Smoothbore hunting weapons are recognized by lovers of this type of pastime all over the world. In this article, we will try to study as much as possible the equipment of cartridges of 12 calibers suitable for it. So, if you have one English pound of lead in trading (453.59 g), it can be divided into twelve equal pieces. Of these, we cast exactly the same round bullets of the same mass and diameter. Eureka! We will get 12 caliber bullets! Note that the internal diameter of the barrel channel of a gun of a similar format corresponds to the parameters of such a lead ball.
Please note: the nominal diameter of a 12-gauge weapon barrel is 18.5 mm. But it is obvious that the actual dimensions of the channels from those mentioned are significantly different. These differences appeared due to the difference in weight of one pound in grams, found in different states. For example, the Russian pound corresponds to 409.512 g, and the Austrian - 560.01 g.
For some manufacturers of weapons, the values of the diameter of the barrel bore range from 18.2 to 18.9 mm. The Tula Arms Factory produces 12-gauge weapons with a channel diameter of 18.5 mm. And in Izhevsk, there is a wonderful mechanical plant that manufactures barrels for rifles with an internal diameter of 18.4 mm (until 1990, the diameter of the barrels produced at this production was 18.2 mm).
The arms companies of Germany and Italy create 12-caliber shotguns with barrels, the diameter of which is 18.6 mm, US manufacturers - 18.9 mm, UK - 18.7 mm.
As we can see, the equipment of cartridges of 12 gauges is a very tricky task, because the internal diameters of the barrel of a weapon vary depending on the model of the cartridge case. For products made of metal, the walls are much thinner than for the same paper or plastic options. That is why the channels of the trunks, made under folder sleeves, have a smaller diameter in comparison with the channels created under the metal. In general, most versions of hunting rifles are designed for the use of paper shells.
12 caliber warheads
For cartridges of various lengths, the following 12-gauge cartridges are made:
- warhead with a sleeve length of 65 mm;
- warhead, designed for a shell of 70 mm;
- Magnum warhead (sleeve length 76 mm);
- Super Magnum cartridge (sleeve length 89 mm).
Cartridges 12 caliber are classified by type of charge on:
Warheads of a given diameter also vary in scope. Allocate:
- hunting;
- traumatic;
- sports;
- signal warheads.
Machine MEC 600
Let's take a look at the MEC 600 Jr. ammunition press - The most popular device of the middle class.
This product is designed for those who want to have an inexpensive machine, do not seek to fully automate the process, but at the same time strive to get an excellent result. Here, an automatic capsule feeder is not included in the standard equipment, but this does not matter. It can be purchased separately and installed on the press. Note that this is the cheapest machine of all devices of this nature.
Equipment cartridges at home called "occupation for the fittest." Therefore, most craftsmen prefer this machine - the basis of the foundations in the MES lineup. MES 600, like all other products of the mentioned company, is made of steel. It is equipped with a powerful design, a long working lever with a comfortable grip, full adjustable nozzles.
In fact, the MEC 600 press is designed in such a way that each operation is carried out on it independently, regardless of the others. A typical user equipped with, for example, 12-gauge cartridges, this device is very necessary, because the highest productivity of the MEC 600 is approximately 250 warheads per hour. In addition, craftsmen can equip them with liners with a diameter of 76 and 70 mm. The device is equipped with a height-adjustable runner ring designed to crimp the metal base of the spent sleeve.
With a smooth cone, simple rolling can be done. The machine for the equipment of cartridges calibrates the cartridge, removes used capsules and presses in new ones, measures the shot and gunpowder, closes the sleeve with six or eight rays.
Machine Lee Load All 2
This device is available for warheads of 12 and 20 calibers. They carry out equipment cartridges at home to smoothbore weapons. This device performs the following operations:
- presses out and presses in the pressed capsules;
- calibrates the metal head of the sleeve;
- reloads cartridges in both a fired and a new cartridge case;
- waddles bullets;
- presses in the sleeves with an asterisk;
- can charge 60-100 warheads per hour.
The device has batchers of shot and gunpowder with a set of bushings (24 pieces).
Table twist
And now consider a desktop spin, equipping cartridges of 12 caliber. It fixes the shot wad, rolling up the free edge of the muzzle of a plastic or paper sleeve.
The device is attached to the table bracket. Next, the equipped warhead is placed between the matrix and the puck (dulce to the matrix, and to the puck head). Then, having pressed a cartridge, the hunter with a handle twists edges of a sleeve. It is noteworthy that at the same moment he presses the warhead with a moving arm with his left hand. Moreover, the hunter should not put too much pressure on him, otherwise the edge of the sleeve may deteriorate.
Interestingly, desktop spins have greater performance than manual ones, as they are more comfortable to use. These devices screw the edges of the muzzle more evenly and more firmly.
Home warheads
The equipment of cartridges of 12 caliber in domestic conditions can not be called a super complicated business, unless, of course, the safety rules are followed. Yes, in principle, it is easy to equip any cartridge at home: it is important to be attentive and accurate. The process saves money and also helps craftsmen to thoroughly study the tasks of ballistics during firing from a smoothbore gun. It should be noted that the shooter gets more pleasure when hunting for game with warheads of his own production.
Those who are interested in household equipment of cartridges of 12 calibers, who want to learn this unusual craft, need the following devices purchased (or independently made):
- weights from 0.01 to 20 g and scales for weighing gunpowder and shotguns;
- a cone for straightening the edges of spent cartridges, a device for equipping warheads like UPS or Barkalai;
- measures for hanging fractions and gunpowder;
- funnel for filling cartridges with shot and gunpowder, die cutting for wad;
- spin rolling sleeves;
- to calibrate equipped warheads or fired shells, it is necessary to have a calibration ring;
- sleeves need coasters: each for fifty pieces.
Many of the devices listed above can be purchased in stores offering products for hunting, and some can be made with your own hands.
On sale you can find measurements for weighing smoke powder and fractions. But many hunters for the dosage of gunpowder "Falcon" (smokeless) make several measurements with their own hands. They make them from plastic bottle caps: the outer edges are cut off and attached to the handle through the bottom.
Then the measurements are calibrated under the weight of the Falcon gunpowder. To do this, take its desired mass and pour it into the measure through a funnel. Then the substance is leveled and its level is noted. After that, the edge of the measurement is cut off, which protrudes 1 mm above the mark, since scooping up gunpowder from the cup, it is impossible to put it tightly, therefore it is filled only through the funnel.
Step-by-step instruction
So, we continue to further study how to equip cartridges of 12 caliber. The test is checked by weighing the scooped gunpowder. When the measure corresponds exactly to the intended mass of the charge, this weight is indicated on its handle.
By the way, a funnel for filling the sleeves is glued from paper, plastic or made of a thin metal sheet. The cone, which straightens the muzzle of spent cartridges, is turned either from strong wood or from metal.
In general, the equipment for cartridges with 12-shot buckshot consists of the following steps.
- The hunter retrieves the shot capsules to reuse the cartridges.
- He inspects, sorts and prepares the cartridges for equipment.
- Then capsules are pressed.
- The hunter weighs and measures the charges of gunpowder and puts them into shells.
- Then he fills the wads of gunpowder.
- Weighs or measures shot shells. Fills them in sleeves.
- Then he fills up shotgun wads.
- The latter are then properly fixed.
- Cartridges are marked.
Cartridge cases
We hope that our readers are happy to study the equipment of cartridges of 12 gauges: the machine and the other elements necessary for such a serious process. Do you know that craftsmen pay a lot of attention to fired sleeves? What does it consist of? If there is a longitudinal crack or tear on the sleeve, it is rejected. If a hunter finds on this product a torn off edge of a dulce or a weakened nest for a capsule, a transverse crack formed along the upper cut of a metal bottom, he will not use it. Also, a product that has burnouts, delaminations and local swelling of paper walls is considered a marriage.
If the edge of the dulce is torn off of the sleeve, and the remaining defects are not found, you can use it for light charges. But it will need to be shortened by 7 mm.
If the sleeves are wet, they are dried in the oven or in any other way. This process will reduce their diameter: the product will freely enter the chamber of the weapon. And in dry shells, gunpowder can retain its combat properties for a very long time.
At a fired or paper case in front of the equipment, hunters straighten the dule with a conic rule. If the paper product has weakened strength, you can restore it by soaking the product with molten paraffin or wax. In fact, the equipment for hunting cartridges requires the organization of a workplace that provides the ability to perform all of these operations.
Gunpowder
You must admit that the equipment for cartridges with buckshot (including 12 caliber warheads) is a very entertaining affair. We continue to understand this complex process and consider the algorithm of actions for filling gunpowder into cartridges. Sleeves designed for equipment are installed in the stand on the left side of the master. Capsules are pressed in each of them. It is important that the capsule enters the nest without distortions, tightly. If it fits freely there, the sleeve must be discarded.
Next, the prepared products are placed in an empty stand on the right side of the workplace. But if there is a certain amount of capsules left in the box, it is sent to the place of permanent storage. After that, the scales are mounted on a stable stand and armed with weights and measurements for measuring the powder, a cup. First check the raw materials for compliance with their weight standard. The substance is scooped out of the cup so that it is filled with a slide.
Further, the excess powder is removed with a sleeve or other object. The remaining raw materials are weighed. If its mass corresponds to the one chosen for equipment, the filling of the substance into the sleeves begins. After the hunter has filled 10-12 shells, he must carry out a test weighing of gunpowder.
It is important to remember that gunpowder is filled with monotonous movements.
Recommendations
As you can see, the equipment for hunting cartridges requires tremendous patience and takes a lot of time. And if you are ready for an even longer process, measure the charges of gunpowder on the scales, because the mismatch even in 0.02 g affects the parameters of the shot scree. By the way, for warheads that are used for long-range or special shots, gunpowder must be weighed.
So, we put the scales to the left of the cup with gunpowder, closer to the hunter. Pour the powder from their cup through the funnel into the sleeves. Next, put the filled copies in an empty stand.
Remember, for summer hunts you do not need to use powerful charges of gunpowder, because in this period of time they will only worsen the quality of the scree of the shot and give a strong return. But such a hunt will turn into torment - you will not get pleasure from it.
For rifles of normal mass with reclining trunks, cartridges are equipped according to the following rules.
- Cartridges designed for self-loading rifles equip with a small amount of gunpowder necessary for the operation of automation.
- If the air temperature drops, powder charges increase.
- Equipping cartridges of 12 caliber with a bullet or canister provides for an increase of 0.5 g of a sample of smoke powder and 0.1 g of Sokol powder for armament of an established caliber in excess of the recommended seasonal mounts. For weapons of other calibers, the increase is proportional to the mass of the main charge.
If the equipment of bullet cartridges of 12 caliber is carried out correctly, then the recommended charges will provide a sufficient initial speed of shot, bullets and buckshot for any hunts.
Powder wads
After all the cartridges are filled with gunpowder, hunters begin to engage in the addition of wad. Alternately obturating wad made of cardboard about 2 mm thick is inserted into the sleeve, and felt wad is salted and then unsalted wads.
At the end of the work, some craftsmen lay a cardboard thin wad, thanks to which the battle of the gun becomes more spreading. The thing is that it enhances the deformation of the fraction several times.
Cardboard wad is inserted obliquely into the sleeve. It is leveled with a navigator, and it takes a horizontal position, and then gunpowder is added. Wads of felt are pummeled by hands so that when they enter the sleeve they do not crush its dulets. After that, they are placed inside the shell with a rotary movement and moved with a navigator to a cardboard wad.
Security
And what other surprises can 12-gauge cartridges give us? Lee Load All 2 and other similar devices in operation require compliance with safety rules. During the equipment it is inadmissible to be near an open flame, to smoke, to press the capsules after filling the cartridge case with gunpowder, to hammer the shells with a hammer, or to work on an uneven and dirty surface.
Even a small grain of sand, accidentally caught under the capsule, can press it to ignite when pressed.
In general, when equipping warheads, it is necessary to observe cleanliness and accuracy. And if all the rules are followed, then even a novice hunter will be able to equip up to fifty rounds per evening.
Cartridges "Magnum"
Do you know that the equipment of cartridges "Magnum" 12 gauge is considered a very responsible matter? Recently, these warheads among domestic hunters have gained incredible popularity. And in the West they are appreciated.
What are they? Simple cartridges with a sleeve of 70 mm in size hold 32-36 g of a fraction. More powerful warheads with large 76 and 89 mm shells already belong to the Magnum category (shot weight 40-52 g). On the market you can find warheads made for standard sizes 12/70, referred to among the population as “Semi-Magnum” (the mass of fractions in them is 38-42 g).
So, we will study the equipment of cartridges "Magnum" 12 caliber as detailed as possible. Our shooters, as a rule, use the warheads of this model in weapons of the 12/76 format. After all, the 12/89 format requires specific weapons and creates too powerful a return.
Own equipment of warheads "Magnum" 12/76 with a 52-gram fraction requires craftsmen to clearly perform all the nuances of the process. It is imperative to check that your gun is designed for the warheads of this model and corresponds to the 76-mm chamber.
To equip Magnum charges, plastic sleeves (length 76 mm) 12 gauge are used. The capsule must be selected in high quality. From domestic gunpowders “Falcon” and “Sunar-42 Magnum” perfectly proved themselves on hunting. As a charge, therefore, it is these brands that should be used.
A gun wad container with special damping parameters is installed on the gunpowder. Fraction take from No. 4 to No. 0000. Cartridges are rolled up either by rolling, or by a "star".
It should be noted that equipping the Magnum warheads is a very responsible occupation. And if there is not enough knowledge, it is better to refuse from household preparation of cartridges of this model.
But they are sold in any hunting goods store!