In specialized stores, a wide range of ready-made ammunition is presented to the attention of hunters. Therefore, a modern consumer rarely wonders how to properly charge hunting cartridges. Judging by the reviews, this topic is mainly of interest to shooters from the outback, where there are outlets with a limited selection of ammunition. It is also interesting to know for experienced hunters about how to properly load cartridges, which for some reason may not suit standard equipment. These shooters are distinguished by a creative approach to this process. About how to charge cartridges yourself, you will learn from this article.
About standard ammunition equipment
Before you are interested in how to load cartridges, experts recommend that you familiarize yourself with the projectile ratio of the weight of the rifle unit and its caliber. Each gun has its own standard. To determine the mass of the shell, in England they use the well-known formula, namely they divide the British pound (454 g) per caliber. This formula is considered ideal for rifle units that weigh up to 3.9 kg and shoot round bullets. In Russia, hunters calculate the optimal projectile mass, depending on the caliber of the weapon. Then, already knowing the weight of the projectile, the weight of the powder charge is calculated. According to experts, each brand of gunpowder has its own ratio. For example, for those who are interested in how to load cartridges with Sokol gunpowder, experienced hunters will recommend using a ratio of gunpowder to projectile 1/5 or 1/6.
If the powder is smokeless, then 1/18. This ratio is also applicable to the Bars powder, which has a high density. In addition, it provides a sharp battle. Due to the fact that the powder “Sunar” is softer during firing, the ratio is increased to 1/16. Read more about how to properly load ammo, next.
About the elements of ammunition
Those who are interested in how to charge hunting cartridges, first of all need to know about the structure of the ammunition, as well as what happens at the time of the shot. In order for the shot to be fired, the powder charge must be ignited. This task is performed by the capsule "Centroboy" or "Zhevelo". The first, according to experts, weakly ignites pyroxylin powder. In addition, as a result of combustion, compounds are formed that are harmful to weapons steel. The second type of capsule is more modern and is considered more effective.
Before loading the cartridges, you need to determine the type of gunpowder. For this purpose, you can use black smoke. However, it does not burn fast enough with the subsequent formation of a plentiful smoky cloud, which will significantly limit the hunter's visibility. The advantage of this powder is that it requires a little pressure to burn it. In this regard, such ammunition can not chew much. Hunters successfully use the newspaper as a wad. Suitable for long barrel units. Since smokeless powder burns much faster, it needs to be chewed more thoroughly. If the wad suddenly departs, the shot will not happen at all, at best it will be delayed. Due to the fact that it burns out sharply at high pressure, such a parameter as the length of the barrel will not play a role in this case. Thanks to pyroxylin gunpowder, it became possible to shorten guns without risk of reducing the battle range. Judging by the reviews, the quality of the shots will be 15% dependent on the wad and pads used by the hunter. Ammunition can be equipped with felt, cardboard or plastic wad. There are also shot wad-containers with which the accuracy of the battle is significantly increased. To protect the powder from wad and close the cartridge after the equipment, invented special gaskets.
Ammunition can have a metal folder (a thick cardboard) and a plastic sleeve. Judging by the reviews, few people are interested in how to charge brass cartridges. The fact is that they weigh a lot and are expensive. In addition, today many hunters shoot modern guns, for which ejector mechanisms are provided. Their peculiarity is that the shot cartridges are discarded, and hardly anyone will want to lose their expensive brass.
How to charge ammo? Where to begin?
According to experts, this process is a creative activity. The master needs to be as careful and careful as possible. Before loading cartridges, you should first prepare the workplace. To do this, unnecessary trash is removed from the table and provide good lighting. Next, they select the necessary tool. Use improvised means is undesirable. Ammunition costs in small batches of 50 pieces. This will allow the wizard to make no mistakes. You will have to work with a light mallet.
In addition, the home craftsman needs to purchase a bumper, a device for pressing, scales for gunpowder and shot, a special stand in which already loaded cartridges will be placed. It is presented in the form of a plane in which there are special holes with a diameter corresponding to the bottom of the sleeve. An ammunition equipment machine is considered a vague concept, since each master can perceive this device in his own way. Judging by numerous reviews, hunters press the capsule into the sleeve using a steel spoon. However, this method is not recommended. It is best to use the convenient Barclay device for this purpose, with which you can squeeze an already shot capsule and press in a new one. On the shelves of hunting stores there are also universal UPS devices. The machine is presented in the form of a hand press, by means of which a capsule is pressed in, the gasket and wad are sent to the sleeve, and then the dulce is twisted or rolled.
Equipment start
How to charge 12 gauge cartridges? The essence of the procedure is as follows. First of all, you need to take the UPS device with a 12 gauge navigator and a set of needles with which the shot capsules will be knocked out. With this device, you can charge both 12-gauge cartridges, and any other. All you have to do is pick up the appropriate navnik and correctly calculate the weight. The capsule is first removed. Next, the sleeve itself is prepared directly. If it is made of metal, then the master needs to wipe the cinder from it. If the sleeve is bent or has cracks, then it is immediately rejected. The cartridges are straightened out of cardboard and plastic. At this stage, the capsule is pressed. Previously, metal sleeves were equipped with Centroboy capsules, the basis of which was explosive mercury. Today they produce 12-gauge cartridge cases for Zhevelo capsules. According to experts, it is more expedient to press in the cartridges not with a hammer or spoon, but with a special device provided for this. In this case, the shooter may not be afraid to damage the capsule. Also, the ammunition equipped according to all the rules will not jam at the most crucial moment.
Second step
Now the master needs to measure the right amount of powder charge and fill it into the sleeve. How to properly charge 12 gauge ammunition when using a Centrifuge and smokeless gunpowder? In this case, experts will recommend adding a little black powder to the capsule. At this stage, you will have to use a special measure or dispenser. Thus, the cartridge is equipped with a volumetric method, which, according to experts, is completely safe. Previously, hunters were wary of smokeless gunpowder, believing that it can be weighed only on high-precision scales. However, as practice has shown, if the charge is with the right weight, and the dispenser is correctly configured, then the volumetric method of equipment is also quite applicable.
About chewing
The purpose of this procedure is to eliminate the breakthrough of powder gases. Leakage is prevented using the main felt wad and a similar cardboard product. That cardboard wad should cover the gunpowder. Next have a wad of felt. It is advisable that its thickness be at least 2 cm. As a result, the edges of the sleeve skirt should remain free so that the master has the opportunity to roll or twist them. Some hunters divide the felt wad in such a way that they get 10 mm parts. During the shot, they exit the barrel and do not break shot shells. If a bullet is used as a projectile, it is not necessary to separate the wad. A cardboard pad is placed on the powder wad. Due to the fact that its task is to eliminate wad weighting under the influence of a fraction, a very dense cardboard became the material in the manufacture.
Final stage
Once the ammunition is equipped with a powder charge, it should be equipped with a projectile, namely shot, bullet or buckshot. According to experts, shot shot wads with the corresponding marking are on shot charges. For bullet cartridges, a similar wad is not characteristic. The fact is that a bullet during a shot can bend it and deform the barrel of the weapon. If you work with the help of a special device UPS-5, which closes the dule in the form of an asterisk, you can not put a wad on a shot cartridge. Judging by the reviews, there are no problems with wads for the 12 gauge, since they are easy to cut yourself, and they are in specialized stores. Difficulties arise with smaller calibers.
For the UPS devices, special twists are provided, which close up the sleeves in the form of an asterisk. If the cartridge is made of metal, then you have to use a special matrix. These spins can be manual and desktop. According to consumers, the latter to work much more convenient. Manual ones are more compact and you can take them with you on a hunting expedition.
About bullet cartridges
Those who don’t know how to charge bullets with ammunition are advised to use new cartridges with powerful capsules. It is better to fall asleep smokeless powder. What hunter to choose, the hunter calculates on his own. It is not worth installing a wad on top of a bullet.
However, to prevent moisture from entering the cartridge, during the installation of the bullet, you can apply wax, twist without gaskets and roll up the edges in the form of an asterisk. Judging by the reviews, many hunters prefer to shoot with heavy bullets Brenekke and Yakana. Today, these munitions have attached wads. This element is used as an obturator, and also stabilizes the projectile during flight. The Mayer turbine bullet should be equipped with a multiple wad, which compensates for the impact of the shot. It is important that the turbine bullet does not deform. Therefore, round bullets put using starch bedding. For this, starch, baby powder or talcum powder, into which small wood chips are added, are placed on top of the gunpowder. Next, install the bullet itself. When spinning the sleeve of the cartridge case, you need to remember that this method of embedment can increase pressure during a shot. Therefore, the weight of gunpowder is adjusted accordingly.
Many hunters use Polev's bullets. Shells that contain plastic wad can be placed immediately on top of gunpowder. Such a bullet weighs a little and is equipped with a plastic container, through which it is sent to the barrel channel. In this case, you can do without an additional hitch. Any method is suitable for sealing a sleeve. Some hunters set a thin wad on the container, others just twirl the dulce. There are shooters that equip shotgun shells with Polev shells.
About Shotgun Equipment
Many beginners are interested in how to charge a cartridge with a shot? This process makes it possible to obtain ammunition for various purposes, namely for hunting fur animals and waterfowl. To properly equip a cartridge, you need to know how to vary wads and pads, and what fraction number to apply. As a result, the hunting rifle will have a different battle. For example, for fur animals it is recommended to use shots No. 5, 6 and 7, for hunting small boar game - No. 3, 4 and 5. Capercaillie can be shot at No. 1, and waterfowl - at No. 3.
According to experts, the distance that the fraction will overcome depends on its size. The larger it is, the farther it flies and the lower the density of its scree. Shotgun ammunition is equipped only with the help of a special machine. If the twist is performed poorly, then the contents of the sleeve may spill out. For this purpose, both factory cars and homemade ones are suitable. The main thing is that all technological operations are observed during operation. Previously, hunters made extensive use of smoke powder. However, during firing it forms a large smoky cloud, which is effective only for historical reconstruction. On the hunt, it only complicates the visibility of the arrow. For this reason, many shooters prefer to equip cartridges with smokeless gunpowder. In this case, you need to choose the right wads and pads.
Using too heavy wads is not worth it. Otherwise, they will catch up and break the shot scree in the center. The result is empty space. With too hard wads, a sufficient obturation will not be provided. As a result, there will be a breakthrough of powder gases, which will negatively affect the accuracy and range of the battle. To increase these parameters, invented special wad containers.
How to charge cartridges with a container? Judging by the reviews, some hunters in this case have difficulties. For example, shooters are interested in whether to put a gasket or wad, and where exactly? How to charge the cartridge with shot in this case? The fact is that when you fill a sleeve, its dulce turns out to be too long and inconvenient for rolling. Experienced shooters recommend doing this as follows. First, insert the capsule into the sleeve. Then 2.2 g gunpowder is poured. A 32-gram bullet or a container with a shot charge of 32 g is installed on top. To ensure the gunpowder provides high pressure, it should be thoroughly compressed. Due to the fact that the container is equipped with its own shutter, you can do without gaskets. At the very end of the edge of the sleeve "star". Some arrows spin further. In the latter case, experts recommend using a plastic gasket-sealer that has low sides. As a result, accuracy and range of the battle will be increased by an average of 30%.
About buckshot
How to charge ammo with buckshot? This projectile is represented by large lead balls. Designed for hunting small ungulates and predators. Walking with deer cartridges is prohibited. Ammunition is equipped with buckshot using the same machine as shotguns. In order for the shot to turn out to be of high quality, the master needs to rationally select the diameter of the balls and place them in the sleeve as densely as possible. Many novice shooters in this case make a mistake, namely they select buckshots, focusing on the sleeve. It will be more correct if we proceed from the size of the muzzle. To lead balls flew harmoniously, like a dense shell and at a great distance, the buckshots are laid in the drawing. For example, for a 12-gauge cartridge, buckshot with a diameter of 6 mm is suitable. Such ammunition, judging by the reviews of hunters, is very effective when you need to shoot a boar.
It happens that the difference between the inner diameters of the liners and muzzle sections is very significant. The situation is corrected with the help of containers that are inserted inside the sleeve. To do this, using the cutaway drawing, taking into account the optimal weight of the striking element, the hunter selects the diameter of the balls with which the container fills. It closes by means of a shot wad. Since the projectile must be firmly fixed, a twist should be used at the very end. Fix buckshot in the sleeve can be another more rational, but also more troublesome way. The card picture is placed inside the sleeve and sprinkled with powder. Fixing the picture is carried out using thin sticks, for example, matches. Those who practice this method of equipment argue that the presence of matches will not spoil the shot, on the contrary, the sticks will prevent deformation of the laid out pattern while passing through the barrel channel.
About hitch
Among novice hunters, there is an opinion that the more gunpowder falls asleep, the more powerful the shot will be. According to experts, this is not true. Gunpowder should be put in moderation. Samples of gunpowder manufacturers point to cans of products. However, the indicated indicator is not the average worker, but the maximum, which is not desirable to exceed. Often beginners ask a question, how to charge cartridges of 16 caliber? How much gunpowder is needed? Previously, hunters determined the amount of shot and gunpowder by trial. Today, after a series of tests, special measures have been created. Therefore, before loading cartridges of 16 caliber, you should prepare a shot weighing 29 g or 30 g, and gunpowder, 1.7 and 1.8 g, respectively. For a 12-caliber ammunition, you need a shot weighing 28, 32, 35 and 40 g. The weight of gunpowder for such cartridges will be 1.9 g, 2.1 g, 2.25 g and 2.4 g.
How to charge a cartridge of 20 caliber? In this case, you need a 22-gram shotgun weight for 1.4 g gunpowder. You can also equip a hunting case with 23 and 24 g shots. Such cartridges will require 1.5 and 1.6 g of powder charge, respectively. If the hunter decided to use the 12-caliber Magnum cartridge, then he can be recommended to take a 40-gram sample to 2.8 g of gunpowder. For a 20-caliber ammunition equipped with Polev’s bullet No. 3 and 7, a 2 g gun powder is needed. When equipped with the same ammunition, the Shashkov bullet needs to be increased to 2.2 g. This projectile is suitable for loading a 16-caliber hunting cartridge. A charge of gunpowder is allowed not less than 2.1 g. 2 grams can be used in 16 gauge if the hunter equips the sleeve with a Brenneke bullet.
