In 1842, a low-noise cartridge was designed in France, intended for target practice. Today this product is better known as a rimfire cartridge. Another name for the product is “side fire cartridge”. Due to its low noise and reliability in operation, as well as its low cost, the projectile is very popular in the world.
Side-fire cartridge design
In the 19th century, the product of the French gunsmith Louis Flaubert was a cartridge case with a percussion compound pressed into the rim of its bottom. The projectile received its name due to the fact that during firing the striker strikes not at the center, but at its peripheral part.
This cartridge was not equipped with a powder charge and primer. To eject a bullet, only gases of flammable compounds were sufficient. During use, the sleeves often ruptured in the place where the greatest gas pressure was exerted on the metal, weakened by the double bend. Lead was predominantly used to make bullets. Sometimes other metals were used for these purposes.
At that time, three projectile calibers were known: 9 mm, 6 mm and 4 mm rimfire cartridges. In 1888, based on the Flaubert cartridge, American designers created their own version of the 5.6 mm caliber. The first modern rimfire cartridge is considered to be the 22 Short, which differs from its counterpart in the presence of a powder charge.
The origins of "small things". Flaubert's cartridge
No other cartridge has ever been so successful in the market, no other has ever been produced or is being produced in such large quantities throughout the world. With more than a century and a half behind it, the rimfire cartridge is still produced today without any fundamental changes. In addition, in recent years the rimfire cartridge has made headlines due to new attractive varieties, most notably the .17 caliber (4.3 mm). Flaubert created a cartridge for “salon” pistols. It all started in Paris in the 19th century. There, in many houses of the townspeople, it was common that after dinner, gentlemen with cigars and strong coffee would retire to their salon, office and practice shooting with a light pistol.
Left. The French progenitor of the rimfire cartridge, the legendary Flobert 6mm cartridge. Next, Louis Nicolas Auguste Flaubert “salon” pistol cartridges in calibers 2, 5, 6 and 9 mm and options for loading options for 6 mm Flaubert cartridges from various manufacturers, including those with a shot charge
Gunsmith Louis Nicolas Auguste Flobert specialized in such “parlor pistols” and around 1835 developed a miniature cartridge for them that could not cause any significant harm. First, he used a conventional percussion capsule, in which he placed a small lead bullet with a diameter of 6 mm. However, the cartridge, which did not have a protruding rim, often slipped into the barrel and did not ignite, since there was no support. Therefore, Flaubert settled the bottom part so that a protruding annular cavity appeared, which could rest on the breech of the barrel. The igniting composition, located here, acted simultaneously as a powder charge and was activated in the usual way by a trigger. On May 23, 1849, Flaubert received a patent for a development that has since gone down in history as the “Flaubert cartridge.” And this did not remain without consequences.
Left. The S&W “.22″ No. 1 Pistol Cartridge cartridge differs from its French progenitor only in a slightly longer cartridge case. To the right: imitation Flaubert cartridges, from left to right: longue porteé in calibers 5.5 and 7 mm and Bosquette in calibers 5.5 and 9 mm. Next, large-caliber rimfire cartridges from approximately 1860 to 1870, from left to right: 18 mm Milbank-Amsler (Switzerland), 14 mm Wänzel (Austria) and the Norwegian 12.7 mm Remington cartridge.
Finally, at the London World's Fair in 1851, Flaubert had the opportunity to present his cartridge and corresponding “cabinet” pistols to the general public. At that time, Flaubert was entirely fixated on his “salon firecrackers” and in no way understood the epoch-making significance of his cartridge and its ignition system. It never occurred to him to lengthen the case and fill it with gunpowder to increase the effectiveness of his cartridge, nor to create his own cartridge for general use, for example, for hunters or military personnel; his ambitions did not extend that far. Flaubert later decided on different calibers of his “armchair cartridge”: 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 mm.
Diagram of the .44 Henry Flat cartridge, a typical large bore rimfire cartridge
The World's Fair was significant for Flaubert in two respects: numerous European ammunition manufacturers acquired licenses to use Flaubert's design principle (or adopted it quietly) and within a short time brought to market many variations of cartridges under the Flobert brand. Most featured a relatively long cartridge case filled with small shot, and were intended for use in gardens, such as against rats, voles and sparrows, and were fired from correspondingly lightweight "garden rifles". Smith and Wesson realized their chance. The World's Fair was important for another reason: among the visitors were two Americans, Messrs. Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson. They had just suffered a bitter failure with their Volcanic pistol and, in order to recover from this misfortune, were very persistently looking for a suitable cartridge for their "1 Pistol" revolver. Here Flaubert’s development came in handy for them. Since it was protected by a patent only in France, they were able to use it freely. Thus, they returned to the land of limitless possibilities in good spirits and immediately declared their claims to a very similar cartridge to the US Patent Office. To make the plagiarism less obvious, Smith and Wesson additionally filled Flaubert's cartridge case with some black powder. In addition, between the powder charge and the initiating compound, they installed a perforated metal washer that functioned as an anvil (this was a clever idea by Daniel B. Wesson). The whole thing was topped with a bullet with a spherical head in the style of Flaubert. They received US patent number 11496 for this “invention” on August 8, 1854.
Sketch from S&W's first patent; note (in figure 2) the disk anvil with a central igniting “pill” (piston)
Only in practice, the “self-invented” ignition system functioned very poorly. Therefore, Smith and Wesson abandoned all attempts to circumvent the French patent and only lengthened the Flaubert rimfire case from 7 mm to about 10 mm. They simply passed off the rimfire (the initiating composition in the cavity of the case rim) as their own design. On April 17, 1860, the US Patent Office approved their rights. The gentlemen-inventors christened their products pompously: “.22” No. 1 Pistol Cartridge.” Eventually, from this cartridge came an entire armada of .22 inch rimfire cartridges, such as the .22 short; .22 long; .22 long rifle and .22 Xtra long rifle.
Sketches from the Smith & Wesson patent of 1860. Here the plagiarism of Flaubert's idea becomes obvious
This barely modified S&W variant, still produced today under the name ".22 short rimfire" and highly sought after, ushered in an era of commercially extremely successful rimfire ammunition around the world. They themselves probably did not suspect in the slightest degree that the cartridge they copied would turn into such a widely produced and used one.
From left to right. Spencer cartridges are available in .56-56, .56-52, .56-50 and .56-46 calibers. Pay attention to the protrusions that were not common at that time for metal sleeves. Next are the loadout options for the .56-50 Spencer cartridge: combat, three guard (Guard Load) and training (Blank)
During the 1860s, virtually all industrial nations, such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria and Switzerland, adopted metallic rimfire cartridges into service with their armies and rejected only recently adopted cartridges. Oddly enough, France and Prussia decided on the principle of needle ignition. In the American Civil War, rimfire cartridges were used in large quantities by both parties and in doing so replaced the majority of all other cartridge designs. Even the very deadly .58 caliber "revolving machine gun" known as the Gatling Gun was chambered for special cartridges.
Loading Milbank-Amsler 18 mm cartridges, from left to right: live cartridge, guard cartridge (with large shot), training cartridge. To the right: Wänzel cartridges of the Imperial and Royal Austrian Army in 14 mm caliber - combat and training. Next, next to the Milbank-Amsler 18 mm caliber 1861 cartridge, is a modern .17″ Mach-2 cartridge and archival photos of the .58″ Gatling cartridge used in large quantities in the American Civil War
For collectors, the "rimfire" ammo sector is a huge field. Already Flaubert cartridges of various calibers and designs, still produced today in some southern European countries, offered at fairly reasonable prices, do not quite bring the desired pleasure. Of course, when purchasing large-caliber varieties, ambitious collectors must significantly empty their wallets. 100 euros for a well-preserved 18mm Milbank-Amsler cartridge is not small, but payable even among good friends. A very rare original closed pack of ten pieces (1861, Thun) has long been exchanged by its owner for 2100 euros. The prices for Swiss guard or training cartridges of this caliber are more than shocking for a “normal” wallet. Dr. Manfred Rosenberger, translation by Nikolai Yezhov
What is the function of a bullet insert?
The rimfire cartridge is equipped with a special insert that prevents uncontrolled rotation of the bullet in the barrel channel. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the accuracy of fire. Inserts can be of two options:
- Easily removable. Mounted before shooting begins.
- Fixed.
A bullet insert is a product with a smooth internal channel that tapers evenly closer to the muzzle. This design uses the “pressurized cylinder” principle, which improves accuracy when shooting. In the manufacture of the inner surface of the bullet insert, channel mandrel technology is used. This gives the product the necessary hardness.
Small Arms Glossary
Submachine gun (PP)
- a hand-held automatic weapon designed to fire pistol cartridges.
The idea of this weapon was born during the First World War, when it was necessary to reinforce the firepower of the infantry in close combat (trenches, dugouts). In this situation, it is not the power of the weapon that is important, but its rate of fire, for which a pistol cartridge was quite sufficient. The low-power cartridge made it possible, as in pistols, to use an automatic operation scheme that used the recoil energy of a free bolt. Hence the simplicity of the design of the submachine gun, its relatively small size and weight, ease of use, especially when operating in trenches, communication passages, inside buildings, etc.
The first sample of PP was created by the Italian Revelli in 1915 at . However, it was a heavy, awkward bipod system with two barrels chambered for 9 mm. The machine gun was more suitable for defense than for attack.
The MP-18, created by the German engineer Hugo Schmeisser in 1918 at the company of T. Bergman, was more responsive to the assigned tasks. Its design has in many ways become classic for this type of weapon. Further German developments (MP-28, MP-34, MP-38, MP-40) were more technologically advanced, including the use of a plastic stock and a folding stock.
Before World War II, leading countries developed their own submachine guns. In Italy it was done, in Czechoslovakia -, in France the MAC model of 1938 appeared, in Finland the famous “Suomi” designed by A. Lahti arr. 1931 They had similar features: they had a blowback bolt, 9 mm caliber, converters for automatic firing from a single shot, a rate of fire from 400 to 900 rounds/min, an aiming range of up to 200 m, a wooden stock, and for special parts a folding or retractable stock, a direct box magazine ( the disc type was less convenient), and the bayonet was often missing.
The American submachine gun, designed by a group of engineers under the leadership of General John Thompson in 1920 and improved in 1928, which was partially used by the police, had distinctive features. "Thompson" had a caliber of 11.43 mm. The first model was equipped with four types of magazines - 20, 30, 50 and 100 rounds. In addition to the butt, it had two pistol grips for ease of shooting. A muzzle brake was screwed onto the barrel, increasing the accuracy of the weapon. High combat characteristics and workmanship allowed it to be exported to England, France, China, and Spain. In England, until 1941, Thompsons were produced under license, and then they launched the production of their own PP by engineers R. Sheppard and G. Tarpin in the city of Enfield (the first letters of their surnames and the city gave the name to the weapon - STEN). The USSR developed its own models. The first mass-produced submachine gun was the V. Degtyarev system (PPD) mod. 1934, modernized in 1938 and 1940, in particular, it received a disk magazine for 73 rounds. However, the weapon turned out to be quite expensive and bulky. In 1941, a new design model by G. Shpagin (PPSh) was adopted. He used spot welding and stamping in the manufacture of parts, and also developed an original recoil compensator brake. High technology made it possible to establish the production of PPSh in millions of copies. In February 1942, it was given a sector magazine with 35 rounds of ammunition. For tankers, sappers, and reconnaissance officers, the PP system of A. Sudaev (PPS) was adopted in 1943. It was the cheapest and most reliable submachine gun of World War II. It had a folding metal stock, which reduced its length to 616 mm, and its weight was 1.63 kg less than the PPSh. He could only fire automatically. The PPS was in service with the Soviet Army until the mid-1950s. Later it was replaced by a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
In Western countries during World War II, the main SMGs were the German MP-38/40 and MP-41; American M-1 (simplified Thompson), replaced in 1942 by the M-3 model, incomparably simpler, lighter and more reliable; STENs were produced in England (more than 3 million copies were produced during the war); in France - MAC-38.
After World War II, the advent of machine guns and assault rifles pushed submachine guns into the background. They became the weapon of airborne units, signalmen, tank crews and special forces. In addition, SMGs remain a convenient police weapon.
The improvement of submachine guns went along the lines of reducing dimensions and weight, simplifying the design and reducing the cost of production. The so-called small PPs have been developed. These include the Israeli model “Mini-Uzi” and “Micro-Uzi” mod. 1984, Czechoslovakian Scorpion model 1961, American Ingram 1970s, Russian folding PP-90M.
However, classic versions of submachine guns also remain in service, but they are, as a rule, unified with assault rifles. For example, on the basis of the German G-3 rifle, the MP-5K with a length of 325 mm was created, and on the basis of the M-16 rifle, the Colt submachine gun was released in America. In Russia, MVD troops were adopted in the 1990s. small submachine guns - “Cypress”, “Klin”, PP-93. They are distinguished by their small size (305-316 mm with the butt folded) and low weight (1.58-1.88 kg).
The use of Flaubert cartridges
These ammunition are considered very low-power and have a low muzzle velocity, not exceeding 200 m/sec. This speed is typical for an average air rifle. The difference between the bullet with which the Flaubert cartridge is equipped and the bullet of a blowgun is that in the same caliber the bullet has a greater mass. Due to this, the firearm is endowed with more energy.
Today, such cartridges are not as popular as they used to be - they have been replaced by air rifle bullets. The cartridges can be used at short distances. Today, the production of special revolvers adapted for firing these cartridges has been launched. Revolvers are an effective means of self-defense. There is no muzzle flash or loud sound when firing long guns using “side-loading” cartridges. The cartridges are in demand among farmers as ammunition for shooting harmful rodents. For such cases, manufacturers recommend products containing a spherical bullet. These cartridges are intended for smooth-bore weapons.
The appearance of the Monte Cristo cartridge
In Russia, the Flaubert cartridge was modified by weapons designer Beringer and became known to its consumers as “Monte Cristo”. Unlike the French counterpart, the Russian one was a product made from a more durable and longer sleeve. In addition, it was equipped with a powder charge made of black powder. The shape of the bullet was also subject to changes.
The improved cartridge was intended primarily for military purposes. Over time, it found its application in hunting and sports shooting. Due to the fact that the projectile has low power and does not pose a danger to human life, weapons using this ammunition do not belong to the category of firearms. Despite this, the use of weapons chambered for Flaubert is prohibited in the Russian Federation. This is due to the fact that there is no certification required by law.
How the weapon was loaded
In the early history of firearms, gunpowder was poured into the muzzle, followed by a rag, and then a wad and a lead round bullet. Hunters carried gunpowder in powder flasks, and soldiers carried gunpowder in paper cartridges. The history of the cartridge begins with a long bag of thick paper into which gunpowder and a bullet were placed. To load the weapon, one end of the bag was torn off and gunpowder was poured into the barrel. Then they inserted a bullet and pushed paper on top with a ramrod to fix the gunpowder and bullet.
English powder flasks of the 17th century. The ritual of loading a flintlock musket or pistol with gunpowder from a flask and then with a bullet was abandoned when the unitary cartridge was invented
Before the advent of the flintlock, serpentine gunpowder was used as a seed. Later, serpentine was abandoned, and the shooter poured some gunpowder from the cartridge case onto the shelf, and poured the rest into the barrel. The flintlock eliminated the operation of adding gunpowder to the shelf, since a small amount of gunpowder poured directly from the breech of the barrel onto the closed powder shelf. This system was used throughout most of the flintlock era and was generally reliable as long as the powder on the shelf remained dry. Of course, this did not always happen, and on average, in three cases out of ten, the seed either did not flare up or burned out without igniting the main powder charge.
After John Forsyth and other inventors developed a system with a detonating composition (at the same time experiments were being carried out with mercury fulminate), it was logical to combine all the constituent elements - the cartridge case, the primer, the main charge and the bullet - into a single whole. Many experiments followed with cartridges of various shapes, and different schools emerged, arguing fiercely about exactly where in the cartridge the primer should be placed.
Belgian six-shot pinwheel revolver, manufactured circa 1865. This revolver is chambered for the Lefochet metal case cartridge.
Characteristics of a standard rifle cartridge
- The bullet weight is 2.55 grams.
- The long cartridge has an initial speed of 335 m/sec.
- At a distance of 50 m, the bullet reaches speeds of up to 300 m/s.
- At a distance of 100 m – 275 m/sec.
- Distance 300 m – 217 m/s.
- Using it for sighting at a distance of 50 m risks exceeding the bullet’s flight path by up to two meters.
- From 100 meters – 13.
- From 300 meters – 196.
The standard 5.6mm rimfire rifle cartridge gives best results indoors, which is characterized by constant temperature and humidity.
Group of cartridges for sport shooting
The 5.6 mm rimfire cartridge has found its use in shooting competitions. Since all participants are in equal conditions, clear international standards are also provided for their equipment, according to which the cartridge can be:
- Long rifle Long Rifle. It is marked with (LR). Used for shooting rifles and pistols. The cartridge has an initial speed of up to 350 m/s.
- Short – Kurz. Applies to pistols only. High-speed shooting at silhouettes according to established international rules is only possible using this 5.6 mm rimfire cartridge. The dimensional characteristics of this caliber are considered mandatory for all participants during sports competitions. Country of manufacture is not taken into account.
Rimfire Cartridges: Evaluating Terminal Performance
We bring to your attention an overview of the characteristics of rimfire cartridges in calibers .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .17 HMR and .17 Winchester Super Mag,
prepared by Richard Mann, an expert at the gundigest.com portal.
Quite a lot has already been written about the terminal characteristics of cartridges for rifles and centerfire pistols. This is not only a favorite topic of thought for weapons writers, but also a reason for numerous conversations and debates around the fire while hunting. Why isn't there the same interest in the terminal performance of rimfire cartridges?
Photo from gundigest.com
I think part of this is due to the fact that many of the animals taken with flange-fired cartridges are relatively small, not life-threatening, and are not considered trophies, at least not in the same sense that a mature one might be. deer. Despite this, the power-to-weight ratio of game between these different types of ammunition is very similar: if an elk weighs about half a ton
- considered the maximum practical limit for the .308 Winchester, then an animal weighing about 20 kg. - large coyote - would be a reasonable maximum limit for .22 LR.
Therefore, the terminal characteristics of the bullet are equally important for both the .22 LR and the 308 Winchester. It doesn't matter if you're shooting a squirrel for dinner, a raccoon in a trash can, or a coyote in the chicken coop. And you'll be surprised how differently different ammunition behaves.
Cartridge .22
The .22 LR cartridge is most commonly used for target shooting and shooting ranges, but it is also the primary cartridge for small game. He fed families and made the most ordinary people shooters. Benchrest shooting legend Walt Berger told me how, as a child, he hunted woodchucks on a neighbor's farm. The farmer paid him 10 cents for each animal killed. Walt saved half the money and used the rest to buy a few rounds of .22 LR ammunition. In those days, .22 LR cartridges could be purchased individually.
What's shocking is that Remington's CBee22 accelerates very well, even at subsonic speeds. Accuracy can range from good to poor, depending on your rifle. Don't expect 100% reliability from semi-automatics.
The .22 LR cartridge can be effective against large animals such as coyotes, and some even use it for personal defense. Poachers even use .22 LR on large animals such as deer. I don't support poaching and I don't think this cartridge is ideal for coyotes or bad guys, but no matter what you plan to do with the .22, you should choose a load that will increase your chances of success.
In my opinion, the best all-around load for .22 LR is the 40 grain CCI Velocitor. From a rifle, it penetrates to a depth of more than 30 cm and expands to almost 1.4 times the original diameter of the bullet. This is a lethal small game bullet that works well on woodchucks and similar animals, and if I were going to shoot a coyote or a criminal with a .22 LR, this is what I would choose. Surprisingly, this bullet expands even when fired from a pistol. If you can't find the Velocitor, the 40 grain Winchester HyperSpeed Hollow-Point is almost as good.
CCI .22LR 40gr Velocitor
Two notable Remington cartridges are the CBee22 and the Yellow Jacket. What makes the CBee22 unique is its subsonic speed, good flatness, and the bullet's ability to continue to expand. For controlling pests in the home or small game at close range, this is an interesting option. The Yellow Jacket's high velocity and fragmentation make it ideal for squirrels, wild dogs, and even animals such as rock gnats, raccoons, and the like.
.22 Magnum
The .22 Magnum is in a different category than the .22 LR because it can have 50% higher velocity for the same bullet weight. For small edible game such as squirrels and rabbits, some .22 Magnum cartridges can be destructive and damage a lot of meat. For animals like foxes and raccoons, the .22 Magnum can be an ideal cartridge. With the right cartridge, it can be very effective even on large animals such as coyotes and badgers. And if someone wants to use cartridges for self-defense, then .22 Magnum is the best option.
If you want to take down prairie dogs, your best bet is to use explosive .22 Magnum cartridges such as Federal and CCI Speer 30-grain TNT. For edible small game, more traditional cartridges like CCI's 40 grain JHP and TMJ are lethal and don't do much damage to game meat. Due to their ability to penetrate deeply, these cartridges also work well on larger animals such as coyotes. Another great coyote cartridge is the 40-grain CCI Game Point, which expands to about double the diameter and penetrates deeper than 40 cm.
For an all-around .22 Magnum cartridge, I prefer Remington's 33-grain AccuTip. It provides decent penetration and dynamic expansion. Another cartridge that performs very similar to the AccuTip is the 30 grain Hornady V-Max. Both have been highly accurate in the various .22 Magnum rifles in which they have been tested, and are my top picks for .22 Magnum.
For self-defense, Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot cartridges are best. They expand well even from barrels up to an inch long, and the penetration power in 10 percent ballistic gelatin hovers around the FBI minimum of 30 cm. Although these cartridges are intended for pistols, for accurate rifle shooting they can also be used as universal cartridges for almost everything.
.17 HMR
Shortly after the introduction of the .17 HMR, it looked like it would mark the end of the .22 Magnum. He was faster and incredibly accurate. However, hunters soon began to realize that the .17 did not have the versatility of the .22 Magnum. Although it tore through prairie dogs and squirrels, it did not have the bullet weight or penetration needed to take down larger animals without a perfect hit. Almost all .17 HMR rounds—at least the 17-grain ones—create huge wound cavities by firearms standards, but their penetration is less than 15 cm.
If you are looking for cartridges for shooting prairie dogs or squirrels at range, the .17 is the ideal cartridge. It's also good for shooting rock grouse and marmot at ranges over 200m. And yes, you can hunt coyote or badger with a .17, but head or flank shots are best; these bullets will not penetrate the belly or muscle tissue deeply enough. CCI's FMJ and Game Point bullets penetrate much better, and if you're hunting larger game, CCI's Game Point is a better option.
The .17 HMR is a fantastic cartridge and I have used it frequently hunting prairie dogs and even marmots. I once killed a prairie dog at a distance of about 500 m with a .17 HMR. No, I did not hit it with the first shot, and the animal did not die immediately. However, the ability to hit a target the size of a Coke bottle at a distance of 500 m with a rimfire rifle is quite remarkable, even if it requires half a box of ammo.
.17 Winchester Super Magnum
The Winchester .17 Super Magnum shoots smoother and hits harder than the .17 HMR. However, in terms of terminal characteristics, penetration increases only slightly. Unless you're looking to dramatically increase your range, it's doubtful this cartridge is worth the extra cost. In fact, .17 Winchester Super Magnum ammo costs about 25 percent more than .17 HMR ammo. Both the 20 and 25 grain cartridges have the same performance, but oddly enough, in the penetration category, the lighter bullet has the advantage.
The Winchester .17 Super Magnum is a high-velocity cartridge that produces large but moderately shallow wound cavities.
There is some truth to the old saying “speed kills”. When light bullets travel at high speeds, they tend to create massive wound cavities, although in some cases these wound cavities are shallow. This is exactly the case with the .17 Winchester Super Magnum. Due to their higher velocity, bullets damage a lot of tissue and quickly incapacitate any animal weighing up to 15 kg. However, if the target is a large coyote, the hunter should take care to ensure the bullet enters the heart and avoid tangential hits.
What are the names of cartridges and how are they marked?
Depending on their purpose, rimfire cartridges are divided into:
- Sports and hunting. The bullet weighs 2.6 grams, the cartridge - 3.5 g. The size of the cartridge is 25.5 mm, the bullet - 15.6 mm. Used by sporting rifles and combination shotguns. These products are not subject to labeling.
- Target-rifle. The dimensions of the ammunition correspond to sporting and hunting cartridges. Used with standard rifles for shooting at short distances (50 meters). Marked with the letter “C”.
- Pistol. They are used with single-shot sports pistols at distances from 25 to 50 meters. Dimensions correspond to target cartridges. They differ in the weight of the cartridge. The pistol weight is 3.3 grams. They are marked with two five-pointed stars superimposed on each other.
- Shortened. They are used for shooting at a distance not exceeding 25 meters in enclosed spaces. The length of the cartridge is 17.9 mm, the length of the bullet is 10.55 mm. Bullet weight - 1.87 g, cartridge - 2.52. An image in the form of a circle is used for marking.
- Sports for the exercise “Biathlon”. The dimensions correspond to similar sporting and hunting cartridges. The mass of the bullet is 2.7 grams, the cartridge – 3.4 g. A five-pointed star is used for marking.
Where else are they used?
Modern installation work cannot be completed without the use of such special pyrotechnic devices as rim-ignition construction cartridges. Today they have become indispensable on any construction site.
Using a rimfire mounting chuck, you can easily and quickly work with concrete, brick, plywood and other dense materials. Now, with the help of a mounting gun and cartridges for it, the master does not need to drill a hole. Fastening is carried out immediately, which significantly saves time and effort.
And so, for a rapid-fire breech-loading gun, a unitary cartridge is needed. We talked about the unitary needle gun cartridge of the Dreyse system. However, the idea of a unitary cartridge was realized a long time ago: the first needle-shaped, albeit imperfect, gun was designed in 1808 by the French gunsmith Pauly, at whose factory Dreyse worked. The next weapon chambered for a unitary cartridge was the Demondion system gun. In 1831, in France, he proposed an original and very ingenious system of a breech-loading pin gun. The cartridge for it was designed with a special primer, which was arranged in the form of a long tube sticking out from the back of a homemade paper cartridge.The shot took place as follows. The bolt was raised up by means of a lever for loading. When the bolt was closed, the lever lay along the neck of the stock. When the bolt was raised, the long, massive arm of the mainspring was lowered, which was compressed and held on the sear-trigger. The descent consisted of one part. The cartridge had to be inserted into the chamber so that the primer tube was in the lowest position.
Russian conservatism and weapons
A significant reason influencing the backwardness of the weapons of the Russian army was extreme conservatism in views on issues related to the improvement of weapons; If such conservatism took place in other states, then in Russia it manifested itself constantly and more deeply.
The history of the development of firearms provides quite a few examples in this regard. Thus, percussion capsule weapons, which have proven themselves well as hunting weapons, were not introduced into armies for a long time - for many decades - due to fears that “the rough hands of a soldier would not be able to put the capsule on the primer rod.” There was also an opinion that the acceleration of fire that occurs during the transition from flintlock rifles (maximum 1 shot per minute) to percussion rifles (1.5 shots per minute) is unprofitable, since it requires more ammunition consumption. From courses on the history of weapons it is clear that the Russian government was not inclined to move to converting flintlock rifles into percussion rifles due to economic considerations. A characteristic example of conservatism of views is the following fact from the history of the introduction into service of rifled weapons instead of smooth-bore ones. In the Russian army in 1856, a six-line rifle was introduced, and in 1858 - the same infantry rifle, which differed from the first only in that the sight for the latter was adopted only up to 600 steps instead of 1200. It was believed that the soldier would not be able to cope with the installation of the sight . And such a belief was widespread for a long time among the senior command staff of the Russian army.
The first sample of a Leforche gun (1832), which used
sleeves with brand tubes
In 1836, the French gunsmith Leforche invented a more practical breech-loading gun and a unitary cartridge for it. The Leforchet unitary cartridge was made of cardboard with a brass cap and a side brass pin protruding from the outside (which is why it was called a pin cartridge).
Leforche's gun had a barrel that swung on a hinge. For strong adhesion of the barrel to the block, a latch was used that fit into the cutout of the hook under the barrels. The valve was controlled by a long lever located under the block and fore-end. To load, it was necessary to turn the lever, move the breech of the barrel up from the block, insert the cartridge so that the cartridge pin fits into the corresponding cutout in the upper wall of the barrel, close the gun, that is, put the barrel in place, and turn the lever along the fore-end. To fire, you had to cock the hammer. When the trigger was pressed, the trigger, under the action of a spring, hit the end of the pin protruding from the barrel; the pin with its other end pierced the primer in the cartridge, and a shot occurred. After the shot, it was necessary to cock the hammer, open the barrel, remove the spent cartridge case from the barrel and load the gun again.
The gun did not have an extractor; the cartridge case was removed with your fingers, taking it by the pin. Charging happened quite quickly.
The Leforchet carbine, due to the swinging barrel, turned out to be unsuitable as a military gun, but in the form of hunting rifles, single-barreled and double-barreled guns of the Leforchet system became widespread. However, the pin cartridges for them were very sensitive to accidental impacts and required special care in handling. Soon the Leforchet bolt was improved in that the barrel began to be locked instead of a bolt with a special screw head, which, when turning the lever, pulled the barrel to the block with its screw surfaces. This improvement was made by some modest English gunsmith who did not take out a patent. He made the lever more convenient, located on the trigger guard and having a spring latch. This screw bolt was soon patented by the English arms manufacturer Lancaster, who advertised and distributed this system under his own name.
A cartridge with a brand tube for the first Leforchet gun (above) and a cartridge with a pin for the Leforchet gun of 1836
In 1842, the French gunsmith Flaubert invented a breech-loading gun for firing a small, low-noise cartridge of the original device: there was no gunpowder in its solid-drawn copper case, but there was an explosive compound in the head of the case. The trigger hit the edge of the cap on the side of the chamber, causing the explosive composition to explode and eject a round bullet placed in the muzzle of the cartridge case from the cartridge case. Flaubert's shutter was only a massive trigger, placed in the middle of the box so that it could not be thrown back by the pressure of the gases when fired. Two hook-shaped strikers were installed on the trigger hammer, which - after hitting the cartridge head - grabbed the cartridge case by the head, and when the hammer was cocked, the cartridge case was removed from the chamber and removed from the trigger with your fingers.
English Lancaster gun
Flaubert produced his guns in three different calibers - 4, 6 and 9 millimeters. The trunks were made smooth and rifled. Like guns, with a similar lock and chambered for the same cartridges, Flaubert produced pistols.
Flaubert's weapon was of good workmanship and very accurate; Due to the simplicity of the device, the cheapness of cartridges and the weak sound of a shot, this system became widespread and caused many imitations and improvements. In Russia, Flaubert's guns were known as "Montecristo". The disadvantage of Flaubert's weapon was that its cartridges had too little power.
The Flaubert cartridge was called, based on its ignition system, a circular, or side, fire cartridge. This system also includes Demondion and Leforchet cartridges, which also did not have a primer. In the history of cartridge improvements, Flaubert's system is remarkable in that his case served as a model for a more advanced metal case. In 1856, Beringer successfully improved the Flaubert cartridge - he enlarged and strengthened the cartridge case, placed a powder charge and an elongated bullet in it. This side-fire cartridge soon became widespread for hunting weapons, but was first used for military rifles. Later guns created by Remington, Spencer, Henry-Winchester, Vetterly and others were designed for side-fire cartridges. In military weapons, the side-fire cartridge soon became obsolete, being replaced by the center-fire cartridge. In sports and hunting weapons, the circular, or side, fire cartridge still serves today.
Swedish infantryman (1848)
Omnifire Metal Cartridge
Metal centerfire cartridge
What is a rimfire mounting cartridge?
The product is a special pyrotechnic device. In mounting guns, rimfire construction cartridges act as a source of energy necessary for driving dowels into materials of varying densities. Unlike a live cartridge, a construction cartridge is considered blank because it is not equipped with a bullet. It has the shape of a small sleeve, the barrel of which is rolled.
Smokeless powder is used for filling. A rimfire construction cartridge operates after detonation of the igniter primer. The reaction occurs as a result of the striker hitting the flange edge. The rimfire cartridge is not the only option in the construction industry. There is also a type of Berdan and Boxer cartridges, the primers of which are characterized by a central strike.
Center fire cartridge
In 1854, Charles Lancaster developed a unitary cartridge with a brass sleeve. A primer was inserted into the middle of the bottom of the brass sleeve, and the firing pin easily initiated its detonation.
This is how the central ignition cartridge appeared, which turned out to be the most successful type of cartridge. Today it is the most popular cartridge for large-caliber small arms. As to who exactly was the first to invent a central ignition cartridge, debate continues to this day, which in itself indicates the importance of this invention. Thus, some claim that it was invented by the English gunsmith J. H. Dow in 1861, but they also mention the Parisian Clément Potte, as well as the London one, which managed to obtain the corresponding patent.
In a center-fire cartridge, the initiating composition is located in the center of the bottom. In general, centerfire cartridges can carry a larger powder charge
In 1867, the British War Office adopted the Ely-Boxer centerfire cartridge for equipping Enfield rifles. The original Eli-Boxer cartridge case was made from sheet brass. In 1870, Colonel Hiram Berdan of the US Ordnance Survey developed a cartridge with a bottle-shaped case with a primer and chamber at the base and priming holes on both sides. Modern cartridge cases are made of brass and metal alloys. In general, modern centerfire cartridges are more powerful than rimfire cartridges.
What operating principle applies?
The rimfire cartridges of caliber 5.6x16, 6.8x11, 6.8x15, 6.8x18 used by mounting guns make it possible to fasten materials and structures using dowels, the dimensions of which range from 3 to 8 cm. The principle of direct installation is used in the work.
The smokeless powder mass with which the cartridges are filled, after detonation of the capsules, ignites with the release of gas. The resulting gas is energy that acts on the dowel located in the barrel of the mounting gun. After the charge is ignited, the dowel begins to move along the barrel bore to the surface of the materials being mounted. As a result of the high tension in the channel, the dowel becomes very hot. The strength and quality of the connection are achieved by sticking the dowel body to the surface.
Foreign manufacturer Sellier and Bellot
Among numerous manufacturers, products from the foreign company Sellier and Bellot, which produces rimfire cartridges of 5.6 - 9 mm caliber, have become very popular. Each product has a corresponding powder charge. Construction cartridges 5, 6 mm rimfire have energy in the range of 100 - 500 J.
What design do the shells have?
Mounting cartridges from a foreign manufacturer consist of a brass sleeve, impact composition and a powder charge. In order to ensure its tightness, the cartridge case neck is rolled with a radial star. In some cases, a cardboard wad may be used.
Weak sides
The disadvantage of the product is its high cost. This is due to the use of expensive brass in the production of sleeves. Another disadvantage of Sellier and Bellot products is that the powder charges are poured into the cartridge case freely and are not pressed. As a result, the power of the cartridge decreases.
Hairpin chuck
Johannes Pauli was a Swiss gunsmith working in Paris. In 1812, he developed and patented a breech-loading system and a new cartridge, which became the prototype of the pin cartridge. Although Pauli's designs were well thought out, for various reasons the gunsmiths of his day did not accept the new ideas. However, work in this area continued, and in 1835 the Frenchman Casimir Lefauchet invented the pin chuck. This cartridge consisted of a brass cartridge case with a primer and gunpowder; The bullet fit tightly into the neck of the cartridge case. A pin protruded from the side wall of the sleeve. Under the action of the striker, the pin struck the primer placed inside the cartridge case and ignited it. The system turned out to be successful, and many weapons were released under this cartridge.
The equipment of an American cavalryman during the Civil War included, in particular, French pinned revolvers and a bandoleer.
The disadvantage of the Lefoshe system was the protruding pin: it made handling the cartridge not as convenient as with the central or rimfire cartridges that appeared later. The pin had to fit exactly into the slot intended for it in the chamber, and if handled carelessly it could cause an accidental shot. After the death of Casimir Lefauchet in 1852, his son Eugene continued to improve both the cartridge and the design of the weapon. The Lefoshe system was improved and patented in 1855 by another Frenchman, Clément Potte. The baton was picked up in London by Colonel Edward Boxer, who patented a central ignition cartridge with a metal base and a brass sleeve.
Lefauchet and other Parisian gunsmiths were instrumental in the development of a composite case that combined paper and brass. The German gunsmith Nikolaus von Dreyse successfully used a similar cartridge case in his needle percussion mechanism, so named because of the long needle in the center of the firing pin, which ignited the primer. The most important improvement was to place the primer in the center of the bottom of the brass case. The same system is used in modern centerfire cartridges.
Pin pistols were used in the American Civil War (1861-1865), although they were not highly valued. Their firepower was low compared to the percussion cap revolvers, such as the Colts, which were widely used on the battlefield.
What is the modernization of the construction cartridge?
After numerous studies of mounting rimfire cartridges, the developers decided to strengthen them by increasing their density. This procedure is carried out by pressing a powder charge. Having solid walls, the sleeve is able to withstand such reinforcement. In a standard construction cartridge, after the striker strikes, the granular powder charge ignites. The lower part of the sleeve contains a charge with insignificant density. The presence of gaps between the grains does not interfere with combustion. In a cartridge that has undergone modification, the density increases, and as a result, these gaps are reduced, which subsequently eliminates the occurrence of separate combustion zones in the cartridge case.
It was decided to create a new 5.6 mm cartridge with increased power for use with mounting guns. In the modernized cartridge, the combustion volume increases significantly, and the process itself proceeds evenly. Complete combustion of the powder elements occurs. After increasing the density, gases are retained by unburned powder layers. As a result, sprockets or cardboard wads mounted on the sleeve do not open prematurely. Increasing the density by pressing the charge makes it possible to equip the case with a larger mass of gunpowder, which has a beneficial effect on power. It increases by 30%.
Thus, the modernization affected only the contents of the cartridge case. External parameters and dimensions remained unchanged. Compared to identically sized standard mounting chucks, the new ones have increased power.
Advantages of a metal sleeve
A wonderful property of the metal case in some types of cartridges is that it expands under the influence of the heat generated when the gunpowder detonates. The result is a hermetically sealed chamber, which increases the energy of the bullet leaving the barrel. In addition, such a sleeve eliminates the breakthrough of powder gases, which could injure the shooter. The brass centerfire cartridge case can be reused once removed from the chamber. The quality requirements for cartridges are very high, since the cartridges must exactly match the dimensions of the chamber of the weapon for which they are intended. This involves precision machining of both weapon parts and the cartridge cases themselves; permissible deviations from the specified dimensions should be minimal. Different cartridges may contain different powder charges, and it is important to choose the correct charge for the pistol, otherwise the weapon may explode when fired. Cartridges can be marked in metric or inch systems.
Needle gun
Johann Nikolaus Dreyse was a Prussian gunsmith who invented the combat breech-loading needle gun. The Dreyse system uses a sliding bolt that opens and locks the breech of the barrel, which houses the cartridge. The bolt was locked by lowering the handle, which fit into a groove in the receiver. The firing pin is equipped with a striker in the form of a long needle passing through the body of the bolt. When the trigger was pressed, the needle moved forward, pierced the paper sleeve and reached the primer placed in the bottom of the bullet. The cartridge used in this system consisted of four parts: a paper sleeve, a powder charge, an igniter primer and a bullet. The capsule was located between the bullet and the powder charge. To reach the primer, the needle had to pierce the entire powder charge.
Although this ingenious design was quite effective for its time, the needle gun initially had some disadvantages. The needle passing through the shutter required extremely careful processing and fitting of parts. Otherwise, some of the powder gases would break through the bolt. Since the needle was constantly exposed to powder explosions, it quickly wore out and became unusable.
A Prussian bolt-action needle military rifle made around 1851. The effectiveness of this design was soon proven on the battlefield when the Prussian rifle was found to fire much faster than enemy weapons. Following Prussia, France adopted similar weapons.
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