The article talks about what a ramrod is, why it is needed, and how it is used in modern small arms.
Weapon
Gunpowder has been known to people for several millennia, the first mention of this substance is found in Chinese treatises dating back to 1044 AD. Initially, it was used as fuel for fireworks, and even a medicine. Of course, its similar value is doubtful, but it has long been considered a reliable remedy for joint disease.
Much later, starting from the XII century, in the annals there are references to the first firearms. These were heavy bronze cannons firing with stone shot or cast-iron cores. And since the Middle Ages, the first examples of personal small arms were invented. So what is a ramrod? To answer this question, you need to talk a little about the methods of charging muskets, fittings and other shooting devices.
First, gunpowder was poured into the barrel bore, then felt, leather or woolen wad was inserted, which prevented the spilling of explosives. And for reliability, it was driven in by a ramrod - a long wooden or metal rod. Then a bullet was inserted, which was also protected from falling out wad. So now we know what a ramrod is.
For a long time, it remained a mandatory attribute of a weapon, since without a ramrod it was simply impossible to properly load a gun or pistol. In addition, the ignition chamber was at the very end of the barrel, and the powder had to be pushed all the way, otherwise a spark from a flint or a capsule would not ignite the powder.
Meaning of the word “ramrod”
If we analyze the meaning of the word and its origin, then it came to the Russian language from German. Stempel - pestle, pusher, stopfen - hammer, plug.
Modern weapon
With the invention of the unitary cartridge, in which the powder charge, capsule and bullet were combined into a single structure by means of a sleeve, the ramrod was no longer necessary, since it became unnecessary to push the powder and bullets into the bore, but only at first glance. A ramrod was still supplied with all types of small arms, but it was no longer used for charging, but for cleaning the barrel, since a deposit was formed on it during firing.
A ramrod is an important part of any weapon, whether it is a hunting double-barreled shotgun, a machine gun or a machine gun. Some samples are initially supplied with a brush at the end, and others with a special flat end, which is convenient to unscrew some parts of the weapon or screws. They are also mandatory in the army weapon kit, but for the civilian it is not always supplied, in which case they must be bought separately.
Punishment
In a number of armies in the past, ramrods were also used to punish guilty soldiers. They were beaten with ramrods, and sometimes, depending on the severity of the misconduct, she could be beaten to death. Also, punishment with ramrods is often confused with gauntlets - in this case, the offender was driven through the ranks of soldiers, where everyone beat him with a special rod or stick.
So we figured out what a ramrod is, why it is needed and how it is used in modern small arms.