The structure of cartridges. Cartridges for rifled hunting weapons, types of bullets and cartridges, use of live ammunition in rifled hunting weapons

PLEASE TAKE THIS TOPIC SERIOUSLY: Post photos, but no discussions. Thanks for understanding.

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 16:24

Still experimental

Some experimental US cartridges from the 1950s:. : .223 Remington (for scale); .224 Winchester E2;
.25 Win FA-T 116 (6.35x48); .25 Win Duplex FA-T 127 (6.35x53); .22/30 Homologous (5.56x51);
.27/30 Homologous (6.8x51); .25/30 Homologous (6.35x51); sectioned 7.62x51 M198 Duplex (which actually saw service).

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 16:27

17 HM2, .17 HMR, .22LR, .22 WMR, .17/23 SMc, 5mm/35 SMc, .22 Hornet, .223 Remington, .223 WSSM, .243 Winchester, .243 Winchester Improved (Ackley), . 25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester, .308, .30-06, .45-70, .50-90 Sharps

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 16:32

Next batch:

All (almost all pistol 9 mm and similar in size - one of the pictures is a repeat)

From left to right: 9x19mm Parabellum; 7.62x25mm Tokarev; .357 SIG; 10 mm Auto; .40 S .45 GAP; .50 Action Express

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 16:38

From left to right:

7.62x51 for scale; 6mm Lee; 5.2mm Mondragon; 5mm Sturtevant

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:03

From left to right:
1) 3 inch 12 ga magnum shotgun shell; 2) AA battery (for size comparison); 3) .454 Casull; 4) .45 Winchester Magnum;
5) .44 Remington Magnum; 6) .357 Magnum; 7) .38 Special; 8) .45 ACP; 9) .38 Super; 10) 9 mm Luger; 11) .32 ACP; 12) .22 LR

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:05

From left to right: 9x19 mm Parabellum; .40 S .45 ACP; 5.7x28mm; 5.56x45mm NATO;
.300 Winchester Magnum; and a 70 mm (2.75 inches) and 76 mm (3 inches) 12 gauge

AIrdoX 09-02-2013 17:05

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:06

Cartridges for early automatic rifles:
the 6.5x52 Carcano; 7.65 Mannlicher Carbine;
.30 Pedersen; 8mm Ribeyrolle (replica); Swiss 7.65x35; .276 Pedersen;
Swiss 7.65x38 with bullet alongside; 9x40 Lahti; 9x35 Lahti

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:07

Unsuccessful attempts by designers (did not go into production):
7x36 Otterup; 7.5x38 Swiss;7.5x45 Czech;
7.5x43 French CRBA; 7.92x40 CETME; .280/30 EM-2; 7mm Compromise;
7.62x47 T65 (predecessor of the 7.62x51 NATO); 7.62x51 with CETME bullet.

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:09

Transition cartridges: 6.5mm Arisaka; 7mm Medium; .30 M1 Carbine;
7.92mm Kurz; 7.62mm AK-47; 7.62x45 Czech; 9x39 Russian (silenced AP - replica round);
5.56x45 SS109; 5.45x39 AK-74; 5.8x42 Chinese

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:11

Experimental cartridges from the 1970s:
6mm SAW; 6mm SAW aluminum-cased; 6.25mm British;
6.45mm Swiss; 6.5x43 German; 6.8x43 Remington SPC (commercial soft-point bullet loading:
military bullets are shorter to match the overall length of the 5.56x45); 6.5mm Grendel; 5.56x45 for scale

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:13

Experimental cartridges up to 6 mm:
FN 5.56x45 APDS; .12 US (3x47); 3.5x50 FN;
4.3x45 German; .17 US (4.3x46); 4.6x36 HK/CETME (with spoon-tip bullet);
4.85mm British; 5.56x38 FABRL; 5.6mm Eiger

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:16

American experiments with a arrow-shaped bullet:
5.56x45 for scale; sectioned 5.6mm XM216;
5.6mm XM144; 5.6mm XM110; 5.6mm XM645 (all part of the SPIW program);
.330 Amron Aerojet (alloy case; with three flechettes)

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:18

"Perverted" Exotic attempts (sometimes both laughter and sin):
5.56x45 with Monad bullet; 4.5mm Schirnecker; 9/4mm Kaltmann
(development round; with part-metal case); 5.56mm Folded; 5.56mm Hughes Lockless;
5.56mm US caseless; 6mm Voere caseless; early HK G11 4.7x21 rounds; final G11 4.7x33

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:24

G11 4.7x33 Components: charge; initiating charge; projectile; retainer holder

Nahum 09-02-2013 17:27

interesting topic, I'll follow...

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:30

12ga Rifle comparison of HELL cartridges (large with black head is .50 BMG)

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:32

More HELL CARTRIDGES AND CALIBERS
.17HM2; .17HMR; .22LR; .22WMR; 5.7FN; .223Rem.; .243Win.; 6mmRem.; .25-20Win.; .264WM; .270WSM; 7x57mmMauser; 7mmRUM; .30Carbine;
7.62x39mm; .30-30Win.; .308Win. (actually 7.62NATO tracer); .303British (Cordite charge with Cupro-nickel jacket projectile); .30-06; .300WM; .300Wby.;
8x57mmMauser; .35Rem.; .375H .45-70Govt.; .458WM; .460Wby.; .50Beowulf; .50BMG (AP); .577NE; .577T-Rex; 12GaFH; .700NE; and finally Mr. Hubel's 4Bore.

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:33

Andrey GREEN 09-02-2013 17:39

30 HRT (110 grain Hornady V-Max); .338 Specter - 300 grain Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail Match King) and 300 grain HAWK Round Nose;
.458 SOCOM - 300 grain Barnes X Spitzer; 400 grain Barnes Round Nose Solid and 600 grain Barnes Original;
.500 Phantom - 168 grain Sierra HPBTMK (saboted); 700 grain HAWK and 750 grain Hornady A-Max.

MAX.X.X 09-02-2013 20:50

I'll yakarya

------------------
Best regards, MAX.X.X. P/S It’s better to have twelve judge than six to carry.

Andrey GREEN 10-02-2013 03:45

Performance characteristics of 9x39 mm (SP-6)
Caliber, mm - 9x39 mm (SP-6)
Real bullet caliber, mm: - 9.25
Chuck length, mm: - 56.02
Sleeve length, mm: - 38.76
Sleeve flange diameter, mm: - 12.43
Case shoulder diameter, mm: - 10.36
Case neck diameter, mm: - 10.14
Powder charge weight, g: - 0.50
Bullet weight, g - 16.0
Beginning bullet speed, m/s - 290 - 310
Muzzle energy of a bullet, J - 673

Andrey GREEN 10-02-2013 03:54

in the mid-1990s in the USA, the famous specialist in special cartridges J.D. Jones (J.D. Jones) working for SSK Industries, created the .500 Whisper cartridges, using a shortened case from the .460 Weatherby Magnum hunting rifle cartridge in combination with a precision bullet caliber 12.7 mm, which had excellent ballistics. The muzzle velocity and bullet weight of the 500 Whisper cartridges are comparable to those of the 12.7 mm STs-130 cartridges.

Cartridge 12.7x97 mm STs-130

Caliber 12.7 mm

Andrey GREEN 10-02-2013 03:57

Cartridge 12.7x108 mm

This cartridge was created in the early 30s in the USSR as ammunition for anti-tank rifles. Its design largely replicates the German 13-mm cartridge from the First World War.

First used in the DShK heavy machine gun.

In 1938 it was modernized, mainly by creating new bullets for ammunition.

B-32 armor-piercing incendiary bullet with a steel core is the main model. 1932

MDZ instant incendiary bullet mod. 1938

Andrey GREEN 10-02-2013 03:59

Cartridge 14.5x114 mm

The cartridge was created at the end of 1941 for PTRD and PTRS anti-tank rifles, because The 12.7 mm cartridge showed insufficient armor penetration. The emergence of cartridges for large-caliber weapons was associated with the need to hit protected targets. The 14.5x114 cartridge was intended to destroy armored targets, including light and medium tanks. Until 1944, only anti-tank rifles were produced for it. The nomenclature of bullets also corresponded to the purpose of the weapon: armor-piercing incendiary B-32, BZ-39 and BS-41 (the first and last are similar in design to 12.7 mm bullets). As an experiment, to increase efficiency, a capsule with the irritating substance CAF (chloroacetophenone) was placed in the bottom part of the BS-41 core. The bullet, called "armor-piercing-incendiary-chemical". After penetrating the armor, it created an unbearable concentration of tear gas in the space behind the armor and incapacitated the enemy personnel located there. A similar effect was used by the Germans for the 7.92 mm PzB-39 anti-tank rifle.

Andrey GREEN 10-02-2013 04:01

Cartridge 7.62x42 mm SP-4

SP-4 was put into service in the early 80s of the 20th century together with the PSS pi self-loading pistol (special self-loading pistol). The cartridge case is steel, bottle, with a groove. The size of the SP-4 cartridge case is larger than the SP-3 (SP-2) cartridge case. Sleeve length 42 mm. The bullet is a solid cylinder of alloy steel, has a copper leading band in the head and, when loaded, is completely recessed into the cartridge case (flush with the cut of the cartridge case neck). The long pusher of SP-3 (SP-2, P3A, P3AM) cartridges has been replaced with a figured piston. Due to the fact that the surface of the bullet does not mechanically interact with the inner surface of the barrel - only the leading belt located in the head of the bullet cuts into the rifling - there is no need to push the bullet along the entire length of the pistol barrel. It is enough for the leading belt to pass the rifled part of the barrel. The bottom of the bullet is driven by the piston to the muzzle of the cartridge case. Therefore, in a spent cartridge case the piston does not protrude beyond the barrel. The cartridge is designed for use in silent weapons, the design feature is the cutoff of powder gases inside the cartridge case. The bullet is pushed by a steel piston in the sleeve, which then rests against the narrowing and does not come out. After a shot, the cartridge case is dangerous because Powder gases remain in it under high pressure.

The average person often confuses these two concepts. Often in the design of pulp detective novels you can find awkward illustrations of a whole cartridge flying out of a pistol barrel. Let's dot all the I's. For what? Yes, just to broaden your horizons.

Basic definitions

So, a cartridge is an ammunition that allows you to load a weapon without additional manipulations. Structurally, a modern cartridge consists of:

1. Bullets.
2. A charge of gunpowder.
3. Shells.
4. Capsule.

As can be seen from the above, the bullet is integral part of the cartridge and is designed to directly hit a target. However, not everything is so simple.

1) Sleeve
2) Capsule
3) Powder charge

5) Bimetallic shell
6) Steel core
7) Lead shirt

A little history

In ancient weapons, the concept of a cartridge as such did not exist, but there was a bullet. The process of loading the weapon occurred in the following order. A certain amount of gunpowder charge was poured into the previously cleaned barrel through the muzzle. Next, a wad was inserted - a special gasket, usually made of felt. All this was carefully compacted using a special metal rod - a ramrod. After which a bullet was dropped into the barrel, that is, the very instrument for destruction.

The bullet was made of metal, sometimes stones were used. To prevent it from falling out of the barrel, it was fixed with another wad, again compacting the resulting “sandwich” using a ramrod. The ignition of gunpowder under the bullet occurred with the help of a special wick, and later with the help of a flint that struck sparks on the arm. The powder charge, igniting, created excess gas pressure inside the barrel, which pushed the bullet out of the channel. And the bullet rushed towards the target.

It is clear that such a process of loading weapons takes quite a long time, which cannot satisfy weapon users. Therefore, experts in killing their own kind came up with a cartridge to speed up the process of loading the weapon. That is, a device in which everything is prepared in advance: the required charge of gunpowder is hammered and compacted, wads are inserted, the bullet is secured, which insures against premature loss, and a means of igniting the powder charge under the bullet is provided - a primer.

Classification of cartridges

As mentioned earlier, the bullet was not always part of the cartridge; in addition, there are a number of cartridges that do not contain a bullet:

• Signal.
• Single.

The purpose of signal cartridges can be understood from the name. Instead of a bullet, they use special mixture, giving a bright fire when ignited. A shot is simulated using blank cartridges.

In addition to the above, cartridges can be classified into:

1. Combat- these are exactly the ones that appear when the word patron is mentioned. That is, a device for hitting a target.
2. Training cartridges in their shape, weight and appearance they completely imitate combat ones and are intended for teaching the basics of shooting.
3. Hunting cartridges They differ in appearance from combat ones and instead of bullets, as a rule, they have a handful of metal balls - shot.
4. Construction cartridges are designed to create powder gases, which, with their pressure, drive a special nail - a dowel - into the wall.

In addition, cartridges can be divided into:

• Unitary.
• Composite.

Unitary is the familiar one-piece cartridge that contains all of the above components.

The compound cartridge is primarily used in heavy artillery systems in which it is difficult for a person to load the gun with a unitary cartridge. To do this, the ammunition is supplied with a capsule separately and they are connected in the gun barrel.

Classification of bullets

With such a variety of cartridge types, it can be assumed that bullets can also be divided into the following types:

1. Regular bullet– classic streamlined shape.
2. Armor-piercing bullet– there is a steel core inside that allows you to penetrate armor.
3. Tracer bullet- has a special mixture on the bottom, which is ignited when fired and burns in flight, showing the shooter the direction in which it flew, so that he can adjust the sight.
4. Explosive bullet– contains an explosive substance that explodes when colliding with an obstacle.
5. Incendiary bullet– similar to tracer, only special incendiary substance there is much more on it, which allows you to set fire to various objects, such as wooden buildings, fuel tanks, and so on.
6. Various combinations of the above, for example, armor-piercing incendiary, etc.
7. Traumatic bullet– is made in the form of a rubber ball and is designed to inflict non-lethal damage for self-defense purposes, allowing you to stop the attacker.

Bottom line

As already noted, in the history of weapons there are options for using a bullet without a cartridge, and in the modern world - using a cartridge without a bullet. And yet, in the classic version familiar to us all, bullet - component cartridge.

When a cartridge enters the chamber of a weapon, when the shooter presses the trigger, the primer is pierced, which ignites, igniting the powder charge of the cartridge, which, during combustion, releases a huge amount of gases, pushes the bullet out of the cartridge case, and it begins its movement along the barrel bore to the target , and the cartridge case remains in the weapon. Using a special mechanism, it is removed from the chamber, and a new cartridge takes its place. This is what happens collaboration weapon, cartridge and bullet flying out of it.

Humanity has been using small arms for more than 8 centuries - the first mentions of Chinese “fire spears” appeared in the 1200s. During this time, from a bamboo stick filled with homemade gunpowder, the “firearm” turned into a perfect weapon capable of hitting a target at a distance of more than 2 km. The peculiarities of our civilization have led to enormous progress in the field of weapons, and some engineering solutions are unusual and beautiful in their own way. The variety of bullet designs is especially impressive - gunsmiths have found thousands of possibilities for imagination in a small piece of metal.

(29 photos)

A cartridge with a flying casing.

The caseless 9mm AUPO cartridge was developed and tested in the first half of the 1980s by Italian designer Bruno Civolani. Benelli Armi has designed the Benelli CB-M2 submachine gun specifically for this ammunition.

The 9mm AUPO cartridge consisted of an all-metal head and a hollow, thin-walled rear part, shaped like a cylinder

Diagram of the operation of the impact mechanism and cartridge design of the Benelli CB-M2 submachine gun.

The rear part of the cartridge, made in the form of a “glass,” served as a sleeve; inside it were located a propellant powder charge and a charge of igniting substance located in a circle (capsule charge). The open rear part of the cartridge case was closed with a burning diaphragm, which protected the charge from spillage and moisture during storage.

Cartridges with compressed charge.

In the early 60s of the last century, the German Ministry of Defense funded a research program to develop and study caseless ammunition of intermediate calibers. Development work was carried out by Dynamit Nobel.

From top to bottom: experimental 4.3x21 DAG and 4.7x21 DE11, final 4.73x33 HK.

Another similar cartridge was developed in the USA by AAI Corporation in the early 1980s, for the “Advanced Infantry Weapon System” (AIWS) program aimed at finding a replacement for the M-16 rifle.

Several modifications of it have been developed. The main option was a 4.3-mm sub-caliber bullet with a lead core in a drop-down segment tray.

Jet Gyrojet.

Perhaps the most famous caseless circuit is the jet cartridge for the American MBA Gyrojet pistol

Gyrojet jet bullets (13x50 mm), made of stainless steel, had a low initial speed and were stabilized only by rotation due to the deflection of part of the powder gases in the radial plane, but the shot was almost silent, and at a distance of 55 m the energy of the accelerated bullet was almost doubled exceeded the energy of a bullet fired from a Colt M1911 pistol.

In 1960, the MBA company developed and launched the production of very unusual bullets - rocket bullets. Inside the hollow bullets there was a charge of gunpowder and a primer, that is, a cartridge case was not required. Of course, pistols were also produced for these jet bullets: 13-mm multi-shot Gyrojet. This weapon had unique characteristics thanks to its unusual bullet. First of all, it had the simplest design, a minimum of moving parts and minimal recoil. In addition, the Gyrojet fired much quieter than conventional pistols and produced less muzzle flash.

However, the bullet also had its drawbacks. The jet bullet flew out of the barrel with a minimum initial speed, and it required time to accelerate to a maximum of 260 m/sec, which at short distances reduced the already not very high lethality and BP of the Gyrojet. In addition, making the bullet was labor-intensive: it was necessary to drill rocket nozzles into the bullet with high precision, although the main material of the bullet (steel) was cheap. Also, the developers were unable to achieve acceptable accuracy at distances greater than 20 m. As a result, the Gyrojet was too expensive and had too narrow a range to be widely used.

Collectors of rare weapons say that shooting Gyrojet pistols and carbines is a special pleasure.

Among the mass of unusual design solutions, Gyrojet has the best chance of revival. Modern grades of gunpowder and 3D laser printing technology make it easier to produce high-quality rocket bullets that potentially have higher accuracy than the Gyrojet developed in the 1960s. A rocket bullet can radically simplify, lighten and reduce the cost of small arms - an assault rifle chambered for rocket cartridges can weigh only 1.5-2 kg and cost at least 2-3 times cheaper than modern analogues chambered for a regular cartridge. It is impossible to achieve such a result using modern cartridges: even the most advanced and expensive solutions using plastic cartridges and titanium alloys within the framework of the LSAT program can reduce the weight of weapons with ammunition by only 30-35%.

Underwater active-reactive cartridge 7.62 mm caliber

In 1967, the USSR Navy ordered TsNIITOCHMASH to develop a complex of underwater weapons for combat swimmers.

Development underwater pistol and ammunition for it were started in February 1968 by D.I. Shiryaev. together with Matveykin S.I. – engineer in the field of development of solid fuel engines. The project was based on open patent documentation for the Gyrojet pistol.

The cartridge consisted of a long steel tube with a sharp and heavy tip. The tube housed a solid fuel bomb. The bottom of the tube was covered by a jet engine nozzle and a steel pan. A tin leading belt guided the rocket along the rifling of the barrel, providing the initial spin of the bullet. The rocket was mounted in a brass sleeve with an expelling charge and a Zhevelo primer.

The first samples of the pistol and ammunition were ready by July 1968 and tested in Feodosia.

One is good, but two is better. Multi-bullet cartridges.

The SSB (Salvo Squeeze Bore) bullet was first patented in the late 1960s.

The SSB is a complex of several submunitions, conical hollow or conventional bullets, which are mounted on each other and secured in a cartridge case. This design makes it possible to combine submunitions, for example, the front one can be made of heat-strengthened steel, and the subsequent ones can be made of soft copper or with the addition of a tracer compound. SSB has a high stopping effect (SA) because it affects a larger target area than a conventional bullet.

The disadvantages of SSB stem from its advantages: increased dispersion of submunitions at long range can lead to a miss. To solve this problem, gunsmiths have developed several variants of SBB, for example, with submunitions flying strictly one after another in a vacuum bubble. But initially, the expensive SBB bullets were not widely used due to the fact that they do not have radical advantages in armor penetration (AP) and stopping effect over conventional bullets. However, this bullet is interesting because it can increase the density of machine gun fire - the submunitions create a denser cloud, increasing the likelihood of hitting the target. Currently, SBBs are used by shooting enthusiasts and special forces soldiers.

Hollifield Target Practice Rod

Hollifield Target Practice Rod is one of the strangest ammunition in history firearms. It was developed by General George Wingate in the 1870s. The Hollifield Target Practice Rod, or Hollifield "DOTTER" for short, consisted of a 2mm rod, 4mm tube and a cartridge with no primer or powder charge. The tube was inserted into the barrel, a spring-loaded rod was inserted inside the tube, and the rifle was loaded with a cartridge, inside of which another spring-loaded rod moved instead of a bullet. During the “shot,” the firing pin hit the cartridge rod, and the cartridge rod, in turn, hit the rod inside the barrel tube. As a result, the barrel rod “jumped” out of the rifle barrel by 15 cm and pierced a special paper target simulating a distant target.

Hollifield Target Practice Rod allows you to simulate shooting at long distances

Thus, with the help of the Hollifield “DOTTER” it was possible to practice shooting even indoors, without firing live ammunition. Moreover, the shooter could learn how to quickly operate the bolt of a rifle, load it, put it on/off the safety, that is, bring the handling of the weapon to automaticity, using safe training ammunition.

Today, against the background of modern Hollifield laser simulators, “DOTTER” looks like a funny anachronism, but, nevertheless, from time to time there are enthusiasts who reinvent the Wingate device.

Arrow cartridges

According to historical sources, they tried to load smooth-bore weapons with arrows back in the 17th century, and even these hand-made charges placed in wooden cylinders gave some advantage in firing range.

The peak of research in this area occurred in the 60s of the twentieth century. In the USSR, this topic began to be studied at NII-61 (later TsNIITOCHMASH). The result of the work was the OPS cartridge (feathered sub-caliber rifle) and the AO-27 assault rifle

Arrowhead alternative

In search of ways to improve the accuracy and lethality of bullets, gunsmiths have repeatedly turned to the idea of ​​​​using arrow-shaped bullets - small feathered “arrows”. One of these ammunition was the .330 Amron Aerojet cartridge (8.38x69 mm). It was developed in 1969 and, unlike most similar ammunition, carries not one “arrow”, but 3 or 4. With a speed of each arrow-shaped bullet of more than 1400 m/s, they reached a target at a distance of 500 m almost instantly, which made it easier to hit moving targets and did not require any adjustments for range, wind, etc. The lethality and armor penetration of the “arrows” turned out to be high, but the shortcomings of the arrow-shaped bullets were also revealed, which could not be eliminated.

The 8.38x69 mm cartridge had several bullet options: solid all-metal, sub-caliber with one or more “arrows”

Thus, during tests within the framework of the American SPIW project, low shooting accuracy was noted, especially for cartridges with several arrow-shaped bullets. In addition, small fragments of the cartridges holding the bullets in the casing posed a potential threat to people near the shooter. Also, the “arrows” were good at making holes in metal, but quickly got stuck in sand and wood, and this, by the way, is the main material for light field fortifications.

So while arrow-shaped bullets are not truly widespread, but gunsmiths believe that due to the development of personal armor protection, “arrows” will sooner or later become the main type of bullets for combat small arms.

The .30-06 caliber bullet (7.62×63 mm) Marsh Coulter Flare is designed... for illuminating the area. Yes, in 1960, in such a small caliber, a real illumination ammunition was made, which was fired from a conventional rifle to a height of up to 150 m and illuminated the surrounding area for several seconds. The cartridge was loaded with a small charge of black powder, which ignited the bullet's cord when the firing pins were fired. Some time after the bullet left the barrel, the retarding cord ignited a small charge of gunpowder, bursting the brass cup and igniting the cloud of mixture.

An illuminating rifle bullet is now needed, perhaps, only by hunters and recreational shooting enthusiasts

Illumination bullets were not very effective, since they contained too little pyrotechnic composition and did not produce very much light, but they could be used in large quantities. Marsh Coulter Flare bullets were sold in the 1970s, but their time has passed - much more effective means of illuminating the battlefield, as well as night vision devices, have appeared. However, such cartridges could still be useful to hunters, tourists and other people who, with the help of a lighting cartridge, could, for example, send a distress signal, especially in the dark.

S&W Self-Lubricating Bullet

In 1893, S&W received a patent for a bullet that had a built-in oiler, that is, as it passed along the rifling, it lubricated the barrel of the weapon. According to the developers, this was supposed to increase the initial speed of the bullet and reduce barrel wear.

Bullet with built-in oiler. The photo shows a .44 caliber cartridge S&W Russian

Inside the bullet there was a tube with four branches. The tubes were filled with lubricant, which during the firing process was squeezed onto the side walls of the bullet through 4 holes in its shell. Theoretically, an additional beneficial effect of this design is also an increase in AP due to the fact that the hollow bullet is deformed at the moment of impact.

The built-in oiler apparently did not provide any particular advantages, so the bullet did not go into mass production. Well, today there are simpler and more effective ways to reduce the friction of a bullet on the walls of the barrel.

Training plastic

Plastic cartridges (with a plastic case and bullet) have become especially popular in recent years. They are available in a variety of popular calibers, including 7.62x51mm and Mosin 7.62x54mm.

Plastic bullets come in a variety of designs, but they all have a reduced powder charge.

Cheap plastic cartridges are used by the military for training, but they are also in demand on the civilian market for recreational shooting. Such cartridges are loaded with a small charge of gunpowder, and the plastic bullet does not penetrate even an ordinary PET bottle, which makes shooting relatively safe. If you follow the rules for handling weapons, the risk of accidentally injuring someone beyond the line of sight, at a distance of several hundred meters, is practically zero, although there are also more “armor-piercing” plastic bullets coated with a metal jacket, as well as plastic tracer bullets with a small steel core inside .

Thanks to plastic cartridges, even children can shoot from “adult” calibers - the recoil of the same 7.62x54 mm in the plastic version is subjectively 2-3 times weaker than that of a conventional all-metal cartridge. Plastic training cartridges have only one significant drawback - low accuracy of fire. With plastic bullets it is difficult to assemble a group smaller than 10 cm at a distance of 50 m, so they are only suitable for recreational shooting at a distance of up to 100 m. Also, when using plastic cartridges in most self-loading rifles and pistols, you will have to fire the next cartridge manually - automatic due to the reduced weight of gunpowder and low bullet mass does not work reliably.

Cartridges of non-classical layout.

Round cartridge.

In August 1958, David Dardick patented a “Dardick open chamber gun” - a kind of hybrid of a pistol and a revolver and a so-called tround cartridge.
It was made of aluminum and then of high-strength plastic, and was initially produced in calibers .38 (9 mm), .30 (7.62 mm) and .22 (5.56 mm), with characteristics corresponding to the 38 SW Special cartridges , .32 SW long and .22 LR, and the dimensions of the plastic sleeves were the same for all calibers.

Round cartridges could be reloaded repeatedly using standard pistol primers with a diameter of 5 mm, and bullets of the appropriate caliber. The case had internal annular grooves that limited the seating of the bullet and provided boost pressure sufficient for complete combustion of the gunpowder.

In 1965, Frankford Arsenal design engineer Andrew Grundy patented a very unusual shape. A key element of the new concept was the abandonment of the classic case shape and its replacement with a plastic capsule containing a powder charge on the side of the bullet.

This unorthodox configuration of the cartridge made it possible to reduce its dimensions and implement a frontal combustion scheme for the powder charge, which made it possible to reduce the erosive effect of powder gases on the barrel bore. Also, in theory, reducing the length of the weapon's chamber reduces the range of the moving parts of the weapon, which allows for a higher rate of fire at a lower speed of movement of the moving parts, reducing shock loads and the weight of the weapon.

From 1965 to 1983, U-shaped cartridges were tested in various calibers: 4.32 mm, 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 12.7 mm and 30 mm, but were never found for its military or civilian use.

AIWS cartridge.

In 1970, Maury Goldin, a designer at the American Hughes Tool Company, patented a cartridge design with a parallelepiped-shaped three-chamber case and a boltless weapon system.

The bullet in the AIWS cartridge is located in the central chamber, and the powder charge is placed in two side chambers. This cartridge configuration made it possible to ensure storage by 54% more ammunition in a given volume compared to traditionally designed cartridges of the same caliber, and also provided significant savings in mass, which was comparable to the advantages provided by caseless ammunition. At the same time, the plastic sleeve provided the necessary obturation of powder gases, protection of the propellant charge and primer composition from environmental influences. The rectangular profile of the cartridge case made it possible to develop a high-capacity magazine and a simpler system, compared to conventional weapons, for feeding cartridges into the chamber and extracting the spent cartridge case.

Perforated cartridges

Two types of ammunition fall into this improvised category.

The first one is Comp Bullet.

In this pool, several interconnected holes are made using high-precision machines.
When firing a Comp bullet, powder gases pass through holes in the walls of the bullet and reduce friction on the rifling of the barrel. According to the developers, the holes also play the role of a kind of muzzle brake and reduce the recoil of the shot.

The second ammunition is 7x56 Broadway Trust with a perforated case.

In 1941, Sir Dennis Burney proposed to the British Minister of Supply a project to develop portable recoilless anti-tank rifles. With the support of the state, a joint company, Broad Trust Company (BTC), was founded.

At first, developments were carried out in the field of designing ammunition with a caliber ranging from 20-88 mm. The use of “perforated” cartridges was supposed to reduce the recoil of a shot to levels allowing hand-held shooting and to develop a sufficiently powerful and lightweight anti-tank gun. Gradually, the focus of development shifted to the design of smaller caliber guns.

Silent cartridges

7.62x63 Snake is one of the special cartridges for silent and flameless shooting with cut-off of powder gases.

In the 50s, at NII-61, by order of the KGB of the USSR, work began on the creation of a special silent two-shot pistol and cartridges for it. The complex consisted of a special C4 pistol and a silent PZ cartridge (Snake cartridge).

The 7.62-mm PZ cartridge consists of a steel sleeve with a slight taper, inside of which are located: a KVM-3 igniter primer in a sleeve with a movable firing pin (screwed into the bottom of the sleeve and ensuring obturation of the powder gases from the side of the capsule), a powder charge of grade P -125 and piston-pusher. The cartridge is loaded with a 7.62 mm PS bullet.

When fired, the cartridge's movable firing pin pierces the primer, which ignites the powder charge. The pressure of the powder gases drives the piston, which pushes the bullet into the barrel, giving it an initial flight speed of 170 m/s. When the uppermost position is reached, the piston rests against the narrowing of the walls of the cartridge case and stops, ensuring that the powder gases are locked inside the cartridge case and the shot is silent. The length of the spent cartridge case with the piston emerging from it is 82.3 mm.

Training and practice cartridges

Wooden cartridge 6.5x55 mm Mauser. Of course, it is not capable of hitting the target - the bullet is completely destroyed when exiting the weapon's barrel.

Modern training cartridges are often made of plastic.
Training cartridge L14A1 caliber 7.62x54 mm with a tracer bullet. In this cartridge, only the base of the cartridge case and the internal element of the bullet are made of metal.

Plastic cartridges are used by the military in training exercises; they are also in demand on the civilian market for recreational shooting. They are equipped with a small charge of gunpowder, which makes shooting relatively safe.

The only significant drawback of this ammunition is that in most self-loading rifles and pistols you will have to chamber the next cartridge manually—automation does not work reliably due to the reduced weight of gunpowder and the low mass of the bullet.

G2R RIP - new expansive.

Hollow bullets aren't all that unusual in and of themselves, but G2 Research's latest design certainly earns its place in this piece.

According to press releases, the small teeth on this bullet create a turbulent flow in flight, help stabilize the bullet and make it more accurate, and when hit, they cut like a hole saw through clothing, glass, drywall and even sheet metal, allowing the bottom of the bullet to more confidently hit the target.

G2R RIP is a lead-free, all-copper bullet, weighing 96 grams, divided into 9 triangular teeth. The initial bullet speed is 386 m/s. Muzzle energy - 660 J.

The G2 Research company in the near future expects to begin producing .380 ACP, .357 SIG, .40, .45ACP cartridges, as well as rifle cartridges equipped with such a bullet.

The cost of such cartridges will reportedly be about $2 each. In addition to the high cost, the disadvantages of this ammunition include the potential for premature opening of the teeth.

Guided bullet

Product of Sandia National Laboratories, demonstrated to the general public in November 2011.

At the tip of the bullet is a tiny optical sensor that detects a laser beam that illuminates a distant target. A microcomputer processes the signal from the sensor and deflects miniature stabilizer planes, changing the flight path. The bullet is capable of independently correcting its flight 30 times per second throughout the entire flight time at speeds of more than 600 m/s. In flight, the bullet is stabilized not by rotation, but by aerodynamic planes, which makes it possible to more accurately orient the optical sensor and control the flight.

Unfortunately, no new information about this development is available. this moment No.

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Purpose, general structure and classification of live ammunition for small arms, armored personnel carrier (BMP) weapons, rounds for grenade launchers

1. Purpose, general design and classification of live ammunition for 5.45 mm AK74 (AKS74, AKS74U) and 5.45 mm RPK74 (RPKS74)

Automatic cartridge 5.45x39 mm - developed in 1974 specifically for the AK74 assault rifle, which replaced the AKM, which used 7.62x39 mm cartridges, in response to the research and development of small-caliber American 5.56x45 mm ammunition.

By design, the cartridge is a cartridge with a full-shell bullet. The bullet contains a mild steel core covered with a copper alloy jacket.
Reducing the mass and dimensions of the cartridge compared to the 7.62 mm caliber significantly increased the initial velocity and flat trajectory of the bullet, which increased the direct shot range and reduced the recoil impulse. Also, reducing the mass of ammunition made it possible to increase the total wearable ammunition without increasing the total weight of the shooter's loadout.

Nomenclature 5.45x39 cartridges

	Bullet (cartridge)	Index GRAU	Distinctive features
	Steel core bullet (PS)		Bullet with a bimetallic jacket, lead jacket and a 4-mm cavity in the head, weight 3.30-3.55 g. Bullet without painting
			Modernized. Bullet without coloring
			With heat-strengthened, pointed steel core. Bullet without coloring
	Tracer bullet (T)		Green bullet top
			Modernized. Green bullet top
	Reduced velocity bullet (US)		For firing weapons with silent shooting devices. Bullet weight 5.15 g. The top of the bullet is black with a green rim
	High penetration bullet (PP)		A bullet with a stamped core made of special grades of steel, weighing 3.49-3.74 g, penetrates a 16-mm steel plate at a distance of 100 meters, elements of body armor made of titanium alloys at a distance of 200 meters. Dark purple sealant varnish
			A modernized cartridge with a 7N10 bullet of increased power, the main difference of which is that the cavity in the nose is filled with lead. Dark purple sealant varnish
	Armor-piercing bullet (BP)		With a high carbon steel pointed core bullet. Bullet weight 3.68 g. Red sealant varnish, bullet head painted black
			With an armor-piercing core (VK-4 alloy) Bullet weight 3.93-4.27 g. Red sealant varnish, bullet head painted black
	Cartridge with enhanced charge		The entire bullet is completely black
	High pressure cartridge		The entire bullet is yellow
	Model cartridge		For comparative verification of the ballistic characteristics of cartridges stored in warehouses. Corresponds to the standard cartridge (7N6), but is manufactured with increased accuracy. The bullet head is painted white
	Blank cartridge		With a plastic bullet white weighing 0.22-0.26 g. Has a charge of special fast-burning gunpowder weighing 0.24 g
			The edges of the sleeve are bent inward in the shape of a star
	Training cartridge		No charge. It is distinguished by the presence of four longitudinal stampings on the cartridge case and a double ring crimp of the bullet in the cartridge case neck

Capping of 5.45 mm cartridges is carried out in wooden boxes. Two hermetically sealed metal boxes of 1080 rounds each are placed in the box; cartridges in boxes are packed in cardboard packs of 30 pieces. In total, the box holds 2160 rounds.

There is a green stripe on the side walls of the boxes in which cartridges with tracer bullets are sealed. Each box contains a knife for opening the box.

2. Purpose, general design and classification of live ammunition for the 7.62 mm Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD) and the Kalashnikov PK machine gun (PKM, PKS, PKMS, PKB, PKMB AND PKT)

The 7.62x54 cartridge was adopted by the Russian Army in 1891.

At first the cartridge was produced with a nickel-copper plated bullet with a rounded head. The cartridge had a brass bottle sleeve and was loaded smokeless powder. In 1908 they switched to a pointed bullet (the first modernization). The cartridge received the designation M 91/08.

In 1930, the brass sleeve was replaced by a steel case clad with tombac or brass (second modernization), and the bullet jacket also became steel and clad with tombak. The 1908/30 cartridge is still used today as ammunition for certain models of machine guns.

In the post-war period, the third modernization of the cartridge was carried out. In 1954, a cartridge with a light bullet with a steel core “LPS” appeared, and in 1974 a cartridge with a T-46M bullet appeared.

Later, the fourth modernization of the cartridge was carried out, during which the cartridge began to be equipped only with bullets with heat-strengthened cores: in 1988 - with the ordinary PS bullet, in 1999 - with the BT armor-piercing tracer bullet. Currently, the cartridge is produced in a varnished steel case.

Range of 7.62x54 cartridges

	Bullet (cartridge)	Index GRAU	Distinctive features
	Cartridge with an ordinary bullet (LPS)		Cartridge with a light bullet with a steel core and a bimetallic sleeve. The bullet consists of a tombac-clad steel shell, a lead jacket and a steel core. The head part of the pukla is painted silver. After 1970, this bullet has no nose coloring
	Sniper cartridge		For accurate shooting. The bullet has a lead core and no color on the nose
	Sniper cartridge with armor-piercing bullet		For accurate shooting. The bullet has a sharpened, hardened steel core. The sealant varnish is red, the bullet head is painted black
	Bullet with heat-strengthened core (PP)		A cartridge with a bullet of increased penetration and a bimetallic sleeve. The bullet design has an armor-piercing core made of hardened tool steel. The varnish on the capsule and at the junction of the bullet and the cartridge case is purple
	Sighting-incendiary bullet (PZ)		The bullet head and capsule are painted red
	Cartridge with tracer bullet (T-46, T-46M)		The bullet is designed for target designation and fire adjustment at distances up to 1000 m. It consists of a shell, a lead core and a cup with a pressed tracer compound. The bullet head is painted green
	Armor-piercing bullet (BP)		A cartridge with increased penetrating action, a bullet with an armor-piercing pointed core made of hardened tool steel. The sealant varnish is red, the bullet head is painted black
	Cartridge with armor-piercing tracer bullet (BT)		Cartridge with bimetallic sleeve. Bullet with a steel core. The head part of the shell is painted purple
	Cartridge with armor-piercing incendiary bullet (B-32)		The bullet is designed to ignite flammable liquids and to destroy enemy personnel located behind light armored cover at ranges of up to 500 m. It consists of a shell, a steel core, a lead jacket and an incendiary composition. The head part of the shell is painted black with a red belt
	Blank cartridge	57-X-323 (57-X-340)	For safe simulation of shooting during exercises, fireworks, filming
	Training cartridge		For safe training in loading and unloading small arms skills

The cartridges are sealed in wooden boxes. Two hermetically sealed metal boxes of 440 rounds each are placed in the box; cartridges in boxes are packed in packs of 20 cartridges. In total, the box holds 880 rounds. On packs of rifle sniper cartridges there is the inscription “Sniper”.

On the side walls of the boxes, in which cartridges with a steel core bullet, heavy, tracer and armor-piercing incendiary bullets are sealed, there are colored stripes corresponding to the color of the bullet heads. If the box contains light bullet or sniper rifle rounds, there are no colored stripes on the sides of the box.

3. Purpose, general design and classification of live ammunition for armored personnel carriers

14.5×114 mm - cartridge for heavy machine guns and anti-tank rifles. Developed in 1938 with the B-32 bullet, adopted for service in 1941, and released in the same year with the BS-41 bullet.

It was originally created for anti-tank rifles, but later (1944) it became ammunition for KPV and KPVT machine guns, used to arm armored personnel carriers, from BTR-60 to BTR-80, BRDM, in anti-aircraft machine gun mounts, etc.

Weapons using this cartridge: KPV/KPVT, PTRS-41, PTRD.

For firing, 14.5-mm cartridges with armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32, armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullets BZT and BST, incendiary bullets ZP and instant-action incendiary bullets MDZ are used. 14.5 mm cartridges are intended to destroy lightly armored ground targets at ranges up to 1000 m, unarmored targets, enemy fire weapons and group targets up to 2000 m, as well as air targets at altitudes up to 1500 m and ranges up to 2000 m.

Cartridges with ZP and B-32 bullets can also be used to ignite flammable objects and fuel in tanks at ranges up to 1500 m.

In addition, cartridges with BZT, BST and ZP bullets are intended for fire adjustment and can be used for target designation. The tracing range of a BZT bullet is at least 2000 m, and that of BST and ZP bullets is at least 1500 m.

Cartridges with an MDZ bullet are intended to engage air targets at ranges up to 2000 m. The MDZ bullet, having high-explosive fragmentation and incendiary effects, ensures the defeat or damage of air targets by fragments and a blast wave, as well as the ignition of flammable liquids located in tanks with a wall thickness of 2 to 8 mm, at ranges up to 2000 m.

Notes: 1. 14.5 mm training cartridges are intended for training in loading, unloading and firing techniques, as well as for studying the operation of machine gun parts and mechanisms.

14.5 mm blank cartridges are intended for simulated shooting

Nomenclature 14.5x114 cartridges

	Bullet (cartridge)	Index GRAU	Distinctive features
			A cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32 with a steel core and a brass sleeve. The head of the bullet is painted black with a red belt.
			A cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32 with a steel core and a steel sleeve. The head of the bullet is painted black with a red belt.
	14.5 BZT hl		A cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BZT-44 with a steel core and a brass sleeve. The head of the bullet is painted purple with a red belt
	14.5 BZT gs		A cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BZT-44 with a steel core and a steel sleeve. The head of the bullet is painted purple with a red belt
	14.5 BZT-M gs	57-BZT-561SM	A cartridge with an armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BZT-M with a steel core and a steel sleeve. The head of the bullet is painted purple with a red belt
			Cartridge with armor-piercing bullet BS-39 with a steel core
			Cartridge with armor-piercing incendiary bullet BS-41 with a metal-ceramic core (tungsten carbide)
			Cartridge with armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet BST. The head of the bullet is painted purple and the rest is red
	14.5 MDZ gl		Cartridge with an instantaneous incendiary bullet and a brass sleeve. The bullet is painted red
	14.5 MDZ gs		A cartridge with an instantaneous incendiary bullet and a steel case. The bullet is painted red
			Cartridge with instantaneous incendiary bullet MDZ. The bullet is painted red
			Cartridge with an instant incendiary bullet MDZ-M. The bullet is painted red
			Cartridge with sighting-incendiary bullet ZP. The bullet head is painted red
			training cartridge
			blank cartridge
			Cartridge with armor-piercing incendiary chemical bullet BZH. As an experiment, to increase efficiency, a capsule with the irritating substance CAF (chloroacetophenone) was placed in the bottom part of the BS-41 core. After penetrating the armor, it created an unbearable concentration of tear gas in the space behind the armor and incapacitated the enemy personnel located there. A similar effect was used by the Germans for the 7.92 mm PzB-39 anti-tank rifle.

The cartridges are sealed in hermetically sealed galvanized boxes or welded iron boxes coated with paint.

The box cover contains the same information as the side wall of the box (except for the number of cartridges, which is not indicated on the box cover). Each box contains two boxes of ammunition.

On the side wall of the box and the lid of the box with cartridges there is a distinctive sign indicating the range of cartridges:
- 14.5 mm cartridges with B-32 bullet - red and black stripes;
- 14.5 mm cartridges with a BZT bullet - red and purple stripes;
- 14.5 mm cartridges with MDZ bullet - two red rings;
- 14.5 mm cartridges with BST bullet - two purple rings;
- 14.5 mm cartridges with ZP bullet - red stripe.

Ammo is safe when handled correctly.

Due to the presence of igniter caps and detonator caps and soft tombak tips in ZP and MDZ bullets, it is also prohibited to remove these cartridges from loaded belts by resting the bullets on metal or made of hard rocks wood items. Ammo boxes can be used as a stop for this purpose.

Cartridges must be protected from moisture, snow, dust and dirt. Wet and not properly cleaned cartridges may after some time become unsuitable for shooting.

Cartridges must be stored indoors; outdoors they should be protected from rain, sun, dust and dirt.

4. Purpose, general structure and classification of shots for the AGS-17 grenade launcher

There are three modifications of grenade launcher rounds. The original, now obsolete, VOG-17 with an instantaneous fuse. The subsequent modification - VOG-17M with a VMG-M instantaneous fuse - differs from the previous one in that the fuse is equipped with a self-destruct device. The self-destruct mechanism is activated when fired; its pyrotechnic retarder is designed for 25 seconds. The self-destructor does not depend on the fuse target sensor and neutralizes the grenade if the main fuse does not go off for any reason within a given time.

The body of the VOG-17 and VOG-17M grenades is thin-walled steel; a spiral of cut rectangular wire is inserted inside the body; a fragmentation jacket with semi-finished fragments is inserted. VOG-30 is a newly developed, improved type with more powerful fragmentation effect due to the use of a new method of manufacturing the body using the method of volumetric cold deformation with the formation of semi-finished fragments on its inner surface.

In addition, the VOG-30 uses autonomous sealing of the propellant charge in the cartridge case. There is no fragmentation jacket as a separate part in the VOG-30.

Fuses of all types of grenades are cocked at a distance of 10-60 meters from the muzzle of the grenade launcher, which provides additional safety when firing. The bodies of the VOG-17 and VOG-17M grenades are chemically blackened.

In addition to combat fragmentation rounds, there is also ammunition for auxiliary purposes. To teach how to operate a weapon, training shots that do not have any equipment are used. The grenade with the cartridge case in them is additionally fastened with an axial screw to prevent dismantling of the cartridge as a result of repeated manipulations during official handling. A blank bushing is screwed into the end of the grenade, repeating the shape and dimensions of the fuse. For training shooting, practical shots are used, designated VUS-17. They differ from combat ones only in that instead of an explosive charge, grenades are equipped with a pyrotechnic composition of orange smoke, indicating the location of the grenade's impact. The grenade does not have a fragmentation jacket, and the walls of the grenade body are thickened.

To distinguish practical grenades from combat grenades, in addition to the inscription VUS-17 (instead of VOG-17M) and the absence of the BB index, a red ring stripe is also applied to the VUS-17 housings. VUS-17 grenades come in two types - with two symmetrical holes on the body between the centering bulges, and without holes. The holes facilitate the escape of smoke and, in addition, can serve as an additional hallmark practical shot.

TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GRENADE LAUNCH SHOTS FOR AGS-17

The infantry version of the AGS-17 grenade launcher was not supplied abroad and is currently in service with the former Soviet republics.

A hunting cartridge differs from a combat cartridge in the difference in the stopping effect of the bullet and the lethality of the defeat. Although firearms have been known since the fourteenth century, very for a long time military weapons practically no different from hunting. With the development of gunsmithing, the differences became more obvious: in the design, systems of locks, barrels, lethal force and target engagement range.

Cartridge

At the dawn of firearms, the cartridge resembled a “constructor” that had to be quickly, in a strictly defined order, “assembled” on the battlefield and managed to fire from it before the enemy. Separately, gunpowder was poured into the barrel, then a bullet was pushed into it, then the fuse was lit, and finally a shot sounded.

The cartridge itself is defined as ammunition for small arms, loaded in one step. The definition of “unitary” means that the ammunition, through the cartridge case, carries the actual projectile (bullet, buckshot, shot), a certain amount of gunpowder and a primer (igniting element). The design may also contain additional parts in the form of a container (concentrator) in which shot or buckshot is packed.

12 gauge cartridge

Despite the amazing variety of types of hunting weapons, the most common ammunition for them is 12-gauge hunting cartridges. This means that twelve bullets can be made from a one-pound piece of lead.

Their popularity can be explained simply: they are universal and suitable for hunting:

• waterfowl - goose, duck,
• forest game - black grouse, wood grouse, partridge, hazel grouse;
• small animals - fox, hare;
• medium - wild boar, wolf, roe deer.

This caliber is also widely used for sporting purposes.

Types of cartridges

12 gauge hunting cartridges are divided into several types depending on the following characteristics:

1. According to the material from which the sleeves are made:

• metal;
• paper;
• plastic.

2. By type of gunpowder:

• smoky;
• smokeless.

3. By type of charge:

• buckshot;
• fraction;
• bullet.

In addition, there are differences in the quality of the shot; it can be steel or lead. The hunting cartridge can be standard or with an increased powder charge. For each type of hunting, a certain type of equipment is selected.

An important indicator for ammunition will be the length of the cartridge case. There are also nuances for each type of charge:

Buckshot and shot are very similar in appearance and are made from similar materials. The main difference is in size. Shot is called small balls with a diameter of 1.5 mm to 5 mm; anything larger is called buckshot. pellets High Quality centered, the shape is a regular sphere, there are no voids inside. The classification of shot divides it into 16 sizes (in Russia). The smallest - with a diameter of 1.25 mm, has the number 12, the largest - 5.00 mm, its number is 0000. Each subsequent number entails a change in the size of the shot diameter by 0.25 mm.

Cartridges for hunting weapons with buckshot are used for large and medium-sized animals. Gunshot is represented by large shot with a diameter of 5.25 mm to 10.00 mm.

Ammo selection

Depending on the game for hunting, choose the type of projectile:

• Hunting shotgun cartridges. For the charge, shot with a diameter of 1.5 mm to 5 mm is used. For hunting waterfowl and forest game.
• Buckshot cartridges. For the charge, buckshot (large shot) with a diameter of more than 5 mm is used. They hunt small animals.
• Bullet cartridges. Several types of bullets are used: pointer with a stabilizer tail, round, turbine (due to their design they use the flow of oncoming air), pointer-turbine. For a large animal. This is not a complete list of bullets produced in the world; it is impossible to accurately count them. There is a system of naming bullets for sporting and hunting weapons that is generally accepted in all countries. A special simplified abbreviation is provided. The decoding of the name indicates the type of bullet and its design features. For example, the letters "FMJ" on a bullet indicate that the projectile has a full metal jacket. This type is used in sports and hunting.

Marking helps you select the right cartridges for your hunting weapon. A brief inscription informs the main parameters: purpose (hunting), caliber size, type of gunpowder, shot number, cartridge case length.

Ammo calibers

There are two definitions of caliber:

• bullet diameter;
• the diameter of the bore of a weapon.

The calibers of hunting cartridges in numerical values ​​coincide with the bore of the weapon. Moreover, the calibers of smoothbore and rifled weapons They differ slightly in labeling.

Smoothbore guns are calibrated with an even integer: 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36. The most popular calibers in the world are 12, 16, 20, 28, 32 and 36. Ammunition for him - 16 gauge hunting cartridges. This gradation makes it easy to select shells for weapons.

The caliber of a rifled weapon is determined to hundredths of a millimeter. B is counted in inches. For example 7.62 mm or 5.6 mm. Shells are calibrated in the same way - 7.62 hunting cartridges. The diameter of a rifled weapon bullet must necessarily correspond to the diameter of the barrel. Then the bullet acquires rotational motion.

It’s hard to make a mistake with the standard size, but you have to be careful with the selection of bullets. English-language labeling requires certain knowledge. The choice depends on the purpose of the charge; it should have the best accuracy at maximum range or maximum stopping effect, what kind of game the hunter will catch - small or large. The marking will tell you the best option.

Cartridges for sports

Hunting and sporting-hunting cartridges differ from combat cartridges in the absence of solid steel cores in bullets. the main task such weapons - to hit one single target that does not have protective body armor. A live bullet that penetrates large game and can ricochet off rocks or trees is too dangerous and unpredictable to use in hunting.

It is almost impossible to find more specific parameters by which it is possible to clearly distinguish between combat and hunting or sports-hunting ammunition. A huge number of weapons, different in purpose, but similar in their characteristics, leads to the fact that live ammunition can also be used in hunting rifles.

Sports and almost identical. The difference is that sports are highly specialized: they have more mass, have a comfortable handle and a special stock, and cartridges for 12-gauge shooting. Hunting rifles have a slightly wider range of applications.

Loading cartridges

A huge range of ammunition allows you to satisfy almost any needs of hunters and athletes. This choice is provided by a hunting store. The cartridges are offered with both bullets and buckshot or shot. A significant disadvantage of such products is the reduced mass of gunpowder and increased weight of shot.

At home, ammunition is loaded for two main reasons:

• firstly, it is much cheaper than buying ready-made products;
• secondly, hand-made production helps to achieve a much better quality of gun action.

Many hunters, especially those with extensive experience, prefer to make their own ammunition. All the necessary components to make a hunting cartridge are on sale:

Loading hunting cartridges is not an easy task and in some ways unsafe. The presence of flammable powder requires careful and careful handling. Open fire is not allowed.

Equipment you will need:

• powder dispenser;
• scales and a set of weights;
• special measures for gunpowder and shot;
• cartridge stand;
• UPS - Sidorenko’s universal device for pressing primers;
• navoynik, used for sending a wad.

Finished cartridges are calibrated and stored in a dry place.

Homemade ammunition does not have a guaranteed shelf life. It all depends on the source material. During assembly, old gunpowder and a new primer may be used; such nuances must be taken into account. If at least one part of the cartridge is expired, it cannot be used, it is simply dangerous.

Smoothbore cartridges

Any hunting cartridge can be classified into one of three main groups:

• For smooth-bore weapons, the barrel has a smooth bore. Cartridges for this type of weapon can be bullet, buckshot and shotgun.
• For rifled weapons, the barrel has a helical thread. It can fire slug and shotgun cartridges.
• For “paradoxes”, in this type of weapon the smooth barrel in the muzzle is threaded. This design allows the use of all types of cartridges: bullet, shot and buckshot.

Smoothbore hunting cartridges consist of a cylindrical cartridge case equipped with an igniter primer, a projectile (this can be buckshot, shot, or a bullet), a powder charge, a wad, and a gasket.

Unsheathed charges made of lead. The effectiveness of shooting shot and buckshot within 60 meters. Certain types of bullets smoothbore weapons can stabilize in flight.

Depending on the type of cartridge, it can be used for sports competitions or a certain type of amateur or professional hunting.

Ammunition for smooth-bore weapons is conventionally divided into:

• small-caliber - 28th, 32nd, 36th;
• medium-caliber - 16th, 20th, 24th;
• large-caliber - 4th, 8th, 10th, 12th.

Today, both weapons and cartridges of caliber 4 and 8 are no longer produced. 10 gauge is rare and is only common in the United States. Other calibers have varying degrees popularity and demand among hunters and athletes.

Rifled cartridges

Rifled hunting cartridges are used for hunting game with a carbine or rifle. The bullet has a soft lead core and a hard jacket. According to the law, it is prohibited to use armor-piercing and steel cores, explosive and tracer bullets in hunting cartridges.

Modern industry is able to satisfy almost all requirements of hunters for shooting game of any size at different distances. You can select rifled hunting cartridges with different penetrating abilities and ballistic characteristics.

In stores selling hunting equipment, a competent employee will always be able to advise the buyer on the optimal ammunition for the existing weapon. You should not refuse the help of a specialist; the variety of cartridges is so great that it is not so easy to understand it. The correct choice of cartridges guarantees success in hunting. Incorrectly selected calibers of hunting cartridges can lead not only to damage to the weapon, but also to injury to the shooter.

Popularity of individual brands of 12 gauge ammunition

- No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 up to 40 meters - for black grouse, woodcock, duck;

- No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 up to 45 meters - for goose, hare;

- No. 000-1 up to 50 meters - for fox, hare, raccoon, goose.

• Tahoe produces a variety of cartridges. Shot No. 9-4, bullets, buckshot, for shotguns with a 70 mm chamber. For athletes, shot No. 5, 7, 9 is used in cartridges.
• "Fetter" is one of the most popular brands. They are distinguished by high quality and affordable price. For a variety of types of hunting, for any game. The cartridges have special markings, for example, “Capercaillie”, “Duck” and others.
• “Clover” is made from high quality raw materials, the packaging has simple and clear labeling. The peculiarity of this brand is that the cartridge cases for all types of cartridges are made of plastic, length - 65-89 mm. The shot is mainly lead, some samples are made of steel. Fits traditional types weapons with a 70 mm chamber.

The ability to understand the types of weapons and ammunition for them also has a practical side - it will help make right choice and get real pleasure from hunting.