Carbon for the paddock. Hunting carbine Browning Maral Reflex Compo

Carbine "Maral": disassembly and assembly

Incomplete disassembly of the weapon in question begins with removing the clip.
To do this, press the magazine latch, then press with a small object on the other latch on the left side. While pulling the box cover, deactivate the safety and press the translator flag with the hammer cocked. The bolt frame is retracted and removed together with the bolt part from the barrel box. The assembly order is carried out in a mirror order. To mount the bolt frame, you will need to first align the ledge on the right stop in the shaped groove in the receiver, and then align both elements with the guide elements of the bolt. After matching the stops and grooves, both parts are wound in and moved forward until they stop. If the trigger is disengaged from the cocking mechanism, after removing the bolt frame, it is inserted through the hole in the box on the barrel by turning counterclockwise until it engages with the trigger.

Storage rules

It is necessary to provide favorable conditions for preserving the original qualities of the mastyrka before fishing. To do this, you will need square pieces of calico fabric measuring approximately 25*25 centimeters. The number of pieces matches the number of prepared balls. Each ball is laid out on the fabric. The edges are curved on all sides. This must be done very carefully. The wrapped balls are placed in a bag, its seal is ensured and placed in the freezer.

In the evening before fishing, you need to take one ball out of the bag and place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. There is no need to remove the fabric from it. If it turns out that it is a little dry, you can simply add a little water.

Operating principle

Direct action carbine. To feed a cartridge into the chamber, you need to pull back the bolt lever and release it. A spring mechanism, located under the barrel and covered by the fore-end, returns the bolt back, it picks up the cartridge from the magazine and turns in the breech, engaging the lugs with its protrusions. There is no need to push forward, raise or lower the bolt lever, as is done in bolt-action rifles.

The trigger mechanism is cocked manually using a slider lever located on the buttplate of the receiver. By moving it forward and , you arm the weapon, which is indicated by the red button opening. In this position, the bolt stem is blocked, and it will not be possible to pull it back with a lever. De-cocking is done by moving the slider lever in reverse.

After firing the last cartridge, the shutter is delayed (in the rearmost position). To remove it, you need to push it back a little more by pulling the lever and then releasing it.

Self-loading small-caliber carbine MP-161K and Baikal-161 “Manul”

Another interesting development of IZHMEKH was the MP-161K rifle, which is radically different from all previously described models. In addition to modern design, the carbine also combines a huge number of innovative design features that simplify the process of using the weapon.

Here are just the points that the manufacturer himself calls for attention:

1. Adjustable stock. You can adjust not only its length, but also the height of the cheek rest, making the weapon perfect for shooting with open sights and using optics.
2. Shockproof housing. The rifle stock is made of plastic with a high polymer content, which is also reinforced with fiberglass. That is, you will have to really put in a lot of effort so that the damage remains visible on the rifle.
3. Improved ergonomics. In addition to the adjustable stock, this is also facilitated by linings made of elastic material in the grip area (handle, fore-end). The weapon lies securely in the hand even when shooting in heavy rain.
4. Trigger mechanism with cocking indicator. If the safety does not have color indicators, it can be quite difficult to recognize whether the weapon is loaded. However, the MP-161K has a special indicator that will indicate the platoon.
5. Detachable box magazines. There are several of them included in the kit, so during hunting or shooting practice, the owner of the carbine is unlikely to experience a shortage of cartridges.

In addition to all this, the MP-161K weapon also has an adjustable sighting device in the form of a rear sight and front sight, a Picatinny mount for installing optics or a collimator, as well as other features that will surprise few people. All this guarantees not only ease of use of the rifle, but also good technical characteristics:

Another self-loading carbine chambered for small-caliber 5.6 mm cartridges is the Baikal-161 “Manul” carbine, which is a full-fledged development of the MP-161K model. The rifle combines not only an original design, but also a rather unusual design, which is close to professional sporting rifles, although the main purpose of the weapon is hunting. Here are just the features you might be interested in learning about:

1. Trunk. The channel is made using the radial compression method, but at the same time hangs freely, and also has threads for installing replaceable muzzle devices.
2. Sights. Although these are the same front and rear sights, they are made in a completely different style. At the client's request, fiber optics can be applied to the sight.
3. Reliable automatic with free-running shutter. The shooter can focus on the target and shoot accurately and quickly, unlike bolt-action rifles.
4. The stock is made of wood (walnut) with an ergonomic Thumbhole-type handle, which is not only much lighter than its analogues, but is also very comfortable to grip.
5. Notches on the handle and fore-end. It is performed using a special laser and consists of a fine mesh.

But the technical characteristics of the carbine remained virtually unchanged, if you do not take into account the mass, which increased due to the use of a wooden stock instead of a plastic one:

Thus, the Manul will primarily appeal to those who are accustomed to hunting with “wooden” carbines, but at the same time want their rifle to be different from other models. Also, the weapon will appeal to those who love various small amenities in the form of notches on the wood and ergonomic handles. In other cases, it is much preferable to purchase the classic version of the MP-161K, since it is much lighter and will cost almost 6 thousand less.

Nordic composite stock

The Maral rifle is available in various modifications, including the classic hunting version with a wooden stock. But today we want to talk in more detail about the newest version of Compo Nordic. Outwardly, it is similar to the previously presented Compo Brown model - the new product has an identical stock shape, only it is made in black, not brown. Besides the color, there are a few other differences - the Nordic does not have open sights or a pre-installed DTK.

Browning Maral carbine with classic wooden stock

The stock and fore-end are made of high-quality durable polymer. There is an adjustable cheek piece on the butt, and special textured inserts on the pistol grip and fore-end for better grip on the palms. The stock is equipped with a soft Inflex recoil pad, which effectively absorbs recoil. This is a patented Browning technology that not only dampens some of the recoil energy, but also redirects the overall impulse downward, moving the stock away from the shooter's face. The kit includes butt pads 12 and 25 mm long, allowing you to change the length of the entire carbine and adjust it to suit you.

The barrels are manufactured in Belgium at the factories of FN Herstal, a company affiliated with Browning. The Compo Nordic version is equipped with fluted barrels with a matte blued finish. The muzzle of the barrel has an M14x1 thread for installing a DTK and other additional equipment. In the basic configuration, the thread is protected with a special plug. There are no open sights, but there is a universal Nomad Hybrid rail for mounting optical sights.

Why I chose a Browning semi-automatic

PHOTO BY MIKHAIL SANKOV.
Everyone chooses the caliber to their own taste.

And the majority of hunters around the world use .30-06 for any game.

I didn't make this up, it's statistics.

It is clear that using the now certified 220 grain (14.3 grams) bullet you can shoot anyone. In weight, the bullet approaches the lower limit of the “nine”, and in speed it exceeds it.

There is nothing to say about bullets that are lighter in weight. Of the 300 calibers, the .30-06 has the widest range of loading options, which is why it was chosen for the pens.

The weapon has a solid walnut stock, which allows you to shoot offhand intuitively, like from a double-barreled shotgun.

One of the main technical solutions that distinguishes the Vepr-Hunter from its predecessors is the descent. It is typical of a rifle, quite long, with a warning and without any plugs. This trigger allows you to shoot with optics and without the use of non-literary exclamations.

I didn’t consider “Saiga” and “Tiger” at all, since they are too military in appearance, although some may like this. I also heard that the Vepr-Hunter in America costs more than the Browning. And I understand them: ours looks more solid.

I was pleased with my “machine gun”. I took it solely because of its applicability. I honed the process of assembly and disassembly to automaticity while still in the army. True, during operation some negative aspects emerged.

The carbine is heavy (however, this has a positive effect on inertia when shooting at a running animal), a strong barrel bounce, which increases the time for a second shot, and, most importantly, the magazine clatters terribly at the slightest movement, which is completely unacceptable when standing at the number.

Nevertheless, for six or seven years I successfully hunted with a “machine gun” using cartridges with 220 grain bullets.

Read the material “The State Duma will send hunters to learn how to load smooth-bore and rifled cartridges”

I got a lot of animals out of it, half of them “in flight” (moose usually jump over narrow forest paths), often in low light conditions: after all, winter has the shortest days of the year.

By the way, during such a hunt, clay pigeon shooting skills come into play.

But then an incident occurred that radically changed my view on the problem of using semi-automatic weapons.

About ten years ago, a friend and I went to Mytishchi to shoot a newly acquired Browning Bar light long trac carbine in .30-06 caliber.

Naturally, I took my battle-tested Vepr-Hunter in the same caliber for comparison of performance characteristics. Shooting showed that miracles do not happen, and the legend called “Bar” is more elegant, more convenient, lighter and quieter, its recoil is weaker. This cannot fail to impress.

I didn’t feel much difference when shooting for accuracy both from the table and from my hands. But Bar’s fast-paced shooting was mesmerizing: the semi-automatic remained on the aiming line like a glove. The release is short, without warning, which turned out to be more convenient when shooting quickly.

It’s not surprising that after the shooting range I ran at a trot to get a permit for rifled weapons.

I was lucky to find and inexpensively buy a used but in excellent condition BAR Mark II Safari BOSS with a steel box.

As it turned out later, the “long track” has a tricky butt plate that reduces the recoil impulse, while the “safari” has this function performed by the “Boss”. The store is the same size.

Read the material “Gun owners may be required to wear identification marks”

Different sighting devices: the Long has a battue rail and a luminescent front sight, which, in my opinion, is more convenient for shooting without optics and a collimator, but everything is the same. The Long Track aluminum box is the subject of endless debate about the survivability of the rifle. But until now there have been no reports of its destruction.

Moreover, almost all imported smooth-bore and rifled semi-automatic machines (Heckler&Koch, Benelli, Verney-Carron, Merkel) have an aluminum box. By the way, we can recall the most common carbine in Europe, the Blazer. Although “bars” in caliber .338 Win Mag are still made with a steel frame. Think about it here!

In my humble opinion, the BAR is more reliable than the AKM; the design may be behind the times, but it has been tested by this same time for hundreds of years. John Moses Browning developed the machine gun and machine gun back in 1917, and his weapons saw service in both World War I and World War II.

Worth special mention is the BOSS system - Ballistic Optimizing Shuting System, i.e. ballistic shooting optimizer, present on the Bar-2 Safari modification. This system allows you to configure the carbine for any bullet weight to improve shooting accuracy according to the attached tables in all cartridges used. It really works.

It also reduces muzzle pressure (the role of the DTK), reducing recoil by up to 60%. Automation also makes its contribution here.

When zeroing the carbine at 100 meters, the accuracy was determined, which with three cartridges easily fit into 1.0 MOA, with two bullets going into one hole. Since the carbine was used only with a Leopold Mark 4 hammer with a magnification of 1.5–4.0, in order to reduce weight, the front and rear sights were removed in the workshop.

Read the material “What is written does not mean the truth: on restricting the circulation of weapons”

Seriously, I think that a rifle without a scope is a completely useless thing. And if there is a sight, then why do we need open sights? I have always been amazed by the ability of athletes to shoot from open devices (excluding the diopter).

In my opinion, this is a phenomenon close to a miracle. After all, as you know, the human eye can see sharply only two objects and not three, so we see sharply only the front sight and rear sight, and vaguely see the target or the target and the front sight. In neither case is it possible to make a confident shot without possessing any secret knowledge.

I think for these reasons, most American rifles do not have sights, and that is why European semi-automatic rifles have a battue rail.

By the way, having looked at the catalog for 2022, I was surprised to find that all rifles come with bare barrels - both bolt-action and semi-automatic.

Regarding the resulting accuracy of my rifle, I can say that this is purely academic research, since for driven hunting of ungulates, accuracy as such is not critical. All the same, any hunter shoots worse than his rifle.

But for the sake of fairness, it should be noted that the barrels of the “bars” have proven themselves precisely because of their amazing accuracy.

Nothing stands still. Observation of fellow shooters and my own experience of shooting ungulates on numerous hunts led me to yet another change in the ideology of the calibers used.

These observations showed that the use of 300 calibers (7.62 mm) sometimes, if not often, leads to the appearance of wounded animals, and even a purely beaten animal goes far (if the hit is not on the spine).

To hunt with 300 calibers, you need to be a very good shooter and have an excellent knowledge of the anatomy of each specific animal. And dragging an elk from a swamp 300–400 meters away can be completely sad.

Watching my friends shoot from “nines”, which are very forgiving of aiming errors, I came to the conclusion that it was time to change the caliber.

Read the material “Twenty are back in the hunt”

If we consider the “nines”, then there are not so many of them. These are 9.3x62, 9.3x64, .338 and .375. For obvious reasons, it was worth stopping at 9.3x62 as the most common.

As professional white hunters (PH) say, there is no big caliber. Since I had absolutely no intention of changing the BAR system (it really suited my soul), all that remained was to select a model.

As it turned out, in the “nine” there was only the “Bar-2 Comfort” model in a plastic stock, which did not have a BOSS system. Recoil on this model is also low, due to the internal design of the stock.

So my wishes for an iron receiver, a walnut stock and the presence of a BOSS were realized only in .338 caliber.

Of course, the 9.3x62 cartridge is cheaper than the .338, but the second one is flatter and more powerful. The .338 Win Mag is considered an anti-sniper round, which means it can shoot very far with excess power.

Bullet diameter asymptotically approaching “nine” with the power of .300 Win Mag (in a similar case).

In reality, an increase in the affected area, a significant increase in bullet mass (relative to 300 calibers), a long-range direct shot - all this leads to a confident hit of the target.

Taking it a step further, the only better option is the .375 Holland. But there are already very expensive cartridges, and there are no machine guns in this caliber.

My opinion: “Bar-2 Safari BOSS” in caliber .338 Win Mag is the best choice of assault rifles, except for the far from humane price tag on cartridges. But how many of them do you need?!

Read the material “Traps and a snowmobile: the key to exterminating wolves”

Sometimes you don’t shoot even a dozen rounds of ammunition a year. This is a rifle for life and at the same time a real investment: you can always sell it, unlike other manufacturers.

By the way, zeroing the new rifle showed, no matter how funny it sounds, exactly the same picture as with the previous rifle: two bullets in one hole, and all three were within 1.0 MOA.

But the Bar has one unpleasant “advantage” over other semi-automatic machines: it cannot be disassembled for cleaning. After firing one thousand shots, the manufacturer recommends taking it to a workshop for proper cleaning.

It goes without saying that it is unrealistic to shoot such a number of cartridges while hunting. On the Internet you can find videos on disassembling this system, but once a year I simply wash the bolt in the rifle with a VD-40 cylinder, holding it with the barrel down.

If there is any carbon deposits in the bolt, it is washed off and goes with the washing liquid through the barrel onto the rags underneath.

Sankov Mikhail March 5, 2022 at 00:14

Design

A carbine with a direct action bolt based on the BAR Zenith semi-automatic design. The barrel is cantilever (hung out), made using cold forging technology.

• The bolt stem has a rotating cylinder with seven lugs. It is driven by a return mechanism consisting of two guides and the same number of flat coil springs on one axis. The guides are taken from the BAR carbine without modifications, the gas chamber channel is plugged.
• The receiver is closed, there is only a groove for the bolt lever and a shell ejector window. It is tightly connected to the barrel, without the possibility of disassembly.
• The bolt handle is similar to a bolt-action lever with a ball at the end; it does not rotate or recess into the grooves of the stock.
• The trigger mechanism is unregulated, with a fixed trigger force of 1.7 kg. Its cocking is done manually, using a slider located on the butt plate of the receiver.
• The magazine release lever is located in front of the trigger guard; when pressed, the cover with the magazine attached to it opens. Models of caliber 30-06 are optionally equipped with a ten-round magazine, which is completely removable (there is no cover).
• Sights consist of a pair of rear sights and front sights. The rear sight of the Batu system is a shield with a slot on a long prismatic base. It is equipped with two green fiber-optic threads. The front sight is open, with a red fiber-optic thread. For installing Weaver, Picatinny rails or brackets for optical sights, there are four holes with metric threads on the receiver.
• The stock is removable, with a semi-pistol grip set at an angle of 450. It is made of Turkish walnut wood and impregnated with oil. In the stock version, the butt comb is curved (the so-called boar back), and can be optionally equipped with a Monte Carlo cushion.

There is also a choice of receiver design - Wood, Ultimate or Big Game. The forend is fixed to the trunk, it is always made of wood, with a rosette-shaped end.

The butt plate is made of shock-absorbing rubber; it is replaceable; the delivery set includes three others of different heights.

Modifications

There are several variants of the carbine on sale, differing from each other in the style of the receiver. In the Wood modification, the stock and the overlay on the box are made of wood. The Big Game features an engraved nickel silver overlay depicting hunting scenes. The Ultimate is also presented with a wooden stock and cupronickel lining, but the carbine barrel has thick walls and is decorated with grooves (flutes).

The standard stock design is the Bavarian type (reminiscent of a boar's back comb butt). Buyers can choose a Monte Carlo style (the ridge of the buttstock runs parallel to the aiming line or with a slight rise). The tactical and technical characteristics of the carbines remain unchanged.

Description

The weapon modifications in question were presented at the national exhibition “Design-97”. The first mention of the models is in an article by A. Vasiliev from 1998 (Magnum publication).

It is worth noting that the Browning Maral carbine is equipped with a locking barrel mechanism that allows the bolt to rotate into three firing positions. At the same time, the figured groove of the frame and the bolt protrusion are aggregated with it. Due to the movement of the bolt frame forward, the charge from the clip is sent through the front cut into the chamber. Then the ejector tooth moves into the cartridge groove, the bolt rotates and the lugs move beyond the receiver stops. The trigger translator flag falls into the socket of the bolt frame, blocking the assembly from self-activation.

Complete disassembly

The Maral IzhMash carbine is completely disassembled only in case of excessive contamination or when it is placed in long-term storage. First, partial disassembly is carried out, the technique for which is indicated above. Then the connecting screws on the stock are unscrewed and the barrel elements are separated from the box. Next, the pin securing the trigger mechanism is carefully knocked out. A clip is separated from it, securing the circuit magazine to the barrel box.

The elements of the trigger device are fully serviceable and do not require additional disassembly. Dismantling of the shutter is provided only in case of disruption of its normal operation. To do this, knock out the fixing pins, separate the bolt, ejector and firing pin from the part. The weapon is assembled in the reverse order of disassembly.

Maral rapid fire carbine

Automatically adjustable bolt return system combines maximum safety, speed and efficiency

Thanks to the short reload time, the shooter can focus only on shooting. Reloading the Maral rifle is almost lightning fast thanks to the fast reload system. All you have to do is pull the cocking lever straight towards you, and the automated release system will return the bolt back into place. When reloading, the shooter does not need to push the bolt forward manually, which saves time and allows him to concentrate on aiming and not on reloading. And finally, throughout the entire length of movement, constant force must be applied to the reloading lever, which significantly increases the ease of use of the mechanism.

Reloading the Maral rifle is almost lightning fast thanks to the fast reload system. All you have to do is pull the cocking lever straight towards you, and the automated release system will return the bolt back into place. When reloading, the shooter does not need to push the bolt forward manually, which saves time and allows him to concentrate on aiming and not on reloading. And finally, throughout the entire length of movement, constant force must be applied to the reloading lever, which significantly increases the ease of use of the mechanism.

Hunting carbine "Maral": features

Open-type sighting devices make it possible to fire from 100 to 300 meters, regardless of the installation of an optical installation with fixing brackets. In this case, the transverse dispersion of charges during the firing of 4 rounds at a distance of 100 meters does not exceed 95 mm.

The bolt action with a unique handle mechanism allows you to fold the carbine and carry it in any position, slinging it on a belt over your shoulder. The configuration of the bolt and its aggregation with the frame and receiver reliably protect the mechanism from dirt and disruption of the lubricant consistency. The bolt carrier moves only forward/backward, which facilitates rapid mechanical reloading of the weapon. The designers wisely placed the fuse near the trigger guard, ensuring that the trigger and bolt are locked when activated, preventing the possibility of an accidental volley.

Description of the Browning Maral carbine

The Browning Maral carbine is a converted Browning BAR Zenith semi-automatic. Structurally, it differs from its donor in a plugged gas piston channel and a modified return mechanism consisting of two guides, each of which is driven by a flat spiral spring.

Externally - a bolt handle with a ball at the end, almost the same as in conventional rifles with a longitudinally sliding (bolt) bolt and the absence of a release lever from the bolt stop. The levers for manually cocking the trigger and opening the magazine located in front of the trigger guard, as well as the gold-plated trigger, remain unchanged.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Compared to bolt-action rifles, the Browning Maral carbine makes reloading much easier and faster. To do this, you just need to pull the bolt handle back and then release it. Three movements are excluded: raise the handle; push the shutter forward; lower the handle.
• When reloading, the shooter does not need to be distracted from the aiming line, since the bolt stem does not protrude from the butt plate of the receiver, threatening to hit him in the eye.
• The absence of a gas piston mechanism theoretically simplifies the design and makes it more reliable. However, the designer of the return mechanism, Claude Dodrimo, clearly overdid it by using two flat spiral springs (one for each rod), instead of one spiral one. Therefore, there is an advantage, but it is not as significant as it could be.
• The trigger mechanism remained the same as the BAR - non-adjustable, with a straight rifle trigger (without warning), having a force of 1.7 kilograms (4 lb).
• The ability to manually cock a weapon significantly increases its safety. You can have a cartridge in the chamber throughout the hunt and during transitions without much fear.
• The bolt has seven lugs, which guarantees reliable locking of the chamber.
• The bolt handle is made of duralumin; in severe frost it can easily break off. In addition, the lever is quite large and it protrudes well, since there is no need to turn it, and at the same time recess it into the groove of the stock. There is a high probability that it will catch on branches, hit the body of a car, or sit on it by accident, which is also not very pleasant.
• There are no complaints about the quality of the stock, as well as about its ergonomics; it is just as flexible and comfortable for shooting offhand as with BAR semi-automatics.

The carbine was conceived as a weapon for driven hunts for ungulates, mainly deer (hence the model designation Maral), so it is equipped with a non-adjustable Batu rear sight with two green fiber-optic threads on either side of the slot, as well as an open front sight with a red fiber-optic thread.

Those who wish can install a rail or bracket for an optical sight, for which four holes with metric threads are made on the upper edge of the receiver. However, optics are less suitable for shooting offhand at quickly moving targets, since they limit the viewing angle, so the presence of all types of sights on the barrel is clearly unnecessary.

We can say that the Browning Maral carbine is a godsend for Old World hunters, since it allows you to shoot at almost the same speed as semi-automatics, and at the same time has a large capacity magazine. For example, the Browning Maral model 30-06 can be equipped with a ten-shot horn. For Russian hunters, the compromise between a bolt-action rifle and a machine gun is useless. If desired, you can completely tighten the adjusting screw on the gas piston channel of the BAR Safari carbine and get the same thing.

Browning Maral .308 WIN (photo)

Purpose

The carbine is designed for round-up hunting of small and large ungulates. Can be used to catch game from ambush. The effective shooting distance with an optical sight is up to 400 meters.

Varieties

When purchasing a rifle, you can choose a receiver style: Wood, Ultimate or Big Game. In the basic version it comes with a Bavarian-style stock (boar-back stock comb), with an optional Monte Carlo stock.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Browning carbine has the following advantages:

• simplified reloading system;
• safety (manual cocking allows you to keep the cartridge in the chamber throughout the hunt without fear of an accidental shot);
• reliability of design;
• comfortable stock design, allowing for cross-fire shooting;
• high rate of fire (compared to bolt-action rifle models);
• compactness when disassembled.

One of the disadvantages of the weapon is associated with the handle of the bolt mechanism, which gave the carbine its advantages. For an inexperienced amateur hunter, the protruding handle can cause inconvenience (frequent snags, impacts). Another disadvantage is the impossibility of replacing barrels. Hunters also note a tight trigger.

Technical characteristics of the Maral Compo Nordic HC carbine

The carbine in this version is available in three calibers: 9.3x62, 308Win and 30-06. In the first case, the barrel length is 560 mm, in the last two - 510 mm. Accordingly, the total length of the carbine is 1110/1060 mm. The weight of the rifle is 4.15 kg. It is equipped with a box magazine with a capacity of 9/10 rounds (depending on the caliber). The carbine is designed for hunting medium and large animals, excellent for catching ungulates, both from ambush and in driven hunting.

The Compo Nordic plastic stock option is more practical, but the rifle has not lost the elegance of the original design and still looks like a classic hunting weapon. It will be an excellent choice for anyone who would like a combination of the accuracy and accuracy of bolt guns and the rate of fire of semi-automatics. Unless, of course, you are scared by the cost of 220,000 thousand rubles.

Material prepared by Dmitry Chulkov, photo by the author

More on the topic:

Calibers

The development and testing of ultra-small caliber atomic weapons was dealt with in the USSR and the USA (possibly some other countries) in the 60s. However, it was the USSR that was the first to create such ammunition. We are talking about 14.3 and 12.7 mm caliber bullets intended for heavy machine guns. However, according to the declassified part of the archive of the Semipalatinsk test site (after the collapse of the USSR and the transfer of this test site to the jurisdiction of Kazakhstan), 7.62 mm ammunition was also created. They were intended for the Kalashnikov machine gun, and it was a cartridge with this caliber that became the world's smallest nuclear weapon.

The photo below shows what the USSR atomic bullets looked like.

The fastest Browning Maral carbine

The operating principle of Browning Maral is best described by the phrase “pull and release”. In fact, reloading occurs in one straight movement - you just need to pull the shutter lever towards you and release it - it will return to its place on its own. In this case, you do not need to make unnecessary movements: lift the bolt, move it forward, send it back and then lower it down again, which is what you have to do with classic bolt-action rifles.

The barrel bore is securely locked with seven lugs, ensuring a strong connection to the barrel. The breech is recessed into the receiver - this arrangement has two important advantages. Firstly, the breech is less dirty, and secondly, nothing interferes with the shooter when aiming in case of re-cocking. Considering that the shutter lever moves only in the horizontal plane, it cannot even theoretically interfere with aiming. Thanks to this design, the shooter does not lose sight of the target and can effectively fire quickly.

The carbine is equipped with a Hand Cock manual decocking mechanism (the same HC in the name). It is located on the rear of the receiver and provides maximum safety both during driven hunting and in ambush. It is a slider with a button that protects against accidental movement and a red color indicator indicating that the weapon is ready to fire. When the slider is moved upward, the firing pin springs are cocked, allowing the carbine to be cocked immediately before firing. In the lower position, the slider not only removes the carbine from cocking, but also blocks the trigger.

Excerpt characterizing Maral (carbine)

Just approaching Bagration, Rostov again put his horse into a gallop and, holding his hand at the visor, rode up to him. Dolgorukov still insisted on his opinion that the French had retreated and only set up the fires to deceive us. – What does this prove? - he said as Rostov drove up to them. “They could have retreated and left the pickets.” “Apparently, not everyone has left yet, prince,” said Bagration. – Until tomorrow morning, tomorrow we’ll find out everything. “There’s a picket on the mountain, your Excellency, still in the same place where it was in the evening,” Rostov reported, bending forward, holding his hand to the visor and unable to contain the smile of amusement caused in him by his trip and, most importantly, by the sounds of bullets. “Okay, okay,” said Bagration, “thank you, Mr. Officer.” “Your Excellency,” said Rostov, “allow me to ask you.” - What's happened? “Tomorrow our squadron is assigned to reserves; Let me ask you to second me to the 1st squadron. - What's your last name? - Count Rostov. - Oh good. Remain with me as an orderly. – Ilya Andreich’s son? - said Dolgorukov. But Rostov did not answer him. - So I will hope, Your Excellency. - I will order. “Tomorrow, perhaps, they will send some kind of order to the sovereign,” he thought. - God bless". The screams and fires in the enemy army occurred because while Napoleon's order was being read among the troops, the emperor himself was riding around his bivouacs on horseback. The soldiers, seeing the emperor, lit bunches of straw and shouted: vive l'empereur! ran after him. Napoleon's order was as follows:

Operating principle

When the trigger of the Maral carbine is pressed, the combat spring mechanism acts on the firing pin, which breaks the cartridge primer. Synchronously, the trigger releases the stop of the translator, which rotates along with the flag, freeing the bolt frame from being locked.

After moving the bolt frame back, the lock rotates and is released from the receiver stop latches. The right side of the stop interacts with a spiral-type groove in the barrel. As a result of this operation, the extraction of the used charge occurs with a displacement. Subsequent retraction of the bolt frame helps remove the cartridge case from the chamber using an ejector. In this case, the reflector rests on the frame of the bolt part, after which the cartridge case is ejected. At the same time, the hammer is cocked, and for the next salvo you just need to push the frame part by the handle all the way forward, pressing the trigger.