largest animals. And at the same time, as a rule, they are excellent for small animals. Depending on the chosen version and manufacturer, the muzzle velocity of a 12-gauge hunting rifle ranges from 350 to 700 meters per second. This is more than enough for hunting any game, as well as for self-defense.
Although if we talk about which bullet is better for 12 gauge, then it is problematic to give a definite answer. It is necessary for everyone to try different cartridges to determine exactly the one that is suitable for him. But we can recommend paying attention to: diabolo, cap, Blondeau, Rubeykina, Brenneke, Jacan, Mayer, ideal, round. Among domestic developments, it is worth remembering the Polev, Ilyin, and Vyatka bullets. It is difficult to make any specific choice. These bullets for a 12-gauge hunting rifle must be tested independently and decided for what purpose they should be used, focusing on official support.
Information on smoothbore bullet cartridges
Bullet cartridges for smooth-bore weapons are used primarily for hunting large animals - such as elk, wild boar, and, less often, deer. In addition to hunting, bullet cartridges are also in demand for recreational and sports shooting (running boar target, practical shooting), as well as for military and police needs. The main characteristic of all smoothbore bullets is their low initial velocity and, as a result, a steep trajectory, which limits the practical use distance of most smoothbore bullet ammunition to 70-80 meters. Especially in weapons with non-adjustable sights.
On the other hand, 12-gauge bullet cartridges with heavy bullets of 32-36 grams, even at a low, about 450 m/s, initial bullet speed at a short distance, have very high energy and stopping power. The latter is facilitated by the fact that a soft lead bullet easily transfers almost all of its energy to the target, even when fired at point-blank range. Therefore, for picking up and shooting a large dangerous animal at short range, a smooth-bore weapon with a “stopper” bullet cartridge is very, very effective. Assortment of cartridges in the online store "Okhotnik">
By design, bullets for smooth-bore weapons can be divided into three types. Caliber, the body of which over a large area has the diameter of the caliber of the barrel or choke. Bullets with leading bands, the body diameter of which is less than the diameter of the muzzle constriction of 1 mm (choke), but which have bands of a small area according to the caliber of the barrel, centering the bullet in it. And sub-caliber bullets, the diameter of the entire body of which is less than the caliber. Such bullets are centered in the barrel by additional linings or a container. Caliber smoothbore bullets, even the most common round bullet, are safe to fire only from a “cylinder” choke. The fact is that when fired, a soft lead bullet is noticeably deformed, especially in the rear, and settles tightly along the caliber of the barrel. The passage of such a bullet through the muzzle constriction is fraught with rupture of the latter. This is largely why cartridges with caliber smoothbore bullets are currently practically not produced commercially. As for bullets with leading bands, when fired, despite the deformation of the rear part, they contact the barrel mainly with leading bands of a very small area. When passing through the choke constriction up to the full choke, these bands are easily crushed with a lateral load that is orders of magnitude less than the strength limits of the choke constriction. The most common bullets of this type are “Gualandi”, “Brenneke”, B&P, “Nitrogen”, Mayer and others.
Let's take a closer look at sub-caliber bullets. The fact is that today only bullet hunting cartridges with sub-calibrated bullets are able to significantly overcome the main disadvantages of smooth-bore bullet cartridges - namely, the low initial speed and steep trajectory, which limits the distance of practical use. After all, during hunting, especially during driven hunting, most often it is simply not possible to accurately measure the distance to the target. At the same time, the steepness of the trajectory of ordinary lead bullets at distances of 70+ meters is already such that in order to hit at least an A4 sheet it requires adjustments to the sight. Even if the gun is sighted at 70 meters, then at 90-100 meters a shot without correction will either lead to a wounded person or a miss. A reasonable question arises: why not just add gunpowder and accelerate the bullet so much that the direct shot distance is at least 100 meters? So, it turns out that this is impossible to do with a lead bullet. When accelerated in the barrel, a heavy soft bullet will deform so much that it will not only lose trajectory stability and accuracy, but will also begin to pose a threat to the integrity of your gun. And now it’s time to remember about steel.
The first truly revolutionary design was the French Sauvestre bullet. Sauvestre cartridges most closely resemble shells for smoothbore tank guns. The bullet is a highly elongated feathered projectile, centered and accelerated in the barrel by polyethylene sealing linings along almost the entire length of the bullet. Sauvestre has a steel core and a body made of brass or lead, the deformation of which is prevented by sealing linings. The initial bullet speed in Sauvestre cartridges reaches 580 m/s. Today this is the only ammunition whose direct shot range is 100+ meters. When zeroing at 100 meters, the excess of the bullet’s trajectory is only 8 cm. The main “know-how” of Sauvestre bullets is, of course, their high accuracy, which allows this ammunition to be accelerated to almost rifled speeds. At a distance of 100 meters, when shooting from a rest from a bullet barrel, Sauvestre cartridges allow you to collect groups of 5 shots in a circle less than 15 cm in diameter, which is definitely more than enough for practical hunting of animals. Of course, shooting at such distances means installing at least a rear sight and front sight on the gun, and even better, a collimator sight. The only significant drawback of Sauvestre cartridges is their high cost, which, perhaps, prevents the widespread mass use of these unrivaled bullets for hunting and sport shooting.
Another largely revolutionary smoothbore ammunition on the Russian market was the Duplex cartridges. They use original DDupleks steel bullets with a high muzzle velocity and a fairly flat trajectory compared to conventional lead bullets. Thanks to their special design, Duplex steel bullets not only have high accuracy and trajectory stability when passing through obstacles such as bushes and even small tree trunks, but they also have, dare we say it, a unique destructive effect. There was a case when an expansive Dupo bullet literally striking the bottom of a boar’s body was enough for the animal to lay down without even walking hundreds of meters. Another definite “plus” is that Ddupleks cartridges are relatively inexpensive, and the company’s product range includes 16-caliber bullet cartridges, the demand for which on the Russian market is several times higher than the supply.
Of the Russian ammunition, it is certainly worth mentioning the bullets designed by Viktor Polev. The Polev 3 bullet and the Polev 6 bullet are today the main competitors to foreign manufacturers. These are also sub-caliber ammunition, which is stabilized along the trajectory by a special feathered polyethylene shank. Polev's bullets have a fairly high initial velocity and most often show excellent accuracy when fired from conventional hunting double-barreled shotguns. Their disadvantages include their relatively small weight, and as a result - lethality. In addition, there are often cases when a polyethylene shank literally plugged the entrance hole in the carcass, as a result of which the animal went far without blood on the trail. The discovery of such an animal, which has often already survived, is largely accidental. Buy cartridges in the Okhotnik online store>
