"Myths about the pump." The most common misconceptions about pump-action shotguns

Is the “pump” suitable for hunting? How does she shoot: bullet, buckshot, shot? What cartridges are suitable? You will find the main areas of application of pump-action shotguns in our article and video.

In our new video on YouTube, in which hunting department expert Alexander Romanov and hunting blogger Jarik Andersson spoke in detail about the advantages and disadvantages of pump-action shotguns, and the scope of application of these practical shotguns. Watch the video at the end of this article.

Purpose of use

The main purpose of buying a pump-action shotgun is self-defense. It is not recommended to purchase a pump-action shotgun for self-defense without a firearms license. If it is used, the owner will have a difficult explanation with law enforcement officials.

A pump-action shotgun for self-defense has a number of advantages over other smoothbore shotguns.

The pump has a capacious under-barrel magazine for 4-8 rounds, in contrast to single-barreled or double-barreled hunting rifles with one and two cartridges, respectively.

Compared to semi-automatic guns, pump-action shotguns have a simpler and more reliable design.

The quality of rolling and the weight of gunpowder in the cartridge do not affect its performance. In the event of a misfire, the problem is corrected by jerking the movable forend and chambering a new cartridge into the chamber. The pump is the leader in the ability to fire the first shot when the weapon is completely unloaded. To do this, you need to throw the cartridge onto the feed tray and return the forend to the forward position. A weapon ready to fire appears in the hands of the defender. If time permits, you can equip the under-barrel magazine with one hand.

A good helper in this case will be a clip-on bandoleer. A butt bandolier is practical, but it changes the balance of the gun.

A bandolier for a receiver for 4-6 rounds is more versatile.

When you take the pump out of the safe, such cartridge belts will always have a supply of cartridges sufficient to end the conflict.

Below we will review the most suitable ones for self-defense.

General characteristics of pump-action weapons

Shooting from a pump-action shotgun is carried out as follows. To fire a shot, it is necessary to exert a mechanical force forward or backward on the sliding front handle (in other words, to distort this handle). When the handle moves back and forth, it moves the bolt mechanism. As a result, the spent cartridge case is ejected, and a new charge is sent to the chamber, and the next shot occurs.

Probably, each of us has at least once seen some kind of action movie in which the hero famously deals with ill-wishers using a pump-action weapon, vigorously jerking the shutter and firing almost automatically.

It is believed that the mechanism of a pump-action weapon is much more effective than that of classic hunting rifles, since it can be controlled much faster due to the fact that when shooting, the hand does not remove from the handle until the weapon runs out of charges. If a gun can be reloaded faster, then, consequently, fire from it can be fired more intensely. So the classic Hollywood superhero is not entirely fiction: with good skill, you can indeed shoot much faster from a pump-action shotgun than from a traditional hunting weapon.

By the way, the method of reloading a pump-action weapon is usually called a sliding forend.

In addition to pump-action shotguns, there is also a pump-action rifle, as well as a pump-action grenade launcher. If we do not take into account rifles and grenade launchers and talk exclusively about pump-action shotguns, then we can say that all of them are conditionally divided into two types: hunting shotguns and shotguns for self-defense. Let's look at both of these varieties.

Remington 870 (USA)

An exceptionally reliable pump-action weapon. Available in 12, 16, 20, 28 calibers. For self-defense, a modification with a barrel length of 510 mm is suitable.

Receiver made of steel. Tubular magazine with a capacity of 3 or 8 rounds with a magazine extension.

High quality workmanship, a large number of additional accessories: a polymer folding stock, a pistol grip, a forend and a receiver with Picatinny rails (this bracket allows you to attach a flashlight, a laser target designator, a collimator sight to a weapon).

Read about which self-defense weapons do not require a permit or license in this article.

In this article you can read about the best models of air pistols for self-defense.

Legal basis

In accordance with the current legislation of the Russian Federation, the use of any weapon for self-defense may entail certain liability. There is a concept of “exceeding permissible self-defense,” within the framework of which the use of even an ordinary gas spray can be regarded as hooliganism.

In addition, most self-defense means require a certain permission to carry, store and use. Therefore, the unauthorized use of bladed weapons or firearms may entail criminal liability.

First of all, you should consider means of self-defense that do not require permission. These include:

• gas cartridges;
• stun guns, power up to 3 W;
• pneumatic weapons with a caliber of no more than 4.5 mm, the flight speed of which does not exceed 100 m/s.

All other types of weapons require permission and registration. If we are talking about a gun, then without a license you can only use the simplest pneumatic models, which cannot be considered a serious means of self-defense. Traumatic and firearms models are required to be registered.

Obtaining a license to store and carry weapons

A gun for self-defense must be stored in a safe installed in accordance with certain rules of the Russian Federation.
To obtain a weapons permit, you must collect a certain list of documents. This can be done either independently or by entrusting this procedure to an intermediary, but in this case the procedure will not be cheap.

The process of collecting the necessary documentation consists of the following steps:

1. Passing a medical examination. To do this, you need to contact a private medical center or public clinic. The first option will save you from long waits and queues, but will cost much more. Based on the results of the medical examination, a certificate 127/o is issued.
2. The next stage is training in the rules of handling firearms. These courses can be taken at any large shooting range or shooting complex. After passing the exam, the citizen receives a corresponding certificate.
3. Since persons with a criminal record are prohibited from using bladed weapons and firearms, the next step will be to provide the appropriate certificate. However, the inspection organization can make such a request automatically.
4. When contacting any insurance company, you should conclude an agreement on liability for possible harm caused to a third party.
5. At the last stage, you need to write an application by filling out the appropriate form. It is accompanied by a photocopy of the passport and 2 photographs measuring 3x4. All documents are submitted to the regional office of the permitting system. If we are talking about purchasing rifled weapons, then the regional department is in charge of obtaining all the necessary permits.
6. After checking the documents, the inspector is obliged to give the applicant a receipt, which he pays and returns to the specialist.

Verification of the provided documents takes no more than a month. As a result, the applicant receives the requested permission. After this, he must purchase a weapon within three months.

In accordance with the current legislation of the Russian Federation, special storage conditions must be created for firearms and bladed weapons. Even if a person purchases a gun for a collection, he does not have the right to put it on public display. It can be exhibited as an exhibit only if there is a display case made of shockproof glass that is closed with a secure lock.

MR-133 (Russia)

The most popular pump-action weapon in Russia. Equipped with a triple shot protection system.

Receiver made of aluminum alloy. Caliber 12/70, 12/76, 12/89 mm. For self-defense purposes, a barrel with a length of 510 or 540 mm is preferred.

Magazine capacity is 4 rounds, with a magazine extension - 8. Options: with a wooden butt, with a plastic folding butt and pistol grip, with a pistol grip. Since 2013, it has been replaced by a more advanced model MP-135.

Disassembly

1. Unload the weapon by moving the fore-end several times until it locks in the rear position.
2. Unscrew the nut on the front edge of the magazine.
3. Remove the spring and cartridge feeder.
4. Remove the barrel from mating with the receiver.
5. Remove the bolt carrier from the delay by pressing the lever above the trigger.
6. Pull the forend and remove it from the magazine tube.
7. Remove the bolt frame and separate the bolt body with the cylinder from it.
8. If necessary for repairs, knock out the two pins above the trigger guard and remove the firing mechanism assembly from it.

Now let's look at the modernization and tuning of the MP-133.

Hatsan Escort AimGuard (Türkiye)

Positioned by the manufacturer as a self-defense weapon. It is distinguished by good reliability and decent workmanship at a low cost. Caliber 12/76 mm. Barrel length – 450 or 500 mm. Magazine capacity – 5 or 7 rounds. The handguard and butt are plastic.

There are options with a metal folding stock and a pistol grip, and with a pistol grip without a stock.

A pump-action shotgun is a formidable and effective weapon for self-defense. It is suitable for solving most problems of ensuring the safety of yourself and your family, as well as your territory.

Watch a video review of a pump-action weapon, an expert will tell you how a pump differs from a semi-automatic weapon and a lot of other useful information for choosing a shotgun:

The most important of the arts is...

Separately, it is worth mentioning the role of this shotgun in world culture. Twelve million “trunks” produced guarantee that sooner or later your creation will end up in movies, on television screens, on the pages of books and in computer toys. And so it happened - pump-action Remingtons of various modifications appeared in about two hundred films, a hundred TV series and about 70 games. And you know what's the funniest thing? The gun, which is considered quintessentially American, first appeared on movie screens in 1964 in Soviet director Mikhail Kalatozov's film I Am Cuba, which has now become a cinematic classic. Take a closer look - the long-barreled hunting Wingmaster is in the frame.

Later, Hollywood corrected itself. The most memorable moments with the participation of the 870 are familiar to everyone - and there is hardly a single popular action actor who is not featured in the frame with this pump-action gun.

Sarah Connor from Terminator 2 and M4A1 Pulse Rifle from Aliens (under-barrel grenade launcher - camouflaged sawed-off Remington 870)

Unfortunately, not a single worthy book telling about the history of this wonderful gun has yet been written. Those that exist are nothing more than manuals, selections of illustrations from old Remington catalogs and reviews of various body kits. It’s a pity - I would like the information on it to be collected together. It fully deserves it - if not as the best shotgun in the world, then at least as the most common.

Shotgun selection

At the moment, there are several types of shotguns, which are classified according to the structural features of the barrel and the loading method. Regarding the first criterion, the following types of guns are distinguished:

1. Smoothbore. Such guns can be called classic, since they appeared the very first. A smoothbore gun is used to fire shot, special bullets and buckshot. It is aimed at hitting targets at short and medium distances. The most famous representative of this type of weapon is the shotgun.
2. Rifled type. It includes rifles (the name comes from the word “screw”, which in itself indicates the structure of the barrel), carbines and fittings. The presence of threads inside the barrel allows the bullet to spin, as a result of which such weapons are intended for long-range shooting.

The procedure for obtaining permission to store and use rifled weapons is quite complicated. In particular, a beginner will not be able to get such a weapon at his disposal, since it is allowed to be used only five years after purchasing a smoothbore gun.

Regarding the charging method, it is possible to divide smooth-bore weapons into two types:

1. Models with folding trunks. They are the most popular among hunters.
2. With non-retractable trunks. These are guns with a magazine and a built-in mechanism for replacing the spent cartridge case.

What to look for when purchasing

When purchasing a gun, you should pay attention to a number of nuances. Having already decided on the type and specific model, you need to make sure that the weapon you are purchasing is free of defects. It should be comfortable, give the impression of high quality and reliability.

Experts advise when purchasing to pay attention to the following nuances:

• Carefully inspect the weapon, because, despite the seller’s assurances, the product may have subtle defects. Particular attention should be paid to inspecting the barrel. It should be perfectly straight, smooth, without any visible defects such as dents, burrs, scratches and abrasions. You should not agree to discounts if a defect is discovered - it is better to change the gun.
• Check several times for “aptitude”. With each throw, the gun should lie flat on the shoulder, the barrels should not rise, and the line of sight should correspond to the direction of view. “Applicability” depends on the correct balance and on the suitability of the weapon to the height and figure of the future owner.
• Choose the right weight, because even with short shooting, the weapon should not cause discomfort. The accuracy of aiming largely depends on ease of use, so you should approach the selection process with the utmost care. It is considered ideal when the total weight of ammunition and gun is no more than 22% of the weight of its owner.