Review of varieties of Irbis gunpowder with weight tables

Gunpowder "Falcon"

“Falcon” gunpowder is weighed on the scales with an accuracy not exceeding 0.05 g, preferably downward from the set charge, i.e. if the gunpowder charge is set to 2.2 g, then the weight should be in the range of 2.15–2, 2 g, not 2.2–2.25 g
This is especially important with the maximum permissible weights

For shooting shot and buckshot at an air temperature of plus 20 ° C and using felt wads, the following powder weights are used: in 12 gauge 2.1–2.2 g (shot mass 32–35 g); in 16 gauge 1.8–2 g (shot weight 27–30 g); in 20 gauge 1.5–1.7 g (shot weight 24–26 g); in 28 caliber 1.3 g (shot mass 19–23 g) and in 32 caliber 0.95 g (shot mass 14–22 g).

In heavy guns, more powerful charges are used for each caliber, while in light guns, minimal charges are used. If wood-fiber wads are used when loading cartridges, then the powder weight should be increased by 0.1 g, and if polyethylene with or without a concentrator, then reduced by 0.2 g compared to the recommendations for felt wads.

When shooting at a temperature of minus 20°C, you should shoot cartridges equipped with felt wads, and the weight of Sokol gunpowder should be increased by 0.1 g compared to the charge weight used at a temperature of plus 20°C for the same felt wads.

If it is necessary to reduce the mass of gunpowder and shot in 12-gauge cartridges for shooting small fur-bearing animals, then zeroing the weapon should begin with a weighing of “Falcon” gunpowder of 1.1-1.2 g and a shot weight of 15-16 g. It should be taken into account that The rolling of the sleeve must be made very strong, which can be achieved by increasing its depth with the simultaneous use of glue (type BF). In this case, use only the “Zhevelo-powerful” capsule, since it promotes faster combustion of gunpowder. It is possible to use rubber or cork to make wads used in cartridges with half-charges.

When firing bullets, the amount of Sokol gunpowder should be increased by 0.1 g.

Hunting powder

Gunpowder is a propellant explosive substance used to impart motion to a projectile. Gunpowder differs from other explosives in that it burns in layers and has less brisance (the ability to explode). It is these properties that make it possible to use it in firearms. Hunting powders are divided into two types:

1. smoky or black (saltpeter-sulphurous mechanical mixture)
2. smokeless (colloidal systems)

Black powders were produced in two grades: highest and first. Both types, depending on the grain size, are divided into three numbers: No. 2 - medium, No. 3 - fine, No. 4 - the smallest. The strength of gunpowder increases with increasing number. Smokey powders develop lower pressures and initial projectile speeds, and form more soot on barrels than smokeless ones. After the shot, a cloud of smoke is formed which prevents the hunter from assessing the result of the first shot and complicates the second shot. Smoke powder, when wet, loses its properties and does not restore them after drying. The advantages of black powder include a long shelf life; in dark and airtight packaging it can be stored indefinitely. Black powder does not require powerful primers because it is easily ignited, and it is also little affected by fluctuations in external temperature.

Among smokeless powders, the most common is Sokol.

, although it is now being replaced by the relatively new gunpowder
“Sunar”

“Bars”
and
are also available on sale .
Smokeless powders, as the name implies, do not produce smoke, and in addition have a higher operating pressure and initial projectile velocity. Smokeless powder is very sensitive to the way the cartridges are loaded and the quality of the remaining ammunition (mainly wads). It requires a more powerful primer igniter. When loading cartridges, smokeless powder must be compacted with a force of 8-10 kg. To do this, I add a thin powder gasket into the cartridge case with a dose of gunpowder, but do not lift your elbows off the table. With this method, the required pressure will be achieved. Smokeless powder cannot be used in old guns unless they are specially marked. The shelf life of smokeless powder is 5 years, but in opaque bottles filled with sealing wax it can be stored for up to 20 years. A coating appears on spoiled gunpowder, it ceases to be shiny and at the same time a characteristic sourish odor appears.

"S o k o l"

Until recently, the most common hunting powder. Its grains are plates with gelatinized or graphitized surfaces measuring 1.28-1.7 mm on the sides and 0.13 mm thick. “Falcon” is distinguished by good quality and enviable consistency (unlike the leopard), “Falcon” samples can be measured in volumetric measurements. The average weight for 12 gauge is 2.3 grams.

"B a r s"

Spherical smokeless powder, it has a lower operating pressure. Leopard has a density of 1.7-1.8 more than that of “falcon”; moreover, the strength of gunpowder varies significantly in different batches. From all that has been said, it follows that when loading cartridges with Bars gunpowder, you must carefully study the label and not use the volumetric method of measuring the gunpowder charge.

"Sunar"

Gunpowder with a cylindrical single-channel grain shape. “Sunar” was conceived as a gunpowder similar in ballistic properties to “Falcon”; at the same time, it was supposed to provide a more comfortable shot for the hunter by reducing recoil and sound intensity. The weight of Sunar gunpowder is 10% less than that of Sokol, while the initial velocity of the projectile is slightly higher. The average weight for 12 gauge is 2.3 grams.

"V U D S"

Pyroxylin sporting powder is a single-channel cylindrical grain with a glossy surface. This gunpowder develops increased pressure in the chamber of the weapon and therefore is used mainly in sporting smoothbore weapons.

Compiled by Alex Kudriashov

HUNTING AMMUNITION

(directory)

1.2. Gunpowder

Gunpowder is a substance that accumulates a large amount of energy and releases it when ignited to fire a shot. It is a source of thermal energy and gas formation due to an increase in gas pressure in the barrel bore. Under the influence of this pressure, the projectile is pushed out at a certain speed.

It is known that the smooth-bore hunting weapons currently being manufactured are designed to fire cartridges with an operational (average maximum) pressure of powder gases when fired not exceeding 663 kgf/cm2 for the 12th gauge, 694kgf/cm2 for the 16th, 734 who/ cm2 - for 20, 28 and 32 calibers. For sporting (bench) shotguns, these figures are higher - 750-800 kgf/cm2, and for magnum-type shotguns even higher - 900-1000 kgf/cm2. Different gunpowders produce different gas pressures, which must be taken into account when equipping cartridges new to the hunter at home , previously unknown to him gunpowder. For example, if you load a smoothbore gun with an equal amount of smokeless gunpowder intended for rifled weapons, then the shot will not fire, there will be a weak flash, and if the gunpowder does burn, the barrel will rupture. But if, on the contrary, you use the same amount of gunpowder intended for a smooth-bore gun in a rifled weapon, then the barrel will rupture with all the ensuing consequences.

Table 1.

According to the manufacturing method and physicochemical properties, modern hunting powders can be classified as follows: mechanical mixtures (black powder) and colloidal compositions (smokeless pyroxylin and nitroglycerin powders).

The burning rate of different powders is presented in Table 1

.

The fastest-burning is black powder, the slowest-burning is rifle gunpowder; They are not suitable for shotgun shooting. Rifle powder works well in a rifle, where a solid bullet offers significant resistance to the powder charge, and the gases give the bullet good speed at enormous pressures, reaching 3000 atmospheres or more.

In contrast to military rifle powder, military blank powder, used for dry firing of rifles, machine guns and cannons and designed for incomparably less resistance, turns out to be a good powder for shotguns. Blank powder burns well and pollutes the barrel little, but it requires a strong Zhevelo-type primer. Military blank powder works just as well in shotguns as Sokol, but it is somewhat weaker than the latter, so you need to take 20-25% more blank powder per charge (by weight) than Sokol powder. Blank powder should be sifted, discarding the finest grains and dust. A major disadvantage of X powder is the sharp difference in ballistic data between different batches.

Smokeless powder can be used to load both folder and metal cases. You just need to take into account the fact that a metal casing requires a separate zeroing of the gun (most often, a slightly larger charge of gunpowder is required than in a folder casing, because the metal casing does not twist).

In everyday life, gunpowder is divided into smoky and smokeless. Recreational hunters generally prefer smokeless powder.

1.2.1. Black powder

Black powder is a mixture of the following elements: 75% potassium nitrate, 15% coal and 10% sulfur, has the appearance of black or slightly brownish grains with a shiny surface, which is why it is also called “black”. The most commonly used gunpowder brands are “Bear”, “Deer”, and “Ordinary”. Black hunting powder is produced in two grades: highest (selected) and first (ordinary). Depending on the size of the grain, each grade can be of four numbers: No. 1 - large (0.80-1.25 mm); No. 2 - medium (0.60-0.75 mm); No. 3 - small (0.40-0.55 mm); No. 4 is the smallest (0.20-0.35 mm). The average pressure of powder gases in the chamber when using black powder is no more than 500 kgf/cm2, the maximum is no more than 600 kgf/cm2.

Good gunpowder is uniform in color, has the same grain size with a well-polished shiny surface, there is no powder dust on it, and white spots of saltpeter and yellow spots of sulfur are invisible on the grains.

Black powder is distinguished by its ability not to lose its ballistic qualities during long-term storage; If you isolate it from moisture (keep it in a sealed container), it will last for tens and hundreds of years. Black powder ignites easily with a relatively weak primer, has a relatively weak response to changes in charge density, and is less sensitive to the quality of powder and shot wads and spacers. It is little susceptible to fluctuations in external temperature (frost-heat); has a slight effect on the metal of the barrels with gases; safe for medium-strength guns, even if a one-and-a-half or double charge is placed in the cartridge, provided there is no powder dust; and finally, it costs less than smokeless powder.

Table 2.

Along with this, black powder is not without negative qualities: when handling it, special care should always be taken, since it is the most sensitive explosive to fire; when moistened by only 7%, it loses its ability to ignite, and after drying it turns out to be unsuitable for use. -for leaching of nitrate, which supports combustion in a closed cartridge. When fired, it releases relatively little heat (700-770 kcal/kg), develops a low combustion temperature (2200-2300 ° C) and produces few gases during the explosion (260-280 l/kg), which is clearly not enough to impart an initial velocity to the projectile the muzzle cut of the barrel is 350 m/s and the projectile flight speed when meeting the target is 190-200 m/s, which are necessary for reliably hitting game within the average hunting distance (30-40 m) and produces a lot of wounded animals. In addition, black powder produces a loud firing sound and strong recoil; strong carbon deposits formed on the walls of the barrel significantly worsen the combat of the gun; solid residues, constituting 56-58% of the charge by weight, form a thick cloud of bluish-white smoke, which does not allow, especially in damp, quiet weather, in bushes and reeds, to immediately see the result of the shot and make a second shot if necessary, which is especially unsafe when shooting at a large animal. The latter disadvantages preclude the use of black powder for repeating and automatic rifles, especially since when loading folder casings you have to fill in so much of it that there is no room left for wads, spacers and a projectile.

1.2.2. Smokeless powder

Smokeless gunpowders are included in the group of colloidal gunpowders, among which there are gunpowders with a volatile solvent - pyroxylin and gunpowders with a non-volatile solvent - nitroglycerin.

Pyroxylin powder is obtained by treating pyroxylin (nitrocellulose) with volatile solvents, for example a mixture of alcohol and ether. Nitroglycerin powder is obtained by converting pyroxylin into a colloidal mass by treating it with a low-volatile solvent - nitroglycerin.

Smokeless pyroxylin powders are gunpowder brands “Falcon”, “Pheasant”, “Berkut”, “Sunar”, “VUSD”, etc. Nitroglycerin hunting powders include “Cordite”, “Bars” and “Ballistit”. According to the color of the grains, smokeless gunpowder can be yellow, light green and even dark brown, but it is important that their surface is smooth, without cracks or burrs, they must be durable and have a horn-like structure.

In terms of their physicochemical and ballistic characteristics, smoky and smokeless powders differ significantly from each other and have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Smokeless powders are more advanced than smoky ones. They are distinguished by higher physicochemical characteristics: the amount of heat generated by pyroxylin powder is 800-900, nitroglycerin - 1100-1200 kcal/kg; combustion temperatures are respectively 2230-2500 and 2700-3200°C. When burned, one kilogram of pyroxylin gunpowder releases 765 liters of gas, and nitroglycerin gunpowder - 715 liters of gas.

Thus, smokeless powders are about three times stronger than smokeless ones; in the absence of pressure they do not ignite or burn at all; at atmospheric pressure in the open air they are capable of igniting from a flame source, but burn at a very low speed (about 0.2-0.4 cm/s). When shooting with smokeless powder, the sound of the shot is weaker and the recoil is less, which has a positive effect on the shooter’s nervous system, and, consequently, on shooting accuracy. When fired, it produces almost no smoke (the smoke is greenish-yellow in color) and thus gives a good overview of the game; It pollutes the barrel bore less and, as a result, improves the quality and uniformity of the gun’s firing with a large number of shots. The use of smokeless powders makes it possible to obtain high initial projectile flight speeds with charges that are 2.5-3 times lighter in weight and thereby eliminate wounded animals; the charge and the entire cartridge become lighter in weight and, with the largest charges, makes it possible to use fairly thick powder wads and gaskets that improve the ballistics of the gun. If smokeless powder gets wet, then after careful drying at a temperature not exceeding 35 ° C, it completely restores its good qualities.

The disadvantages of smokeless powders are their greater sensitivity to the method of loading the cartridge and the quality of other ammunition; the need to accurately measure the amount of gunpowder that does not allow a dangerous pressure limit and the threat of rupture of the gun. The latter excludes the possibility of using smokeless powder in old weapons that have not been tested for it, in weak and used guns. The ignition temperature of smokeless powders is 180-200 (C), so they require a more powerful and more expensive Zhevelo capsule. In addition, nitroglycerin powders (Cordite, Ballistite) produce a very high temperature during the explosion, which leads to rapid wear of barrels. With sharp temperature fluctuations, nitroglycerin may sweat out of the powder mass and reduce its quality. These disadvantages of nitroglycerin powder forced skeet shooters to abandon its use.

1.2.2.1. Gunpowder "Falcon"

Sokol smokeless powder grains are rectangular plates with gelatinized and graphitized surfaces. Dimensions of the plates: length of the ribs - within 1.28-1.7 mm, average thickness - 0.13 mm.

Available in two grades - highest and first. Manufactured using labor-intensive roller technology. With good ballistic characteristics (Table 3), Sokol gunpowder, like Bars gunpowder, produces a strong flame, a loud shot sound and has a high muzzle pressure, which causes both strong recoil when fired and fatigue of the shooter. Sokol gunpowder is considered unacceptable for gas-operated self-loading shotguns with a fixed barrel due to sparking from the ejection of unburned powder particles from the cartridge case window of the receiver. A positive point is the low accuracy of the weight - 0.05 g (preferably downwards), which allows the use of dispensers and measures, as well as the possibility of use in smooth-bore guns of all calibers. For complete combustion, it is recommended to use a “Zhevelo-Powerful” primer and increase the rolling of the shot cartridge.

1.2.2.2. Gunpowder "Bars"

Ballistic spherical powder "Bars" is an ellipsoidal-spheroidal grain with an average grain size of 0.45 mm. It is manufactured using emulsion mechanized technology with a cycle 3-4 times shorter than that of Sokol gunpowder. Its only advantage over Sokol gunpowder is its price and ease of manufacture. But there are many more shortcomings. The deviation from the weight of gunpowder into the cartridge case should not exceed 0.03 g, which requires accurate weighing. In addition, “Bars” with the same weight has almost half the volume, so you should not use a measuring stick or dispenser due to possible significant errors. According to technological conditions, Bars gunpowder should be used only for guns of 12, 16 and 20 calibers. In smaller caliber shotguns, chamber rupture is possible.

1.2.2.2. Gunpowder "Sunar"

Pyroxylin flameless powder with a cylindrical single-channel grain shape and a porous structure. The positive qualities of Sunar gunpowder are that they allow, with a smaller charge mass (by about 15%), this gunpowder to provide the same ballistic characteristics as for Sokol gunpowder, and in the future they make it possible (with the improvement of new gunpowder) increase shotgun velocity while maintaining maximum pressure levels. Sunar gunpowder allows you to make a more comfortable shot, since its muzzle pressure is slightly lower than that of Sokol. The creators call it flameless gunpowder. Hunting powder "Sunar" without letter additions to the name is intended for equipping hunting shotgun cartridges of 12, 16 and 20 calibers. There is no data on the use of this powder in small caliber guns. Gunpowder "Sunar" must be weighed with an accuracy of 0.05 g. Recently, modifications of gunpowder "Sunar" have appeared: "Sunar-SF" (spherical gunpowder), "Sunar-N" (spheroidal-ellipsoidal), which can be used in hunting rifles . Gunpowder brand "Sunar-S" is intended for equipping bench cartridges, when used, the pressure reaches 800 kgf/cm2. This type of powder should be handled with extreme care, following the directions on the label and weighing out both the powder and the shot rather than using a measuring stick.

1.2.2.4. Gunpowder "VUSD"

A sporting, highly porous pyroxylin grained powder, the most powerful of those used in factory-made cartridges. Recommended for use in 12 and 16 gauge cartridges. It was developed for the Olympics-80. It is a cylindrical grain with a glossy surface reminiscent of metal filings. When fired, the VUSD develops a pressure of 700-800 kf/cm2, at low muzzle pressure - only 25-35 kgf/cm2. Since this is half that of the Falcon, the recoil when fired with VUSD gunpowder is also half as much. VUSD gunpowder must be weighed on scales with an accuracy of 0.01 g in the direction of underestimation. The use of volumetric measurements is unacceptable. For small shot weighing 32 g in 12-gauge cartridges, 1.6 g of gunpowder is sufficient. A feature of gunpowder is its low recoil when fired.

1.2.3. Gunpowder storage

Smokeless gunpowder should be stored in a dry room, where there are no sharp temperature fluctuations (frost, heat), which leads to worse combustion and spoilage. It is better to keep gunpowder in a sealed metal container or in dark-colored bottles, since pyroxylin decomposes in the light.

If black powder, when properly stored, can be stored for an extremely long time, then smokeless powder can last no more than 20 years. The loss of smoothness and shine of the grains, their elasticity (they become brittle), and most importantly, a change in smell (the gunpowder acquires a sour smell instead of the usual one, reminiscent of ether) indicates deterioration of the gunpowder and it is not used because it has become explosive, or, conversely, less powerful.

You can check the quality of smokeless powder that has expired in the following simple way: take a sheet of any paper measuring approximately 100x30 mm; stepping back from the narrow edge of the sheet by 20-30 mm, draw the first transverse line, then, parallel to it, exactly 50 mm later, draw the second transverse line; after this, bend the sheet in half along its long side; then weigh out 0.25 g of the gunpowder being tested and pour it into the fold of the sheet as evenly as possible in a 50 mm long path between two lines; a sheet of gunpowder is placed on some non-flammable object so that one edge of the paper protrudes beyond it; take a stopwatch and set fire to the protruding edge of the sheet. As soon as the fire reaches the gunpowder and it ignites, start the stopwatch. The stopwatch is turned off the moment the fire reaches the second line. If the control time of burning of gunpowder from the first to the second control line according to the stopwatch is 2 (0.2 s), then the gunpowder can be used. If the burning time is 0.4-0.6 s longer, then the gunpowder is good, but weakened, and you need to increase the weight of the charge by 0.1 g. In the case when gunpowder burns for only 1.6-1.7 seconds, it has become explosive and should be destroyed.

Smokeless powder should never be stored together with smoke and primers; from the explosion of black powder, smokeless powder also explodes if it is nearby, and although its combustion in the open air occurs more slowly than black powder, this also causes fires and burns. When using smokeless powders, the instructions supplied with the powder should be followed; You should not use unknown gunpowder, devoid of packaging, without indicating the date of manufacture and method of use.

1.2.4. Properties of gunpowder

It is known that gunpowder burns only from the surface in parallel layers, maintaining its original shape and reducing its volume. Therefore, coarse-grained powders burn slower than fine ones; they are recommended for use in long-barreled guns, and fine-grained ones in guns with short barrels. Large powders give a less sharp impact of gas on the projectile and deform it less, reduce recoil, and therefore improve the weight of the charge in order to obtain the same initial velocity as with smaller powder. The larger the powder, the more weight you have to take per charge to get the same muzzle velocity as with smaller powder. For example, if in a 16-gauge gun a charge of small black powder weighs 3.7 g, then a medium one will weigh 3.9 g, and a large one will weigh 4.3 g.

The combustion rate is also greatly influenced by the temperature of the charge, which is usually equal to the ambient temperature. Therefore, with the same cartridge, the burning rate of gunpowder in winter and summer fluctuates within fairly wide limits, which must be taken into account when equipping cartridges for winter and summer hunting, increasing the charge of gunpowder with decreasing air temperature. So, for a 12 gauge, folder case and “Zhevelo” primer, with a projectile of 34-35g of “Pheasant” gunpowder, take: in the summer-autumn season (June-September) - 1.90-1.95g; autumn (October-November) - 2.15-2.20 g; winter (December-February) - 2.4-2.5g.

It is prohibited to shoot with smokeless powder from guns that do not have a special mark of testing for smokeless powder, as well as from old guns with damaged barrels.

Table 3.

V.N. Trofimov

Gunpowder Irbis Okhota 35, Irbis Okhota 35M

Irbis Okhota 35 and Irbis Okhota 35M gunpowder were specially created for game hunting. Each of them has its own characteristics and properties.

The difference between these powders is that they can be used not only for 12-gauge cartridges, but also for 16- and 20-gauge cartridges, that is, these powders are compatible with a much wider range of smoothbore gun models.

Gunpowder Irbis Okhota 35 and Irbis Okhota 35M can be used with cardboard, metal or plastic cartridges.

The manufacturer reports the following characteristics of gunpowder:

• possibility of use in a wide range of temperatures
• soft recoil when shooting
• minimal amount of smoke when burning
• high shot accuracy

Gunpowder weights Irbis Okhota 35, Irbis Okhota 35M

Irbis Hunting 35 gunpowder must be placed in the cartridge case in an amount of 1.55-1.9 g, while the mass of the shot should be 29-35 g.

Irbis Okhota 35M gunpowder is used for working in harsher climates. It contains substances that ensure faster combustion of gunpowder. For it, you need to reduce the mass of the charge by about 15%.

Reducing the charge also increases the powder's effectiveness when operating in wet conditions.

Gunpowder of this brand should be weighed when assembling cartridges with an accuracy of ±0.05 g.

Wads for cartridges can be used from wood fiber, felt, polyethylene. The method of rolling cartridges is “Star” or “Rolling”.

Characteristics of gunpowder

• combustion heat Q
  - the amount of heat released during complete combustion of 1 kilogram of gunpowder
• volume of gaseous products V
  released during the combustion of 1 kilogram of gunpowder (determined after bringing the gases to normal conditions)
• gas temperature T
  , determined during the combustion of gunpowder under conditions of constant volume and absence of heat losses
• powder density ρ
• gunpowder force f
  - the work that could be done by 1 kilogram of powder gases, expanding when heated by T degrees at normal atmospheric pressure

History of black powder

Berthold Schwarz, who legend credits with the invention of gunpowder in Europe around 1330

It is considered established that gunpowder was invented in China, where it was known in the form of a saltpeter-gray-coal mixture around the 10th century. The widely known work of F. Engels “Artillery”, written by him for the American New Encyclopedia, contained the following lines:

At first, black powder was used for entertainment purposes - making funny fires and something like rockets - and only later as a substance suitable for military purposes. Thus, in 1259, the Chinese described one of the first types of weapons that used gunpowder - the “spear of furious fire.” From the Arabs who lived in Spain, familiarity with the production and use of gunpowder during the 14th century spread throughout Europe. In Europe, according to legend, the German monk Berthold Schwartz is considered the inventor of gunpowder, but, obviously, gunpowder was known before him. Thus, the English philosopher and researcher Roger Bacon (c. - c.) wrote about the explosive composition of saltpeter-sulfur-coal known to him. For over five centuries, black powder was the only propellant and explosive in the world, widely used both in artillery and explosive shells, and in rockets.

Potassium nitrate is the main component of black powder

Charcoal is the second-largest component of black powder.

Sulfur is the third component of black powder

Initially, gunpowder was a mechanical mixture of saltpeter, coal and sulfur in the form of a very fine powder. Its combustion was poorly predictable, and fine powder was also unsafe, as it often led to damage or rupture of weapon barrels. Its power also left much to be desired. The issue of increasing the power of gunpowder was solved, apparently by accident, while solving another problem - reducing the hygroscopicity of this substance. Dust-like gunpowder, which existed in the 14th and 15th centuries, became wet very quickly due to the extreme hygroscopicity of saltpeter and the large area of ​​​​contact of powder particles with air. These problems were largely solved at the beginning of the 16th century, when gunpowder began to be made into granules. Saltpeter-gray-coal powder, mixed with water, was turned into a paste, which was then dried in the form of lumps and, as necessary, ground into grains. This not only increased the safety of the gunpowder, but also simplified the loading process. It also turned out that the granules explode almost twice as powerfully as pulverized gunpowder of the same mass. In addition, granular powder, unlike fine powder, did not require additional empty space in the breech of the barrel for effective ignition - the gaps between the granules were sufficient for this. As a result, the weapon's power was significantly increased. Subsequently, the granulation technique was improved; the powder mass was pressed at high pressure, and after grinding, the uneven pieces were polished, which made it possible to obtain hard, shiny granules.

The effect of gunpowder on weapons

Many hunters who have used Bars gunpowder for a long period of time have noted that this product negatively affects the condition of the chamber and barrel of the weapon (the chamber suffers especially badly, since this is where detonation occurs). And we are talking not only about pollution, but also about violating the integrity of the metal itself. This is explained by the following features:

1. Combustion temperature too high. This cannot but affect the properties of even the metal that has undergone cold forging. That is why this product should be used in shotguns with chrome-plated chambers.
2. Aggressive chemical environment. Nitroglycerin is much more dangerous than pyroxylin, because after its ignition, a caustic gas is formed, which negatively affects the quality of the barrel and chamber. Moreover, even the chrome coating suffers from this.
3. High pressure of powder gases. The chamber suffers especially badly from this, which often simply bursts after a shot. That is why it is undesirable to use cartridges loaded with Bars for shooting from old guns.

It is almost useless to combat the consequences of chemical and thermal effects on the chamber, and if you reduce the power of the shot, then the initial speed of the ballistic projectile will also decrease. It turns out that the only thing that can be done is to regularly care for the weapon, removing lead deposits that have formed in time, and also applying a fresh layer of oil. However, in this regard, you should not overdo it, since the use of a steel brush can lead to even greater damage to the barrel channel, and an excessive amount of oil will lead to the formation of smoke.

But is the devil as terrible as he is painted? No, if we are talking about modern smooth-bore guns, and not grandfather’s Berdankas. Imported weapons, whose chambers and barrel channels are often hardened in liquid nitrogen (-186 degrees), and also coated with a layer of chromium, will be especially well suited for firing cartridges with Bars gunpowder. Such barrels can even withstand supermagnum ammunition, so the impact of large amounts of powder energy is practically not dangerous for them.

But for what barrels it is not recommended to use “Barsa” are for self-loading carbines that operate on the principle of a gas engine. And the point is not even that the chemical environment and high temperature can affect the quality of the piston or completely deform the gas exhaust chamber. It’s just that the power of the shot may be so great that the piston will completely rip off the plug that is installed on the bolt. Although usually in the instructions for such weapons, the manufacturer makes it clear that the hunter should use only factory-made rifled cartridges.

Thus, Bars gunpowder can be quite a dangerous thing in the hands of an inept hunter. Unlike the Falcon, which forgives a beginner most mistakes in mounting, the use of this product often results in negative consequences for the shooter and his weapon. And it’s not even a matter of the large number of shortcomings that characterize gunpowder, but its age. It is almost impossible to predict how this or that mixture will behave during shooting. Although it should be noted that a professional hunter can derive certain benefits from the Bars when hunting large animals. Although usually this category of people has enough money to afford modern imported models of gunpowder, which are characterized by even greater power.

When working with black powder, you should pay attention to the following features:

1. There should be no caked lumps and especially powder dust in the gunpowder. 2. The color of the grains should be black or slightly brownish, and their surface should be shiny.

Lumps in black powder and a dull surface of the grains indicate that the powder has been dampened in the past and is most likely unusable. Powder dust burns very quickly, which leads to a sharp increase in pressure in the barrels and often causes them to burst.

Special care should be taken when handling and storing black powder, as it is one of the most fire-sensitive explosives. Black powder should not be stored near primers or smokeless powder.

Black powders deteriorate when wet, so they need to be stored in a dry place, preferably in an airtight container. It is most convenient to use a glass jar or bottle with a well-ground glass or rubber stopper for this purpose.

In the literature one can find different opinions about the possibility of using black powder with the Zhevelo primer. Some authors strongly do not recommend doing this, others completely allow such a combination and even recommend it when firing a bullet with cartridges charged with black powder.

Without our own experience of using such cartridges, we would still not recommend using them, since in this case too high pressure may arise in the central part of the bores.

Form

Pyroxylin, used for the production of smokeless powder, is treated with an oxidizing agent, the basis of which is an alcohol-ether mixture. The end result is a homogeneous jelly-like substance. The resulting mixture is subjected to mechanical processing. The result is a granular structure of the substance, the color of which varies from yellow-brown to pure black. Sometimes within the same batch a different shade of gunpowder is possible. To give it a uniform color, the mixture is treated with powdered graphite. This process also makes it possible to level out the stickiness of grains.

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Colloidal systems, smokeless powders.

The basis of smokeless powders is nitrocellulose (pyroxylin), treated with various solvents that transform it into a plastic mass. Solvents can be volatile (for example, various acids) or poorly volatile (for example, nitroglycerin). Modern smokeless powders for smooth-bore weapons contain volatile solvents.

Currently, the most common smokeless gunpowder is Sokol, a prototype of which began to be produced in Russia at the end of the 19th century. In recent years, smokeless gunpowder “Bars” and “Sunar” have appeared on sale, and a number of gunpowders produced in the 50-70s (“Pheasant”, “Berkut”, etc.) have fallen out of use.

The pressure created in the chamber and bore when firing cartridges charged with smokeless powder is higher than when shooting with black powder. When producing guns, they are tested with this particular gunpowder, which is confirmed by the corresponding mark on the barrels. All modern guns are designed to fire smokeless powder, but hunters still have guns in their hands that do not have such marks. They should not be fired with smokeless powder.

Gunpowder in Russia

Gunpowder first appeared in Russia in 1389. In the 15th century, the first gunpowder factories appeared in Russia.

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Great development of the gunpowder business occurred during the reign of Peter I, who paid great attention to the development of military affairs and the development of industry; under him, three large gunpowder factories were built in St. Petersburg, Sestroretsk and Okhta.

Russian scientists Mikhail Yuryevich Lomonosov and Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev conducted their experiments on studying and creating new gunpowders.

Independent loading of 12, 16 and 20 gauge cartridges

Despite the fact that Sokol gunpowder is friendly to inexperienced hunters, when assembling ammunition yourself, you must adhere to general recommendations. They are relevant not only for Sokol gunpowder, but in general for the independent production of ammunition.

“Falcon” is a universal gunpowder, equally well suited for almost all common calibers. Among them, the most popular are discussed above - 12, 16 and 20 gauge. It goes well with both shot and bullets, there are no contraindications.

When weighing, it is highly recommended to use modern electronic scales - they will accurately indicate the mass down to the gram. An accurately loaded cartridge will have good ballistics, will not misfire and will not damage the weapon mechanism. Scales must be special, not household or pharmacy scales; they can also cause errors.

Here are some more useful tips:

• Use only high-quality capsules. Any hunter knows that a successful shot depends on a reliable primer. A leaky cartridge element will, at best, simply jam the barrel; at worst, it will cause damage to the weapon or your health;
• Take the manufacturer's recommendations as a starting point. Do not risk yourself and your weapon, do not exceed the specified values! The consequences can be very severe;
• check and double-check the accuracy of the hitch! If there are deviations or doubts, it is better to redo everything from scratch. Mistakes are not acceptable;
• always take aim! Don't skimp on a few rounds of quality control. Only through practical application can you test the quality and characteristics of the fruits of your work;
• equipping a cartridge is a labor-intensive process in which concentration and accuracy in every action are important. Make sure there is enough free space on the table. Keep cartridges, tools and primers in different corners of the table, do not mix them;
• calibrate the sleeves. To do this, you can use the gun for which you make cartridges. It will be very disappointing when it turns out that you did not make the caliber that you need.

Brief instructions for manually assembling the cartridge:

1. Decapsulate the case, then insert a new primer by hand without tools. After this, use the UPS tool (Universal Device Sidorenko) to tamp the capsule to the end.
2. Weigh the components with precise electronic scales - a high-quality measurement of the powder weight is the final mass of wads, gaskets and shot. It is better to place the scales in front of you. When hanging gunpowder, do not forget to take into account the weight of the container in which you are hanging it. You can add gunpowder with a folded sheet of paper or a small funnel - this way nothing will spill.
3. Carefully place the wad device inside the chuck. This should be done carefully, do not puncture the primer - this will lead to the ignition of gunpowder! Let the sleeve stand on a stand. In the case when the wad is greasy, the gasket is made of cardboard material, and when the wad is plastic, the gasket is not installed at all.
4. After this, the sleeve is covered with a container. It is not recommended to press hard; gunpowder does not tolerate it well. Over time, you will push with the right force automatically. With the proper experience and knowledge, you can make measurements for cartridges from scraps of cartridges. This will save you time.
5. Now you can finally fill the shot into the future cartridge. After backfilling, press it well with a hammer. When loading shot, it must be compacted, otherwise the accuracy and pellet of the shot will suffer.

Finished cartridges should be stored in a specially designated place and container. For calibers 12, 16 and 20, the center of gravity is shifted to the top of the cartridge, which means their position is unstable. No need to scatter them in corners, store them carefully!

Form a “star” at the end of the cartridge and seal the cartridge with a matrix. A correctly pressed “star” tightly seals the cartridge without gaps and fuses with the edges. You can also check by placing the “star” cartridge on the table - if assembled well, it fits tightly to the table.

The final touch is to place the cartridge in the twist. Make a side of 1.5 millimeters. Without it, the cartridge may open up over time. Congratulations, your first cartridge is ready! Over time, making cartridges will become commonplace and simple for you, the most important thing is to be careful and careful!

Gunpowder numbering

Depending on the size of the grains of gunpowder, numbers are assigned to it. Gunpowder number 1 has very fine grains, their size does not exceed 0.4 mm. Substance number 2 has a grain size of no more than 0.6 mm. Gunpowder number 3 consists of medium-sized grains (from 0.6 to 0.75 mm). The largest flammable substance in the cartridge case is number 4. Its grain size is no less than 0.8 and no more than 1.25 mm.

The larger the grain size of the gunpowder, the more powerful the shot will be. A bullet or shot travels faster accordingly.

Application

Black powder was historically the first explosive and remained the only explosive used both for throwing projectiles and as a high explosive. This situation remained until the invention of other explosives in the middle of the 19th century. With the advent of smokeless powders, black powder was quickly replaced by them as a propellant. In the 1890s, new models of small arms and artillery of the armies of militarily advanced states began to be produced to use only smokeless gunpowder. In the Russian Empire, smokeless powder was approved as standard for three-line rifles of the 1891 model and guns of field, mountain, fortress, siege and coastal artillery by the artillery order of February 6, 1895.

However, black powder was not completely excluded from the military sphere. It found use as a propellant in various types of rocket weapons - for example, the expelling charge of the German Panzerfaust hand grenade launcher of the 1942 model consisted of gun black powder. In the same way, black powder was used in the first Soviet grenade launchers RPG-1 (which did not go into mass production) and RPG-2, which was in service not only with the USSR, but also with other countries. A 5-gram charge of black powder is used, for example, in the Bulgarian anti-personnel jumping mine PSM-1 and serves to eject it from the ground.

Powder elements made from black powder and having a density of 1.65 g/cm³ or lower burn irregularly

, that is, not in parallel layers. But if the gunpowder is compacted to 1.8 g/cm³ and higher, it burns in parallel layers and is very convenient, due to its high sensitivity to the flame beam, for use in fuses for transferring fire to the main explosive charge, in spacer tubes, etc. Favorable factor There is also a relatively small amount of gases released during its combustion, which allows it to be used in closed tubes without the danger of their rupture. Black powder can also be used in the primers of artillery cartridges to enhance the initiation beam of the flame.

Currently, in the civilian sphere, black powder is used in pyrotechnics, in the manufacture of fire cords and in some types of blasting operations for the extraction of expensive stone. It has still not lost its importance for amateur shooters and hunters, who sometimes load cartridges with black powder.

In Europe and the USA, there are public organizations that popularize hunting and sport shooting using black powder, muzzle-loading and other historical weapons. This direction is becoming increasingly popular every year, as it adds to hunting the necessary element of chance, which is completely removed by modern long-range weapons, communications and surveillance equipment. In many countries there are national associations of black powder shooting enthusiasts. In addition, large-scale historical reconstructions and filming cannot be done without the use of black powder. The legal regime for the production and sale of black powder varies depending on the country: in most European countries, black powder is produced in a factory on the basis of a special permit and is sold in hunting stores on the basis of a license and with a limited quantity. Weapons designed for their use are sold, transported, used and stored without restrictions; but there is also the reverse order: weapons are licensed on a general basis, and gunpowder is free if you have a weapons license. In the United States, the Gun Control Act of 1968 recognizes flintlock, percussion, muzzle-loading, etc. weapon systems using black powder as antiques; their circulation is not subject to weapons legislation [source not specified 2640 days

].

How gunpowder was invented in Russia

At first, black smoky gunpowder was used for shooting in the form of pulpy powder-like gunpowder, and the word “gunpowder” or “dust” itself means dust. It was difficult to use such powder pulp because it stuck to the walls of the guns. As a result of thinking about this problem, it was decided to make gunpowder in the form of lumps, which made it easier to load the guns, and thus obtain a significantly larger volume of gas when ignited.

Somewhere in the mid-15th century we began to use green gunpowder. It could be obtained by rolling gunpowder pulp into dough along with alcohol and other impurities, then passing the dough through a special sieve. The development of domestic gunpowder production received a significant boost during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, as well as Peter I. Under Peter the Great, three gunpowder factories were built at once: St. Petersburg, Sestroretsk, and Okhtinsky.

The study of gunpowder in Russia was carried out by Lomonosov, who made theoretical calculations, as well as a number of experiments on black gunpowder. Later, his findings were used by French scientists, who obtained the most successful composition of the mixture, which is described at the beginning of the article: 75% potassium nitrate, 10% sulfur and 15% coal.

Use of Irbis gunpowder

Do not load the case with more gunpowder than recommended, or change the parameters of the shot load. This will invariably cause the barrel to break or cause injury.

To maintain optimal properties of gunpowder, it is recommended to provide dry storage conditions in a room where the temperature does not exceed 30 degrees Celsius.

It should be noted that the Irbis family of gunpowder includes gunpowder of different brands with different properties. They have a different gunpowder recipe, different parameters, operating conditions.

Irbis gunpowder has the following characteristics:

• recommended ratio of powder weight and mass of striking elements in the cartridge
• caliber of weapon that can be loaded with ammunition that uses this particular type of gunpowder
• compatibility with wads made of various materials
• muzzle pressure that appears during shooting.

The manufacturer takes all these parameters into account and recommends a separate brand of gunpowder for a specific case. The same applies to experienced hunters. Manufacturers' recommendations can be found directly on the powder packaging, but the experience of hunters can be learned from specialized forums.

The Kazan plant also produces many other substances under the Irbis brand:

• pyroxylin powder Irbis Magnum
• Irbis Carbine gunpowder for sport shooting and hunting, which can be used in carbines
• universal mixture Irbis PS, which can be loaded with bullet and shotgun cartridges

Before choosing a specific brand of gunpowder, it is recommended to ask the store clerks whether you have made the right choice. You can also get a lot of information from hunting forums.

With the help of such consultations, you can choose the ideal brand of gunpowder for each specific situation, and achieve the most effective shooting.

What to do with old gunpowder

Many participants in weapons forums describe their experiences using Bars gunpowder, manufactured before 1990. Based on their reviews, the most important thing is to find a product that has been stored under the right conditions. In this case, it will not contain various foreign substances, which means that carrying out independent weighing will not be difficult. But how to make an assessment and not make a mistake? To do this, you just need to follow a little trick described in the following instructions:

1. Take a sheet of paper whose sides are 10 and 3 centimeters.
2. We measure two lines on the sheet using a pencil and ruler. One should be 3 centimeters above the narrow edge, and the second should be 5 centimeters above the previous one.
3. Bend a sheet of paper parallel to the long side so that the drawn lines are on the outside. The fold formed between the marks is used to pour in the gunpowder.
4. Place the paper on a non-flammable surface (for example, concrete or ground), then set the sheet on fire and turn on the stopwatch.
5. We stop the countdown exactly at the moment when the fire approaches the bottom line of the sheet (the one located 3 cm from the edge).

Now about time indicators that can be measured with a stopwatch:

• more than 2.5 seconds - the gunpowder has lost its properties and is unsuitable for use;
• from 2 to 2.5 seconds - gunpowder begins to lose its properties, but it can still be used with an increased weight;
• from 1.7 to 2 seconds - gunpowder has optimal properties for shooting, so it can be safely used in hunting ammunition.
• less than 1.7 seconds - it is unsafe to use and store such gunpowder at home, since its combustion rate has become too high.

Even if the gunpowder turns out to be usable, it may not ignite with a regular primer and instead misfire. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to install high-power igniters. For example, the Zhevelo capsule performs well, which, after hitting the striker, increases the temperature to 180-200 degrees Celsius - optimal conditions for detonation. But it is better to avoid using “Centrobreaker” in cartridges with old gunpowder, since it gives a temperature of only 170 degrees.

It is worth taking special care when measuring the load, especially if you have previously worked with Sokol or other less dense powders. Even if the hunter has already poured the optimal amount of flammable product into the cartridge case, it may seem to him that he forgot to add one or two spoons. So for self-checking, you should definitely use medical scales, the measurement range of which is no more than 0.01 grams. If you have purchased several cans of gunpowder, do not mix their contents, as they may have different densities.

You should not get carried away with experiments with increasing the amount of gunpowder and shot, as this is unsafe, given the age of the combustible mixture. Even if you increase the dosage slightly, do not forget that additional wad pads may be needed for more accurate combat. So it’s best to get by with the indicators that were presented in the table earlier. Well, if you decide to experiment, then before doing so, be sure to consult with other hunters on the forum who have already done similar things.

Characteristics

Sunar is single-base, therefore, when weighing it, it is important to weigh it with an accuracy of 0.05 grams. As mentioned above, due to the structure of the powder grains, the characteristics of Sunar are superior to Sokol gunpowder by about ten percent

If you shoot with this gunpowder, the sound of the shot and the flame will be much less than that of the same “Falcon”, and the muzzle velocities will be lower by a whole quarter! Burning in the barrel, Sunar 42 or Sunar 410 creates a pressure of 630 to 680 bar, and the charge speed will initially be about 320 m/s.

In the absence of any additional designations on the packaging (letter), this type of gunpowder is suitable for loading 12, 16 and 20 gauge cartridges.

Sunar 20 and 24 are produced in grains characterized by high porosity. They are usually used for skeet or training shooting with 12 gauge.

We are more interested in Sunar-35 and Sunar-32. Typically these options are used to load ammunition from 12 to 20 gauge, with different types of cartridges (plastic, metal, paper). At temperatures exceeding a threshold of 40 degrees, these species are characterized by a noticeable increase in pressure indicators.

Sunar N is similar in its characteristics to Sunar-35 and Sunar-32, but its filling density is noticeably higher. It is used for loading rolled ammunition using the star method and long wads.

For firing cartridges from 12 to 20 calibers with increased shot mass, Sunar 42 is used. Casings for such cartridges should only be plastic, with a polyethylene wad container.

When using ammunition for winter hunting or in extremely wet environments (such as swamps), the powder pressure will be lower, as will the speed at which the bullet leaves the barrel. Therefore, the weight should be adjusted depending on the hunting conditions. How much is the adjustment? It is recommended to increase the mass of gunpowder by 0.1 gram; more significant fluctuations from the recommended weight will not lead to anything good.

Sunar 410 is the most “leisurely” of the entire line. However, if you plan to use Sunar-410 gunpowder, you must carefully approach the load, otherwise the quality of the cartridge will noticeably suffer.

Vikhta calculus of Sunar:

• Sunar-24 -> Alliant Red Dot;
• Sunar-28 -> Alliant Green Dot;
• Sunar-35 -> Alliant Herco;
• Sunar-42 -> Alliant Blue Dot;
• Sunar-410 -> Vihtavuori N105; 2400; SR4759 and IMR4227

Gunpowder weight Bars

If you decide to equip hunting cartridges using Bars gunpowder, be sure to keep in mind that the density of the product is usually 1.8 times less than that of Sokol. That is, you can forget about using various measuring beakers and spoons. But you have the opportunity to equip ammunition with a reinforced load. At the same time, do not forget to focus on the parameters recommended by the manufacturer. You can find all the necessary information in the table below:

Thus, the weight of gunpowder in the “Bars” is approximately 10% larger than in the “Falcon”, however, if you use a beaker fitted to the “Falcon” as a measurement, then keep in mind that the volume must be reduced by approximately 1.8 times . Otherwise, in a container that holds 2 grams of “Falcon” there will be 3.6 grams of “Bars”, which will inevitably lead to a rupture of the barrel channel. Please note that the deviation from the recommended indicators should be minimal (0.04 grams), otherwise this may also lead to undesirable consequences.

I would also like to say a few words about wads, which must be installed in cartridges equipped with Bars. The density of the material from which these gaskets are made should be as high as possible, so you can forget about foam plastic and cardboard. It is best to purchase ready-made wads at a gun store, since the seller will be able to advise you on what is best suited for a particular attachment. Well, for making a gasket at home, only a wine or champagne cork (thickness from 2.5 to 3 mm) is suitable.

As for the ballistic projectile itself, it is strongly recommended not to use steel shot to load the cartridges. In combination with a fairly powerful Bars gunpowder, the penetrating force of the projectile can be so high that it will lead to damage to the barrel bore in the muzzle area. So it is best to use regular lead shot (the weights for which are indicated in the table above), since lead is a much softer metal than steel, therefore, it will not damage the channel.

You should also take into account the fact that Bars gunpowder is suitable for use only in those guns that allow the use of smokeless powder. It is recommended to refrain from using such a product in guns that are too old, produced in the era of black powder - such models are simply not able to withstand increased loads. And, of course, it is better to refuse to use Bars cartridges if the chamber has visible deformations or cracks, otherwise this may lead to the rupture of the gun and injury to the shooter.

General operating principles

It should be noted right away that the metal dowels used in mounting guns have a special structure and configuration. They are very little similar to classic dowels. Outwardly, this type of fastener looks like a nail that has a washer located near the pointed end. It is its presence that guarantees high-quality and tight pressing of the fastener to the underlying surface.

The essence of the process of driving in fasteners using a construction tool is to fire a gun loaded with a dowel at a pre-designated location. Completion of this manipulation results in the fastener entering the material, and the washer moves to the top of the cap, which is subsequently fixed with it.

The fastening elements used when shooting with a mounting gun provide the ability to secure any materials on solid bases. It should be remembered that dowels should not be driven into highly porous material, otherwise the fastener will “go away” or the fastening will be fragile.

Types of gunpowder

Hunters use two types of gunpowder to equip their cartridges:

1. Smoky.
2. Smokeless.

So, for example, the A1 gunpowder we are interested in belongs to the second type.

Both types of explosives are produced in our country at industrial enterprises. They differ from each other in their composition.

Analogues of Italian gunpowder

Finding an explosive to equip a hunting cartridge is quite difficult. It is necessary to find out what the density and optimal weight of each type of gunpowder is. Such data determines further work on loading the cartridge.

Despite the fact that modern hunters choose smokeless explosives for self-assembly of ammunition, the scope of its application is limited by a number of factors. For example, not all factories in this area produce guns capable of firing cartridges filled with an explosive substance that does not emit smoke.

Italian A1 grade gunpowder can compete with many domestic flammable compositions, both smoky and smokeless. For example, “Falcon” gunpowder enjoys well-deserved respect among shooters, which perfectly performs its function even in severe frosts. The Russian-made explosive Sunar Magnum is also in demand throughout the country among avid hunters. In addition, civilian shooters often equip their ammunition with Bars brand gunpowder, which is widely known in Russia and the CIS countries.

Every shooter who loads his own cartridges must know which flammable composition is suitable for him. Do not forget that in a given situation the shooter must take into account the characteristics of the weapon, the conditions under which it is planned to shoot, climatic conditions, as well as the size and habits of the target being hunted.