What is buckshot? Detailed analysis

The article tells about what is grape-shot, what is used for and what is different from other types of shells for shooting.

Weapons

A person does not have sharp teeth, like predators, their strength, speed or endurance, but with the help of developed intelligence he was able to create weapons and thereby increased his chances of survival. Weapons, both cold and gunshot, are constantly accompanying man for many centuries. It is used as a tool for extraction, protection or sports equipment. In the latter version there is a great variety, as well as ammunition for him. But we will talk about what is buckshot, how it differs from other munitions and where it is used.

Definition

Karteche is a large shot with a diameter from 5.25 to 10 mm. It is used both for hunting animals, and in some sports shooting disciplines. You can buy it with a license for hunting weapons in a place like a hunting shop. But why such a type of ammunition was created?

It all started with hunting and warfare back in the Middle Ages, when firearms were only spreading. And then the shot or the buckshot were used much more often and more productively than conventional bullets. This was due to the fact that for a long time there were no rifled barrels, as well as ways of dense loading of bullets, and therefore it was easier to use buckshot or shot. So now we know what buckshot is. In addition, the sighting capabilities of that weapon left much to be desired, and it was necessary to hit as large a target area as possible, for example, the enemy's system or the beast during the hunt.

Modern world

Of course, the current technology has long made it possible to manufacture cheap, simple, but at the same time, rugged rifled barrels. But if we talk about hunting weapons, then instead of the accuracy of a single bullet, the area of defeat is sometimes important. For example, when firing at small fast moving targets, such as wild ducks, geese and hares. One volley can kill several animals at once. Although for this purpose a smaller fraction is more often used, but cartridges are used for hunting wolves, wild boars, roe deer and other medium-sized animals.

At the moment on the arms market in Russia you can find cartridges of almost any kind, price range, quality and caliber. The latter, incidentally, is calculated on the basis of the diameter not only of the grains themselves, but also of the common weapon barrel. So the caliber of canister can also be very different.

Application

In our time, it is used buckshot, as already mentioned, only in hunting and in some kinds of sports. A similar type of ammunition has long been replaced by a conventional bullet for a rifled barrel. But not in all countries, you can buy such weapons, and for hunting medium sized animals, grapes are preferable. It is interesting that in 2004 the US Army received a shell projectile with a grape shot. This was done because in conditions of dense construction such a munition effectively destroys the enemy's living power, but does not destroy buildings. Now this projectile is produced in small limited batches.

This case is not unique. Such types of ammunition were used during the First World War in English tanks. So now we know what buckshot is.

Cannonball

In the middle of the XIX century, shrapnel completely superseded cannon canister. Since the days of Ancient Rus, people have actively equipped it with guns. Initially, this type of ammunition was an ordinary small stone or iron rubbish (nails, pieces of horseshoes, etc.), which loaded guns. A little later, they began to cast a large shot, which was called a grape shot.

A volley from a heavy gun several tens of kilograms of grains of canister was terrible. He mowed out entire enemy ranks, for which everyone loved this type of ammunition. The nuclei were used to destroy fortresses and other fortifications.

Now you can buy grapes in a place like a hunting shop. It is sold both inside ready-made cartridges, and in loose form. Bulk buckshot is needed for those who like to equip the cartridges themselves. In addition to economic benefits, this is practical - you can produce ammunition of any power, combining types of ammunition depending on the purpose: hunting, sports shooting or something else. There is also knitted buckshot, when the pellets are fastened together with a thin, but very strong fishing line or wire.

In the article, we analyzed in detail the question of what is grape-shot, for which it is used.

It is also worth mentioning that buckshot is often confused with shrapnel, and this is wrong. They are a large shot of steel or lead, but shrapnel was used in artillery shells that exploded at high altitude and showered the enemy with a whole "rain" of damaging elements. This type of shell has not been used for a long time.