For the needs of Soviet hunters at the Zlatoust Machine-Building Plant (ZMZ), several models of hunting weapons have been produced since 1948. Mostly these were single-barrel guns ZK and ZKB. In 1956, mass production of a new rifle unit for commercial hunting, namely the Deer rifle, was launched. The release lasted only two years. Judging by numerous reviews, the 32-caliber Deer shotgun, despite all expectations, did not receive recognition among hunters. You will learn about the device and the tactical and technical characteristics of this hunting weapon from this article.
Acquaintance with the "vertical"
Shotgun "Deer" 32 caliber (photo shooting model presented in the article) is a double-barreled combined hunting weapon. Due to the fact that the trunks in it are located vertically, hunters also call it "vertical". The basis for the creation of the gun “Deer” was a single-barrel trigger model ZKM-1, designed by designer V.A. Kazan and produced at the same plant ZMZ. Unlike ZKM-1, the block in the gun "Deer" with two trunks. In addition, this model with an enlarged block and a redesigned trigger mechanism. These rifle units belong to a rather interesting and independent type of hunting weapon. In 1950, the "Deer" of ordinary performance cost 560 rubles. On request, a rifle unit could be purchased for 625.
About destination
If you adhere to hunting ethics, game should be obtained with one well-aimed shot. Due to the fact that animals of various sizes can be found in the forest, you need to hunt them using the appropriate ammunition. For example, for the hazel grouse and capercaillie, the best option would be shot, for the moose the bullet shell. The appearance on the arms market of double-barreled vertical bars, namely, 32-caliber “Deer” rifles, makes it possible for hunters and trappers to get different kinds of animals.
About production
This shooting model was developed with the expectation that from a smooth trunk it was possible to hunt pine forest, namely hazel grouse, as well as fur animals. From the trunk, in which there was a drill of the "Paradox" type, one could shoot at ungulates. However, this would be possible if the scatter of bullet shells did not exceed 150 mm at a hundred-meter distance. To the general regret of the hunters, the ZMZ developers failed to achieve this. Nevertheless, in a short period of time (from 1956 to 1958), the employees of the Zlatoust Machine-Building Plant manufactured only 200 weapons units with rifled barrels and 1,000 guns with a Paradox drill.
How did guns work out?
After the gun "Deer" arrived at the arms counters and was sold out by hunters, it turned out that it had an unsatisfactory accuracy of the battle with a bullet shell. According to experts, it is for this reason that ZMZ stopped the further production of these rifles. Nevertheless, the owners began to modify the guns privately. Modernization work was carried out in two directions. Some owners in the middle between the trunks equipped their guns with additional clutches. Some hunters were limited only to soldering trunks along their entire length. Some owners, in addition to soldering trunks, installed a new forend. Thus, the operational resource increased to almost four years. The main objective of such design changes is to make the weapon system tougher and reduce the dispersion of bullet shells. Judging by the reviews, as a result of the alteration during firing from a distance of 100 m, the bullets went into a circle with a diameter of 100 mm. However, the above improvements are possible only with special skills. There was also a second way to improve accuracy. It consisted in the use of a more rational bullet than the one proposed by the manufacturer. According to experts, in the framework of the experiment, thickening of the trunks and their shortening to 56 and 60 cm was allowed.
Description of the 32-caliber double-barrel
The “vertical” shotgun “Deer” has a direct pistol or semi-pistol box. For its manufacture, birch or beech wood was used. Shotgun "Deer" (photo of this shooting unit - below) with a detachable forearm Deeley-Edge, which is mounted on the trunks by means of a lever type latch. Judging by the reviews, the forend is quite large and durable. A simple engraving is used as a decoration. The upper barrel has become a place for the location of the factory brand and the name of the model itself. On the underbarrel hook, namely on its outer end part, the year of manufacture of the gun, the length of the chamber and the caliber of the barrels are indicated. For the gun, 70 mm cartridges with brass sleeves are provided. Shotgun ammunition is removed from the chamber by an extractor.
About Sights
The function of sighting devices of the open type is performed by the front sight and unregulated rear sight. The muzzle clutch is equipped with a front sight; the rear sight is installed on the block. It is represented by a protrusion with a slot. Judging by the reviews of the owners, the gun turned out with a rather long sighting line, which stretches along the entire upper barrel. The upper swivel was fixed to the lower trunk. The lower one is screwed into the lower crest of the box.
About trunks
Shotgun "Deer" 32 caliber, with two detachable 675 mm barrels connected to each other in the breech and muzzle by means of couplings. In the manufacture of trunks used steel grade 50A. They underwent a hardening procedure until the indicator in this parameter reached the level of 27 Ks. According to experts, the level of hardening of the trunks could also reach 32 Ks. In addition, during the manufacture of the gun "Deer" were drilled under metal sleeves. The upper smooth trunk with a 0.5 mm muzzle narrowing, which is listed as Chock ¾. The lower barrel in the gun "Deer" is presented in two versions. In one case, it can have 6 grooves, in the second it can be smooth and contain a paradox type drill. Its length is 12.5 cm.
USM
In the gun "Deer" firing mechanism mounted in the receiver. The mainspring is pulled during cocking. This element in the design is external and is used by the upper and lower trunks. The trigger is also the only one. It is located in the center of the pad. The manufacturer brought out his outer needle. The back of the trigger is in contact with the pusher, which mounted a coil coil spring. The trigger from one barrel to another is switched by a special mechanism. It is enough to press the arrow on the special button, the location for which is the tail of the box. There is also a fuse button. Each time, to make a shot, the hunter has to cock the trigger. The place of the disconnector is between the two strikers and the trigger. The disconnector is connected to the switch by means of a rocker. The location of this part was the upper shank of the block. If you want to shoot from the lower barrel, you need to shift the switch forward, lower - back. The disconnector will be pulled by the yoke, and the trigger will be able to interact with the striker in the upper or lower barrel.
About fuse
To fire a shot from the lower barrel, just push the button forward. In this case, the trigger will interact with the lower striker. A shot from the upper barrel is possible when the fuse button is in the rear position. Thanks to the presence of a safety device, a shot will not be possible if the trunks are not locked.
The performance characteristics
Shotgun "Deer" 32 caliber inherent in the following indicators:
- A rifled barrel with six right-handed rifles has a diameter of 12.5 mm.
- The pitch of the rifling is from 3.5 to 3.65 mm.
- The weapon is equipped with chamber length 70 mm.
- The gun weighs from 2.5 to 2.75 kg.
- "Deer" is equipped with strikers with a diameter of 2.5 mm.
- Both trunks have a length of 67.5 cm.
Owner opinions
Since a lead bullet shell was fired from a barrel containing a Paradox type drill, judging by the reviews, special “bullets” were attached to the Deer fishing gun, through which lead bullets could be made. In addition, the rifle unit was equipped with a bar, using which the hunter could calibrate lead shells of his own production on the outer diameter. The mass of the bullet to the gun "Deer" should not exceed 19 grams. This bullet had a detachable design. It had a base, a conical core and a body, in the center of which there was a special hole into which molten lead was poured. This device was intended for the manufacture of cylinder-animated bullet shells, which were recommended in 1977 by the designer from Tula V. Babkin. Aluminum alloys, brass and steel were used as the material for the manufacture of the bullet guns. Before casting, the mold should be heated. The mass of a 23.5 mm bullet ranged from 18.5 to 19 g. The leading belts had a diameter of 12.5 mm. According to Babkin V.I., their diameter was supposed to be 0.05 mm less than the diameter of the muzzle narrowing. The bullet in the back had a conical recess. The raw material for the manufacture of artillery bullet shells was molten shot.
What will experts advise?
Those who decided to equip ammunition on their own, experts recommend using smoky gunpowder. The "deuce" with a 2.75 g sample is suitable for summer fishing. In winter, it is better to use a gunpowder weighing up to 3.2 g. Also for this purpose is suitable “Falcon”. For hunting in the summer, owners of Deer rifles use shells with 0.95 g of this gunpowder, in winter - 1.1 g. After the cartridge case is filled with gunpowder, a 2-mm cardboard pad should be put on it. Next, the cartridge is equipped first with salted and then salted wads. It should be 1 cm from the edge of the sleeve. Next, a bullet is laid on it.
It is not recommended to cover a bullet shell with a wad from above. In order for the bullet to hold firmly and not fall out of the sleeve, the legs are cut out in the ammunition, and then they are slightly bent inward. According to the designer V.I. Babkin, the slaughter range of such a cartridge reaches 100 m. From a distance of 50 m it was possible to reduce the dispersion of bullets from 300 to 163 mm. During firing, powder gases form a pressure of 612 kg / sq. see. A bullet shell to the target moves at a speed of 310 m / s. Experts recommend taking 19-gram bullet shells for hunting. Unlike 15 grams, they have much less variation. Judging by the reviews, with such a shell you can hunt moose from a distance of 200 meters. From such a distance, this bullet can penetrate the beast right through.