What do the numbers in the cartridge caliber mean? Calibers of smoothbore hunting rifles, expressed in millimeters
Caliber is the main parameter of both weapons and cartridges. Figuratively speaking, caliber is size. For example, caliber 9x18. What does this mean? This means the length of the cartridge case is 18mm, the diameter of the cartridge case (where the bullet is located) is 9mm. Or 5.45x39: means the bullet diameter is 5.45mm and the case length is 39mm.
Don't get confused by the definitions:
A cartridge case is an object where a charge of gunpowder and a primer are located (a device that ignites gunpowder upon impact)
A bullet is an object made of lead, steel or other materials that, after being fired, flies out of the weapon and hits the target.
A cartridge is a combination of a cartridge case and a bullet, that is, a bullet installed in a cartridge case.
Basic ammo and weapons you will encounter.
1. Caliber 9x18
These are PM pistols (Makarov pistol), the most common pistol in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries former USSR. This pistol has been in service for more than 50 years in all services: police, security, armed forces, etc. With this pistol you can confidently hit a person at a distance of up to 50m in unprotected parts of the body.
Also, cartridges of this caliber are used in some domestic submachine guns and pistols special purpose. I won’t talk more about this weapon, since it is not very widespread, but you can get acquainted with these weapons in the games listed above.
2. Caliber 9x19
This is the most common pistol caliber in Europe and the USA. The most common pistols of this caliber are Glock -19. Also, many submachine guns, both foreign and domestic, are made for this cartridge. Cartridges of this caliber have great power, so they are guaranteed to hit an unprotected person at a distance of 100-150m, and at a distance of up to 50m they can also penetrate light body armor.
3. Caliber 5.45x39
This is a domestically produced automatic cartridge. Currently in service with Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries. That is, the most popular cartridge in the army, which is also called the “five”. Used for Kalashnikov assault rifles and machine guns of different series: Ak-74, Ak-74M, Ak-74MR, AKS, Ak-107, Ak-12, RPK-74, etc. Cartridges of this caliber can reliably hit an unprotected person at a distance of up to 1-1.5 km, and at a distance of up to 500-700 m they can penetrate light and medium-protective body armor. The advantages of these cartridges: there are a lot of them)), they are everywhere; light weight, you can carry a lot; normal penetration ability at medium combat distance. Cons: the bullets of these cartridges are relatively light; when shooting in the forest at long distances, the bullets may deviate from the branches of the bush. Also, at short distances, when they hit a person’s unprotected body, they pierce it right through, which does not guarantee the quick death of the enemy, unless of course they mean a hit to the head.
4. Caliber 5.56x45 (NATO)
This is the main caliber of all American and NATO assault rifles and rifles. The number of types of these rifles is so great that there is no point in writing about them. It’s just important to remember: if our enemy is a NATO fighter or an American, we can say with a 95% guarantee that he will have a weapon of this caliber in his hands. This cartridge is slightly more powerful than our “five”, otherwise the parameters are virtually the same.
5. Caliber 7.62x39
This is the caliber domestic weapons, which was during the times of the USSR. But this caliber is also now extremely widespread in Arab and Latin American countries, as well as throughout the world (and here too) as cartridges for hunting weapons. The most common weapons chambered for this cartridge are:
Legendary Ak47, AKM and their modifications
Modern Ak-103, Ak-104 and Ak-12
Kalashnikov light machine guns
Civilian carbines Saiga and others.
Cartridges of this caliber have a very powerful shock-dynamic force: if in close combat you hit the enemy’s hand, it will most likely be torn off. Also, this cartridge can confidently penetrate any body armor and helmets in close combat. In case of war, having an Ak-103 + optics + a large supply of cartridges of this caliber in your hands is the height of dreams and aspirations.
6. Caliber 7.62x51
These are “killer” NATO cartridges. Most often used in sniper rifles, as well as in machine guns. This caliber is also used in our country, for example, in the new Ak-12 assault rifle, as well as in some machine guns. I am attaching a photo for comparison (from left to right) 7.62x51, 5.56x45 and a AA battery. The power of this caliber is very high, which is why it is used in NATO sniper weapons, and if you come under fire from a machine gun of this caliber, then... you understand.
1. Definition
2. Methods and methods of measurement
3. The relationship between caliber and technical characteristics of weapons
4. The relationship between caliber and tactical characteristics of weapons
5. The influence of caliber on the lethality of weapons
Definition
Caliber is the diameter of the bore, as well as the diameter of the bullet.
The caliber of a cartridge is the caliber of its bullet.
Caliber determines the size, weight, power of weapons and ammunition.
Methods and methods of measurement
Methods for measuring weapon caliber:
- along the fields of the trunk;
- according to the rifling of the barrel.
Caliber determination methods:
. weight - its unit of measurement is 1 pound = 453.59 g and, accordingly, the number of bullets cast from metal of this mass.
Note: this method is used when measuring calibers of hunting shotguns.
Large caliber:
10 - 19.4 - 20.4 mm
Medium caliber:
12 - 18.2-18.7 mm
14 - 18.6-18.2 mm
16 - 17-17.25 mm
20 - 15.7-15.95 mm
Small caliber:
28 -14-14.25 mm
32 -12-12.75 mm
Linear - its unit of measurement is a line.
1 line = 2.54 mm; 1 point = 0.254 mm; 0.1 points = 0.0254 mm;
10 lines = 100 dots = 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
. numerical is a measurement of caliber in inches or millimeters.
Large caliber:
9 - 20 mm (for pistols and submachine guns from 9 to 15 mm);
Medium (normal) caliber:
6.5 - 8 mm (for pistols and submachine guns up to 9 mm);
Small caliber:
up to 6.5 mm.
Note: - caliber measurement in inches is typical for countries such as Great Britain, Canada, USA; - the designation of calibers remains the same as is customary at arms companies in the countries that manufacture weapons.
The relationship between caliber and technical characteristics of weapons
The caliber size is the basis for measuring the linear (longitudinal and transverse) parameters of the barrel and determines the type (class, type) of the weapon as a whole.
The barrel of a weapon consists of several parts:
- state-owned;
- average;
- muzzle.
Internal parts of the barrel:
- chamber (its length is determined by the length of the sleeve);
- bullet entrance (its length corresponds to 1-1.5 caliber sizes);
- threaded part.
Barrel length:
- for heavy machine guns - more than 70 caliber sizes;
- for rifles - approximately 70;
- for carbines - from 40 to 50;
- for pistols (submachine guns, revolvers) from 20 to 30.
The length of the section of the barrel on which rifling of constant steepness is made by one full turn, is called the pitch of the rifling.
Number of different shaped grooves:
- 4 (6) - with a caliber from 5.45 to 9 mm;
- 8 - from 12.7 to 14.5 mm;
- 12 - 30 (40) mm.
V beginning = T * L / 0.06 * D²/L - rifling pitch, in inches
V initial - initial bullet speed, ft/sec.
D - bullet diameter in inches
L - bullet length in inches
1 ft = 0.3 m
Typically T = 240 - 320 mm
T gl.= (1/50 - 1/70) D - the depth of the rifling is determined by the caliber of the weapon (bullet) and is 1.5 - 2% of its value. For 3-line (7.62 mm) rifles and carbines T gl = 0.12 - 0.15 mm.
To evaluate a weapon, in addition to its caliber, it is necessary to take into account such a characteristic as the length of the cartridge case:
- for heavy machine guns - 100-110 mm;
- for magazine and automatic rifles - 45-55 mm;
- For assault rifles(automatic machines) - 30-40 mm;
- for pistols (submachine guns, revolvers) - 15-30 mm.
Basic specifications(weapon length, barrel length, weight of weapon and ammunition) determine the maneuverability of the weapon.
Correlation between caliber and tactical characteristics of weapons
V beginning = T * L / 0.06 * D², where
T - rifling pitch
D - bullet caliber
L - bullet length
V beginning = K rev. * T, where
To rev. - number of turns of rifling along the length of the barrel
E duln. = m bullets * V² initial.. / 2 = iKV * T / 2, where
i - number of degrees of freedom
KV = 1.38 * 10²³ J/K - Boltzmann constant
T = - 273.15º K = 0ºС
E duln. = E duln. /S, where
S = πD² / 4 - cross-sectional area of the bullet
Combat rate of fire is the number of rounds per minute that can theoretically be fired taking into account the operations of aiming and reloading.
Technical speed is the number of shots per minute that can theoretically be fired without taking into account the operations of aiming and reloading.
Rate of fire - technical speed automatic weapons when firing in automatic (continuous) mode.
A shot in which the trajectory does not rise above the aiming line above the target throughout its entire length is called a direct shot.
The range of a bullet is the phase of its movement after the shot until it hits a solid obstacle.
Threaded length barrel, mm | starting speed | Direct range shot, m |
||
| 1 | 5,45 | 369 | 900 | 625 |
| 2 | 5,45 | 544 | 900 | 640 |
| 3 | 7,62 | 369 | 715 | 350 |
| 4 | 7,62 | 475 | 735 | 365 |
| 5 | 7,62 | 544 | 745 | 365 |
| 6 | 7,62 | 550 | 825 | 420 |
| 7 | 7,62 | 667 | 825 | 420 |
| 8 | 9 | 75 | 315 | 50 |
| 9 | 9 | 122 | 340 | 200 |
Sighting range is the distance from the muzzle of the barrel to the point of intersection of the aiming line and the flight path.
The effective firing range determines the effectiveness of hitting the target:
- heavy machine guns 2500 m;
- rifles 1500 m;
- pistols 300 m.
The penetrating effect of a bullet is the ability to penetrate various obstacles (penetration depth in obstacles).
The penetrating effect of a bullet depends on the properties of the obstacle, caliber, kinetic energy of the bullet (mass and initial speed) at the moment of meeting an obstacle, as well as on the shape and design of the bullet.
Light bullet of the 1908 model (D bullet = 7.62mm)
Thickness of the penetrated medium (at L = 50 m from the obstacle)
1. Steel plate - 0.6 cm
2. Iron plate - 1.2 cm
3. Gravel - 12 cm
4. Brick wall - 15-20 cm
5. Sand (earth) - 70 cm
6. Wood - 75 -85 cm
7. Soft clay - 80 cm
8. Compacted snow - 350 cm
9. Straw - 400 cm
10. Peat - 2800 cm
The lethal effect of a bullet is the amount of kinetic energy expended by a bullet in the human body.
The destructive ability is the unconditional incapacitation of a person.
E deleted. = 6-8 J/cm² - causes abrasions
14-17 J/cm² - superficial wounds
32-36 J/cm² - non-penetrating chest injury with chest fractures
54-60 J/cm² - penetrating chest injury
135-145 J/cm² - penetrating wound of the chest with damage to its posterior wall
1. The distance between two opposite grooves.
2. Inner diameter of the bore.
3. Distance between fields and grooves.
4. The distance between two opposing fields.
4. Purpose of the mainspring valve:
1. Serves for fastening the mainspring and handle with screw.
2. Serves to attach the mainspring, handle with screw and hold the magazine at the base of the handle.
3. Serves to attach the mainspring to the base of the handle.
5. Purpose of the handle base:
1. Serves for store premises.
2. Serves to attach the handle.
3. Serves for fastening the mainspring.
4. Serves for all of the above.
6. Purpose of the shutter delay reflector:
1. Serves to hold the cartridge case in the bolt cup.
2. Serves to increase the flight range of the cartridge case.
3. Serves to prevent reflection of the shutter surface when aiming.
4. To increase the lethal effect of the bullet.
5. Serves to eject the cartridge case out through the bolt window.
7. Purpose of the pistol frame:
1. For attaching the barrel and trigger guard.
2. For attaching the base of the handle, barrel, trigger guard and making it easier to hold the pistol in your hand.
3. The frame serves to connect all parts of the gun.
8. Purpose of the pistol barrel:
1. Serves to direct the flight of the bullet.
2. Serves to put a return spring on it.
3. Serves to place a cartridge in it.
4. Serves to impart rotational motion to the bullet.
9. Purpose of the trigger rod with the cocking lever:
1. For decocking and cocking the hammer when pressing the tail trigger.
2. For self-cocking shooting.
3. For all of the above.
10. Purpose of the return spring:
1. Serves to activate the hammer, cocking lever and trigger rod.
2. Serves to lock the barrel bore when firing.
3. Serves to return the bolt to the front position after firing.
11. Purpose of the mainspring:
1. To activate the trigger.
2. To operate the cocking lever.
3. To activate the trigger rod.
4. For all of the above.
12. Purpose of wiping the gun:
1. To disassemble the pistol.
2. To reassemble the pistol after disassembling.
3. To clean the gun.
4. To lubricate the gun.
5. For all of the above.
13. Shutter purpose:
1. To cock the trigger.
2. To remove the cartridge.
3. To lock the bore when firing.
4. To hold the sleeve.
5. To feed a cartridge from the magazine into the chamber.
6. For all of the above.
14. Purpose of a pistol holster:
1. For carrying and storing a pistol, spare magazine and cleaning.
2. For the convenience of carrying a pistol.
3. To practice exercises during practical shooting.
15. Purpose of the notch between the front sight and the rear sight:
1. To prevent reflection of the shutter surface when aiming.
2. For the convenience of retracting the shutter by hand.
16. Purpose of the trigger:
1. To strike the striker.
2. To strike the striker.
3. To strike the bolt.
17. Purpose of the trigger:
2. For decocking and cocking the hammer when firing by self-cocking.
3. For cocking the hammer when firing by self-cocking.
4. To click on it index finger hands.
5. To connect to the front trigger rod pin.
18. Purpose of the drummer:
1. To perceive the trigger blow.
2. To break the cartridge primer.
3. To strike the striker.
19. Purpose of the pistol slide stop:
1. To hold the pistol bolt in the rearmost position.
2. To hold the bolt in the forward position after firing.
3. To hold the bolt in the rear position after all the cartridges from the magazine have been used up.
20. What are the bore fields of rifled firearms called?
1. The distance between two opposite grooves.
2. Width of rifling.
3. The distance between opposite fields.
4. Gaps between cuts.
21. Purpose of the pistol strap:
1. To ensure the pistol is attached to the waist (trouser) belt.
2. For ease of carrying the PM in a holster.
3. To prevent loss of the PM and its falling out of the holster.
22. Purpose of the notches on the sides of the shutter:
1. To prevent reflection of the shutter surface when aiming.
2. For the convenience of retracting the shutter by hand.
3. For all of the above.
23. Purpose of the wide feather of the mainspring:
1. To actuate the cocking lever with the trigger rod.
2. To activate the trigger.
3. To operate the trigger.
24. Purpose of the fuse:
1. To press it with your finger.
2. To perceive the trigger blow.
3. To hold the firing pin in the bolt.
4. To ensure safety when handling the gun.
25. Purpose of the trigger guard:
1. To hold the shutter in the rearmost position.
2. For attaching the trigger.
3. To protect the trigger from accidental pressing.
4. To limit the movement of the shutter to the rear extreme position.
26. Purpose of the handle with a screw:
1. For attaching the mainspring to the base of the handle.
2. To cover the base of the handle and make it easier to hold the pistol in your hand.
3. To hold the gun.
27. Purpose of the store:
1. To hold eight rounds.
2. For insertion into the base of the handle.
3. To ensure the supply of cartridges from the magazine to the chamber.
4. For all of the above.
28. Purpose of the feeder tooth:
1. To turn on the bolt delay when all the cartridges from the magazine are used up.
2. To hold the bolt in the rear position after all the cartridges from the magazine have been used up.
3. To hold the feeder in the magazine body.
29. Purpose of a sear with a spring:
1. To release the trigger from cocking.
2. To keep the trigger cocked.
3. To hold the trigger on the combat and safety cocks.
4. To keep the trigger on the safety cock.
5. For gripping the trigger ledges.
There are the following calibers of hunting rifles measured by the number of round caliber (150 mm from the breech) bullets made from one English pound (453.6 g) of pure lead: 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 .
Calibers of hunting rifles produced today in Russia (and the USA): 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 410; (10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 410).
Barrel bore diameters of the most popular hunting calibers from different countries:
| Manufacturer country | 4 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 410 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | - | - | 20,00–20,25 | 18,20–18,75 | 17,00–17,25 | 15,50–15,75 | - | 14,00–14,25 | 12,50–12,75 | 10,20–10,60 |
| Germany | 23,40–23,80 | 20,80–21,20 | 19,30–19,70 | 18,20–18,60 | 16,80–17,20 | 15,70–16,10 | 14,70–15,10 | 13,80–14,20 | 12,70–13,20 | 10,20–10,60 |
| England | min 23.75 | min 21.21 | min 19.68 | 18,52–18,92 | 16,82–17,22 | 15,62–16,13 | min 14.71 | min 13.96 | min 13.36 | - |
| Belgium | - | - | - | 18,40–18,60 | 16,80–17,00 | 15,60–15,80 | - | - | - | - |
| Italy | - | - | - | 18,40–18,60 | 16,80–17,00 | 15,60–15,80 | - | - | - | - |
| USA | 23,6 | 21,21 | 19,69–20,20 | 18,42–18,93 | 16,89–17,40 | 15,62–16,13 | 14,73–14,85 | 13,80–13,95 | 12,70–12,85 | 10,41–10,92 |
| France | - | - | 19,30–19,70 | 18,20–18,50 | 16,80–17,20 | 15,60–16,00 | 14,70–15,10 | 13,40–14,00 | - | - |
| Czech | - | - | - | 18,20–18,35 | 16,80–16,95 | 15,70–15,85 | 14,70–14,85 | 13,80–13,95 | 12,70–12,85 | 10,20–10,35 |
| PMK | - | - | 19,69–20,20 | 18,20–18,60 | 16,80–17,20 | 15,70–16,10 | 14,70–15,10 | 13,80–14,20 | 12,70–13,10 | 10,20–10,60 |
PMK - Permanent International Commission of the Brussels Convention on Manual Testing firearms.
| The ratio of numbers, diameters and mass of shot and buckshot of domestic production: | The ratio of numbers and diameters of shot and buckshot made in the USA: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fraction number | D, mm | Weight, g | Fraction number | D, inch | D, mm |
| 11 | 1.50 | 0.015 | 9 | .08 | 2.0 |
| 10 | 1.75 | 0.03 | 8.5 | .085 | 2.2 |
| 9 | 2.0 | 0.05 | 8 | .09 | 2.3 |
| 8 | 2.2 | 0.07 | 7.5 | .095 | 2.4 |
| 7.5 | 2.40 | 0.08 | 6 | .11 | 2.8 |
| 7 | 2.50 | 0.09 | 5 | .12 | 3.0 |
| 6 | 2.75 | 0.12 | 4 | .13 | 3.3 |
| 5 | 3.0 | 0.15 | 3 | .14 | 3.6 |
| 4 | 3.25 | 0.20 | 2 | .15 | 3.8 |
| 3 | 3.50 | 0.25 | 1 | .16 | 4.0 |
| 2 | 3.75 | 0.30 | bb | .18 | 4.6 |
| 1 | 4.0 | 0.37 | bbb | .19 | 4.8 |
| 0 | 4.25 | 0.50 | t | .20 | 5.0 |
| 00 | 4.5 | 0.55 | tt | .21 | 5.8 |
| 000 | 4.75 | 0.65 | |||
| 0000 | 5.0 | 0.75 | |||
| Buckshot: | |||||
| 5.25 | 0.85 | 4 | .24 | 6.1 | |
| 5.6 | 1.0 | 3 | .25 | 6.4 | |
| 5.7 | 1.1 | 2 | .27 | 6.9 | |
| 5.8 | 1.15 | 1 | .30 | 7.6 | |
| 5.9 | 1.2 | 0 | .32 | 8.1 | |
| 6.2 | 1.4 | 00 | .33 | 8.4 | |
| 6.5 | 1.6 | 000 | .36 | 9.1 | |
| 6.8 | 1.85 | ||||
| 6.95 | 2.0 | ||||
| 7.15 | 2.15 | ||||
| 7.55 | 2.5 | ||||
| 7.7 | 2.7 | ||||
| 8.0 | 3.0 | ||||
| 8.5 | 3.6 | ||||
| 8.8 | 4.0 | ||||
| 9.65 | 5.3 | ||||
| 10.0 | 5.9 | ||||
Sources:
Caliber is the diameter of the bore, expressed in different measures. The calibers of smoothbore guns from 4 to 32 are still, following tradition, designated by the number of round caliber (equal to the caliber of the barrel) bullets cast from one English trade pound of lead, equal to 453.6 g. It is trade for in the Anglo-Saxon system There is also another pound - pharmaceutical pound (373.2 g). If a pound of lead produces 12 caliber ball bullets, then the gun will be 12 gauge, if 20-20 gauge, etc. What larger number, indicating caliber, the smaller the bore diameter (caliber).
Since the walls of a metal sleeve are thinner than those of a paper (plastic) sleeve, the bores of barrels made for a metal sleeve have a larger diameter than the bores of barrels made for a paper (plastic) sleeve. Nowadays, almost all guns are produced with a paper (plastic) cartridge case.
The caliber of large-caliber fittings for black powder was designated in the same way as smooth-bore guns: there were fittings of 12, 16, 29 and other calibers. Calibers for rifled weapons were also indicated in lines, but are now indicated either in mm (5.6; 7.62; 11.43) or in fractions of an inch.
First of all, you should remember the following data: 1 inch = 10 lines = 100 dots; 1 inch = 25.4 mm; 1 line = 2.54 mm; 1 point = 0.254 mm; 1/10th of a point = 0.0254 mm. Based on this, we can easily understand any caliber designation system and translate caliber designations from one system to another. For example, S.I. Mosin’s three-line rifle has a caliber of 3×2.54 = 7.62 mm. Since in the USA calibers are expressed in hundredths of an inch (in other words, in points), then caliber 30 must be multiplied by 0.254, and the English caliber 300 by 0.0254, because in the UK calibers are indicated not in hundredths, but in thousandths of an inch ( i.e. in tenths of a point). In this case, we get: 30 × 0.254 = 7.62 mm; 300×0.0254 = 7.62 mm.
As you can see, caliber 3 lines, caliber 30, caliber 300 caliber 7.62 mm are equal to each other, but expressed differently. In the same way, it is easy to verify that calibers 2.2; 22; 220 is equal to 5.6 mm, i.e. the caliber of small-caliber weapons widespread throughout the world.
IN rifled weapons The diameter of the bore is measured either by rifling or by margins. Therefore, the same caliber can be designated differently, which sometimes leads to confusion. Thus, the caliber of a 5.6 mm rifle is sometimes designated as 5.45 mm. In the first case, the caliber is measured by rifling, in the second - by margin.
We produce smoothbore weapon five calibers - 12, 16, 20, 28 and 32. According to the standards, 10-gauge is also provided, but such guns are not produced. We have no longer made 8-caliber guns for a long time, and at the end of the 1940s, the 24-caliber was excluded from the standards and soon the production of guns of this caliber ceased. IN international system shotgun calibers, this caliber remains.
In Russia they make guns with barrels of the following sizes: 12 gauge - 18.2–18.7 mm; 16th - 17–17.25 mm; 20th - 15.7–15.95 mm; 28th - 14–14.25 mm; 32nd - 12.5–12.75 mm.
Gun barrels of calibers from 12 to 28 inclusive are made for a paper sleeve, and 32 for a metal sleeve.
The Tula Arms Plant produces 12-gauge weapons with bore diameters of 18.5–18.7 mm, and the Mechanical Plant in Izhevsk produces 18.2–18.25 mm. We advise you to remember this circumstance: when equipping cartridges at home, this is very important to take into account.
Sources:
It is customary to denote the caliber of large-caliber shotguns and rifles by the number of round bullets from a pound of pure lead: 12 gauge - that means 12 bullets can be made from 0.410 kg (1 pound) of lead for such a barrel, 24 means 24 bullets, etc.; This means that the larger the number, the smaller the diameter.
But the pounds are different countries different, and they did not always drill accurately, then they began to make cartridges from different materials, with different wall thicknesses, and the barrels were drilled along the internal channel of the cartridge case. It is clear that with the same outer dimensions of the sleeve, its internal channel is wide if the walls are made of a thin sheet of brass, and much narrower if the walls are made of thick paper. The name in both cases remains the same according to custom, although this does not at all correspond to the actual diameter of the trunk and still misleads many insufficiently knowledgeable hunters.
Even in barrels for the same 12-cal folder cartridges. There are huge differences, reaching up to ¾ mm, and are greatly reflected in the selection of supplies, especially wads. And it is clear that a bullet too loose for an 18.8 mm barrel will be able to inflate or rupture an 18.2 mm barrel.
But these are all measurements of barrels for a 12 caliber paper sleeve. Barrels for thick brass are drilled at 19.35–19.20 mm, and for thin brass at 19.60 mm; it is clear that in reality this is a different caliber, suitable for 10 cal. under the folder sleeve, here the charge and wads should be different.
It is very easy to find out for which sleeve the barrel is drilled by the stamps, since the stamps are placed according to the actual caliber and by measuring it: a wad is driven from the treasury approximately a quarter (17–18 cm) into a clean, slightly lubricated barrel and “wax” is poured , paraffin, etc., and best of all sulfur cuttings; When the casting hardens, it is pushed out of the barrel. If the barrel (as in the vast majority of cases happens) is made for a folder sleeve, then the muzzle end of the casting will fit into the folder sleeve with a slight gap, and into the brass case with a very large gap. If the barrel is made for a brass sleeve, then the end of the casting will not fit into a folder.
Sources:
- — Moscow: Publication of the All-Khotsoyuz. - 1929.
For the fifth century now, one of the parameters characterizing the power of firearms is caliber. Any person more or less knowledgeable in the military sphere can answer what a caliber is - this is the size of the ammunition and the diameter of the barrel. The French origin of the term, literally meaning ''how many pounds'', may reveal interesting story parameterizations in weaponry. There is also an opinion that the basis of the word is Arabic: “Ghalib” - means ‘‘shape’’. The barrel diameter of modern small arms can be characterized according to four classification systems. For example, the Saiga smoothbore hunting carbine is the 36th .41 or 10.25 mm.
English system
Two centuries ago, both artillery systems and small arms used round ammunition. Cannonballs and mortars were made of cast iron, and in some cases hewn out of stone. Bullets for rifles and pistols were cast from lead. England, being an advanced industrial power, spread not only advanced technologies in metal processing, latest systems weapons, but also an original system of weights and measures. The British principle of measuring the internal diameter of a barrel was widespread in all armies of the world. The standard was english pound(453.59 g) lead (for guns) or cast iron (for cannons) and ammunition made from it. Thus, a cannonball weighing three pounds of cast iron served as ammunition for the corresponding weapon - a three-pound cannon (according to modern classification - 76 mm). And the number of bullets made from one pound of lead placed in the bore of a gun explains what the caliber of a small arms is. For a barrel with a larger diameter, correspondingly, less ammunition was obtained. The lower the number of markings, the larger the diameter of the barrel. The fourth caliber is significantly larger than the thirty-six.
Nowadays, this measurement system is used only for smoothbore hunting weapons. Some foreign ammunition is equipped with the inscription Gauge next to the number - the caliber indicator. A gage is a measuring lead ball that was used to determine the caliber of a weapon a couple of centuries ago.
In the West they measure in inches
After 1917, Russia switched to and in the countries of the British Commonwealth and in the United States, trunk diameter is still measured in fractions of an inch. In Russia, parameters are calculated in millimeters: the caliber of an AK-47 assault rifle is 7.62 mm. In the New World, this weapon is called an AK-47 of thirty caliber, that is, thirty hundredths of an inch. Moreover, in the UK and the USA they use various principles designations. In the English-speaking world, zero is omitted; the separator of tenths and hundredths in a decimal fraction is not a comma, but a period. In England, the bore diameter of the legendary AK will be written “caliber 300”, and in the USA “caliber 30” - in thousandths and hundredths of an inch, respectively. IN colloquial speech the same picture: the assault rifle we are used to will be called an automatic carbine of three hundred or thirty caliber. The most common types of weapons are the following calibers.
Caliber in thousandths of an inch | Caliber in mm |
What is the caliber of a rifled weapon?
Arms companies use two systems for measuring bore diameter. In Russia, the states of the former USSR, as well as in the armies of our former satellites in Asia and Africa, the caliber is determined by the distance between opposite grooves (shortest distance). In the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, caliber is the distance between the bottom of the rifling (largest diameter). So, the most common type in the West small arms, 16, according to NATO standards has a caliber of 5.6 mm, and according to domestic standards - 5.42 mm.
Caliber is a parameter that determines the type of gun and small arms. Barrel length is measured in calibers. If the characteristics of a gun say 130/55, then this means that the caliber of the gun is 130 mm, the barrel length of 55 caliber is 7150 mm. If the barrel length is less than 30 calibers, then the gun is a howitzer; if it is longer, it is a cannon. The same principle applies to small arms. Rifles have a barrel length of 70 calibers, carbines - 50. The domestic AKM assault rifle has a cartridge caliber of 7.62 mm, barrel length - 54 calibers. Consequently, this type of weapon is a carbine with the ability to fire automatically. The AK-74 assault rifle with a 5.45 caliber cartridge has a barrel length of 76 calibers. In accordance with the generally accepted classification, this is an automatic rifle. And the term “machine gun” was introduced into circulation for ideological reasons.
Big machine gun or small cannon?
The countless variety of small arms for military and civilian purposes according to the size of the bore is conventionally divided into three groups:
Small arms, as a rule, have a barrel diameter of up to 30 mm. Small-caliber artillery begins at 30 mm. Ammunition for small arms is cartridges, for artillery - shells. There may be exceptions to this classification. Thus, aircraft weapons with a caliber of 23 mm are called cannons, and shells are made for the heavy American 20 mm sniper rifle. In the specialized literature, products with a caliber of 30 mm are classified as small arms. This type of automatic weapon does not have devices that absorb recoil after a shot, characteristic of artillery systems.
Main caliber of hunters
This term, of course, does not apply to the field of small arms. The main caliber is the guns largest size, which formed the basis of the power of artillery warships. The larger the caliber of the guns, the more powerful the ship was. Co small arms the situation is slightly different: a large caliber is not always convenient. Only a specialist can understand the variety of modern guns and classification systems. The archaic English system of measures is still used in marking the parameters of smooth-bore samples. What is a caliber for a big game hunter? It's a matter of life and death. You can compare the caliber of smoothbore hunting rifles with the metric measurement system in the following table.
Caliber value | Caliber in mm |
Civilian small arms around the world are produced in the range from 4th to 36th. The most common in Russia hunting calibers- twelfth, sixteenth and twentieth. It should also be borne in mind that each weapon manufacturer has its own specific barrel manufacturing. Even among such serious arms concerns as Izhmash and TOZ, the 12 gauge bore has a difference of almost a millimeter.
Twelve gauge
12 gauge guns are the most popular among hunters these days, although in previous years they were not very common. This is very powerful weapon. The target can be hit at a distance of up to 35 meters. Due to its versatility, it is used when fishing for any type of game - from squirrel to elk and bear. Firing eight millimeter buckshot from a shotgun is equivalent to nine shots from a .32 caliber pistol.
Renaissance smoothbore
In the seventies of the last century, smoothbore guns began to return to military service, first as a weapon of self-defense, and then as equipment for combat units. Many weapons experts believe that the most effective weapon close combat (up to 50 m) is a tactical gun that provides a fire density no less than automatic weapon. Smoothbore shotgun ammunition has a significant stopping effect. The most common police shotgun is the 12 gauge.
In some countries, shotguns are classified as assault weapon and are in service not only with law enforcement forces, but also special units. Shotguns of this caliber are equipped Marines US guarding embassies abroad. The 12 gauge gun is universal and allows you to use Various types ammunition: from rubber bullets to special devices that throw “cats” onto the roofs of houses. Samples have been created with the ability to conduct automatic fire. The most successful example is the Protecta twelve-round assault carbine made in South Africa.
Sixteen gauge
Lighter in recoil - 16 gauge. This type of guns Soviet time received greatest distribution thanks to the mass production of Tula gunsmiths. These days, domestic manufacturers, focusing on the foreign market, practically do not produce guns of this caliber. Produced in Italy and France. The weapon is lighter than the twelfth, but more powerful and cheaper than the twentieth. Very often, weapons of this caliber are pump-action without a stock. 16 gauge is popular with security personnel, although some hunters call it “dying.”
The choice of professionals
20 gauge is primarily used by professional fishermen. It has less destructive power than the first two options. The weight of the ammunition is 10-12 grams less than that of 12 gauge. The main advantage is lower weight, which is of great importance during long walks. 20 gauge received a second life with the advent of new Magnum cartridges with shot weights up to 36 grams. Owners note significantly lower recoil force with the same weight of ammunition and the comfort of using such weapons.
