The composition of the cartridge: what it consists of, classification and types

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

Hunting is a truly masculine activity that allows you to excite the 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 superfluous to know the composition of the patron.

What is a weapon cartridge made of

The composition of the 12 gauge cartridge is quite simple, in general, it is no different from any other cartridges for smoothbore weapons, whether it be 16 or 410 gauge - the difference is only in size and weight.

So, the cartridge consists of the following components:

• sleeve;
• capsule;
• gunpowder;
• projectile;
• wad (or wad-container).

As you can see, there are five components in total. True, each of them has several modifications that every hunter or shooter should be aware of, especially if he plans to equip cartridges himself.

Which sleeve to choose

The largest and most visible component,included in the hunting cartridge, this is a sleeve. It is what a person sees when looking at the cartridge - all other components are inside.

Today, two types of sleeves are produced - plastic and brass. A few decades ago, cardboard cases were also produced, but plastic counterparts quickly replaced them almost immediately after the appearance due to greater moisture resistance.

Therefore, the choice of modern shooters is limited to two options. Which of them should be given preference? It depends primarily on what weapon you are using. For example, if it is a semiautomatic device (Saiga, MP-153, MTs-21-12 or another), then after the shot, the cartridge case is simply thrown away. Finding it in thick grass, bushes or water is quite difficult. Bright plastic (most often red or blue) is found much faster. And it will take a lot of time to search for dark yellow brass, and it is almost impossible to find it in the water. Therefore, plastic ones are suitable for semi-automatic lovers - they are not so a pity to lose.

But for shooters who prefer classic or double-barrel shotguns, brass cases will serve well - they remain in the barrel after the shot, you don't 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. Decide this question yourself.

A little about gunpowder

Speaking about the composition of the cartridge, it is impossible not to mention the most important component - gunpowder. It is he who, igniting, pushescharge, creating the shot itself.

Today, three types of gunpowder are used: "Bars", "Sokol" and "Sunar". They differ in size and cost. And the first fully compensates for the second. For example, Bars costs almost twice as much as Sokol. But at the same time, it needs to be filled into the sleeve half as much. Thus, it will not be possible to get any benefit when switching from one gunpowder to another.

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 primer

The primer acts as an igniter. Today, more than half a dozen varieties can be seen on sale, but in fact they are all variations of two capsules: "centrifuge" and "zhevelo".

The composition of the cartridge primer is quite simple, but slightly different.

So, the "centrifuge" is a small metal cylinder, at the bottom of which lies an explosive - one blow is enough for it 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 here is elongated, at the bottom there is also explosive mercury. But also here is the anvil, against which the explosive beats when the striker hits. The high cost is offset by more powerful ignition.

Due to the different design of capsulesthey fit different cases.

Which charge is better

So, the shot is as follows. The head of the gun hits the primer. It explodes and ignites the gunpowder. He pushes the charge. What could it be?

The choice is quite large - from shot number 12 (its diameter is 1.25 mm) to buckshot 0000 (diameter 5 millimeters). Bullets stand separately - there are dozens of modifications (Polev, Brenneke, Foster, Vyatka, Sputnik, Kirovchanka and many others).

It's silly to talk about the benefits, 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 a bullet. A hit will simply tear the bird apart. And it will be much more difficult to hit it with a bullet than with small shot. Here, fine shot from No. 10 to No. 12 is better suited. When going for a wild boar, it is better to take a large buckshot. A hit is almost guaranteed, as the buckshot will scatter and cover a fairly large area. And the large diameter ensures serious wounds and fairly quick death.

Well, going hunting for a bear with small shot is just suicide. Such a shot (even a "successful one") will only damage its skin and cause sharp pain, which will provoke the beast to attack. Only a bullet that has a huge stopping power will do here.

It is also worth considering that the bullet hits a much greater distance. The smaller the charge, the shorter the effective shot distance. This is also worth remembering when hunting.

Each variety of bulletalso has certain advantages. Some can boast good range, another provides excellent accuracy (all fired bullets hit one point), and the third inflicts the most serious wounds, killing a large animal on the spot.

Do I need a container?

Telling 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 the powder and filled with shot or buckshot.

Its use allows you to increase the range of combat, as well as accuracy - the dispersion of shots will decrease and all of it hits a relatively small target. But if a large spread is important for a hunter (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, a hunter, going hunting, must choose the optimal composition of the cartridge himself in order to increase his chances of success.