What is 12 gauge. What is called the caliber of the bore of a rifled small arms? What measures are used to measure calibers

Gauges are measured in millimeters or fractions of an inch. Inch = 25.4mm. In Russia and most other countries, calibers are measured in millimeters. In the UK, caliber is measured in thousandths of an inch, and in the US in hundredths of an inch. A caliber equal to 0.5 inches in the US will be designated - .50, and in the UK - .500
Zero is not placed before the dot.

Comparative table of calibers:

The caliber indicates the diameter of the bullet, but says nothing about the case. Cartridges 10mm Auto and 40SW have bullets of the same diameter (caliber), but different cartridge cases, gunpowder canopies and power. And to avoid confusion, the cartridges are named differently.

Sometimes, to avoid confusion, different numerical designations are used for cartridges with the same bullet diameter: .40 and .41 Naturally, the third digit after the decimal point does not matter to indicate the diameter of the bullet. Therefore, .223 and .225 cartridges have different designations only because of the cartridge cases.

Sometimes they indicate the diameter of the bullet and the height of the sleeve: 9x17, 9x18, 9x19, 9x21, 9x22, 9x23.
As you can see, the 9mm caliber turned out to be very attractive. So much so that there were several cartridges with a cartridge case height of 18mm. In order not to confuse them, they are called differently: 9x18Mak and 9x18Ultra.

9x18Mak - under this name they sell a cartridge for the Makarov pistol in the USA.

Sometimes the same cartridge can have several names. For example, 9mmPM, 9x18Mak are the same cartridge.

But the record for the number of titles is probably...
9mm Steyr, aka
9x23 aka
9mm Largo (9mm Largo), aka
9mm Bergman / Bayard and it is also called simply: 9mm Big, but this is just a translation " Largo" from Spanish.

Look at the photos, where you can clearly see - the diameters of some cartridges are the same: from left to right - 45AKP, 10mm Auto, 40CB, 9mm Steyr, 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Makarov. All bullets - JHP - with an expansive notch (unfolding), even Makarov. Please note that in this photo, the 9mm Makarov case is made of ordinary steel, the 9mm Parabellum and 45AKP cases are made of stainless steel, and the rest of the cases are brass.

Previously, calibers were also measured in lines. Line = 1/10 inch. Three-line - the caliber is 3 lines or 7.62mm.

For hunting weapons, calibers are measured in terms of the number of balls that can be cast from one pound of lead. This explains why 12-gauge hunting weapons are more powerful than 16-gauge - a round bullet cast from 1/12 of a pound of lead is more than a bullet cast from 1/16 of a pound.
Caliber: Bore diameter, mm
Caliber 28 Diameter14
Caliber 24 Diameter14.7
Caliber 20 Diameter15.6
Caliber 16 Diameter 16.8
Caliber 12 Diameter 18.5
Caliber 10 Diameter19.7
Caliber 4 Diameter26.5

bullet types

The cartridges are the same caliber, but the bullets are different ...

Bullets differ: in mass, shape, structure.
It has to do with their purpose. Armor-piercing bullets have a hard alloy core. Heavy bullets retain their energy over a longer distance. Light bullets develop greater speed and have greater penetrating power at close range. Silent weapons require bullets that travel at less than the speed of sound - they are heavier. There are rubber bullets for police and training. There are bullets filled with shot. You can read more about bullets for pistol cartridges here.

For self-defense, the bullet must have sufficient penetration and inflict as much damage as possible on the attacker, stop him. It is believed that for this the bullet must transfer all its energy when penetrating the body and seriously damage it. For these purposes, EXPANSIVE (unfolding) bullets were invented. Such a bullet turns into a “rose” when it hits the body, causes significant damage and gives all its energy to the body, often knocking it over. The Americans tried to calculate which cartridge caliber with which bullet has the ability to more reliably stop the attacker. This ability was called OSS (One Shot Stop) - stopping with one shot.
In Russian - Relative Stopping Action - OOD or Stopping Action Bullets - ODP

But no matter how much depends on the bullet, OSS does not give a single pistol ammunition in 100%. OSS also depends on the location of the hit. One hundred percent gives only a direct hit in the spinal cord or brain. Remember that when trying to find OSS of various calibers, limb hits were not taken into account.

Two shots fired in a row (twin shot) almost always give 100% OSS.
Usually a cartridge with a large OSS will have more recoil.
Weapons with strong recoil are harder to master and harder to defend. Such a weapon is difficult to control.
Conclusion:
Choose a caliber not for OSS, but for the recoil you can handle. Practice the technique of a paired and triple shot.

The recoil of a powerful caliber can be reduced somewhat by choosing a heavier weapon or ammunition with a lighter bullet, but not by much. In cold countries in winter, it is not always recommended to equip weapons with expansive bullet cartridges, because. it is not always able to have a strong wound effect through a thick layer of clothing.

Caliber cartridges for pistols and revolvers.
Attention! Bullet weights are sometimes given in GRAINS (gr). One GRAN = approximately 0.06 grams (64.8 mg).

Cartridge 7.62x25mm TT (7.63mm Mauser, .30 Mauser)

The 7.63mm Mauser cartridge was created in 1896 for the Mauser C96 self-loading pistol. The cartridge is based on the design of the Borchard cartridge of the 1893 model of the year (the 7.62mm Luger / Parabellum cartridge grew out of the same cartridge, which later turned into 9mm Para). The cartridge had considerable power, when firing from the already mentioned Mauser, punching through a 12 cm pine board at a distance of 150 meters. A light (5.51 gram) bullet, ejected with a charge of 0.5 grams of smokeless powder, developed an initial velocity of about 430 m / s with a muzzle energy of about 510 Joules. The significant power of this cartridge led to its great popularity all over the world, and in 1930 in the USSR a 7.62x25mm cartridge was created on its basis, and the differences in size from 7.63 Mauser are so insignificant that the cartridges are often considered interchangeable.

.32ACP (32 Auto, also known as 7.65 Browning)

Appeared in 1899, along with one of the first successful Browning pistols. For over 100 years, the cartridge has been produced by dozens, if not hundreds of companies around the world, and interest in this ammunition is clearly growing, although many consider this cartridge to be more European - it is less common in the USA. The leader in OSS in 66% among this caliber is Winchester - cartridge
Silvertip (JHP bullet, material - lead, sheath material - thin aluminum). This figure of 66% is better than many .380 ACP (9x17mm), better than 9mm Para FMJ and even better than .45 ACP FMJ!!!. This is not an anecdote, but the result of many years of data collection on real shootings and their study. Cartridge of the same company with a JRN bullet weighing 4.6 gr. has OSS = 50%.

The ideal caliber for "ladies'" weapons.

380ACP (9x17mm) (.380 Auto, 9mm Browning Kurz/Korto/Short/Short)

It was developed by Browning and implemented in 1908 in the Colt Pocket Auto pistol. A few years later, this cartridge appeared in Europe in the FN-Browning M1910 pistol and was called the 9 mm Browning Short. (Browning Kurz) The .380ACP was widely used by the European Police. In the USA, he quickly began to replace .38Spl for police off-duty weapons and civilian concealed wearable weapons, as well as pistols in general, began to replace revolvers. .380ACP and .38Spl+P provide the same level of OSS. The best cartridges for OSS v.380ACP are Federal's JHP bullets in 90 gr (Hydro-Shock bullet cartridge - 71% OSS) and Cor-Bon. The 85 gr Winchester Silvertip quick-opening JHP bullet has 64% OSS. Cartridges .380ACP with 95 gr FMJ bullets have an OSS of 53%. For a 9x17mm cartridge, the following characteristics are typical: bullet weight 6.2 grams, muzzle velocity - about 260 m / s, muzzle energy - about 220 Joules.

This popular cartridge was developed by Smith & Wesson and implemented in their revolver.
Military & Police models from 1899. This cartridge was developed as an improved version of the .38 Long Colt cartridge. The .38Spl is currently available in two operating pressures, referred to as standard and +P. It is generally recommended to use standard pressure ammo for plinking and sporting events, while +P ammo for self-defense. Most revolvers in caliber .38Spl produced from the early 80s to the present are designed to use ammunition with a working pressure of +P.
The best combat cartridge. 38Spl is a Winchester cartridge with a JHP + P + bullet weighing 110 gr. These cartridges are sold only to law enforcement agencies and have an OSS of 82%.
A cartridge with similar characteristics, but available to the general public, is the Cor-Bon cartridge with a 110 gr JHP bullet with a bullet speed of 1155 fps.
The second place (and for civilian shooters, in fact, the first) was taken by the .38Spl +P cartridge with a LHP bullet weighing 158 gr - 76% OSS.
Third place in .38Spl +P belongs to cartridges with JHP bullets weighing 125 gr with a result of 70-74% OSS from a revolver with a barrel of 4 ".
.38Spl cartridges with 158 gr semi-wadcutter and 158 gr RNL (round-nose lead) bullets both have only 50% OSS and are a poor choice for self-defense, as are 148 gr “target wadcutter” sporting cartridges.
The best cartridge in .38Spl with standard working pressure is the Federal cartridge with a 125 gr “Chief’s Special” Nyclad HP bullet (an all-lead bullet with an expansive cavity, coated with a special black varnish).

9x18mm Makarov. (9mm Mac)

This cartridge was developed, obviously, not without looking back at the 9mm Ultra (9x18 Ultra) cartridge developed in Germany in 1936. This cartridge was created for the Walter PP pistol as an intermediate power cartridge between the 9mm Browning short cartridges (9mm Kurz / Short, known in our country as 9x17mm service ammunition) and 9mm Parabellum. Despite the identical names, the 9x18 Makarov and 9x18 Ultra cartridges are not interchangeable, as they have a different bullet diameter. The standard 9x18PM cartridge has a bullet weighing 6.1 grams, an initial velocity (when firing from a PM pistol) of about 315 m/s, and a muzzle energy of about 300 Joules. The 9x18PMM cartridge has a bullet weighing 5.54 grams, an initial velocity of about 420 m / s and a muzzle energy of about 420 Joules. As in the case of other modified high-powered ammunition, the 9x18PMM cartridge can only be used in weapons specifically designed for it.

9mm Steyr (9x23)

Along with the 9mm Para cartridge, it is one of the oldest European combat cartridges. In 1903, this cartridge was first used in an automatic pistol of the Bergman system. The pistol was produced by the Belgian company Piper under the trademark "Bayard", which determined one of the names of the cartridge. Cartridge characteristics - bullet weight 8-9 grams, muzzle velocity - 360-370 m / s, muzzle energy - about 550-570 Joules. The cartridge has strong recoil.

It was released along with the Luger semi-automatic pistol in 1902, adopted by the German Navy in 1904, and in 1908 by the German Army. It is considered to be the most popular and widely used centerfire pistol cartridge in the world. Everywhere this cartridge is used for self-defense, police and military purposes. Currently, this cartridge is officially adopted by NATO countries. In the US, the 9mm cartridge was very rare until Colt released the Colt Commander in 9mm in the 1950s, followed by Smith & Wesson in 1954 with the 39mm in the same caliber. 9mm was the absolute choice of US law enforcement agencies. from the mid-80s to the mid-90s, replacing both revolver cartridges - .38Spl and .357Mag. As a matter of fact, most of the most effective 9mm loads are 115 gr JHP rounds with working pressures of +P and even +P+. As a rule, these cartridges provide these bullets with a muzzle velocity of 1250 to 1330 fps, which brought the OSS of such 9mm cartridges to 90-93%.

Despite the fact that ALL 9mm +P+ cartridges are sold only to law enforcement agencies, two companies - Cor-Bon and Triton Cartridge produce 9mm cartridges with 115 gr JHP bullets with muzzle velocities from 1300 to 1330 fps - this is the exact equivalent of police-only cartridges.

The second place among 9mm cartridges is divided between Federal +P + cartridges with JHP Hydro-Shock bullets weighing 124 gr, Speer - 124 gr + P Gold Dot and Winchester - 127 gr + P + Ranger Talon - OSS of these cartridges 81-83%.
Data on 9mm cartridges with heavy, subsonic 147 gr JHP bullets show their lowest performance among 9mm JHP bullets, including their poor ability against tactical obstacles, poor penetration into human soft tissue, and poor reload reliability. OSS of such 9mm JHP bullets with a mass of 147 gr is in the range of 74-80%.
9mm cartridges with 115 gr FMJ bullets have only 63% OSS - like the .45ACP FMJ.
The standard 9mm NATO cartridge has a bullet mass of 7.82 grams at a muzzle velocity of 390-400 m/s, or 8.43 grams at a muzzle velocity of about 375 m/s. Muzzle energy - about 600 Joules. Standard cartridges 9mm Luger / Parabellum, more precisely - cartridges with standard pressure in the barrel, have a bullet weight from 6 to 10.7 grams, an initial velocity - from 300 to 450 m / s, muzzle energy - from 450 to 550-600 Joules.

357Magnum Revolving cartridge.357Magnum (further.357Mag)

It was developed by Smith & Wesson and Winchester in 1935. The design of the cartridge is based on an elongated sleeve of the .38Spl cartridge, but the working pressure of the .357Mag cartridge is twice as high as the pressure of the .38Spl cartridge. Until 1955, when the .44 Magnum cartridge appeared, the .357Mag cartridge remained the world's most powerful handgun cartridge. In the category of cartridges for self-defense (.44Magnum was created as a hunting one) and police purposes, the .357 Mag remained the most effective until the mid-90s, when the .40SW cartridge appeared. Even now, after the introduction of the .40SW, the .357Mag has more loadouts with OSS in excess of 90% than any other caliber, including the .41Magnum, .44 Magnum, 10mm Auto, and 45ACP.

The original loading of the .357Mag cartridge was a semi-wadcutter solid lead bullet weighing 158 gr with a muzzle velocity of 1515 fps. This cartridge was the almost absolute choice of most highway patrol and state police from the 50s to the mid 80s when this cartridge began to be replaced by 9mm. But not because the 9mm was better in its capabilities, but because the 9mm automatic pistols held more rounds than the 6-shot revolvers. Despite the fact that the market for service weapons under .357Mag began to decline, interest in this cartridge was supported by the expansion of the production of compact short-barreled concealed-carried revolvers for self-defense.

The most legendary and deservedly recognized as the most effective equipment for .357Mag are cartridges with JHP bullets weighing 125 gr. Such cartridges provide OSS in 95%.

Such a choice immaculately ensures victory in defensive and police scenarios. All the latest developments in this caliber are necessarily compared with this particular equipment option - .357Magnum 125 gr JHP. If the .45ACP 230 gr FMJ is the nostalgic and emotional pinnacle of One Shot Stop, then the .357 Mag 125 gr JHP is the real, real peak of stopping power.

In second place is .357Mag 110 gr JHP with 88-90% OSS. This old Border Patrol gear continues to serve well. The same consumable works well in short-barreled, 2-2.5" revolvers, providing about 85% OSS.
The next gear is .357Mag 140gr, 145gr and 158gr JHP. Their OSS is 81-86%, but it is really hard to shoot such cartridges from revolvers with barrels 4 "and shorter because of the recoil.
The .357Mag 158 gr semi-wadcutter has only 73% OSS.
Cartridge.38 Sp factory equipment with a bullet weighing 10.74 grams gives it an initial speed of about 230 m / s at a muzzle energy of about 270 Joules, while cartridge. 357 Magnum with a bullet of the same weight accelerates the bullet to 370-380 m / s at muzzle energy about 730 Joules. With lighter bullets, the muzzle velocity can reach 430 m / s with a muzzle energy of about 800 Joules

.357SIG (9X22)

The .357SIG pistol cartridge is the result of a combined effort in 1994 by Federal Cartridge and Sigarms. This is the first cartridge named SIG. Base values ​​for this cartridge are muzzle velocity in excess of 1300 fps and energy levels in excess of 500 foot-pounds. The .357SIG cartridge delivers higher muzzle velocity than the .45ACP +P cartridges and more energy than the most powerful 9mm +P+ cartridges. The design of the cartridge is based on the .40SW cartridge case, crimped to accommodate the resulting 9mm bullet case in the muzzle. The working pressure of the new cartridge is about 40,000 psi, which is higher than the working pressure of the .40SW, .357Mag and 9mm +P cartridges.
When used in a SIG-229 pistol with a 3.9" barrel, muzzle velocity values ​​from 1350 to 1400 fps are obtained, which is equivalent to the values ​​of the .357Mag 125 gr JHP cartridge when used in revolvers with barrels from 2.5 to 4" in length. When using the .357SIG cartridge in SIG-226 4.4" pistols and Glock-31 pistols with 4.5" barrel muzzle velocity exceeds 1450 fps, which is equivalent to .357Mag 125 gr JHP when used in 6" revolvers trunk!
OSS cartridge .357SIG 125gr JHP - 91-92%.
Cartridge .357SIG 115 gr JHP has an OSS of 92-93%.
Cartridges .357SIG with bullets in 147-150 gr JHP have an OSS of 83-85%.
With a probability of 90-95% in the next decade, the .357SIG cartridge will take the first place in preference among pistol cartridges in the police and other law enforcement agencies, pushing such an already inferior cartridge as .40SW from the market.

Patron.40SW was introduced to the public in 1990. A combined effort between Winchester and Smith & Wesson produced an original loaded cartridge with a 180 gr JHP bullet at a muzzle velocity of 900 fps. Perhaps the .40SW cartridge ended the 85-year dispute between the 9mm and .45ACP cartridges. The .40SW had more momentum than the 9mm cartridge and more energy than the .45ACP. Police departments were unhappy with the 9mm cartridge and many quickly opted for the .40SW as a replacement. Even when used in both cartridges with relatively inefficient heavy bullets with subsonic muzzle velocity, the .40SW still offered the best opportunities. The original equipment of the .40SW cartridge is close in its capabilities to the .45ACP cartridge with a 185 gr JHP bullet. For police, the .40SW cartridge replaced the 9mm cartridge as quickly as pistols replaced revolvers. With the right load, the .40SW cartridge is as effective as the .357Mag cartridge with a 125 gr JHP bullet! In fact, three different loading options for the .40SW cartridge provide over 90% OSS.

Cartridges .40SW 15.0-155 gr JHP have an OSS of 94% on average.
The best option with 97% OSS is the 40SW Federal Hydro-Shock 155 gr JHP cartridge.
In second place is the 40SW Remington Golden Saber 165 gr JHP cartridge - 95% OSS. The third place is taken by the Cor-Bon 40SW cartridge with a 135 gr JHP bullet and OSS 90-92%.
From heavy equipment, the best cartridge. 40SW is Federal Hydra-Shock 180 gr JHP and OSS at 90%, the worst with OSS at 81% was Winchester Black Talon. Of course, Winchester redesigned this cartridge and a new one, the so-called. The "Gold" Ranger Talon (police-only) has improved capabilities, even exceeding the Federal Hydra-Shock.
The .40SW cartridge with a 180 gr FMJ bullet has an OSS of 70%. This is higher than 62% OSS .45ACP 230 gr FMJ and 63% OSS 9mm 115 gr FMJ.

10mm Auto (10x25mm)

The 10mm caliber cartridge was created in the early 1980s in the United States and was first introduced to the general public in 1983. Initially, under this powerful cartridge, the Bren Ten pistol from Dornaus & Dixion was created, but this pistol could not really enter the arms market. The 10mm auto cartridge remained afloat only thanks to the efforts of the Colt company, which assessed the potential of this ammunition and released a modification of the classic Colt M1911 for this cartridge. Initially, 10mm auto cartridges were loaded with a bullet weighing 13.6 grams with an initial velocity of about 360 m / s or a bullet weighing 11.56 grams with an initial velocity of about 430 m / s. Currently, these cartridges are loaded with bullets weighing from 9.18 to 14.28 grams. Due to the significant pressure in the barrel and high recoil, this cartridge can be used mainly in full-size, massive pistols, such as the Colt "Delta Elite" or the Glock Model 20. Due to its good performance when shooting at protected targets (through thin walls, car doors ) cartridge was adopted by the FBI, as well as some police departments throughout the United States. In addition to pistols, a number of world-famous MP-5 submachine guns under the designation MP-5/10 were produced for it. As far as I know, most of these submachine guns (if not all) entered service with the US FBI. On the basis of the 10mm auto cartridge, several other cartridges of a smaller caliber were created by compressing the neck of the sleeve, among them 9x25mm and .224BOZ (the latter is a combination of a modified 10mm auto sleeve and a bullet from a 5.56mm NATO cartridge). At present, the following characteristics can be considered typical for this cartridge: bullet weight 10.5 grams, muzzle velocity (from a pistol barrel) - about 370 m / s, muzzle energy - about 700 Joules.
OSS cartridge from Cor-Bon with a JHP bullet developing a speed of 396m.s. = 90%.

Caliber .45 was developed by Browning in 1905. The original equipment had a jacketed bullet weighing 200 gr at a muzzle velocity of 900 fps. The US Army wanted a heavier bullet with more momentum. When the caliber was approved in 1911, the bullet received a mass of 230 gr and a muzzle velocity of 860 fps. Later, the speed of the bullet was reduced further - to 790 fps. Until the mid-80s, the .45ACP cartridge was in service with the US Army, continuing to be the main cartridge for pistols in some elite special forces. Of course, the stopping power of the .45ACP cartridge is exaggerated in numerous American sources, which is explained by nostalgia and patriotism. Similar to all calibers without exception, the .45ACP has been produced and continues to be produced in both the most effective versions and equally inefficient ones - similar to all other calibers, the .45ACP has excellent options, such as the 230 gr Federal Hydro-Shock, for example, and the worst from those produced - 230 gr FMJ. When it comes to stopping power, the choice of cartridge option is much more important than the choice of caliber option. Before the arrival of the .40SW, the debate between 9mm and .45ACP supporters lasted for decades. The 9mm is clearly absolutely a bit out of the .357SIG, but the .45ACP doesn't seem to want to give up. The .45ACP is similar in studied firefights to the .38SPL in that very different types of equipment are at the top of the calibers. B.38Spl very heavy 158 gr +P LHP and very light 110 gr +P+ JHP top of the chart. B.45ACP 230 gr Hydro-Shock and 18.5 gr +P JHP are also the "top" of the caliber.

In first place (for the 5" barrel, as in the 1911 models) is the cartridge .45ACP Federal Hydro-Shock 230 gr JHP with OSS at 96%. This variation, Hydro-Shock, is the best in any 230 gr JHP.
In second place is CCI Gold Dot.
Of the "hot" +P JHP equipment - Remington and Cor-Bon, with 92 and 95% OSS each.
Unlike the 230 gr JHP, the 185 gr +P JHP is most suitable and effective in compact .45 caliber guns with a 4.25"-3.5" barrel. The negative point is the heavy recoil of this equipment. Those +P JHP kicks harder than 230 gr JHP.
Third place - cartridges with standard working pressure with bullets 185 gr and 200 gr JHP - OSS respectively 84 and 88% .
45ACP 230 gr FMJ (Standard Army Cartridge Equipment) - OSS 62%.

ammo

Cartridge 5.45 x 18 mm PMZ. USSR

Developed in the USSR in 1975 for the PSM compact pistol. The cartridge case is bottle-shaped with a slight taper, the bullet is jacketed, has a steel and lead core. The head of the bullet is pointed with a blunt nose (to reduce the possibility of ricochets). Due to the small diameter and sharpness of the bullet, falling into a soft (Kevlar) bulletproof vest, it does not tear the threads of the armored fabric, but pushes them apart. As a result, it pierces a bulletproof vest that holds a bullet from more powerful 9x17 mm and 9x18 mm cartridges.

The cartridge case is brass. The shell of the bullet is tompak, coated with copper. Cartridge weight 4.8 g, bullet weight - 2.6 g, powder charge weight - 0.25 g. Cartridge length 24.9 mm. Sleeve flange diameter 7.55 mm. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 129 J, the muzzle velocity is 315 m/s.

Produced in Russia. For export it is delivered with a bullet with a lead core.

Cartridge weight 4.8 g, bullets - 2.6 g, charge - 0.25 g. Cartridge length 24.9 mm. The bullet has a muzzle energy of 129 J, an initial velocity of 315 m/s.

Cartridge 6.35x15.5 mm "Browning" Belgium

Developed by J. Browning in 1906 for a small pocket pistol. The cartridge has a cylindrical sleeve with a slight taper to the muzzle. Bullet shell with a lead core. The sleeve is brass, the shell of the bullet is copper or tompak, clad with cupronickel.

If necessary, cartridges 5.45x18 and 6.35x15.5 can interchange each other. So, 6.35x15.5 cartridges can be fired from a PSM pistol. The diameter of the cylindrical part of the cartridge 5.45x18 approximately corresponds to the diameter of the cartridge case 6.35x15.5, so the latter can easily be placed in the PSM pistol magazine and can be sent to the chamber. In this case, the replacement cartridge is placed in the chamber with a slight backlash, which, when fired, leads to a slight swelling of the sleeve. The bullet, when moving along the bore, stretches somewhat, but thanks to the soft lead core, it does not deform in the barrel. Incandescence of the primer with a striker and a shot are possible, despite the different shape of the cartridges, since, being placed in the chamber, the cartridge-substitute bullet rests against the bullet entrance of the chamber and does not move forward from the impact of the striker on the primer. However, with such shooting, it is possible that the next cartridge will not be sent due to the low recoil force acting on the shutter. To avoid sticking the next cartridge into the breech, it is advisable to insert cartridges one at a time through the window in the casing-bolt.

The reverse replacement is also possible, that is, firing from a weapon of 6.35 mm caliber with cartridges of 5.45x18 mm, with an increase in the diameter of the chamber from 7.1 to 7.55 mm. At the same time, due to the smaller diameter of the bullet, the powder gases will overtake the bullet, breaking through between it and the inner walls of the barrel, which reduces the pressure in the barrel bore to a safe level. Since the diameter of the bullet of the replacement cartridge is less than the diameter of the bore, in so far as moving along the barrel the bullet will strike randomly along its walls and will not receive rotational motion. Because of this, shooting is possible at a distance of no more than 10-15 meters. A bullet in flight will tumble, and, getting into the body, it will inflict lacerations without penetrating deep inside. Such wounds cause profuse bleeding, incapacitating the enemy.

Cartridge weight 5.3 g, bullets - 3.25 g, charge - 0.078 g. Cartridge length 22.8 mm. The bullet has a muzzle energy of 92 J, an initial velocity of 228 m/s.

Cartridge 7.62 mm revolver cartridges "Nagant" Belgium

The regular cartridge 7.62x39 mm was developed by L. Nagant for a revolver of his own design in 1887. It is intended for firing from a revolver mod. 1895 and its modifications. A distinctive feature of the cartridge from other revolving cartridges is the placement of the bullet in the sleeve.

The shell blunt-pointed bullet with a lead core is completely recessed in the sleeve and does not protrude outwards. In its place, it is held by punching. The muzzle of the cartridge case is rolled to a smaller diameter, which facilitates the loading of the weapon and ensures the reliable functioning of the mechanism for pushing the revolver drum onto the breech breech. The cartridge sleeve is brass, in its cylindrical part it has a slight taper. The shell of the bullet is copper or tompak with copper sputtering.

The 7.62x39mm target cartridge was designed for sporting revolvers. It differs from the standard one by the presence of a lead bullet with a flat head and a smaller powder charge. At the back, the bullet has a conical recess, which ensures that it is pressed by powder gases against the walls of the bore, the powder gases are obturated and stable movement along the rifling. This has a positive effect on the accuracy of fire. The sleeve is brass. The bullet is deeply recessed in the sleeve. Cartridge weight 10.9-11.32 g, bullets - 6.53 g, charge - 0.11 g. Muzzle energy 170 J, muzzle velocity 180-195 m / s.

Target cartridge 7.62x26 mm. Designed for a sporting revolver with a short barrel. It is an analogue of the target cartridge 7.62x39. It differs from it in a shorter sleeve, which gives some savings in non-ferrous metal in the production of cartridges. The head of the bullet is approximately at the level of the muzzle of the case. The sleeve has a small lip and taper, which facilitates the loading of the revolver drum, as well as a shallow annular groove (like pistol cartridges).

Interchangeability of revolver cartridges

From the Nagant revolver arr. 1895 and sports revolvers with a normal drum length (39 mm) it is possible to fire any cartridges. However, when firing with a 7.62x26 mm cartridge, due to the breakthrough of powder gases between the drum and the barrel, the initial velocity of the bullet decreases by almost 30%, and, consequently, the muzzle energy. From sports revolvers with a short drum (26 mm), only 7.62x26 mm cartridges can be fired.

From imported cartridges, revolver cartridges .32 SW Long, .32 Colt Long, .32 New Police and some others with the same case diameter can be used as replacement cartridges for revolvers with a normal drum. For revolvers with a short drum, revolver cartridges .32SW and .32 Colt short can be used as replacement cartridges.

Cartridge length 26.2 mm. Cartridge weight 9.5-9.8 g, bullets - 6.5 g, charge - 0.1 g. Muzzle energy 160 J, initial speed - 170-180 m / s.

Cartridge 7.62x25 mm TT (7.63mm Mauser, .30 Mauser) Germany, USSR

The 7.63mm Mauser cartridge was created in 1896 for the Mauser C96 self-loading pistol, famous for Russian films and books about the revolution and the Civil War. The cartridge is based on the design of the Borchard cartridge of the 1893 model of the year (the 7.62mm Luger / Parabellum cartridge grew out of the same cartridge, which later turned into 9mm Para). The cartridge had considerable power, when firing from the already mentioned Mauser, punching through a 12 cm pine board at a distance of 150 meters. A light (5.51 gram) bullet, ejected with a charge of 0.5 grams of smokeless powder, developed an initial velocity of about 430 m / s with a muzzle energy of about 510 Joules. The significant power of this cartridge led to its great popularity all over the world, and in 1930 in the USSR a 7.62x25mm cartridge was created on its basis, and the differences in size from 7.63 Mauser are so insignificant that the cartridges are often considered interchangeable. Under this cartridge, such samples of small arms as the TT pistol, PPD, PPSh, PPS submachine guns are created and adopted by the Soviet Army. Due to the high speed of the shell bullet, the cartridge still poses a serious threat to light body armor today. Despite the fact that this cartridge was withdrawn from service with the army back in the USSR, it continues to be "in service", however, mainly on the "other side" of the law. He owes this not only to his excellent performance, but also to the presence on the black market of cheap clones of the Chinese-made TT pistol. In the West, this cartridge also has a certain popularity, again due to the presence of weapons in circulation, mainly of Soviet and Chinese production.

The length of the cartridge is 34.85 mm, the length of the sleeve is 24.7 mm. The mass of the cartridge is 10.2-11 g. The mass of the bullet is 5.52 g, the mass of the charge is 0.48-0.52 g. The muzzle energy is 508-576 J, the initial speed is 424-455 m / s.

Cartridge 7.62x17 mm "Browning" Belgium

It was developed by J. Browning for his pistol in 1897 and became the most massive ammunition since the beginning of the century. Many civilian-style pistols were created for it, in addition, it is widely used in the police, gendarmerie and special services (for example, they are fired by Chinese silent pistols "Type 64" and "Type 67").

The sleeve of the cartridge is cylindrical in shape, at the base there is a flange of a slightly larger diameter than the sleeve itself above the annular groove. The sleeve is brass. A bullet with a brass or steel shell clad with cupronickel or copper and a lead core.

The cartridge is produced in Belgium, the USA, China, the Czech Republic and some other countries.

The analogues of the 7.65x17 mm cartridge are the .32 "Auto" and 7.65x17 mm AKP cartridges.

Length 25 mm. Sleeve length 17.2 mm. The weight of the cartridge is 8 g, the bullet is 4.6-4.8 g, the charge is 0.16 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 149 J, the initial speed is 296 m / s.

Cartridge 7,62x22 mm "Parabellum" Germany

Created by Georg Luger, an engineer from the German company DWM, for the Parabellum pistol he developed. In 1900, the cartridge and pistol were adopted by the Swiss army. Subsequently, this cartridge was a regular ammunition in the armies of Bulgaria, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland and a number of other countries.

The 7.65x22 mm cartridge is widely used in the police and special services. Under it, not only pistols were designed, but also submachine guns. In Switzerland (ZIG company), in Italy (Beretta company), in Germany (Walter company), weapons under this cartridge are produced to this day.

Bottle-shaped sleeve with a slight taper, made of brass or copper-plated steel. The bullet is jacketed, with a steel jacket clad with cupronickel or tombac and a lead core.

Cartridge length 29.8 mm, sleeve length 21.6 mm. The weight of the cartridge is 10.5 g, the bullet is 6.02 g, the powder charge is 0.33-0.36 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 407 J, the muzzle velocity is 368-372 m/s.

Cartridge 8x22 mm "Nambu" Japan

Adopted in 1914 along with the Nambu pistol. It is a Japanese version of the cartridge 7.65x21 "Steam". In addition to Japanese pistols and submachine guns, it was used by the special services of European states for firing weapons with a silencer (due to the low muzzle velocity of the bullet).

Bullet shell with a lead core. The bottle-shaped sleeve is brass or steel clad with copper. The shell of the bullet is copper, brass or copper-plated steel.

This is a rather weak, by modern standards, cartridge. Its bullet has a stopping and penetrating effect at the level of the Nagant revolver of the 1895 model. If necessary, it can be a substitute for the Parabellum pistol cartridge of 7.65 mm caliber.

Cartridge length - 33 mm, sleeve length - 22.5 mm. The mass of the cartridge is 10.2 g, the mass of the bullet is 6.6 g, the mass of the powder charge is 0.3 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 285 J, the muzzle velocity of the bullet is 293 m/s.

Cartridge 9x17 mm "Browning" (Short) (.380 Auto, 9mm Browning Kurz) Belgium

The cartridge was developed by Colt for a pocket pistol in 1908, and since 1910 it has been produced by the Belgian company FN (Fabric Nacional) as a shortened Browning cartridge. In Europe, this cartridge was named 9x17K, in the USA - .380 "AUTO". Since 1996, they began to produce it in Russia, at the Tula Cartridge Plant.

In military samples, this cartridge was used extremely rarely, but it was widely used in police and civilian pistols. Despite the insufficiently high lethal force of the bullet, it is one of the most successful pistol cartridges, since the low initial velocity of the bullet, combined with the low recoil force, has a positive effect on the constancy of the battle and shooting accuracy, and reduces the likelihood of ricochet. In addition, the qualities of the cartridge make it possible to design light and compact weapons for it, and the subsonic speed of the bullet makes it possible to use mufflers that are simple in design.

Cylindrical cartridge case made of steel clad with copper or brass (can be knurled). Bullet shell with a lead core. The shell is usually tombac with a thickened front to increase penetrating power.

Cartridge length - 25 mm, sleeves - 17.3 mm. Bullet weight 5.9-6.2 g, cartridge weight 9.6 g, charge - 0.25 g. Muzzle energy 224-280 J, muzzle velocity 270-308 m/s.

Cartridge 9x18 mm "PMM" USSR

It was developed by B.V. Semin for pistols Makarov (PM) and Stechkin (APS). When designing the cartridge, the cartridge case from the TT cartridge 7.62x25 mm was taken as the basis, "cut off" at the level of 18 mm from the bottom. This decision made it possible, on the one hand, to use machine tools and measuring equipment for TT cartridges, and on the other hand, excluded the possibility of using new cartridges for Soviet weapons that remained in the hands of the population after the war.

The ballistic characteristics of the cartridge are superior to the cartridge 9x17 K, but inferior to the cartridge 9x19 Par. The actual caliber of the bullet turned out to be 9.25 mm. Due to the increase in caliber, the stopping effect of the bullet remained at the level of the TT cartridge. And the lower muzzle energy made it possible to use a simple and reliable scheme for operating automation with a blowback.

In the 50-60s, pistols were created under this cartridge in the USSR (PM, APS), Poland (P-64), Hungary and some other countries. In the 90s in Russia, a number of new pistols, revolvers, submachine guns were created for him.

Initially, the cartridge case was brass, and the jacketed bullet had a lead core pressed into a tombac-clad steel jacket. Currently, the cartridge has a bimetallic sleeve and a bullet with a mushroom-shaped steel core enclosed in a lead jacket. Designers V.V. Trunov and P.F. Sazonov also developed a cartridge with a tracer bullet.

A steel-core bullet in a lead jacket saves lead and increases the ability to penetrate non-metallic obstacles (wood, soft body armor). At the same time, when hitting a dense barrier (concrete, steel), the shell of the bullet is destroyed, and the core, due to the round shape of the head, jumps like a ball. As a result, such a bullet cannot penetrate body armor with steel plates. In addition, the steel core reduced the mass of the bullet, which worsened its ballistic performance compared to a bullet with a lead core.

Cartridge length - 25 mm, sleeves - 18 mm. The mass of the cartridge is 10 g, the bullet is 6.1 g, the charge is 0.25 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 348-353 J, the muzzle velocity of the bullet is 315-340 m/s.

Cartridge 9x18 mm "Ultra" (9X18 "Policy") Germany

The cartridge under the name "Ultra" began to be produced in 1936 by the company "Geko" as an intermediate in power between cartridges 9x17 K and 9x19 Par, with a power of 303 J and an initial speed of 300 m / s.

A modern Gecko cartridge with a pointed bullet has a muzzle energy of 333 J and an initial bullet velocity of 330 m/s. In 1976, a similar cartridge under the name "Policy" began to be produced by the company "Hirntenberger". Its bullet weighing 6.5 grams has a muzzle energy of 339-363 J and a muzzle velocity of 323-345 m/s.

The relatively low power of the cartridge allows it to be used in pistols, the automation of which works on the principle of recoil of a free shutter. It is most widely used by the police.

Cylindrical cartridge sleeve, brass or steel. The bullet is jacketed with a lead core, has an ogive or flat conical head (which changes its ballistic properties, including muzzle velocity).

INTERCHANGEABILITY

Despite the external similarity with the 9x18 PM cartridge, they are not interchangeable, since the bullet caliber of the Ultra and Polis cartridges is 9.02 mm, and the PM is 9.25 mm. In addition, the diameter of the PM cartridge case is 0.5 mm larger than that of the Ultra (Polis) cartridge. However, if you have a PM pistol and Ultra cartridges, you can shoot them by loading the pistol one cartridge at a time, wrapping it with a strip of adhesive tape 19 mm wide (capturing the bullet by 1-1.5 mm) and, thus, bringing the diameter up to 10 mm.

On the contrary, if you have a pistol chambered for "Ultra" and PM cartridges, shooting is possible if you increase the diameter of the chamber to a depth of 18 mm with a reamer with a diameter of 10 mm and with a face mill (also 10 mm) - the size of the bolt cup for placing the cartridge case flange. In addition, it is necessary to slightly part the bends of the magazine neck to the sides.

However, this increases the load on the barrel, which leads to its rapid wear, since due to the larger diameter, the bullet of the PM cartridge will not only cut into the rifling when moving along the barrel, but also stretch due to transverse deformation. In addition, it is possible to stick or miss the next cartridge due to different ballistic characteristics of Ultra and PM cartridges.

Cartridge length - 25 mm, sleeve length 17.7 mm. Cartridge weight - 10 g, bullet weight - 6.5 g, charge weight - 0.32 g.

Cartridge 9x19 mm "Parabellum" Germany

The cartridge was developed in 1902 by Georg Luger to increase the power of the Parabellum pistol. In 1904, he was adopted by the German Navy, in 1908 - into service with the German Army. In fact, this cartridge is a 7.65 mm cartridge case connected to a 9 mm cartridge bullet. Initially, the bullet had a conical shape with a flat head (in the form of a truncated cone).

In 1915, it was replaced by a bullet with an ogival warhead. The bullet first had a steel sheath clad with cupronickel with a lead core. Since 1917, the steel shell of the bullet has been varnished with tompac.

Cartridge cases are available in both brass and copper-plated steel. The bullet can be of any type, including plastic. General purpose bullet - jacketed with a lead core. The shell is bimetallic or steel, clad with tombak.

The good ballistic qualities of the cartridge made it the standard ammunition for pistols and submachine guns in most countries of the world after the Second World War. Currently, this cartridge is produced in almost all countries of the world that produce ammunition, including Russia.

INTERCHANGEABILITY

In the absence of 9x19 Par cartridges, if necessary, you can shoot TT 7.62x25 cartridges, loading them one at a time into the chamber. The cylindrical part of this cartridge is about the same size as in the 9x19 mm cartridge. The slopes of the barrel of the sleeve will rest against the bullet entrance of the chamber, which will allow the striker to prick the primer. Of course, a full-fledged shot will not work in this case, since due to the smaller diameter the bullet will not go along the rifling, but will strike against the walls of the barrel, the powder gases will overtake the bullet, reducing its flight speed. However, despite all this, it is capable of inflicting serious wounds at a distance of 20-30 m.

Cartridge length - 29.7 mm, sleeve length - 19.15 mm. Bullet weight - 5.8-10.2 g (standard - 8 g, high-speed - 2.9 g). Cartridge weight - 7.2-12.5 g. Gunpowder charge weight - 0.36 g.

Cartridge 9x29 mm "Special" USA

This cartridge was developed in 1900 by the American firm "Smith-Wesson". It was in service with the army, and was also sold to civilians. The cartridge is very reliable, provides accurate shooting. Popular in the police and special services. The cartridge is equipped with a blunt bullet weighing 10.23 g (civilian) and weighing 12.96 g (police).

The initial speed of 10 grams of a bullet is 260 m / s; muzzle energy 346 J.

Cartridge .357 SIG (9x22 mm pistol) Switzerland

In the early 1990s, this cartridge was obtained by recompression of the neck of the .40SW cartridge case for a 9mm bullet. With this modification, the creators of the cartridge achieved the following results: more reliable chambering of cartridges, since the diameter of the bullet turned out to be noticeably smaller than the diameter of the rear of the chamber, which eliminated the possibility of sticking the cartridge when feeding; an increase in the muzzle velocity compared to both the original .40SW cartridge and the 9mm Para cartridge, which gave a more flat firing trajectory and greater penetrating power; the possibility of using this cartridge in existing .40SW pistols after a simple replacement of the barrel, and possibly the return spring. The recoil of the new cartridge turned out to be quite moderate, while the increase in initial speed was very significant. With a bullet weighing 6.12 grams (as in a 9x18PM cartridge), the initial velocity when firing from a weapon with a 100mm barrel can reach values ​​of 460 and even 520 meters per second, which gives muzzle energy values ​​of 650-820 Joules, that is, 2- 3 times higher than the PM and close to .357 Magnum. With a bullet weighing 7.82 grams, the initial speed can reach 450-460 m / s, with a bullet weighing 10 grams - 360 m / s. It is obvious that the creators of this cartridge were the first to release pistols, more precisely, the German-Swiss company SIG-Sauer. Pistols of this and other well-known companies, originally created under the 40SW cartridge, and equipped with barrels for the new cartridge (SIG-Sauer P226, P229, Glock model 31, Heckler-Koch USP), very quickly gained popularity in the American market. In addition to a significant number of police departments that have appreciated the possibility of combining the power of the .357 magnum cartridge with the reliability and high capacity of modern self-loading pistols, this cartridge has been adopted by the US Secret Service (in particular, they guard the US President).

Cartridge 11.43x23 mm (.45 AKP) USA

The cartridge was adopted by the American army along with the Colt M-1911 pistol in 1911. Subsequently, it was recognized as a reliable and effective cartridge. It is now widely distributed throughout the world, especially in the Americas.

The sleeve of the cartridge is cylindrical in shape (may have an annular strip in the middle part - the result of crimping), steel or bimetallic. Bullet jacketed with a lead core, has a high stopping power. The shell of the bullet, as a rule, is steel, clad with tompak.

As a replacement cartridge, instead of the automatic transmission, you can use the .455 Webley cartridge.

The length of the cartridge is 32.4 mm, the length of the sleeve is 22.81 mm. Cartridge weight - 14 g, bullet weight - 8.42 g, powder charge weight - 0.42 g.

Cartridge 12.3x22 mm (PS-32) Russia

The cartridge was designed for the Russian revolver "Udar". The main type of cartridge is a cartridge with a jacketed lead bullet, loaded into a shortened case of a 32-caliber hunting cartridge. The bullet has a high stopping power, but not enough penetration.

In addition to this type of cartridges for "Strike" revolvers, the following are also used:

a) a cartridge with an armor-piercing bullet (caliber or sub-caliber), which ensures that the target is hit behind an obstacle such as body armor or a car body. From 25 meters, such a bullet pierces a steel sheet 5 mm thick;

b) a cartridge with an expansive bullet having a high stopping power. Such a bullet is effective at hitting both soft tissues and large bones;

c) a cartridge with steel buckshot of a cubic shape that does not ricochet off the walls - is used for shooting in cramped conditions and in poor visibility;

d) a cartridge with a non-lethal bullet - rubber or plastic (the bullet is designed to suppress hooligan urges and self-defense; bullet length 34 mm, weight 11.5 g, initial speed 80 m / s);

e) pyro-liquid cartridge having 2.5 cm3. 0V irritant. The range of application of the cartridge, even with a side wind and during rain, is at least 5 meters;

f) a shocking light-noise cartridge used to solve problems of capturing criminals (terrorists) in a confined space (the power of light radiation of the cartridge is 100,000 kJ, sound pressure is not less than 105 dB);

g) a cartridge with a dye bullet, which allows you to "mark" criminals with hard-to-wash paint. Can also be used for training exercises.

Cartridge length - 27 mm, sleeve length - 22 mm. The mass of the cartridge is 14.9 g, the mass of the bullet is 13.4 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 267 J, the initial speed is 198-250 m / s.

Cartridge 5.45x39 mm Model 1974 USSR

A low-impulse intermediate cartridge developed in the early 70s by a group of Soviet designers as a counterweight to the American cartridge 5.56x34.5 (.223 Remington), which was widely used by the Americans in Vietnam in the 60s. By the beginning of the 70s, Soviet designers also realized the promise of intermediate small-caliber cartridges. A small-caliber bullet, having a high initial velocity, provides a high flatness of the trajectory, has good armor penetration and significant lethal force.

The low recoil momentum at the time of the shot favorably affects the accuracy and accuracy of fire, and the reduction in the mass of the cartridge allows you to increase the ammunition carried by the shooter. The low-impulse cartridge increased the effectiveness of individual small arms by 1.5 times.

The 5.45x39 cartridge turned out to be quite successful. Despite the lower power compared to the American cartridge, it is not inferior to the first in efficiency. His bullet is designed "to the point of stability". It flies steadily in the air, but begins to tumble when it enters a denser medium (for example, living tissue). This effect is achieved by shifting the center of gravity of the bullet to its bottom by placing the bullet core in the shell with a gap in the front, where a void is left between the core and the shell of the bullet.

Bottle-shaped chuck sleeve, without protruding flange, steel, plated. The bullet has a bimetallic sheath into which a steel core in a lead jacket is pressed (PS bullet). In addition to PS, there are tracer bullets "T" and bullets of increased armor penetration (with a hardened steel core). In addition, a blank cartridge with a plastic bullet is produced.

Cartridge length - 57 mm, sleeve length - 39.6 mm. The mass of the cartridge is 10.2 g, the mass of the bullet is 3.4 g, the mass of the powder charge is 1.45 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 1316 J, the initial speed is 900 m / s.

Cartridge 5.56x45 mm NATO USA

This cartridge was specially designed by the American company "Remington" for the "Armalight" AR-15 rifle. The Vietnam War showed its high qualities, and the command of the US Army decided to make the 5.56 mm caliber the main one. Later, this cartridge became standard for the armies of NATO countries (with the Belgian SS109 bullet instead of the American Ml 93). Currently, the cartridge is produced in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, the USA, France, Sweden, and South Africa.

The weight of a bullet with a combined lead-steel core is 4.02 g. The length of the bullet is 23.2 mm, the initial speed is about 1000 m / s, the muzzle energy is 1798 J. At a distance of 300 meters, it pierces an aluminum sheet 19 mm thick, and a steel sheet 3 mm thick. .5 mm - at a distance of 750 meters.

Cartridge 7.62x39 mm Arr. 1943 USSR

This is the so-called "intermediate" cartridge (between pistol and rifle), designed by N. Elizarov and V. Semin in 1943. It is a regular cartridge for the SKS carbine, AK / AKM assault rifles, RPD and RPK light machine guns, a number of other models (Finnish, Polish, Czech, Yugoslav, etc.) Initial speed 710 m / s; muzzle energy 1991 J; most effective at distances from 200 to 400 meters. Differs in high ballistic qualities and reliability.

Cartridge 7.62x51 mm Model 1952, USA

The cartridge was adopted as a regular ammunition of the NATO countries in 1952. Despite the fact that it was created as an analogue of the Soviet 7.62x39 mm cartridge, it significantly exceeds the latter in terms of power and is not fully "intermediate". It is more correct to say that this is a weakened rifle cartridge. The bottle-shaped cartridge case, brass or steel, does not have a raised flange. Bullet shell with a lead core. The shell of the bullet is bimetallic. In addition to an ordinary bullet, the cartridge is equipped with a tracer or armor-piercing bullet. The cartridge goes on commercial sale under the designation .308 "Winchester". Its appearance in the USSR is due to the fact that L.I. Brezhnev received a Winchester-308 hunting carbine as a gift from the President of the United States.

An order was immediately received at TsNIITochmash for the development of a 7.62x51 cartridge with a semi-shell bullet. And when the "order of the party" was fulfilled, then, to load the created production capacities, Izhmash began to produce the Medved-3 and Los-4 hunting carbines.

In the 90s, when foreign-made hunting carbines chambered for such a cartridge began to arrive in Russia, it turned out that their chambers did not correspond to Russian cartridges. At present, Izhmash produces 7.b2x51M.308 WIN cartridges, adjusted to Western requirements.

Cartridge length - 71.05 mm, sleeve length - 51.18 mm. The mass of the cartridge is 15.7 g, the mass of the bullet is 9.3 g, the mass of the powder charge is 2.1 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 3276 J, the muzzle velocity is 838 m/s.

Cartridge 7.62x54R mm Arr. 1908 Russia

The cartridge was adopted simultaneously with the Mosin rifle in 1891. Originally had a bullet with a rounded head. Since 1908, it has been produced with a pointed bullet. In 1930, the cartridge was modernized. He received a heavy bullet weighing 13.7 g. Light bullets gave a high initial speed, but quickly slowed down during flight, so they were used at short ranges. Heavy bullets, due to their mass and streamlined shape, retain their lethal force up to 4500-5000 m and give a more flat trajectory. In 1988, the bullet was modernized again: the material and design of the core were changed. The use of a steel core saves lead, improves bullet penetration. In addition to the PS bullet, armor-piercing incendiary, tracer, armor-piercing incendiary-tracer and incendiary are used.

The cartridge case is bimetallic, with a pronounced taper. The shell of the bullet is steel, clad with tompak. In addition to the usual one, a sniper cartridge with improved ballistics is produced.

Currently, 7.62x54R cartridges are the most popular in Russia. They go on sale under different designations, which introduces a lot of confusion - 7.62x53; 7.62x53R; 7.62x54; 7.62x54R. This confusion arose due to the fact that in different countries the length of the sleeve is rounded differently. The letter "R" indicates that the sleeve has a protruding flange. But after Russia joined the European Commission, the final designation of this cartridge was 7.62x54R.

Cartridge length - 77.16 mm, sleeve length - 53.72 mm. The mass of a cartridge with a brass or steel clad sleeve is 21-23 g, the mass of a bullet is 9.6 g, the mass of the powder charge is 3.25 g. The muzzle energy of the bullet is 4466 J, the muzzle velocity of the bullet is 870 m / s.

Cartridge 7.92 mm "Mauser" arr. 1896 Germany

One of the most common rifle cartridges in the world, which was produced by a large number of countries. At present, it is mainly in service with the paramilitary forces: police, border guards, etc., or is used as a machine gun cartridge. Currently, this cartridge is produced with a steel or brass sleeve and various types of bullets.

Three types of cartridges are currently the most popular: general purpose - a bullet weighing 12.8 g, an initial speed - 750 m / s, muzzle energy - 3600 J; tracer - a bullet weighing 11.5 g, an initial speed of 735 m / s; armor-piercing - a bullet weighing 12 g, with a steel core, initial speed - 735 m / s.

Total Articles

A hunter is not just a man with a gun; first of all, he is a man with a big soul.

If you superficially look at the trunk, it may seem that it is just a pipe, almost like a water pipe. And, like all pipes, the barrels of weapons differ in diameters, which, in relation to weapons, are usually called caliber.

What are hunting rifle calibers?

The answer is simple - the diameter of the bore. Correct, but in the first approximation. The fact is that the bore has a complex profile. But we will return to this a little later.

We usually say about smoothbore guns: "A shotgun of 12, 16, 20, 28 or 32 gauges." At the same time, we know for sure that a 28-gauge gun has a thinner bore than a 12-gauge. It is clear that these numbers are not units of length.
The nominal value of the caliber (4th, 8th, 10th, 12th, etc.) corresponds to the number of round bullets cast from an English pound of lead.

Not easier with the nomenclature rifled weapons. The famous Russian Mosin rifle is called a three-line rifle, and the caliber of the Simonov self-loading carbine is indicated in millimeters - 7.62, with exactly the same bore diameters.

Shotgun calibers

Let's try to deal with smoothbore weapons first. Now in Russia only five named calibers are produced.

But before, besides them, shotguns of the 4th, 8th, 10th and 24th calibers were produced. The numbers denoting these calibers correspond to the whole number of round bullets obtained from one English (trade) pound of lead (453.6 g).

This definition allows for a simple but useful equation: K x M \u003d 453.6 g, where K is the caliber of the barrel, M is the mass of a round bullet having a diameter equal to the diameter of the bore.

This equation makes it possible to calculate three important parameters:

• The mass of a round bullet of any caliber is obtained by dividing 453.6 g by caliber;
• If we substitute the mass of the bullet, expressed in terms of the volume of the ball and the density of lead (11.34 g / cm3), it is easy to calculate the value of the barrel diameter (in mm) for any caliber. It is equal to 42.5 / (cubic root of the caliber). It is possible to determine the caliber if the diameter of the bore is known;
• The caliber is equal to the third power of the ratio 42.5 / (bore diameter in mm).

History of calibers

Back at the beginning of the last century, all integer calibers were “in use” (4, 5, 6, 7, and so on up to 36). It seems very strange that such an irrational designation of calibers has lasted to the present day.

After all, the designations of calibers in linear units, especially decimal ones, would be incomparably simpler and clearer. However, our general inertia is very great.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte tried to introduce the definition of calibers through the number of bullets by barrel diameter, which is obtained not from a pound, but from a kilogram of lead. On French guns of that period, there are occasionally traces of that reform. A 12-gauge shotgun in Napoleonic style was designated 40.

Shotgun channel profile

From the breech, it has a chamber - a nest for a cartridge. The chamber begins with a groove under the rim of the sleeve. Its total depth for a 12-gauge shotgun is 1.9 mm. The first half is a cylinder with a diameter of 22.5 mm, the second is a cone with an apex angle of about 80 degrees.

This groove under the rim of the sleeve not only exposes the bottom of the sleeve to the plane of the breech cut of the barrels, but also centers it in the chamber with the help of a cone. The chamber is a truncated cone, expanding to the breech cut by 0.3 mm. This is necessary for the free extraction of the spent cartridge case.

The length of the chamber must match the length of the sleeve. Longer cartridges lead to unacceptably high pressures of powder gases in the barrel when fired; cartridges that are shorter than the chamber lead to non-uniform scree and harshness and, in addition, spoil the chambers.

Sleeves for shotguns

Our industry produces shotguns for cartridge cases 70 and 76.2 mm long. These dimensions originate from the inch system. In the world, chambers are made from 51 to 89 mm long. The generally accepted norm is that it requires the value of the length of the sleeve in the untwisted state to be applied to the finished cartridge.

In addition, when specifying the caliber of a smooth-bore weapon, the length of the sleeve is written through a slash. For example. 12/70 or 20/76. Some hunters have a delusion that in order to easily remove metal cartridge cases from the chamber, they should almost hang out in it. In fact, the brass sleeve in the chamber must sit tightly so that when fired, its deformation does not go beyond the elastic limit. If a free chamber allows the case to reach the limits of plastic, irreversible deformation, it will be very difficult to remove it.

In order for the gun to be fired using cartridge cases of various designs (with different wall thicknesses), the chamber is followed by a transitional cone or projectile inlet. Sleeves made of different materials have different internal diameters of the necks, which differ from the diameter of the bore.

To prevent such a breakthrough, it is necessary that the height of the felt wad be at least one and a half times the length of the transition cone. Its profile is different, but the length rarely exceeds 10 mm. Behind the transitional cone, the actual bore begins, which continues to the muzzle device. In rare cases, when it is not present, the channel continues without a significant change in diameter to the muzzle.

Thus, the caliber in a smoothbore gun is the internal diameter of the barrel from the projectile inlet to the muzzle device.

Practical difficulties

Now, in theory, everything seems certain, but in practice there are a couple of complications. Any company has its own sizes of tools and equipment for processing barrel bores of each caliber. Even in our country of total standardization, the Tula Arms Plant produces 12-gauge guns with a channel diameter of 18.5-18.7 mm, and a mechanical plant in Izhevsk 18.2-18.45 mm.

Moreover, in practice, the barrel channels are not a strict cylinder, but a truncated cone. From the chamber to the muzzle, they taper slightly. This expansion in the breech is obtained by itself. Any deep hole on the input side of the processing tools is somewhat wider. However, this imperfection also plays a positive role.

Moving from the chamber, the wad, somewhat worn out, still does not stop working (preventing the breakthrough of powder gases) because the diameter of the channel decreases. This reasoning fully applies to both the traditional felt wad and the polyethylene obturator wad.

For the sake of justice, it should be noted that the best gunsmiths make special efforts, and their barrels really have a constant diameter between the transitional cone and the muzzle device, they are a real cylinder.

In addition, sometimes a small cone is made specially on the first third of the channel (from the breech).

Returning to the definition of shotgun caliber, we must understand some convention of this parameter.

Shotguns usually have chokes, the main purpose of which is to finally form the shot sheaf. Chokeless barrels are rare in shotguns, although they tend to shoot better zeroes. Such barrels are called "cylinders".

What is a choke and what is it for

The narrowing of the most common form is called "chok".
From the side of the muzzle, it is a cylinder, the length of which is greater, the greater the narrowing.

• The 12 gauge full choke is 18mm long. It mates with the main channel with a sloping conical surface (taper 1:120);
• The length of the cylindrical part of the pay is 10 mm.

Let's first define the concept of "chok".
This constriction of the bore of a shotgun is located near the muzzle. This narrowing is very rarely made more than 40 thousandths of an inch (in the metric system - 1.01 mm). Each "thousandth" can be considered as a narrowing unit.

You can read more about marking checks in the article: "Marking of interchangeable chokes".

The barrels of guns designed for shooting on a round ground have wider chokes: from 10 thousandths to a strict cylinder. High-end shotguns for this exercise are sometimes made with a choke drill, but on the side of the muzzle, a “bell” is made measuring 10-15 thousandths of an inch.

Currently, many manufacturers of hunting and sporting weapons complete their weapons with interchangeable chokes, which are light tubes screwed into the barrel from the muzzle. For this, a special key is included in the kit.

Choke shapes

Interchangeable chokes are sometimes made in the form of barrel extensions, usually not exceeding 150 mm.
However, the well-known French company Verneuil Carron made a real revolution by manufacturing a series of barrel extensions for semiautomatic shotguns with a length of 820 mm.

Designation of the size of the chokes

There are different options for designating the size of chokes (there is no common standard yet). One of them is to use sprockets: * - full choke, ** - 3/4 choke, *** - half choke, **** - quarter choke or cylinder.

Other manufacturers use the letter "0" to designate chokes. For example, the company "Beretta" puts the sign "0000" on the cylinder. This means that the barrel is indeed cylindrical. And on the free ends of the interchangeable chokes you can see small risks. And again, one risk corresponds to a full choke.

Choke profiles are different not only for ballistic reasons, but also based on the type of shot. Now the problem of replacing lead shot with steel shot is very urgent in order to improve the ecological situation in reservoirs where waterfowl are intensively hunted.

However, the use of steel shot requires very smooth transitions in the bores. Otherwise, their catastrophic wear is observed. To prevent this from happening, modern manufacturers of shotguns perform all transitions in bore diameters as hyperbolic.

In addition to the "ordinary" choke, barrels are produced in the world with several other options for muzzle devices.

The complexity and variety of profiles of smooth-bore weapons even of the same caliber must be taken into account when selecting wads, spacers and, of course, bullets not only for each gun, but also for each barrel. It is almost certain that the left and right barrel (top and bottom) of a shotgun will "prefer" zeros of different designs.

Channel drilling types

Speaking about the calibers of guns, it must be said about two types of channel drilling, which allow you to shoot both shot and bullets at incomparably greater distances than from conventional smoothbore guns. We are talking about a rifled choke - a paradox and Lancaster drilling, in which the barrel bore has an oval section, “twisted” with a regular rifling step.

Fortunately for our hunters, weapons with such barrels are formally considered smoothbore. This allows you to purchase it under the same licenses as conventional hunting smooth-bore weapons.

Shapes of muzzle devices

Forms of muzzle devices (from top to bottom):

• a) normal conical choke;
• b) choke with pre-muzzle expansion;
• c) a bell with a pre-muzzle constriction;
• d) parabolic choke;
• e) normal bell;
• f) strong choke;
• g) rifled choke (paradox).

When applied to rifled weapons, caliber is a numerical expression of the bore diameter measured between opposing fields, or (much less frequently) rifling. Even less common is the measurement of the rifling and the rifling field of the bore that are opposite to each other. In most countries, the caliber of rifled weapons is expressed in millimeters and fractions of it (usually accurate to the second decimal place when written as a decimal fraction).

In the UK and the USA, as well as in countries where the English system of measures is adopted, the caliber is indicated in fractions of an inch - in thousandths in the UK and in hundredths in the USA, and the written designations have a peculiar form - the decimal fraction is written as an integer with a dot in front ( for example, the designation of the caliber "three lines" - 0.3 "= 7," 62 mm, looks like .30 or .300).

The caliber is also indicated in the lines, the ratios are as follows: 1 " = 25.4 mm, 1 line = 2.54 mm; and in points: 1 inch = 10 lines = 100 points. So, the SI three-line rifle. Mosin has a caliber 3x2.54 = 7.62 mm, and the calibers of the three lines, .30, .300, 7.62 are equal to each other.Recently, in England and the USA, a dot is not put before the designation of calibers.

For example, US gauge 30 should be multiplied by 0.254, and English gauge 300 by 0.0254g. As a result, US gauge 30 is 30 x 0.254 = 7.62 mm, and English gauge 300 is 300x0.0254 = 7, 62 mm. Similarly, caliber 410 corresponds to 10.41 mm.

In rifled weapons, the diameter of the bore is measured either by rifling or by fields. Therefore, the same caliber can be designated differently. So, the 9 mm caliber of the Los carbine is indicated by the margins (9 mm), and the TOZ-55 Zubr carbine is indicated by the rifling (9.27 mm). Rifle caliber 5.6 mm is sometimes referred to as 5.45 mm: the first is the change in caliber along the grooves, the second - along the fields. The three-line cartridge 7.62x53R has a leading part diameter of the bullet 7.92 mm. In general, in traditionally domestic cartridges, the diameters of the leading parts of the bullet are larger than the caliber. The diameters of bullets for rifled weapons always exceed the diameters of the barrel bores (for the possibility of cutting into rifling and acquiring rotational motion). Exceeding the diameters of bullets over the diameters of the bores of the barrels is far from the same, since they depend on many factors (depth, shape and number of grooves, bullet hardness, length of its leading part, quality of gunpowder, and others).

It is clear that of the several numbers mentioned, obtained by various measurements of the diameters of the bore of the rifled barrel, as well as the diameter of the bullet, only one will correspond to the designated caliber. Typically this number refers to one of the bore measurements, so the designated caliber of rifle cartridges is essentially the caliber of the weapon for which the cartridge is intended. The true dimensions of the bullets never correspond to the designated caliber. Only in those cases where the measurement of the caliber of a weapon by rifling takes place, the indicated calibers of the weapon and the true diameters of the bullets turn out to be very close to each other, close, but still different. To the above, it should be added that among the designations of calibers there may be those that do not correspond to the size of either the weapon or the bullets. They are simply traditional and do not act as information about the size, but as a symbol of a particular cartridge. As a result, a mixed designation system has been adopted in world practice, in which a given cartridge is designated as it was designated in the country that issued it.

Perhaps the only prerequisite is the presence in the name or designation of the cartridge of information about its caliber. Usually, designations of calibers in the inch system are not translated into millimeters, since they are often either approximate or conditional, being only a symbol of a given cartridge, and not a carrier of information about the true value of the caliber. So, with a formal translation into millimeters, for example, designations.38, the value of 9.65 mm is obtained. But this is a non-existent caliber - a conventional designation. 38 is actually 9-mm cartridges used in weapons with a true caliber of 8.83 mm. Perhaps only specialists know that the .38 Special revolver cartridge uses .357 caliber bullets. The main reason for the discrepancies, as mentioned above, is the measurement of the diameter of the bore - along the grooves or along the fields.

Strictly speaking, the caliber of a cartridge is the caliber of the weapon for firing from which this cartridge is intended. The caliber of the bullet itself almost never coincides with that indicated in the name of the cartridge, since its diameter is always greater than the diameter of the bore of the weapon's barrel, measured "over the fields." For most cartridges designed in Europe, their name includes the numerical value of the caliber in millimeters, and for cartridges created in the United States and England, the name indicates the caliber in hundredths or thousandths of an inch. Although there are exceptions to this rule. For example, a purely European cartridge .30R Blaser (.30 Er Blaser) received a typical Anglo-American designation, and in the name of American cartridges 7 mm Remington Magnum (7 mm "Remington Magnum") and 7mm-08 Remington (7 mm-08 "Remington") 19 caliber is indicated according to European traditions - in millimeters.

In the name of European cartridges, in addition to the caliber in millimeters, the length of the sleeve in millimeters and its type are usually indicated - 7x64, 7x65R, 7x57R. The letter R means the presence of a protruding flange - a flange. Often the name of the developer is added to the catalogs - 7x64 Brenneke, 7x65R Brenneke. The designation of Russian cartridges is also built on this principle, however, as mentioned above, for domestic cartridges, the diameters of the leading parts of the bullet are larger than the caliber. So, our 7.62x39mm cartridge is actually loaded with 7.87-7.92mm bullets, except for its US-made versions, which use regular .308 bullets, i.e. 7.62 mm.

A certain specificity is found in the designation of old large-caliber (big bore) English cartridges for smoky and smokeless powder. Because all of these cartridges had a rim, the case type designation was not specified. So, .450-3 1/4 Rigby refers to the caliber in thousandths of an inch (.450), the length of the case in inches (3 1/4) and the company that produced this cartridge and / or weapons for it.

Cartridge .577 Nitro Express (3 "&2 3/4") had two options for equipment - in a sleeve with a length of 3 inches (76.2 mm) and in a sleeve with a length of 2 3/4 inches (67.7 mm).

In the designation of American and English cartridges, there is no information about the length of the sleeve, and after the digital designation of the caliber, the name of the developer follows: .375 A-Square, .300 Dakota, .300 Holland & Holland, .308 Winchester.

Caliber and surname of the designer who created this cartridge. More common in the designation of American cartridges. So, one of the most powerful hunting revolver cartridges .454 Casull (.454 "Casull") was created by Richard Casull, or rifle .300 Jarrett (.300 "Jarrett"), developed by Kenneth Jarrett. The name of Weatherby's most famous cartridge, the .300 Weatherby Magnum (.300 "Weatherby Magnum"), contains both the name of the company and the name of its developer, Roy Weatherby.

Double hyphenated designations are historically characteristic of American cartridges. So, in the days of black powder (practically until 1890), in the designations like .44-40, .45-70, the first number showed the nominal value of the caliber, and the second - the amount of charge of black powder in grains (1 grain = 64.8 mg). However, created in 1895, the first American rifle cartridge for smokeless powder - .30-30 - also retained this principle in the name. The most notable exception to this rule was the famous cartridge .30-06 Springfield (.30-06 "Springfield"), in the designation of which the numbers 06 indicate the date it was adopted by the US Army - 1906.

Most modern double designations are due to the fact that a certain cartridge was created on the basis of an already existing cartridge case. The creators of such ammunition are often single designers - enthusiasts who manufacture them in limited quantities for use in weapons of their own systems. (The so-called "wildcat" cartridges). For example, .25-06 is a cartridge with a nominal caliber of .25, based on a .30-06 case, compressed to fit a bullet with a diameter of .257. The .22-250 cartridge with a .22 caliber bullet was created on the basis of the .250 Savage cartridge case (.250 Savage). The designation of the new cartridge .30-378 Weatherby (.30-378 "Weatherby") refers to another cartridge - .378 Weatherby (.378 "Weatherby"), the sleeve of which was used as the base case.

When creating the cartridge 7mm-08 Remington (7mm-08 "Remington"), equipped with bullets with a diameter of .284, a recompressed sleeve .308 Winchester (.308 "Winchester") was used.

England uses its own designation system for "converted" cartridges, which is absolutely opposite to the American one. If the American cartridge .338-.378 Weatherby Magnum has a caliber .338 and is based on a recompressed cartridge case of the .378 Weatherby Magnum cartridge, then the British would call such a cartridge .378 / .338. The English .500/.465 Nitro Express cartridge is a .465 caliber cartridge that uses a recompressed .500 NE cartridge case, similarly .500/416 designates a cartridge with a .416 caliber bullet based on a .500 NE cartridge case. Express (Express) and Nitro Express (Humpo Express).

Some English cartridges have two loading options: a less powerful black powder designed for older guns, and a more powerful smokeless powder designed for modern, more durable weapons. The latter options are designated Express or Nitro Express, which suggests that such a cartridge throws a bullet as fast as the train of the same name rushes.

Especially powerful cartridges that develop an excessively high pressure of powder gases when fired in the bore of the weapon have the definition of Magnum ("Magnum") in their name: .222 Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum (.338 "Lapua Magnum" ). Until the early 1980s, the word "magnum" was usually present in the designation of cartridges, especially American ones. Modern magnums and ultramagnums may not have these names, designers, but only give them figurative names (300 Pegasus) or their own names and initials (300 Jarret, 375 JRS).

It is also now difficult to argue that the so-called "search" case design is a prerequisite for the inclusion of a cartridge in the magnum group with the assignment of the term "magnum". Two other criteria play a significantly larger role - pressure and bullet speed. Some European high-velocity magnum cartridges have the letter 5 in their designation: 5.6x61SE, 6.5x68S, 8x68S.

Some designers give their cartridges fancy proper names like .300 Pegasus, .338 Excalibur and .577 Tyrannosaur (Arthur Alfin's cartridges, A-Square), apparently wanting to highlight their unique speed and power. Abbreviations in titles. When writing, to save space (especially when marking on cartridge case heads), abbreviations are often introduced into the designation of cartridges. For example, the name of the revolving cartridge .44 Remington Magnum (.44 "Remington Magnum"), due to its wide popularity and the absence of similar competitor cartridges in the production, is increasingly being reduced to .44 Magnum or simply .44 Mag. The names of well-known companies that are present in the official designation of the cartridge are also usually abbreviated: Winchester - Win (Win), Remington - Rem (Rem), Weatherby - Wby (Double-Bi-Wye).

As you can see, the various notation systems are very arbitrary and therefore do not allow us to calculate the real capabilities of the cartridge based on its name. It happens that a large-caliber cartridge with a long sleeve, like 9.3x72R, in fact, is not at all as powerful as one might expect. The energy of his bullet at a distance of 100 m from the muzzle is three times lower than that of a bullet cartridge of a much smaller caliber .300 Weatherby Magnum (.300 "Weatherby Magnum"). The difference is about 3500 J, which is comparable to the muzzle energy of the .308 Winchester cartridge (.308 Winchester).

Over time, the concepts of "weapon caliber" and "cartridge caliber" became more capacious, expanding to the full designation of the cartridge. This is quite logical, since different models of weapons with barrels of the same caliber can, differing in the shape of the chamber, be designed to use completely different cartridges with sleeves of various sizes and shapes. Therefore, a purely numerical designation of the caliber, without the additions that usually accompany it, is now used only in relation to the pool itself. Instead of the vague wording "7.62 mm hunting carbine", another, more accurate and informative one, "7.62x51 caliber carbine (or cartridge)" is increasingly being used.

As you know, cartridges of the same caliber, even with the same diameter of the leading parts of the bullets, but with sleeves of different sizes and shapes, with flanges or grooves near the bottom, are absolutely non-interchangeable. In addition to the mismatch of cartridge cases, the non-interchangeability of cartridges is associated with the amount and grade of gunpowder. So, the amount of gunpowder determines the pressure of powder gases at strictly defined values ​​of the weight and diameter of the outer part of the bullet, the diameters of the rifling and fields of a particular gun, the material of the shell of the bullet. For example, you cannot use the spherical nitroglycerin powder used in the 7.62x51 cartridge to reload 7.62x53R cartridges. Nitroglycerin spherical powder in a 7.62x51 cartridge with a semi-shell bullet weighing 9.7 g raises the pressure of powder gases when fired to 3400 kgf / cm2. If this charge is poured into a 7.62x53R cartridge case, in which a 13 g bullet is used, then the pressure will rise even higher and can destroy the weapon. The weapon chambered for 7.62x53R is designed for an operating pressure of not more than 3150 kgf / cm2.

Hunters should be aware that bullets for the same rifle caliber are in many cases not interchangeable. So, the diameter of the barrel bore along the rifling of domestic weapons chambered for 7.62x51 is 7.83 mm, and for the cartridge 7.62x53R, the diameter of the leading part of the semi-shell and live bullets is 7.92 (the diameter of the bore along the grooves for this cartridge is also 7, 92), that is, more. If a hunting semi-shell or live bullet of the 7.62x53R cartridge is removed and inserted into the 7.62x51 cartridge, then when fired, this will lead to a sharp pressure jump, which in turn can lead to the destruction of the weapon. Considering that the semi-shell bullet of the 7.62x53 cartridge weighs 3.3 g more, then such a shot is life-threatening. Foreign manufacturers always indicate the diameter of the bullet.

Trofimov V.N., Trofimov A.V. “MODERN HUNTING AMMUNITION for rifled weapons. CASES, POWDER, CAPSULES, BULLETS, CARTRIDGES, BALLISTIC ELEMENTS»

Hello. Please tell me the real caliber of this howitzer. As far as I know, the fitting is anything larger than the 12th. Somewhere I found an article about 4-gauge elephants. From a pound of lead, four ball bullets. Doesn't fit in the head. This is, perhaps, the core. Vitaly Galishanov.

Photo by Evgeny Kopeiko

From a pound of lead, four ball bullets are really 113 g projectiles for an old quarter-pound cannon.

But from hunting weapons, even large-caliber ones, such colossal bullets have not been fired and are not fired.

The point is not only in the calculation of the caliber of weapons by the number of round bullets, but also in the actual size of the shells of hunting weapons.

A hunting fitting is a rifled weapon with a folding block of barrels of the same caliber (traditional) or different (the so-called "mountain").

It is not necessary that its caliber be larger than 12, or .729 inches. Of the modern ones, the smallest one is the Peter Hofer fitting of caliber .17WMR, and the largest is the Holland-Holland Royal fitting of caliber .700N.E., or the same Verney-Carron, or Ziegenhahn.

By the way, rifled caliber 700N.E. the diameter is very close to the 14 gauge. It is the Verney-Carron large-caliber fitting, presented by the company at the Moscow exhibition ARMS & Hunting-2017 in Gostiny Dvor.

Large-caliber hunting weapons of any kind, both smoothbore guns and fittings, can be large-caliber, the caliber is a parameter of the barrels, and not a characteristic of the type of weapon.

In the nineteenth century before last, fittings of larger calibers were produced for cartridges with black powder, the calibers of these weapons were calculated by the number of round bullets cast from one pound of lead according to the British system of measurement, that is, weighing 453.6 grams.

But the bullets for these "elephant" and other fittings were not necessarily spherical, as a rule, they were of an obturable design and weighed less than the nominal spherical ones.

Large smoothbore guns were of the 10th, and 8th, and 4th, and even 4th calibers. The essence of these large-caliber samples lies in their purpose, they were fired, as a rule, with shot, and, if necessary, with a bullet.

Among them were the so-called "refineries" for hunting in places of accumulation of waterfowl. These are heavy guns, and especially large ones were fired from special stops installed on a boat or in an ambush.

But it is not at all necessary that supposedly large-caliber rifles were fired with projectiles nominal in caliber.

Now the projectile weighing 45 g for a 12-gauge Mag gun is not surprising, there are both guns and magnum cartridges on sale, but this is a 10-gauge projectile. And then a projectile of such a mass was almost limiting, not everyone dared to shoot heavy projectiles.

But there were, and still are, typical large-caliber hunting rifles, these are examples of a traditional design with a folding block of barrels, of course, heavy and brutal, but a slightly smaller mass of which to some extent allows you to shoot from your hands. Usually these are guns of the 10th and 8th calibers, they were produced in different countries.

Let me remind you that the nominal diameter of the bore of the 10-gauge is 19.69 mm, and the bore of the 8-gauge, respectively, is 21.21 mm. Shotguns of the 10th and 8th calibers were not uncommon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hunters needed models for large shot shells.

The chambers did not exceed the length of 85 mm; a shot shell was placed in such a sleeve up to the nominal one. They not only hunted with them, but even shot at "pigeon" cages.

And in our country, the ITOS plant produced a single-barreled breech-loading trigger gun of the 10th caliber with a folding barrel, as well as the 8th caliber with a barrel length of 890 to 980 mm.

They cost much more, respectively, 30 and 50 rubles on the scale of the exchange rate of 1911, than the same smaller gun - 12-gauge, offered for 26 rubles. Prices and photos 2 and 3 are taken from “Prices No. 9 for 1910/11 of A.A. Bitkov in Moscow" from my archive.

By the way, the Tula company TsKIB SOO also produced a double-barreled shotgun MTs10-10 of the 10th caliber. Now I will only remind you of its main parameters: the barrels are heavy, weigh 1.9 kg, the block is steel, the mass of the gun is 4.13 kg.

I draw attention to the length of the chambers - 70 mm; this gun is designed to fire only nominal caliber shots weighing 45 g or less, but no more. The permitted pressure is indicated by the inscription "no more than 700 kg / cm2" on the trunks.

Obviously, this solid double-barreled shotgun, despite its mass, does not belong to the now common magnum category.

Once in Moscow, a Belgian 8-gauge horizontal hunting rifle was offered, massive, but very interesting and in very good condition. The design is typical, reclining block of barrels, locks in the block, triple locking of the block of barrels, a pistol-shaped stock with a neck.

Of course, you can shoot from such a double-barreled shotgun once or twice, and then put it on a backpack in order to concentrate and gather strength before the next doublet. It had to be abandoned, but only because of the lack of branded cartridge cases, now it is no longer possible to find them, except perhaps to collect them individually at specialized auctions abroad.

Such a rare gun needs real factory shells with a paper shell, not homemade ones.

By the way, the absence of shells made her in good condition, since the previous owner had nothing to shoot.

As an example of a very large-caliber hunting weapon, the old French muzzle-loading single-barreled 4-gauge, made in Saint-Etienne in the 1830-1840s, deserves attention.

Its weight is only 3.0 kg with a barrel length of 700 mm, and the bore diameter of the .42 caliber corresponds to 26.72 mm in the metric system. However, no one ever intended to shoot shots from it with nominal caliber shells, this would have amounted to 113 grams each time.

Neither this rifle with very ordinary parameters, nor the hunter himself, would have survived such shooting due to excessive recoil.

In fact, this is a small, elegant gun, although it is a 4-gauge, it was created with the aim of obtaining a wide scree of shot at a normal distance of 35 meters when firing shot shells of no more than 36 grams, which are familiar to a hunter of average physical abilities.

This antique Saint-Etienne ramrod with a cap lock, despite the colossal 4th caliber, is a hunting rifle typical of the second quarter of the 19th century, made in Western Europe.

So in the Museum of Saint-Etienne, I examined the muzzle-loading double-barreled shotgun of 1836-1840. local production with the same stock, decorated in the style of "rocaille", safety bracket, semicircular triggers on the primer lock. A similar gun of similar decor and design is also in the Liege Museum.

Unfortunately, the photographs of the Saint-Étienne single-barrel 4-gauge turned out to be mediocre, and the owner wished to remain incognito, so we will have to limit ourselves to a slightly more detailed description.

It is important that the barrel on it is steel, very durable, although it would be more logical to see a Damascus barrel on a gun of that period. The length of the steel barrel is only 672 mm, and with a breech screw it is equal to 701 mm, which is quite a bit for a 4-gauge gun, but fully corresponds to its purpose - creating a wide scree at a normal distance.

In the breech, the barrel is octagonal, in the middle with a large number of faces, there are sixteen of them, and in the last third of the length towards the muzzle it is round. Capsule lock, with a spectacular semicircular trigger. All parts are steel, from the breech and bottom mask-base of the trigger mechanism to the safety guard and butt plate with a long upper shank.

The stock is long, with a protrusion under the cheek and a semi-pistol neck, decorated with carvings in the style of "smooth rocaille". Branded swivels indicate that this gun was supposed to be worn for hunting.

The Saint-Étienne 4-gauge single-barreled shotgun is an expensive, high-class, individually handmade shotgun. The barrel is decorated with gold in the Empire style with floral ornaments in the form of lianas, leaves and flowers, among which two fairy-tale birds in the French style are also depicted in gold, we call them firebirds.

Decorated with engraving and steel parts of the gun, up to the breech and trigger. A ramrod in a muzzle-loading model is a necessary and trivial item, without which a gun cannot be loaded, but high-quality hardwood, a horn tip and precise, accurate work allow it to be attributed to the elements of the gun's decor.

Now the former 10-gauge and 8-gauge shotguns have supplanted the modern magnum models, but the owners of the surviving large-caliber models carefully store them and shoot, equipping cartridges in branded cases from the previous stocks.

You can ask your question to Evgeny Kopeiko by e-mail: [email protected]