Saiga 410k: performance characteristics, design, carbine cartridges

History of the creation of 410 caliber cartridges

This particular caliber is by far the smallest of all designed for smoothbore weapons. By the way, it is also the youngest of them, although it was developed quite a long time ago - back in 1874 in England.

First, it’s worth figuring out why, against the backdrop of the usual smoothbore calibers like 12, 20, 28 and others, 410 was also included. The confusion occurred due to the confusion of different systems for assessing the diameter of cartridges. 12, 16, 20 and others are domestic and their roots go back to the distant past, when not kilograms, but pounds were used when weighing any objects.

Based on this, a special caliber scale was developed - it showed how many bullets for a particular gun could be cast from one pound - 454 grams. Accordingly, for 12 gauge this amount of lead would be enough for 12 bullets, but for 32 - as much as 32. So, 32 gauge is much smaller than 12.

With 410 the story is completely different - it belongs to the English system, and it would be more correct to write it as .410 caliber. That is, the barrel diameter is 0.410 inches. If you convert it to the metric system, you get 10, mm. Well, in the usual system of smooth-bore weapons this corresponds to approximately 36-37 caliber.

In Great Britain, its homeland, the caliber was used mainly for recreational shooting - for military operations or, especially, hunting, it turned out to be insufficiently powerful. But in the USA it has gained considerable popularity and distribution.

An interesting story is how pistols using .410 caliber cartridges received the nickname "snake". The fact is that in many regions of the United States, rattlesnakes and other snakes are quite common in rural areas and pose a considerable danger to both animals and people. They had to be actively exterminated - simply for self-defense.

But carrying a gun everywhere with you is not the most pleasant experience, especially if the farmer had to walk around vast areas several times a day. Therefore, nimble industrialists proposed a very successful replacement - revolvers loaded with 410 caliber cartridges. Moreover, they were equipped not with a bullet, as is usually done now, but with small shot. Yes, the range of destruction was tiny - only a few meters. But at such a distance, even a tiny amount of small shot covered a fairly large area. As a result, noticing a dangerous snake, the farmer grabbed a revolver and shot at it. You don't even need to aim - you just need to point the weapon towards the enemy and pull the trigger. The poisonous guest was guaranteed to receive a good charge of shot and no longer posed a danger.

However, over time, the 410 caliber became widespread not only among farmers. And the Great Depression helped him in this.

The fact is that most shooting competitions, which were extremely popular in the United States, usually used a .365 caliber rifled cartridge. But the ammunition, as well as the barrel for it, were quite cheap. Then the already well-known company Winchester offered a different caliber as a replacement - of course it was 410. These cartridges cost about four times less. And the carbines themselves were significantly cheaper - after all, a smooth barrel is much easier to manufacture than a rifled one. And in the hands of good shooters, the new caliber showed its best side.

After several competitions, the cartridge began to be positioned as a universal ammunition for farmers. And he was very welcome. On the one hand, the bullet’s flight range turned out to be significantly greater than that of the usual 12 or 20 calibers - thanks to the lighter bullet. On the other hand, unlike a rifled carbine, these smooth-bore analogues could be loaded with shot. Even if the weight was small, it was quite possible to shoot down a duck at a medium distance.

Over time, when hunting became less relevant, the popularity of conventional clay pigeon shooting ranges increased. And here the 410 caliber also turned out to be very popular, thanks to certain advantages, which we will return to a little later. True, the length of the sleeve increased significantly - from 2 inches to 3, which, of course, seriously affected the characteristics.

Well, the 410 caliber came to Russia at the end of the 20th century, after the collapse of the USSR. Of course, it could not displace the proven, powerful and familiar 12, 16 and 20 calibers - the purpose is too different. But still he found his niche.

Characteristics of 410 caliber

To better understand the caliber, it is advisable to carefully study the characteristics that this cartridge has. This will allow you to create the most objective impression possible.

General information

Before use, you must carefully read the passport and study the design of the carbine

Pay special attention to the safety precautions

Attention. The buttstock is switched from folded to folded and vice versa when the safety is set to the “Safety” position (“S”)

Automatic reloading of the carbine has been tested using cartridges from Remington, Browning, Federal, Gevelot, Winchester. For shooting from a carbine, you should use 410 Magpum 3″ cartridges from the above companies with a sleeve length of 76 mm, with a total cartridge length of 69…72 mm.

When using the SOK-410.S6 16 magazine, use Federal and Remington bullet cartridges with a case length of 65 mm (2 1/2″) with a total cartridge length of 57...58 mm.

To avoid damage to the striker, it is prohibited to perform idle releases unnecessarily.

To put the carbine into operation, it is necessary to re-preserve it, i.e. release the rifle, accessories and tools from the packaging, remove the protective lubricant, check the completeness and make sure it is working, reloading the rifle and releasing the trigger without using cartridges.

After re-opening the product, burn the inhibited paper due to its toxicity.

On the receiver of the carbine there is information about the company and country of manufacture, the number and name of the product and the following special signs and designations:

• mark of conformity for mandatory certification and certification body code (SA02);
• caliber of cartridge used and length (inch) of the chamber (410×3″);
• muzzle constriction of the barrel (on carbines without an attachment) or attachment (mm) (S(0.60));
• diameter (mm) of the bore (10.3);
• average value of the maximum pressure of the operating cartridge (90 MPa).

The parts that are most loaded when fired (the receiver, integrally connected to the barrel, and the bolt) bear the following marks to check the strength and safety of the carbine:

• stamp of the State Testing Center for Civilian and Service Weapons for certification tests;
• mark for testing strength.

The shooting distance of 25 m is the average distance for shot shooting, so the aiming point and the center of the shot fall are aligned at this distance.

To fire shotguns, the scope clamp must be set to position D 25.

When firing a bullet, the average firing distance is 50 m, the optical and open sights are adjusted to this distance. To fire a bullet, the open sight clamp must be set to position P 50.

Cartridges can be equipped with bullets of different designs and weights, as a result of which their flight trajectories may differ. Therefore, before shooting, it is necessary to check the combat. If the aiming point does not coincide with the point of impact, adjust the sight by moving the clamp along the aiming bar.

When shooting using an optical sight, adjustments are made by rotating the elevation adjustment drum.

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Advantages and disadvantages of 410 caliber cartridges

But simply knowing the basic characteristics of ammunition is clearly not enough to figure out what it is good at and what it is not so good at. Therefore, for greater objectivity, it is also worth listing the main advantages and disadvantages of the caliber.

Advantages and disadvantages

Low recoil

Significant range of the bullet, ensured by its low weight and significant pressure of powder gases in the barrel

Light weight - you can carry a large number of cartridges with you

It belongs to smooth-bore calibers, which means you don’t have to wait 5 years like rifled weapons.

High cost of ammunition

Low quality of commercially available cartridges

Small shot load

Weak stopping effect, with the exception of cartridges using special hollow-point bullets.

What conclusion can be drawn from this?

• First of all, the weapon is perfect for women and teenagers due to its very low recoil - in no way comparable to the native 12 gauge. So, it can be an excellent choice to instill a gun culture, a love of hunting or just shooting.
• In terms of bullet flight range and penetrating ability, it significantly exceeds all existing smoothbore calibers. Yes, it doesn’t reach the rifle level, but it’s stupid to compare completely different niches.
• The number of wounded animals during hunting is reduced to a minimum. Firstly, due to the small weight of the shot, there is a lower risk of accidentally hitting a bird or animal. Secondly, the higher speed of a bullet or buckshot guarantees a quick death for the prey.
• As mentioned above, a standard bullet has high penetration power. This is already a rather complex question, which has both pros and cons. On the one hand, it can easily pierce the hard skin of a wild boar, elk and even a bear. On the other hand, the bullet will probably not inflict mortal wounds on a serious animal; rather, it will simply pierce through, causing pain, but not killing. The problem is partly solved through the use of expansive bullets - when hit, it unfolds, penetration ability decreases, but the stopping effect increases sharply, as does the severity of the wounds inflicted. True, it’s still not worth going with a 410 caliber shotgun to kill bears and wild boars.

Much worse is that the quality of the cartridges that can usually be seen on sale leaves much to be desired. It’s not clear why, but companies that produce high-quality cartridges in 12, 16, 20 and other calibers cannot cope with 410.

In addition, although the cost of cartridges is much lower than other calibers, due to their relatively low prevalence in stores, they often cost one and a half to two times more than, for example, 12 gauge. Of course, this significantly reduces the popularity of weapons using 410 caliber.

The only way to immediately solve the problem of high cost and unstable quality is home charging of cartridges. Of course, this will take a lot of time and requires a certain skill. But the shooter will be sure that really high-quality cartridges are at hand. And their cost will be significantly lower than purchased ones.

Design and principle of operation

The automation of the Saiga-410 carbine operates using the energy of powder gases entering the gas chamber from the barrel bore and the energy of the return spring. When the bolt and bolt frame move, the cartridge is sent into the barrel. This is done using the energy of the return spring. The barrel is locked after chambering the cartridge into the barrel and turning the bolt. After pressing the trigger, a strike occurs on the firing pin, and then a shot is fired. The impact force is transmitted from the mainspring. Automatic ejection of the cartridge case occurs with the help of a reflector, and the ejection of the cartridge case itself occurs due to the action of powder gases that activate the bolt frame and bolt.

Saiga 410. Design

Before the next shot occurs, the hammer is erected and captured by the sear. Next, the bolt and bolt carrier move forward under the influence of the return spring. As they move forward, the next ammunition is sent into the chamber. After returning the hook to its original position, the trigger is released from the sear and engages with the hook, being cocked.

The magazine of the Saiga-410 rifle is box-type and comes in 2, 4, 8 and 10 rounds. The most popular are 8 and 10 rounds.

The gas piston, bore and chamber are chrome plated. The hammer-type trigger mechanism allows for single shooting and putting the carbine on safety.

Saiga 410k

The Saiga-410 carbine provides the ability to adjust the gas engine within two modes by changing the plug modes. This functionality takes into account the ballistic characteristics of ammunition and allows you to adjust the recoil speed of the weapon’s components. Default mode is -1. It happens that when changing ammunition the cartridge case is not removed from the chamber, then it is necessary to switch to mode 2, but one should take into account the fact that in this position there is likely to be an increase in wear of the component parts. And if there is significant recoil to the shoulder, then you should change the position of the plug, moving it to the first position.

Some Saiga models have a folding stock, as well as a fire blocking system, which reduces both the size of the weapon and increases safety.

Types of 410 caliber cartridges

Today, 410 caliber cartridges are available in two versions - regular and Magnum.

That is, the length of the sleeve can be 70 or 76 mm. It is the latter that are most popular - the increased weight of gunpowder ensures the full potential of the caliber. Although this is almost imperceptible on short-barreled weapons, on hunting rifles a Magnum loaded with a suitable bullet (for example, Brenneke) in the hands of an experienced shooter confidently hits targets at a distance of 100-120 meters. How many smoothbore guns can boast of such an indicator?

Well, for beginners, cartridges with a sleeve length of 70 mm are best suited. Their recoil is almost imperceptible, and a novice shooter will be able to fully enjoy the pleasure of hitting a target, even at a short range.

Operating countries

• Russia - certified as a civilian weapon and service weapon, authorized for use by employees of departmental security, sentry and paramilitary units of private security of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, forestry guards and Rosprirodnadzor, used by private security companies. Since March 1, 2006, service versions of the Saiga-410 carbines have been modified in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation - they are equipped with a new forend with a distinctive color of white, light gray or light beige;
• Kazakhstan - certified as a service weapon, used by private security companies;
• Lithuania - used as a service weapon in some private security structures.
• Ukraine - certified as a civilian weapon

What weapons is 410 caliber suitable for?

In Europe, this caliber has not particularly caught on, so weapons for it are practically not produced. But the same cannot be said about the USA. This is where the 410, created in England, gained real popularity and flourished to its fullest.

Here, several types of shotguns are produced for it, for example, Rossi rio grande, Remington 870 and The Savage Model 42. They are rarely used for hunting, but are often bought for shooting at banks, as well as self-defense. Which is not surprising - even an inexperienced shooter can easily handle it. Moreover, in the hands of a teenager or a woman, such shotguns are no less effective than in the hands of a strong man.

However, the matter is not limited to shotguns alone. Surprisingly, 410-caliber revolvers are still popular in the United States. These include Smith & Wesson GOVERNOR, Taurus Judge, MIL Thunder 5, Big-Bore.410 and many others.

By the way, the last of the revolvers even received a quite self-explanatory name - Home Defender or home defender. And this already says a lot. Indeed, a .410 caliber revolver loaded with several buckshot instead of bullets is very effective for home defense. The risk of killing an attacker is relatively small, unless you specifically shoot in the head, but you can stop it with a simple hit in the limb without the slightest difficulty.

Is it suitable for hunting?

This is not the first year that there have been serious debates between hunters: is Saiga-12 suitable for hunting? The question is really difficult. It should be looked into in more detail.

The main argument from opponents of using Saiga for hunting is the sighting device, which is not suitable for shooting offhand. Indeed, a standard rear sight and front sight are great if you need to shoot at a stationary or slow-moving target. But shooting down a flying duck or a rapidly running hare is much more difficult.

But still, experienced shooters with good marksmanship use these weapons very successfully when hunting, always returning with rich trophies. Namely, practice, as we know, is the most reliable criterion of truth.

And the ability to fire 5-8 shots without reloading, and then change the magazine in a second is a very pleasant prospect, especially if the target of the hunt is a wild boar, bear or elk.

So, if you are looking for a weapon that will allow you not only to successfully hunt, but also to protect your home, the Saiga-12 will be a really good choice.

What kind of guns are produced in Russia under 410 caliber?

But in our country, the range of weapons designed to fire 410 caliber cartridges is quite limited.

In fact, these are just two shotguns - Saiga-410 and MTs255.

It was the brainchild of Izhmash that became most widespread. Indeed, over the years, many thousands of samples have been produced. Moreover, not all of them remained in Russia - many were bought by connoisseurs from all over the post-Soviet space, as well as Europe and even the USA, where the market is already very saturated with the corresponding weapons.

Moreover, Saiga-410 was released in nine varieties. The simplest one, in fact, is Saiga-410. The barrel has a length of 570 mm, and the barrel and fore-end are made of wood or plastic. The barrel does not fold.

Subsequently, many other varieties were released - with folding and orthopedic stocks, with an enlarged sighting line and shortened barrels. In a word, the choice is really great - almost every shooting enthusiast will, without any problems, choose from such an assortment exactly the barrel that would completely suit him.

Basic weapon options

It was already mentioned above that this carbine is available in several modifications. Each has certain distinctive characteristics that make it unique and a good choice for specific shooters. Now it's time to tell you more about them.

The very first and most common version is the classic “Saiga-410” of 410 caliber. It has a standard hunting stock without a pistol grip. Like the forend, the stock can be made of either wood or plastic. The total length is 1170 mm with a barrel length of 570 mm, which provides the greatest firing range.

The Saiga-410S is not very different from it. The only innovation is that the stock can be folded for easy storage and transportation. The barrel length is exactly the same, but the overall length is slightly less - 1080 mm.

Saiga-410K is more suitable for home defense. It has not only a folding stock, but also a shortened barrel - only 330 mm. Because of this, the total length is 840 mm, and with the stock folded - 595 mm. In order for the weapon to comply with the weapons legislation of the Russian Federation, the carbine is equipped with a special device that blocks the trigger when the butt is folded. It is used extremely rarely for hunting, but for home defense it is quite a good option. That is why several modifications were released.

For example, Saiga-410-01 received a slightly elongated barrel - 404 mm. In addition, the design was as close as possible to the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle.

According to reviews, the characteristics of Saiga-410-02 are more different. The butt here can be either plastic or metal, framed. In addition, there is a muzzle brake-compensator, which additionally brings the carbine closer to the AKS-74 in appearance.

The “03” and “04” versions have a rather short barrel – 351 mm. Together with the decorative muzzle and the front sight located on the gas chamber, this makes the weapon as similar as possible to Kalashnikov assault rifles of the “hundredth” series. The short barrel significantly limits the shooting range, making carbines not the best choice for hunting.

They differ from each other only in the type of butt. In version “03” it is plastic and folding. And “04” has a metal frame. However, this does not affect the characteristics and firing range of the Saiga-410-04. Typically, private individuals purchase them either for amateur shooting at a shooting range or for home defense. In this case, this choice can be called very successful.

Finally, it’s worth talking about the characteristics of Saiga-410 KV. It has a comfortable pistol grip, a folding stock and a fairly short barrel - 330 mm with a total length of 840 mm.