Small-caliber cartridges, which professionals call "small", have been used by hunters for several decades. This type of ammunition is especially appreciated by the shooters who are engaged in commercial hunting. Small-caliber cartridges are successfully used by both novice hunters and experienced professionals, and even special services in many countries of the world.
Why do you need a small caliber
Small-caliber weapons are a good example of the fact that the main factor in firing accuracy is not the weapon, but the type of ammunition. The development of the.22 LR cartridge led to a significant reduction in the cost of the shot, and the structural peculiarity of the case with side ignition allowed engineers to create more than 10 types of cartridges for which special guns were subsequently created.
Types of cartridges of caliber 5.6 mm
For all its diversity, the most popular small caliber side-ignition cartridges are.22 LR and.22 WMR. The first type was invented and first released more than a century ago. During this time, he gained worldwide popularity, becoming the champion in the number of shots fired. Its full name can be represented as follows: cartridge of the 22nd caliber, with a bullet diameter of 5.6 mm, L - long, R - rifle, as it has a flange on the bottom of the sleeve.
Since the ammunition of "small things" the energy generated after the shot is quite low, and the trajectory of the bullet varies greatly, they are used for firing at a small distance from the target. Mostly professional hunters shoot small animals (rodents and birds) from them.
In Russia, sables and squirrels are mined using small-bullet cartridges; in the United States, gophers are shot by them.
Under the caliber.22 LR produced a lot of different types of weapons - carbines, pistols, and even machine guns.
The second popular small cartridge -.22 LR (full name.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire) - is available for civilian use. Especially loved this caliber in the United States. They came up with this cartridge in 1959 for hunting larger animals, for example, coyotes or jackals. The use of such a cartridge for smaller animals does not make sense, since ammunition severely damages the victim’s body.
Also, both types of "small things" are actively used in training to shoot beginners, since ammunition of this type has a low cost.
Permission to fire a cartridge.22 LR
Obtaining permission to fire from small-caliber weapons is no different from obtaining permission to use a rifled barrel. The hunter needs to collect and submit to LRO the following documents:
- Hunting ticket.
- Certificate of medical examination.
- The report, compiled by the local police, which contains information on the storage conditions of firearms.
Also, do not forget that permission for rifled weapons can only be obtained by those who have five years of experience with smoothbore guns.
Advantages and disadvantages of "small things"
Among the main advantages of using small cartridges, the following factors can be noted:
- low return;
- a small hole in the victim’s body, which helps to preserve the integrity of the skin;
- low noise during the shot;
- the possibility of using a silencer;
- low price and availability of ammunition, which allows hunters to hone their shooting skills.
Cons cartridge "small things" 5.6 mm:
- low lethal force;
- ability to hit only close targets.
5.6mm cartridge feature
The cartridge called “small fry” of caliber 5.6 mm (.22 LR) received its name, since the diameter of its bullet is 0.22 inches (5.6 mm). This type of ammunition does not have a capsule. In order for a shot to occur, the firing pin strikes the side of the bottom of the sleeve, so it is called a side-fire cartridge.
The cartridge "small things" 5.6 mm percussion (also called capsule) composition is pressed into the edge of the sleeve. When the shooter presses the trigger guard, the percussion mechanism of the gun crushes the rim, the capsule composition ignites. As a result of detonation, ignition of the main powder charge occurs.
Thanks to the special design, the 5.6 mm “small” cartridge has an easily collapsible crinkle from the striker impact. The walls of the sleeve must have a thin layer of metal, which limits the maximum pressure created by the ignition of the powder. If the charge in the cartridge is too powerful, the cartridge may break during firing.
Ammunition Specifications.22 LongRifle
- Caliber - 5.66 mm
- Bullet weight is from 1.9 to 2.6 g.
- Bullet weight - 2.72 g.
- The maximum mass of gunpowder is 0.34 g.
- Muzzle velocity - from 325 to 345 m / s.
- The speed of the bullet at around 50 meters from the muzzle of the barrel is 295 m / s.
- The initial energy of the bullet - 135 J
- The energy of a bullet after 50 meters of flight is 110 J.
The dimensions of the cartridge "small things" are as follows:
- cartridge length - 25 mm;
- sleeve length - 15.1 mm;
- the diameter of the sleeve in the upper part is 5.75 mm;
- the diameter of the sleeve in the lower part is 7.1 mm.
Origin History.22 LR
The 0.22-inch small-caliber cartridge was invented at the end of the 19th century by Stevens Arm & Tool Comp. It was equipped with a bullet weighing 40 grains (2.6 grams). The total weight of smoke powder was 0.324 grams. It was not possible to measure the speed of a bullet at that time.
The modern model of ammunition from the company Stevens Arm & Tool Comp has not changed. The sleeve is made of metal, the total length of the cartridge is 25.5 mm. The main difference between the modern cartridge and the model of 1887 is only that now the lead bullet is wrapped in a special shell to improve the ballistic characteristics of the ammunition.
Unlike the first developments, the modern bullet used by hunters has a mass of 2.6 grams. When firing a weapon with a barrel length of 152 mm, the maximum bullet speed after firing reaches 345 m / s, and the muzzle energy is 140 J. When firing a rifle with a longer barrel, the bullet speed increases on average by 60 m / s.
In the modern world, 4 ring-ignition cartridges are produced:
- The most powerful of them is called Hyper-velocity. When fired, the bullet reaches an ultrahigh speed of 425 m / s.
- The second most powerful cartridge is High-velocity. The maximum speed is 400 m / s.
- The side ignition ammunition with a standard bullet speed (about 343 m / s) is called Standard-velocity.
- The small-caliber cartridge with a subsonic bullet speed (335 m / s) is called Subsonic.
A lot of factors influence the speed of a bullet's departure, for example, the manufacturer of the ammunition, as well as the barrel length.
Domestic cartridges of 5.6 mm caliber
Since the.22 LR cartridge is widely used in sports shooting and hunting, domestic cartridge factories also undertook its production. Small-caliber rifle cartridges of Russian production have various names:
- "Pace".
- "Marmot".
- Extra.
- "Sable".
- "Junior".
- "Olympus".
Also for amateurs to shoot in the dash, they produce 4.5 mm rounds of “small things” made of lead. Their design does not provide for a powder charge, respectively, they do not need a sleeve. 4.5 mm small-caliber cartridges are fired during the shot due to a powerful strike of the striker on the back of the ammunition.
Small sports ammunition
General rules of international competitions require that athletes have equal conditions. Weapons and ammunition must comply with accepted standards. The use of.22 LR cartridge in sports is explained by its low noise, low power, good breakdown ability at a short distance, low recoil, high accuracy and reliability. In addition, it is considered one of the cheapest cartridges with a powder charge.
During firing at a distance of 25 meters from the target, the aiming point should be raised by 2 cm. At a distance of 75 meters, the bullet drops from the aiming point by 7 cm. At a distance of 100 meters, the bullet deviates from the target by 25 cm. The smallest diameter (9 mm at a distance 50 meters) dispersion are domestic cartridges "Olympus-R".
The cartridges used by athletes in competitions have a solid metal bullet made of lead (photo of the cartridge “small things” confirm this). The mass of such ammunition is about 2.55 grams. The initial velocity, measured from the muzzle of the trunk, is 330 m / s. At this speed, lead bullets stabilize due to cuts in the barrel. The best accuracy can be achieved by shooting indoors at a constant room temperature and normal humidity.
Sport and hunting cartridges
Sports and hunting small-caliber ammunition have similar characteristics (cartridge weight, speed, muzzle energy), with cartridges for sports competitions, but the former are inferior in quality, since the manufacturer reduces the cost of its products to increase demand. For a shooter who is just learning to shoot from a rifled firearm, it is important that the cartridges are relatively high quality, but most importantly - cheap. In order to learn how to shoot accurately and aim quickly, you need to hone your skills and abilities for several months.
For hunters produce two types of bullets:
- All-metal.
- With a hole in the head.
Weapon under the "small things"
For firing from.22 LR caliber, a large number of various firearms with rifled barrels are produced. These are pistols, revolvers, single-shot and multi-shot rifles with various reloading schemes, carbines and devices for automatic shooting (machine guns).
TOZ shotguns
Today, a large selection of small-caliber rifles is available to Russian hunters. The most popular brand among professional shooters is the TOZ rifle family.
The first rifle called TOZ-8 was developed by a Soviet designer from the city of Tula, Kochetov D.M. in 1932. This weapon is famous for its simplicity of design, reliability and reliability. It was widely used for training novice shooters. Its main purpose is hunting for small animals. Due to its accuracy, professional athletes and hunters loved the TOZ-8 weapon.
Modern weapons brand TOZ chambered for "small things" has many modifications:
- TOZ-16 - a modern rifle. It occupies a leading position in terms of sales in Russia.
- TOZ-17 is a modern modification of the already obsolete TOZ-8 sample.
- Carabiner "Sable." A sample of firearms was created on the basis of the Biathlon rifle. It is equipped with two types of stores with a capacity of 5 and 10 rounds. You can also install an optical sight on it.
- TOZ-78 is a fairly accurate and silent weapon.
- TOZ-78-04M - a modified sample of the TOZ-78 rifle.
- TOZ-78-01M is another modification of the weapon of the TOZ-78 brand. The main difference is the ability to install additional equipment for accurate and silent shooting.
Design rifles TOZ
In the receiver, the designer decided to place the shutter and trigger. A sliding rotary bolt is needed to send the ammunition into the chamber, close the barrel when fired, fire a shot, and also throw out the fired cartridge case.
In earlier versions of the rifles, the store is missing. The box connects all parts of the rifle. Also, the weapon has a butt and fore-end.
