In the previous article we talked about how to choose rifled carbines, and now let's talk about calibers for rifled weapons. What are they and their features. The choice of caliber depends on what goals you are pursuing - that is, the object of hunting, the method of hunting and the distance to the target. The types of weapons permitted on the territory of the Russian Federation are regulated by the Federal Law “On Hunting and the Conservation of Hunting Resources and on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” dated July 24, 2009 N 209-FZ. Be sure to study it so you know for sure which weapon you can use to hunt which animal. Also, pay attention to the demand for cartridges of the selected caliber. If you settle on not very popular ammunition, you may have problems with the purchase and you will have to constantly monitor your supplies.
Calibers are measured in mm or inches, depending on the country in which they are produced.
What is a small arms caliber?
So, the difference between a heavy machine gun and a small-caliber automatic cannon lies in their caliber. What is the caliber of a firearm?
The caliber of a rifled firearm is the distance between the fields of the rifling for rifled firearms, or the internal diameter of the bore for smooth-bore weapons. Caliber is measured in millimeters or fractions of an inch (inch = 2.54 cm). In Russia and most other countries, calibers are measured in millimeters. However, even a hundred years ago, not millimeters, but lines . Line = 1/10 inch. For example, the Mosin rifle model 1891/30, which is well known to us, had a caliber equal to three lines (for which it was called a “three-line”), that is, in terms of the units of measurement familiar to us, its caliber was 7.62 mm.
In the UK, gauge is measured in thousandths of an inch, and in the US in hundredths of an inch. A caliber equal to 0.5 inches in the USA will be designated - .50, and in the UK - .500, where the zero is not placed before the dot.
Comparison table of calibers:
| in millimeters | in fractions of an inch (US) | in fractions of an inch (UK) | true value in mm. |
| 5.6 | .22 | .220 | 5.42-5.6 |
| 6.35 | .25 | .250 | 6.1-6.38 |
| 7.0 | .28 | .280 | 6.85-7.0 |
| 7.76, 7.63, 7.62 | .30 | .300 | 7.6-7.85 |
| 7.7 | -«- | .303 | 7.7-7.71 |
| 7.65 | .32 | .320 | 7.83-8.05 |
| 9.0 | .35 | .350 | 8.70-9.25 |
| 9.0, 9.3 | .38 | .380 | 9.2-9.5 |
| 10.0 | .40, .41 | .410 | 10.0-10.2 |
| 11.0 | .44 | .440 | 11.0-11.2 |
| 11.43 | .45 | .450 | 11.26-11.35 |
| 12.7 | .50 | .500 | 12..7 |
Caseless cartridge
What a caseless cartridge is is clear from its name. But what advantages does it have over the standard one, what is it needed for, and is there such ammunition?
The term “caseless cartridge” should not necessarily be taken to mean that the cartridge does not have a case as such. The goal is to ensure that nothing remains after the shot. That is, cartridges with combustible cartridges also belong to this type.
This is exactly what the very first ammunition was like - they were rolled out of paper, which burned completely at the moment of the shot. Such cartridges were used in revolvers, but their appearance on sale was explained only by the fact that they were inexpensive and easy to manufacture. They did not have any advantages or advantages.
How is a rifle different from a carbine and why do we have problems with terminology?
The caliber of a rifled handgun and the length of the barrel determine the name, or more precisely, the classification of small arms.
The rifles have a barrel length of approximately 70 calibers. Carbines - approximately 40-50 calibers. The names change accordingly. The barrel length of the AKM assault rifle is 415 mm. 415 : 7.62 = 54. That is, AKM is a “carbine”. The length of the AK-74 barrel is 415 mm: 5.45 = 76. That is, the AK-74 is already a “rifle”. Accordingly, the 5.45 mm cartridge is a rifle cartridge. The Americans quite correctly call their M-16 an automatic rifle (assault rifle) , and not the abstraction “machine gun”. Accordingly, we need to put the entire classification in order, or rather “roll back” it to what it was before, before the advent of the Kalashnikov Automatic (AK):
- AKM - automatic carbine;
- AK-74 - automatic rifle;
- 5.45 mm cartridge - rifle cartridge.
Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov and the Kalashnikov assault rifle... or rather the Kalashnikov automatic carbine!
These terms are international and more correct than our “machine guns”. The word “automatic” itself is not even a technical term! The same thing, by the way, applies to the “term” “ self-loading carbine ,” which, for example, is the well-known Simonov Self-loading Carbine (SKS) in Russia. “According to science,” this product should be called a semi-automatic carbine . The Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD) is nothing more than a semi-automatic rifle . This is a normal international and, first of all, Russian classification.
The easiest way to determine
How to determine caliber? It’s very simple, the fastest way is to inspect the barrel and chamber, often the cartridge size is marked there. For older firearms, the printed text may simply be unreadable. If you cannot read the caliber stamp and have no knowledge of the firearm model, you will have to go a long way by measuring the caliber yourself.
Calibers of hunting (and other shotguns) weapons
For hunting weapons, calibers are measured in the number of balls that can be cast from one pound of lead. This explains why a 12-gauge hunting weapon is larger than a 16-gauge - a round bullet cast from 1/12 of a pound of lead is larger than a bullet cast from 1/16 of a pound.
- Caliber 28: Barrel diameter 14 mm
- Caliber 24: Barrel diameter 14.7 mm
- Caliber 20: Barrel diameter 15.6 mm
- Caliber 16: Barrel diameter 16.8 mm
- Caliber 12: Barrel diameter 18.5 mm
- Caliber 10: Barrel diameter 19.7 mm
- Caliber 4: Barrel diameter 26.5 mm
Visual comparison of the internal structure of cartridges of different calibers
MAKSIMOV.SU
The hunter's desire to get the maximum possible amount of game is understandable. As well as the understandable desire to have the most prestigious and effective weapon.
Application
specially designed weapons have always pursued one goal - the most effective shot, as a rule - at extreme distances. One of the most interesting specialized types of hunting weapons is the “wet gun” (goose gun). These guns will be discussed in this article.
The specific nature of waterfowl hunting dictates the use of a special type of gun and ammunition. Of course, nowadays, with the annoying activity of Greenpeace, a sharp decrease in the amount of game and the imposed prestige of “proper hunting,” goose and duck hunting (and other types of hunting too) are somewhat different from this glorious pastime in the old days. But the essence remains the same.
Clarifier
In general, both before and today, a gun used for duck and goose hunting must fulfill the following task - to send and deliver to a distant, wary bird or flock of birds the required number of pellets with adequate energy. Based on this, the amount of shot in a 12-gauge cartridge can reach maximum values, which was the reason for the appearance of 76 and 89 mm chambers and magnum cartridges.
Combined with modern barrel steels, gunpowders, containers and the use of various tricks in the form of various muzzle attachments and chokes, today 12-gauge magnum class hunting weapons are quite acceptable for hunting waterfowl.
But that's today. And in the 19th, as well as the beginning of the 20th centuries, with smoky hunting powders and the widespread use of muzzle-loading ramrod guns, the most optimal way to increase the range of a shotgun shot (“range-killing”, in the terminology of that time) was to increase the caliber of the gun . The large caliber made it possible to dramatically increase the mass of the shot projectile and improve the ballistics of the shot shot.
A large amount of coarse shot in, say, an 8-gauge cartridge allows you to obtain a more compact and even scree, compared to using the same amount of shot in a reinforced 12-gauge cartridge. Due to the lower height of the shot column, in a large-caliber cartridge, the shot is deformed much less.
As a result, pellets of regular shape lose speed more slowly and form a more regular pellet with a large killing area, compared to deformed pellets. This allows you to get a reliably killed bird at long distances.
Shotguns designed for hunting waterfowl have always been in demand, although they were produced, in comparison with ordinary guns, in much smaller quantities (as a rule, by craftsmen). Due to the large caliber, the weight of the “cutter” and “goose” could reach 8-9 kg. One of the dominant roles of these guns is played by weight, as well as the design and length of the barrel, which ensure maximum accuracy and range of the gun.
The caliber of a gun was of great importance in the days of ramrod loading and black powder. At that time, the 8th caliber was considered the minimum for a “clarifier” or “gosling gun”. At the same time, 8-gauge shotguns could also be double-barreled, while 6- or 4-gauge “refiners” produced only single-barreled designs (2-gauge shotguns were very rarely produced, but they did not receive any significant distribution).
Otherwise, the gun would be too heavy. Large bore shotguns could fire shot loads up to 100 grams, depending on the caliber.
In the 19th century, there were also “refinery” weapons of very frightening sizes. There were also 3-meter “Punt-guns” in use with a caliber of up to 38-40 mm, used only from a boat and having various devices to mitigate recoil. The weight of such “guns” reached 40-50 kg, and they fired 70-80 gram charges of black powder and 500-700 grams. coarse shot shells (from No. 1 to No. 00). Lighter and more compact “refiners” had a barrel length of about 2 meters, a caliber of about 32 mm, weighed less than 40 kg and could fire shot shells weighing up to 500 grams.
With one shot from such a “gun” it was possible to shoot down more than fifty geese or ducks. The most effective shots brought the hunter up to hundreds of birds killed. It is not for nothing that these guns were sharply criticized among “proper” hunters, and in some countries they were banned. In the United States, the prohibition of barbaric methods of catching waterfowl, including with the help of “catchers,” was announced in 1918.
Clarifiers
With the advent of breech-loading hunting rifles, 10-gauge “refiners” appeared, and 6-gauge sank into oblivion. At the same time, 4-caliber shotguns also remained only single-barreled.
With the advent of smokeless powder and high-quality barrel steels, “refiners” and 12-gauge appeared, incl. and magazine design (Winchester model 1901). “Refiners” of various systems and calibers, starting from the mid-19th century, were produced by all well-known European manufacturers, incl. Russian factories and artisans.
The
gun
, presented in the photographs, is a classic breech-loading "refiner" of large caliber, which determines the single-barrel design. This design of sharpeners was used by European gunsmiths until the First World War.
Inspector 4 caliber
The gun is a 4-gauge hammer-fired “breaker.” The barrel is locked using the most optimal T-shaped screw bolt of the Henry Jones system, controlled by a lower rotary lever that goes under the trigger guard (rotary underlever). The idea of locking barrels with a rotary cylinder on hooks, with a lower lever extending under the forend, belongs to Kazimir Lefoshe, who developed his breech-loading system for a “turning point” double-barreled hunting rifle in 1836. And the lower rotary lever of the bolt, which goes under the trigger guard, was first patented and used by the famous English gunsmith Charles Lancaster in 1852.
Clarification,
design details
The development of the idea was embodied by Birmingham resident Henry Jones, who in 1859 patented a double screw fastening on barrel hooks. It was this type of locking that later began to be used by the Lancaster company and became most widespread on guns and fittings of large calibers of European gunsmiths, which do not require fast reloading, but have powerful recoil and heavy weight, which requires the use of a durable block (receiver) and a strong attraction of the barrel to it . The Jones bolt was also used in hammerless horizontal guns and fittings (Alport system).
Master F. Reuss's urn has a Damascus barrel, which, together with the absence of any marks other than the name of the author and place of production (Ferd.Reuss a Vienne) and design features, allows us to indicate the upper limit of dating the manufacture to approximately the 80s 19 century. The inscription on the barrel is made in French, although the master, judging by the name, was clearly not French.
Specifier,
muzzle of the barrel and stamping of the barrel
The gun has a reverse lock (in the neck). The lock mechanism is made very carefully. The lock is also carefully ground into the gun block and cut into the wood of the butt. It should be noted that the back part of the key board is not attached with a traditional screw, but goes deep into the wood with a special hook. When inserting a lock into its socket, you must first insert the hook of the lock board into its groove. The lock is secured with one screw, the head of which fits into a neat round cylinder on the left side of the butt.
Checker,
lock and trigger
To disassemble the gun, it is enough to separate the forend, move the jam lever to the right, break it and remove the barrel. It should be noted that the under-barrel hooks do not give the impression of being particularly massive. The distance between the extreme surfaces is 56 mm, with a hook thickness of 11 mm. The 8-sided gun barrel does not have a flat “cushion” at the bottom, in the breech, so its lower part is placed in the corresponding recess in the gun block.
The force applied when turning the bolt lever is not much different from the force on the top key of the classic Westley Richards system. Lever length is 110 mm. When the barrel is lowered down, a powerful extractor extends, having 3 axes and covering more than a quarter of the outskirts of the cartridge case. After inserting a cartridge into the chamber and closing the gun, automatic locking does not occur - you must turn the bolt lever under the trigger guard. The T-shaped screw cylinder will then fit into the reciprocal grooves of the under-barrel hooks and reliably pull the breech of the barrel to the gun block. Then you just need to cock the trigger.
The trigger has a safety cock, cocks very softly and has a comfortable spoke shape. The firing pin is spring-loaded, its reach is 3.6 mm, with a firing pin thickness of 2.8 mm. The striker strikes the primer from above and from the side. The trigger hammer has a rounded shape. The head of the firing pin, which receives the blow of the trigger, has the same shape. This solution is due to the design features of the gun and is very reliable in operation.
Clarification,
the trigger is cocked
The gun is decorated with discreet but beautiful engraving. The quality of the gun's workmanship and finish suggest that this gun was of an above average category.
We hold it in our hands
First impression
The opinion about the gun is rather ambiguous - it is too light, for such and such a caliber. Nevertheless, the gun fits perfectly into the shoulder, is well balanced and is not at all burdensome to manipulate. Moreover, this was noted by several people with considerable hunting experience. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to shoot the gun.
The weight of the gun was just over 4300 g, the total length was 1267 mm. The distance from the butt plate to the “tulip” of the fore-end is 745 mm, from the trigger to the heel of the butt – 365 mm. The stock itself is quite massive, which is not surprising given the recoil energy of the gun. The wood of the stock is high-quality impregnated walnut. The rather fine notch has a pitch of 6.5 rows per 1 cm, is made with high quality and contributes well to holding the gun tightly.
Clarifier,
shutter lever
The handguard of the gun has a classic design with a spring latch in the middle part. The length of the forend is 260 mm, with a width at the block of 39.5 mm and 32.3 mm at its end part. The forend has a comfortable notch and is comfortable when holding the gun.
The height of the horn butt plate is 132 mm, width is 45 mm. The butt plate is attached to the end of the butt with two screws. The stock neck circumference is about 140 mm. On the right side, the neck has a pronounced thickening under the palm, which is quite convenient when holding the gun. The vertical loss of the butt at the ridge is 35 mm, at the heel - 58 mm. The pitch value is about 65 mm, the side retraction of the stock is only a few millimeters. The center of gravity of the gun is located 11 mm in front of the trigger guard or 14.5 mm in front of the trigger.
Clarifier,
butt plate and semi-pistol grip butt
The massive trunk is 845 mm long. Chamber length – 65 mm. The outer diameter of the barrel at the breech is 40 mm, at the muzzle - 25.9 mm, at the point where the faceted part of the barrel transitions into the round part - 30.4 mm. The thickness of the barrel walls in the barrel is 1.95 mm, in the treasury - 8 mm (on the edges) and 5.7 mm (on the cutting planes). The internal diameter of the chamber is 26.6 mm (which corresponds to the English measure of the 4th caliber), the diameter of the barrel at the muzzle is 21.45 mm. The presence of a choke is not noted. The upper breech of the barrel has a rather massive protrusion, which when closed fits into the cutout of the gun block.
The height of the gun block is 61.7 mm, the height of the shield is 40.5 mm. The maximum pad thickness is 43 mm. The hammer cocking force is about 6 kg, the amplitude of the hammer hammer is 22 mm. The trigger force is about 3.5 kg. The trigger is spring-loaded, the total amplitude of the trigger is 5 mm. The nature of the descent is soft, short, with a slight pull and without warning. After 1.5-2 mm of idle speed there follows a smooth increase in force with a predictable, clearly defined trigger pull.
The gun has a classic screw swivel on the butt. The front swivel soldered to the barrel is missing. Aiming a gun is quite comfortable. The upper edge of the rear part of the barrel allows it to be used as an ersatz sighting rib. For more accurate aiming, a small steel front sight is used, soldered into the muzzle of the barrel.
Conclusion
The 4th caliber and significant weight of the gun described above is more suitable for hunting from ambush and shooting from a rest, because for running hunting a gun of a maximum of 8th caliber with a weight of no more than 4 kg is more suitable, and then only for a strong and hardy hunter. The presence of swivels on the gun, excellent ergonomics and a relatively short barrel, however, raise doubts about this. Standard 4-caliber “refiners” weighed from 6.8 to 8.2 kg, with a barrel length of 105 cm, which greatly exceeds the performance of our gun.
It is possible that this model was created as a kind of intermediate version of a gun for hunting waterfowl at distances only slightly exceeding the standard ones. Perhaps the barrel of the gun was shortened subsequently, which is rather doubtful, but cannot be excluded. This is confirmed by the absence of a choke. Barrels, with black powder, were made up to 45 calibers in length. With the introduction of smokeless powders, barrels began to be made no more than 40 calibers long and only sometimes a little shorter.
In our case, we have a barrel length of only 32 calibers. It is difficult to imagine what the recoil of this gun should be. It is also surprising that there is some kind of shock absorber on the back of the butt. But by all indications, the gun had been fired a lot, so the owner of this gun wasn’t particularly worried about recoil. The conclusion may be something like this: we have a somewhat unusual sample. Which, however, does not in any way reduce its historical and cultural value.
Clarification,
removed shutter lever
Shotguns with a lower swing arm, based on Lancaster or Jones screw locking, were also produced in Russia. Tula weapons 10th and 8th caliber. The Izhevsk plant also produced single-barrel “refiners” with a Jones bolt. Before the First World War, artisan gunsmiths produced both breech-loading and cheap percussion cap guns for duck and goose hunting.
Izhevsk manufacturer Ivan Fedorovich Petrov at the end of the 19th century. produced ramrod “cleaners” of 4,6,8 and 10 calibers, weighing from 4.5 to 6 kg and costing from 30 to 60 rubles. Evdokimov Andrian Nikanorovich, another famous Izhevsk manufacturer, also in the 1880s. produced capsule “clarifiers”. In the late 40s of the 19th century, the court gunsmith Bertrand produced double-barreled boat guns.
In the 1880s, the famous N.F. Gonno produced single copies of the 8-gauge “specifier.” Gonno's successor, Vasily Vasilyevich Lejeune, also in small quantities in the late 1880s. produced capsule “clarifiers” costing about 60 rubles. The availability of “specifiers” for sale for 75 rubles in 1885 was noted in the store of the Saratov gunsmith I.M. Onosorge, although there are certain doubts about the domestic production of these guns.
At the end of the 19th century in Russia there were several hundred artisans and a dozen serious private factories, not counting state-owned arms factories. Although, due to constant rearmament, state-owned factories produced very few hunting weapons. Therefore, the bulk of weapons for hunters, including “refiners,” were produced by private factories and artisans. It should be noted that only relatively large factories and famous craftsmen undertook the production of such specific weapons as the “refiner”.
Very interesting, from a constructive point of view, are the “refiners” made on the basis of the bolt group of the famous Berdan-2 rifle. The author did not find any data on the caliber of such “clarifications,” but based on the design features of the “Berdanka,” it can be assumed that these guns are unlikely to have had a caliber larger than 12. Moreover, “Berdan clarifiers” were mentioned in the price lists of hunting stores already before the First World War.
So, most likely, such “clarifications” had a newly manufactured long barrel with a 12-gauge choke and (mandatory!) design changes in the gun’s bolt, preventing it from opening when the trigger was pulled. The cost of the "refined" ones based on Berdan-2 was 2-3 times more expensive than the usual bored "Berdan" ones. Such a difference in price usually indicates a new barrel and serious design and ergonomic improvements.
Today, specialized 10-gauge “goose guns” are produced only abroad. In Russia, 10-gauge shotguns produced by TsKIB were produced in extremely small quantities and are little known to hunters. Therefore, in our country, for hunting waterfowl, domestic 12-gauge semi-automatic rifles (MP-153), with an under-barrel magazine, chambers of 76 and 89 mm and the possibility of using barrel extensions and replaceable chokes, have recently become widespread. With the use of a barrel extension, the Vyatsko-Polyansky “Bekas” has proven itself to be excellent, including with a 70-mm chamber.
In general, as practice shows, for successful amateur hunting of ducks and geese, an ordinary 16- or 12-gauge double-barreled shotgun is sufficient for an experienced hunter, although, of course, a 5-round semi-automatic is preferable in this case. Considering the sharp decline in the number of game birds and the noted increase in the latter’s caution, only hunting experience, combined with good knowledge of the area, competent camouflage and adequate shooting training, can serve as a guarantee of a successful hunt.
Russian version of the clarification
The article was published in the magazine "Hunting"
Are cartridges of the same caliber different?
Yes, they are different, and that’s the point. The caliber usually only tells you about the bullet , but does not contain information about the case . Cartridges of the same diameter (caliber) may have bullets of the same diameter, but different cartridge cases, powder loads and power.
To avoid confusion in the supply of ammunition, cartridges are called differently. As a rule, different digital designations are used for cartridges with the same bullet diameter: .40 and .41. The third digit after the decimal point has no meaning in indicating the diameter of the bullet. Therefore, .223 and .225 cartridges have different designations only because of the cartridge cases.
Sometimes the bullet diameter and case height are indicated: 9x17, 9x18, 9x19, 9x21, 9x22, 9x23. The 9 mm caliber is very common, so much so that there are few cartridges with a case height of 18 mm. To avoid confusion, they are called differently: 9x18 Mak and 9x18 Ultra.
Example: 9x18 Mak - this is the name used to sell the cartridge for the Makarov pistol in the USA. The same cartridge can have several names. For example, 9 mm PM and 9x18Mak are the same cartridge. Example: “9 mm Steyr”, aka 9×23, aka “9 mm Largo” (9mm Largo), aka “9 mm Bergman / Bayard” and they also call it simply: “9 mm Big”, but this this is just a translation of “Largo” from Spanish. Likewise in other cases.
The same intermediate cartridge of the 1943 model
Sixteen gauge
Easier to handle - 16 gauge. This type of ammunition became most widespread in Soviet times due to the mass production of Tula arms factories. Now Russian manufacturers practically do not produce guns of this caliber. Hunting rifles are made in Italy and France. The weapon is lighter than the twelfth, but more powerful and cheaper than the twentieth. Very often, weapon models of this caliber have a pump-action design without a stock. 1st gauge is popular among security personnel, although some hunters call it “dying.”
What comes first - the weapon or the cartridge?
As a rule, when assessing the effectiveness of a particular type of small arms, we talk about weapons. The cartridges are perceived as something like “batteries” - the weapon does not fire without them, but, by and large, they do not affect anything (well, unless they differ in type: explosive, armor-piercing, etc.). However, this is completely the wrong approach!
Ammo feed, rate of fire, stability - all this really concerns the weapon itself. But the initial speed of the bullet, its mass, armor penetration, stopping effect - this already depends on the cartridge.
The cartridge is the base! Tell me what cartridge and I will tell you most of the other characteristics of the weapon. There is nothing mystical here - the weapon is made for a cartridge, not cartridges for a weapon . If the designer provides for the acceleration of a bullet over a barrel length of approximately 70 calibers, then this is a rifle cartridge. 40-50 - transitional cartridge for carbines, etc. In other words, it is the cartridge that determines what the weapon will be: a pistol, rifle or carbine. Accordingly, the adoption of a new cartridge by a state shapes the military-production policy of this state for many years to come.
For example, the 7.62x39-mm cartridge of the 1943 model was put into service back in 1949, and is still used not only in such well-deserved models as the SKS or AK, but also in the relatively recent AK-103 and AK-104, or Saiga and Vepr carbines. In fact, the characteristics of all these small arms (and all others designed for this cartridge, even those that may yet appear in the future!) were predetermined back in 1949.
Caliber .308
Caliber .308 is an analogue of the Soviet cartridge 7.62x51. There is a legend that the .308 caliber first appeared in Russia thanks to the President of the United States, when he gave a Winchester carbine to Leonid Brezhnev, who was very fond of hunting and immediately went to it. There, Leonid Ilyich liked the gun so much that he ordered the production of this cartridge, as well as weapons for it.
Of the advantages of the .308 Win cartridge. Most hunters note that this ammunition of foreign origin is very versatile. The bullet hits both small-sized game (squirrel, fox and others) and larger ones (deer and wild boar). This cartridge is not suitable for large animals, because the animal does not die instantly, and severe wounding will only make it angry. It is likely that the game may simply attack.
Subsequently, after several years of practical comparisons of manufactured weapons, the Soviet Union released the Los-7 rifle, which had a .308 caliber barrel length of 625 millimeters. This weapon fully satisfied the needs of both domestic and foreign hunters.
Large-caliber weapons
Thunder 50 BMG pistol
This weapon is manufactured by an American company. Having set out on a unique idea to create a large-caliber pistol, the developers decided not to use pistol-caliber bullets. The first experiments were carried out with standard cartridges intended for a large-caliber sniper rifle.
The caliber of the pistol is 12.7x99 mm, first introduced in 2004. This pistol model is single-shot. The main design feature is the presence of a muzzle brake and a hydraulic system that is quite rare for this type of firearm.
It is responsible for the recoil of the barrel, due to which recoil during shooting is 20% less. The overall kinetic energy of the bullet is at the level of 15,500 J. The main disadvantage of this weapon model is the formation of flames emitted through the gaps of the compensator.
Sniper rifle Truvelo SR
On the world market you can now find a large number of rifles with large calibers. Not many people can boast of the same impressive bullet sizes as a 20*110 mm rifle.
The projectile was created by the Spaniards and at first it was intended for small anti-aircraft installations. African developers, assessing the impressive potential of the bullet, created a long-range sniper rifle for it.
The maximum firing range is 2 km, the rifle is capable of penetrating anything within this radius, including disabling an armored personnel carrier and other lightly armored vehicles.
Istiglal rifle
The main purpose of this weapon is to combat enemy equipment at medium and long distances. For this purpose, the rifle is equipped with fairly strong large-caliber 14.5 mm ammunition. As a rule, such a rifle destroys armored personnel carriers, aircraft, communication devices and other technical equipment.
Mortar
This is an experimental development of American scientists from the end of World War II. Today it is the largest cartridge in the world, 914 mm. With confidence, we can say that almost any even the most fortified target will be destroyed. But during the tests it became clear that the gun had insufficient range and accuracy for its use.
Shotguns "KS-23" and "Selezen"
In the 90s of the last century, the Klimov Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering, together with some other Russian factories and design bureaus, developed a number of experimental weapons for special police units. The basis of the development was the KS-23 rifled pump-action shotgun (special carbine) and its shortened version KS-23M “Drozd”. A wide range of cartridges were designed for this weapon for a variety of tasks - knocking down doors, causing non-lethal injuries with rubber bullets and buckshot, throwing gas and stun grenades, throwing a grappling hook and much more. KS-23, of course, was not put on public sale. But in parallel, a civilian version of this gun was developed, almost identical to the pump-action design, but no longer with a rifled barrel, but with a smooth 4-caliber barrel, intended for hunting. It had the self-explanatory name “Drake”, partly continuing the tradition of ancient “duck guns”, and from approximately 1996 to 1998 it was produced at the Tula Arms Plant under the symbol TOZ-123. It was sold in hunting stores to everyone under a standard license for smoothbore weapons. The pump-action shotgun, reloadable with a fore-end, had a tubular under-barrel magazine with three cartridges, a barrel length of 700 mm and a weight of about 4.5 kg.
© wikipedia.com
A heavy, powerful gun with a powerful and painful recoil was of little use for hunting in its modern sense, and the era of “finder” guns, which rested on the ground to shoot a landing flock of birds with a glass of shot, alas, is long gone. Therefore, a rationally thinking hunter did not see the point in such a “mortar”. It was purchased either by keen-eyed hunters, or simply by lovers of interesting and unusual weapons, of which, in general, there were not so many visitors to gun stores in the troubled 90s... As a result, the demand for exotic guns turned out to be low - and production was quickly curtailed. The exact number of guns produced, alas, is unknown, but, as TsNIITochmash explained to us, the total number of Drakes produced did not exceed a couple of hundred pieces.
Today, the gun, due to its unusual nature and small circulation, is of slightly greater interest to gun enthusiasts and collectors than in the mid-90s. And there is a small but persistent demand for used Drakes, sold by individuals or the consignment departments of gun stores.
Moreover, the sale or purchase of this colossal pump is not difficult at all - the gun will be registered with the licensing and permitting departments of the Russian Guard without any obstacles, and the owner will be able to do the same with this wonder as with any other gun - hunt, practice shooting or use for self-defense.
