The article talks about what buckshot is, what it is used for and how it differs from other types of shells for shooting.
Weapon
A man does not have sharp teeth, like predators, their strength, speed or endurance, but with the help of a developed mind he was able to create a weapon and thereby increased his chances of survival. Weapons, both cold and firearms, have been relentlessly following a person for many centuries. It is used as a tool for extraction, protection or sports equipment. In the latter version, there are a great many, as well as ammunition for him. But we will talk about what buckshot is, how it differs from other ammunition and where it is used.
Definition
Kartech is a large shotgun with a diameter of 5.25 to 10 mm. It is used both for hunting animals and in some sports shooting disciplines. You can purchase it with a license for a hunting weapon in a place like a hunting store. But why was this type of ammunition created at all?
It all started with hunting and wars back in the Middle Ages, when firearms were only gaining ground. And then the shot or buckshot was used much more often and more productively than conventional bullets. This was due to the fact that for a long time there were no rifled barrels, as well as methods of dense loading of bullets, and therefore it was easier to use buckshot or shot. So now we know what buckshot is. In addition, the aiming abilities of those weapons left much to be desired, and it was necessary to hit the largest possible area of the target, for example, the enemy system or the beast during the hunt.
Modern world
Of course, current technologies have long made it possible to produce cheap, simple, but at the same time durable rifled trunks. But if we talk about hunting weapons, then instead of the accuracy of a single bullet, the area of destruction is sometimes important. For example, when shooting small, fast-moving targets, such as wild ducks, geese, and hares. One salvo can kill several animals at once. Although it is for this reason that they use a smaller fraction more often, but for hunting wolves, wild boars, roe deer and other animals of medium size, cartridges are used.
At the moment, on the Russian arms market you can find cartridges of almost any variety, price range, quality and caliber. The latter, by the way, is calculated on the basis of the diameter of not only the buckshots themselves, but also of the total weapon barrel. So the caliber of buckshot can also be very different.
Application
In our time, buckshot is used, as already mentioned, only in hunting and in some types of sports. This type of ammunition has long been supplanted by a conventional bullet for a rifled barrel. But not in all countries it is possible to purchase such weapons, and for hunting medium-sized animals buckshot is preferable. Interestingly, in 2004, the American army received a tank shell with buckshot. This was done because in conditions of dense development, such ammunition effectively destroys the enemy’s manpower, but does not destroy buildings. Now this shell is produced in small limited quantities.
This case is not an isolated one. These types of ammunition were used during the First World War in British tanks. So now we know what buckshot is.
Gun buckshot
In the mid-19th century, shrapnel completely replaced cannon buckshot. Since the time of Ancient Russia, people have been actively equipping cannons with it. Initially, this type of ammunition was ordinary small stone or iron debris (nails, pieces of horseshoes, etc.), which were loaded with guns. A little later for them they began to cast specially large fraction, which was called buckshot.
A volley from a heavy cannon with several tens of kilograms of buckshot was scary. He mowed the whole ranks of the enemy, for which everyone loved this type of ammunition. Cores were used to destroy fortresses and other fortifications.
Now buckshot can be purchased at a place like a hunting store. It is sold both inside finished cartridges and in loose form. Loose buckshot is needed for those who like to equip cartridges on their own. In addition to economic benefits, there is also a practical one - you can make cartridges of any power by combining types of ammunition depending on the goals: hunting, shooting sports or something else. There is also knitted buckshot when the grains are fastened together with a thin, but very durable fishing line or wire.
In the article, we examined in detail the question of what buckshot is, what is it used for.
It is also worth mentioning that buckshot is often confused with shrapnel, and this is wrong. They are a large fraction of steel or lead, but shrapnel was used in artillery shells that exploded at high altitude and showered the enemy with a whole "rain" of striking elements. This type of shell has not been used for a long time.