Frolovka 32 caliber belongs to the category of guns that were converted into hunting options from worn-out or decommissioned combat rifles of the 1891 model and later. In Russia, this type of weapon began to gain popularity since 1920, the name comes from the name of a gunsmith who worked at the Tula plant as a designer. It would seem, what is the reason to remake army models that are inconvenient and unsuitable for hunting? Wouldn't it be easier to just release standard hunting versions? The fact is that after the civil war the whole country was in poverty and devastation, there was no time for new inventions at all.
Historical facts
A variety of 32-caliber frog fishing appeared at a time when there was an urgent need to equip hunters engaged in fishing on a large scale. They did not trust them with military weapons, and it would be less useful than harm. And the converted samples worked by analogy with standard smoothbore guns - accurate shooting at 40-50meters with shot and up to 100 meters with a bullet.
For the first time, converted versions of this technology began to be used by the British, who armed Indian police detachments with them. In the Russian Empire, this practice was widely used after the decommissioning of the Berdan design from standard weapons. Part of the rifles was sent to public and private workshops for the transformation of models into smooth-bore hunting modifications.
A similar task, related to the need to provide hunters with suitable weapons, arose after the Second World War. For this reason, most hunting variations of 1945-48 are converted Mosin rifles. As a rule, 32-caliber frogs were made single- or double-shot. However, there were also models for three rounds.
Description
For the multi-shot version of the guns in question, standard rifle ammunition is intended, expanded for a suitable caliber. The weapons magazines of the 1981 release are considered the most suitable for rework. This is due to the fact that they are assembled without the use of spot welding, on several rivets. The dismantled cheeks were leveled with a sledgehammer or a press, after which elements fitted to the cartridge were placed on the ledges, drilled according to the template in the walls.
Then, elongated versions were mounted, flared under the sweat. To expand the magazine part for 32 caliber, a welding mounting method was often used. The walls of the part were straightened on a wooden wedge, and the formation of the structure for the hunting cartridge was carried out "cheaply and cheerfully"(using a hammer and chisel).
Features
The 32 caliber Frolovka hunting rifle was equipped with updated walls made of sheet steel, 1 mm thick. These elements do not have a classic cutout for a reflective cut-off tooth, as well as strips of profile ribs. Another solution to increase the capacity of the store is to arch the back of the trigger guard, which allowed the magazine compartment to be lowered 5-10 mm down.
If a regular stock was used, the corresponding cutout was simply expanded mechanically. Dirt-protective covers were placed on the covers of the feeders, fixed by riveting.
When creating the 32-gauge frolovka, the reflective cut-offs were also changed. On pre-war samples, this element is almost always made in a single configuration. Debugging the ammunition feed socket in the standard style was done by removing the cut-off tooth. Important factors in the reliable feeding of the cartridge included the configuration and dimensions of the reflector spring. In the event that the charge was lifted up, the situation was overcome by soldering a metal plate (by building up the walls of the cartridge window with tin solder).
Sights
The Frolovka 32 caliber gun was equipped with a soldered hunting front sight or an imitation of a combat analogue. In addition, the set of sighting devices included a primitive rear sight in the form of a slot in the transverse groove of the upper part of the breech barrel compartment. There are rare modifications in which an axial cut along the upper edge of the box acted as a pillar. It was made with an ordinary hacksaw.
In any case, the simplest sighting system on guns of the type in question is considered the most convenient design. This is especially noticeable when firing "offhand". This is due to the underestimated placement of the sighting line, compared with the regular army mechanism. Shooting was carried out by filing or soldering the front sight in the horizontal and vertical direction. This approach is fully justified, it gives the aiming device good characteristics, regardless of the conditions of aiming the weapon.
Characteristics of the.32 caliber flock after 1945
On post-war models, the stem boxes were altered in the area of the grooves by removing them. Round parts also did not have a dovetail heel socket. In addition, the screw fixing the cut-off reflector was removed from the structure. A milling niche for the ejector appeared on the back of the wall on the right. This decision made it possible to facilitate the connection of the shutter after cleaning the weapon. The rear sight was horizontally adjustable, placed closer to the front of the barrel box. It has a semicircular slot, the configuration itself is similar to an identical version of modern Tula guns.
On the trunks of post-war modifications, according to available information, a shot design is provided. This configuration made it possible to simplify the technology for the production of smooth barrels with fitting elements to the box. Landing slots for the sight and front sight of sector action were produced in the same configuration withbarrel. If an element of a different configuration was used, the risk of “filling up” the aiming line increased significantly due to the difference in lengths and thread pitch.
Summarize
Along with some advantages, the 20-gauge frolovka, like the 32-gauge version, had one significant drawback. It consisted in a weak ejector. The beveling of the tooth of this element and the wear of the spring led to delays in the operation of the mechanism. With intensive use of weapons, a ramrod was required to push out stuck cartridges.
