What is the difference between a fitting and a gun? Hunting rifle fitting

The shotgun is, undoubtedly, the most noble and romantic weapon used by hunters of any age. Created specifically for hunting, a double-barreled rifle with rifled barrels appeared in the UK between 1830 and 1840, when the hunt for deer became popular in the highlands of Scotland . Before that time, only single-barreled firearms were used, but the hunters were aware of the need for a quick second shot, mainly to finish off the wounded game.

Short description

For several hundred years people have been using firearms for hunting. What did not invent for the extraction of the beast and the birds: choke, rifles, shotguns, shotguns of different designs and calibers. In the middle latitudes the hunting for a large beast is prestigious: a wild boar, an elk, a bear, a deer. But the most treasured trophies are mammals of the "Big African Five": an elephant, a lion, a rhinoceros, a leopard and a buffalo. Each of them is deadly, therefore for their extraction, they use mainly large-sized shotguns with rifled channels of trunks - fittings.

Most often this type of weapon is equipped with two reclining barrels - this is the most mobile, thus the optimal type of layout. Allows one by one to carry out two killer shots. Even with a misfire, the shooter has time to make the second shot.

There are also single-barreled options - for hunting in the mountains, where the accuracy and range of the bullet are important. Austrian and German gunsmiths produce three, and even four-barreled universal hunting rifles choke. In this case, the two main trunks have a large caliber, and the other two - smaller calibres for different types of game.

Classification

This weapon has passed a long and "thorny" path from clumsy muzzle-loading guns, which used dangerous smoky powder, to high-tech "nitroxpress", in which the best ideas of engineering thought are embodied. The existing types of fittings are conventionally divided into three classes:

• Large-caliber - a breakout gun of an obsolete design, which uses oblong or rounded short lead bullets. Traditionally, guns of this type used smoke powder. The initial velocity of the bullets is small: 320-510 m / sec.
• Express - a turning rifle nipple calibers .450, .500, .577 and others. An oblong non-bullet bullet is used, the initial velocity of which is 465-610 m / sec. Smoke powder is also used.
• Nitroexpress is a "fracture", developed under the modern shell bullet, sent by smokeless powder. The initial speed is 564-991 m / sec.
• Bull-pop is a new word in the design of single-barrel fittings with relatively small calibers. The trigger is brought to the middle of the barrel and is located behind the impact mechanism, and the trunk (not the turning point) is combined with the butt. This arrangement allowed, without reducing the length of the trunk, to make the weapon very compact. For charging, the back of the stock is folded, additional cartridges can be placed in it.

From evolution to revolution

Although the nozzles belong to a separate type of hunting weapon, they are still a derivative of smoothbore guns. Throughout their evolution in technical terms, they lagged behind the development of other types of firearms hunting, were in the role of catch-up.

With the popularization of African hunting in the early twentieth century, the leading riflemen of Europe took part in the production of fittings. In the 1920s, the best examples of express trains were created (the products of the British masters were distinguished by a special quality), which overshadowed the "smoothbore" and carbines with their characteristics. They are still a dream of elite hunters.

What is the difference between a fitting and a gun

In fact, the nozzle - the same breakthrough double-barreled (vertically or horizontally located) guns, but the trunk channel is not smooth, but threaded. Such a barrel will allow more accurate, farther and with greater force to send a bullet. The reverse side of this process is the created high pressure in the barrel channel, because of which special strength requirements are imposed on the gate system - it is significantly strengthened.

Given the large caliber of the trunks, from the "thick wall", the enlarged bolt, the rifle is usually heavy and bulky, respectively, for hunting hunting it does not fit.

The killing and stopping power of large-caliber models is phenomenal: one bullet is enough to hit the largest land inhabitant of the planet - an elephant. Even if the shot was inaccurate, the kinetic energy of the projectile is enough to knock down and temporarily neutralize any large beast. No other type of civilian weapon is capable of this.

It must be taken into account that this is a complex weapon, it's not for nothing that they say that the choke is for the pros. Particularly large caliber, nuances of design, heavy weight and recoil become an obstacle for their use by inexperienced hunters.

Types of calibers

Fittings for the purpose and, accordingly, the caliber are divided into two large groups: the European type and the African-Indian. For hunting in the northern latitudes (Europe, Russia, North America, part of Asia) traditionally used "small" calibers: 9,3х74R; 8x57JRS; 7x65R. Accordingly, the length of the trunks is comparable with the guns: 550-600 mm.

Animals of Africa, India, Southeast Asia are large, for the hunter are incomparably more dangerous. The caliber for such giants is selected corresponding: .375H-H; .416Rigby; .470N and more.

The most powerful fittings

There are nitroxpress monsters with huge (according to hunting standards) calibers. For example, for a long time the most powerful were the guns of Holland & Holland for the cartridge .600 Nitro Express, developed by Jeffrey. However, due to the whim of a certain millionaire (who wanted his .600 to be the last), Holland & Holland ceased their production in 1975 for heavy compensation. The amount of the contract is a secret, but, apparently, it is very significant, because one nitroxpress .600 caliber cost more than $ 100,000.

However, the capitalists have found a simple way to circumvent the contracted limitation - to produce rifles of even larger calibers. At the request of the American William Feldstein, Holland & Holland in 1989 created a .700 Nitro Express caliber rifle, and the ammunition was developed in Bell Basic Brass. Specialists assure us that this is the most powerful hunting weapon in history. On the first hunt three shots killed three elephants.

Price of issue

Nowadays, even with the increasing restrictions on hunting dangerous game, the need for double-barreled fittings remains unchanged, especially when it comes to purchasing a commission (second-hand) specimen. Most respectable large-caliber fittings are purchased either by collectors or "dream-hunters" who wish to have the same weapons as James Sutherland, John Hunter and others.

Experts strongly do not recommend saving on this type of weapon, if you intend to use a real shot at the gun you get. The price depends on the type of gun, its caliber, manufacturer, technical condition and historical value. If you want to buy nitroexpress, then the price tag of a couple of thousand dollars should be alerted: it's not uncommon for cheap copies to fall apart after a few shots. Tall-worthy, and therefore reliable and efficient samples cost tens of thousands of dollars. Given this circumstance, companies that organize hunting in Africa for a large beast, have their own collection of fittings and lease their clients. Of the new cheapest in the world are the Izhevsk models MP221 and МР251 (from 20,000 rubles).

Shotgun Choke: Russian Firearms

In Russia, fittings as hunting weapons were not widely spread, apparently due to the lack of decent hunting facilities. But they were widely used in the tsarist army. Certainly, some manufactories and masters produced fittings in small batches, mainly for the production of bears.

Of the modern domestic fittings, we note the "single-barrel" IZH18N (with a smooth removable barrel of 12 calibers in the kit), a double-barreled shotgun choke "Express" MP251 with reinforced lock and MP221 "Artemis". These are models of relatively small calibers, which, however, are sufficient for sure defeat of any beast in our latitudes.

Conclusion

Pins, especially nitroxpresses, are the most powerful firearms for hunting. Thanks to the rifled barrels and the great pressure in his canal at the time of the shot, the bullet gets increased kinetic energy, flies further and hits more accurately. From rifled carbines differs much larger caliber and the possibility of producing two (or more) shots "one by one" without detachment from the whole sight.

Among the shortcomings we note the increased weight of the weapon (some nitroexpress weighs 5 kilograms or more), a sensitive return (actual for large calibers) and high cost. In the case of double-barreled (three-, four-) designs, the effective range of fire is reduced. However, the fitting of the European type because of the smaller caliber these drawbacks do not possess.