Human development in many respects depended on the tools of economic activity that could be created and improved.
In terms of game extraction, a real breakthrough was the creation of hunting rifles. The initial specimens did not differ in reloading speed, accuracy and durability, but significantly facilitated the production of food.
Modern analogues are equipped with all kinds of devices, are made from innovative materials and are available in various modifications. Consider the features and characteristics of popular modifications.
Historical facts
The first versions of combat and hunting rifles were smoothbore. The charge during the shot was ejected with the help of powder gases from the barrel channel. At the same time, quality and accuracy left much to be desired. This is largely due to the lack of appropriate manufacturing technologies that could ensure the release of charges and barrels of a single size.
The firing was not accurate, the range of the bullet was not at the highest level. The first muskets, arquebuses and squeaks lost in the main parameters to crossbows and bows, especially in terms of rate of fire and range of hitting the target.
It is believed that the first samples of rifled weapons appeared in 1498 in Leipzig or Vienna. The ammunition needed to be loaded with a hammer. Such versions did not receive much popularity. The most successful model at that time with a barrel cut was created in the 30s of the XIX century by Berner. In Russia, such weapons appeared at the end of the XVII century, and in 1856 the modifications were given the name "rifle".
Options with rifled trunks began to be actively used during the US Civil War (60s of the XIX century). For a long time, smooth-bore modifications occupied the leading position. Over the years, the charging system, the configuration of the trunks were improved, the accuracy and ballistics index increased. And all this in the field of army units. The use of hunting smoothbore guns for their intended purpose remained out of competition.
general information
Today, the considered types of weapons are among the most common in the field of social and civilian use. This category includes single-barrel and double-barreled hunting rifles, pistols, pneumatic analogues.
A similar weapon is on the balance of police and special paramilitary units, but its main purpose is hunting. Unlike the old versions, such models are not charged via the barrel part, but are equipped with an ignition device, they are characterized by high rates of practicality and efficiency.
Features
The main objective advantage of a smoothbore hunting rifle over competitors is the ability to fire with numerous types of charges (bullets, shot, buckshot). The area of destruction increases due to the dispersion of parts of the ammunition, it is especially effective at close range and hunting for mobile game. Smooth barrel models do not require precise aiming. The features of the gun make it possible to solve various problems during the hunting.
Pump modifications
The configuration of the pump rifle is equipped with a forearm, which must be moved forward / backward to reload. Winchesters have become popular not only among hunters, but also in police units. High lethal and tactical indicators made the shotgun almost the most popular option among the smooth-bore civilian weapons used in the United States.
Hunting rifles of this type have a convenient loading unit and have significant firepower. The first breakthrough in their category was made by the hard drives of the 1897 model. They specifically replaced double-barreled counterparts. This was made possible thanks to the high performance parameters of the new samples.
In almost the same form, the shotgun appeared in the battle field. For example, the modification "Winchester M1897" was adopted by the US Army during the First World War. This model served as a prototype for many smoothbore hunting rifles.
Pros of pumping guns
The main advantage of this category of weapons was reliability. Models of this class could be used with charges of various capacities and even with a rubber bullet. As a result, the shooter improved his ability to solve tactical problems. The disadvantages of pump models include an insufficient rate of fire, which does not depend on the charging device, but on the user's skill and dexterity. However, this type of weapon is still popular.
Self-loading rifled samples
Direct competitors of rifled hunting rifles became self-loading smoothbore counterparts. For recharging, they use the energy of exhaust gases or recoil. Such modifications include the Saiga-12 and Remington 11-87. Unlike pump-action counterparts, self-loading shotguns have lower recoil, which positively affects the accuracy of aiming. Another advantage is a good rate of fire, which at a short distance increases the effectiveness of firing.
But self-loading versions were not widely used by hunters. This is due to the complexity of operation and unreliability of the design. A similar system was better suited for army needs. It was also not possible to combine both designs successfully. Such modifications were distinguished by high weight and high cost. A limited number of models are used for sports shooting and home self-defense.
About trunks
Rifled hunting rifles, as well as smooth-bore variations, are assembled from modern materials with the introduction of innovative technologies. The barrel part can be of the same diameter along the entire length or have different sizes at the beginning and end of the part. In the second case, a narrowing of the barrel is observed - it is impossible to shoot a sub-caliber bullet from such weapons.
The most common configuration is a cylindrical element, from which you can fire bullets, shot and buckshot. The only drawback of such weapons is the deterioration in accuracy and accuracy with increasing distance to the target. In some modifications, a special nozzle on the barrel is used, which eliminates errors (cylinders, chokes, half-lives).
Varieties
All hunting rifles (photo can be seen above) today are divided into classes according to the following parameters:
- absence or presence of a removable magazine (single-shot, automatic, self-loading);
- type of clip (tubular, underbarrel, box-shaped type);
- reloading method (barrel fracture, longitudinally sliding device, self-loading mechanism, revolving method).
Caliber hunting rifles
This indicator also plays an important role in the use of weapons. For hunting modifications, the caliber is determined in accordance with the number of bullets cast from one pound (453.5 g) of lead. The smaller the barrel in diameter, the more charges are obtained from the control mass of raw materials. The bullets for this gun are spherical, the diameter is equal to the size of the barrel channel in the middle part.
In hunting models, cartridges with a caliber are used in which cartridge information is indicated. For example, 16/70 is a 16-gauge charge, the sleeve length is 70 mm. The most common value of the second parameter, except for the specified one, is 76 and 89 mm. A 12-gauge hunting rifle is the most popular now, however, there are specimens with an index of 16, 20, 24, 32 and 36. The caliber 410, which has the Saiga carbine, popular among hunters , is known in domestic spaces.
Hunting gun IL
Consider the characteristics of one of the most popular domestic smooth-bore guns IZH-43:
- types of calibers - 12 and 16 mm;
- the chamber along the length - 70 or 76 mm;
- barrel - 660/720/750 mm;
- weight - 3.6 kg.
Removable trunks are placed horizontally, are interconnected using the lower and aim strips. In the breech compartment, the elements are fixed by the clutch by the pressing method and the locking pin. Spent cartridges at the IZh-43 hunting rifle are removed by an ejector, which is affected by the feeder. Full extraction is carried out mechanically, that is, manually.
TOZ-34
Another popular model from Tula gunsmiths. A feature is the ornament on the case, and on piece analogs - elegant engraving.
On the example of a hunting rifle TOZ-34, we consider the main characteristics:
- barrel length - 711 mm;
- chamber - 70 mm;
- applied effort for descent - 1.5-2.5 kg / cm;
- weight - 3.2 kg;
- dimensions - 1150/55/210 mm.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of smooth-bore hunting rifles (the photos of which you saw above) include the possibility of using various types of charges, up to rubber bullets and gas cartridges. In special units, they use ammunition of explosive action, which serve to eliminate various obstacles. The capabilities of weapons significantly expand the scope of application in civil and specialized fields.
Despite the fact that modern hunting is difficult to imagine without a smooth-bore, weapons have certain disadvantages. This is a relatively small firing range, compared with rifled counterparts - in the field, the effective firing range is not more than 70 meters. At large distances, buckshot or fraction is scattered and loses its slaughter. When firing a bullet, the range increases by 2-2.5 times. Depending on the caliber of a hunting rifle, the effective distance will be about 200 meters.
It is worth noting that the tactical capabilities of the hunter are significantly reduced due to the significant weight of smooth-bore weapons and the large size of specific cartridges. Ammunition dimensions limit the stock that the shooter can carry, and reduce the capacity of the clip on self-loading modifications.
Recommendations
In order for the tool to serve for a long time and reliably, its proper use and storage should be ensured. Unlike rifled counterparts, smoothbore models need regular cleaning. Before long-term storage, the implement must be lubricated with special oil and stored in a dry place. Compliance with the rules of operation and maintenance guarantees successful hunting, preservation of production in salable condition, safety of the shooter.
To summarize
In the purely civilian segment, smoothbore weapon modifications are ideal for hunting. As a self-defense, it is too slow, even in a cropped version. Some police units use self-loading pump-action counterparts, but they are not very suitable for fishing. If you decide to buy a hunting rifle, 12 gauge is suitable for moose or wild boar, and for feathered game it is better to use the 20th.