Hunting is a truly masculine occupation that allows you to stir up blood and get an adrenaline rush. Weapons are loved not only by hunters, but also by many people who have never participated in this bloody sport. Still, the ability to shoot well is never superfluous. Both categories of these people will not be amiss to know the composition of the cartridge.
What is a cartridge for weapons
The composition of the 12-gauge cartridge is quite simple, in general it is no different from any other cartridges for smooth-bore weapons, be it 16 or 410 caliber - the difference is only in size and weight.
So, the cartridge consists of the following components:
- sleeve;
- capsule;
- powder;
- projectile;
- wad (or wad container).
As you can see, there are only five components. True, each of them has several modifications that every hunter or shooter should know about, especially if he plans to equip cartridges himself.
Which sleeve to choose
The largest and most noticeable component that is part of the hunting cartridge is the sleeve. It is her who is seen by a person looking at a cartridge - all other components are inside.
To date, two types of sleeves are produced - plastic and brass. A few decades ago, carton sleeves were also produced, but plastic counterparts quickly replaced them almost immediately after their appearance due to greater moisture resistance.
Therefore, the choice of modern shooters is limited to two options. Which one should I prefer? It depends primarily on which weapon you use. For example, if it is a semiautomatic device (Saiga, MP-153, MTs-21-12 or another), then after a shot the sleeve is simply thrown out. Finding it in thick grass, shrubs or water is quite difficult. Bright plastic (most often red or blue) is much faster. It will take a lot of time to search for dark yellow brass, and it is almost impossible to find it in water. Therefore, lovers of semiautomatic machines fit plastic - they are not so sorry to lose.
But for shooters who prefer classic or double-barreled shotguns, brass shells will serve well - they remain in the barrel after a shot, you do not have to look for them.
Yes, metal sleeves are more expensive than plastic ones. But they are able to withstand several hundred shots, while plastic rarely survives 5-10 shots. This question is up to you.
A little about gunpowder
Speaking about the composition of the cartridge, we can not say about the most important component - gunpowder. It is he who, igniting, pushes the charge, creating the shot itself.
Today, three types of gunpowder are used: "Bars", "Falcon" and "Sunar". They differ in weight and cost. Moreover, the first fully compensates for the second. For example, the Bars costs almost twice as much as the Falcon. But at the same time, you need to fill it in the sleeve half as much. Thus, any benefits in the transition from one gunpowder to another cannot be obtained.
And none of these gunpowders has objective advantages over others, although there have been disputes between hunters for many years.
What you need to know about the capsule
The capsule acts as an igniter. Today, on sale you can see more than half a dozen varieties, but in fact they are all variations of two capsules: "centroboy" and "chewed".
The composition of the cartridge capsule is quite simple, but varies slightly.
So, at the “centroid” this is a small metal cylinder, at the bottom of which lies an explosive - one hit is enough to detonate. Outside it is covered with aluminum foil, which protects the substance from moisture.
Zhevelo has a more complex device, so it costs more. The cylinder is elongated; there is also explosive mercury at the bottom. But also here is an anvil, about which an explosive beats when a striker strikes. The high cost is offset by more powerful ignition.
Due to the different arrangement of capsules, they are suitable for different cartridges.
Which charge is better
So, the shot is as follows. The striker of the gun hits the capsule. He explodes and sets fire to gunpowder. He pushes the charge. What can it be?
The choice is quite large - starting from the fraction at number 12 (its diameter is 1.25 mm) and ending with buckshot 0000 (diameter is 5 millimeters). Separately, there are bullets - there are dozens of modifications (Poleva, Brenneke, Foster, Vyatka, Sputnik, Kirovchanka and many others).
Talking about the benefits is stupid, since each type of charge is better suited depending on the purpose. For example, it is foolish to ride a woodcock, loading cartridges with buckshot or bullet. The hit will just rip the bird. A bullet also get into it will be much more difficult than a fine shot. Here, a fine fraction from No. 10 to No. 12 is better. If you are going for a boar, it is better to take a large buckshot. The hit is almost guaranteed, as the buckshot will fly apart and cover a rather large area. A large diameter provides serious wounds and a fairly quick death.
Well, to go hunting for a bear with a small fraction is just suicide. Such a shot (even “successful”) will only damage his skin and cause sharp pain, which will provoke the beast to attack. Only a bullet with a huge stopping effect is suitable here.
It is also worth considering that the bullet hits a much greater distance. The finer the charge, the shorter the effective shot distance. This is also worth remembering when hunting.
Each type of bullet also has certain advantages. Some can boast a good battle range, another provides excellent accuracy (all fired bullets hit one point), and the third inflicts the most serious wounds, killing a large beast in place.
Do I need a container?
Talking about the composition of the regenerative cartridge, it is worth mentioning the container. This is a special plastic container that is inserted into the sleeve immediately after gunpowder and is filled with shot or buckshot.
Its use allows you to increase the range of the battle, as well as accuracy - the expansion of the fraction will decrease and it all falls into a relatively small target. But if the scatter is important for a large spread (for example, when shooting small shots at a flock of woodcocks at a short distance), then it is better to abandon the container. In this case, the range of the shot will decrease, but you can shoot down several small birds with one cartridge.
Therefore, the hunter, going to hunt, must choose the optimal composition of the cartridge himself in order to increase his chances of success.