Hunters are picky people. Someone on the hunt is ready to be content with a single-barreled shotgun, someone is a smooth-bore double-barreled gun, and give someone a more powerful and impressive hunting weapon - a carbine. In particular, if the hunter wanted to try himself in the hunt for some big game. It is clear that in this case a shotgun is indispensable. Here you will need a more impressive sample of weapons. For example, a hunting carbine.
A carabiner is the same rifle. Compared to the classic rifle, the carbine barrel is shortened, and the carbine also has some specific design features. The carbine barrel is not smooth, but rifled (although it may be smooth in some versions). As for the size of this type of weapon, the length of the carbine is usually less than the length of its “progenitor” - a classic rifle.
Acquiring a carbine is not easy and troublesome. Currently, there is an almost endless list of carbines (rifles), both Russian and foreign production. It is very important to decide which carbine is the best - that is, the most suitable for a particular hunter and for hunting for a particular game.
Hunting carbines and their varieties
Usually, inexperienced hunters, thinking about acquiring a carbine, try to figure out for themselves which carbine is better, and try to immediately acquire a universal carbine - among the many varieties of these weapons, this can happen. However, seasoned hunters usually opt for some specialized type of weapon.
Specialized models are such versions of hunting carbines, which are best suited for hunting for a particular game or intended for a specific type of hunting. After all, hunting, as you know, can be any kind: pended, from hiding, from approach, and so on. So: for almost every kind of hunting there is a version of rifled hunting weapons, that is, carbines.
In terms of their design carbines are divided into two types:
- Self-loading carbines. The shops of such carbines fit from 5 to 10 rounds - depending on how this rifled weapon is designed. When firing from such a carbine, it reloads automatically. It is clear that the rate of fire in this case is at the level;
- Carabiners in which the shutter must be distorted after each shot. The rate of fire here, of course, is lower, but on the other hand, such carbines are more reliable in operation: they, unlike self-loading rifles, are not afraid of pollution.
In addition, combined carbines can also be found. They have two rifled barrels with different calibers and one smooth barrel. On the one hand, such rifles have many advantages, but such carbines are fired no further than 100 meters and are excessively expensive.
Hunting carbines and their calibers
All carbines are strictly divided according to their caliber. In this case, the smaller the caliber of the barrel, the lower the price of the weapon itself. However, the price is the price, but when choosing a carabiner, one must first of all proceed from the fact that the hunter intends to hunt game of what size. So, calibers:
- Carabiner chambered for 5.6x39 caliber cartridges. Cartridges of this caliber usually hunt any small animal. This is what is called sparing cartridge. With a skillful shot of such a charge, the skin of the animal remains uncorrupted;
- Carabiner chambered for 7.62x39 caliber cartridges. Such charges shoot from a carbine "Saiga" and similar samples. Charges of this caliber are inexpensive, and they can shoot medium-sized game (wolf, boar, roe). However, these cartridges have little stopping power;
- Carabiner chambered for 5.6x45 caliber. This is a relatively small caliber, and with such charges you can get fur and feather game;
- Carabiner chambered for 7.62x51 caliber cartridges. Very impressive and serious caliber. With such charges you can hit large game from large distances;
- Carabiner ammunition 30-06th. This is the largest caliber. The charges of such calibers hunt the biggest game: bears, elks, large boars. Bullet weight in cartridges of such calibers is about 14 grams. Versions of weapons adapted for firing charges of similar calibers, you can find a lot. However, here it should be borne in mind that such cartridges are quite expensive.
There are also small-caliber carbines shooting charges less than 5.6 x 39. This is a specific caliber: it is used only for sporting purposes and for commercial hunting.
Sight for carbine
A carabiner is a weapon intended for firing at long distances, and at long distances it is possible to shoot effectively only with an optical sight on your weapon.
Buying a sight is not so simple. All sights include two main characteristics, called multiplicity and viewing angle. Both the one and the other must be selected by the values of their parameters. The best sights - with high values. It is clear that such sights are somewhat more expensive, but with a good sight the hunt will be much more successful.
Shooting a carbine for hunting
To get an idea of how a carbine shoots and how to eliminate flaws in shooting, you need to shoot a weapon. Sighting can be done in different ways.
The easiest way can be called "grandfather." That is how weapons were shot in ancient times. To do this, pull the bolt, looked into the barrel and what is called "by eye" combined cross with the target. It is clear that to determine in such a way, how accurately the weapon shoots, it was difficult.
Most carbine owners have always used the traditional method of shooting. In fact, this method is quite simple. Two targets are taken, which are placed at different distances: at a distance of 50 meters, and at a distance of 100 meters. Initially, the shooting is carried out on the first target - to see how well the weapon shoots in general. Then it is necessary to proceed to the main adjustment - at a target set at a distance of 100 meters. In general, the point of zeroing is to combine the point where a bullet can hit with a crosshair. When shooting with an optical sight, the adjustment is made using special correction devices available on the optical sight.
At present, it has become possible to carry out cold shooting without using ammunition, but with the help of sighting devices. There are two types of cold shooting - using muzzle tips and using a laser cartridge. For zeroing the muzzle tip should be placed in the muzzle. Attached to the muzzle nozzle is a screen with a square drawn on it with a cross in the middle. It is necessary to try to combine the crosshair with a cross and the sighting can be considered complete.
As for laser shooting, it is even easier. Here you need to insert a laser cartridge into the chamber of the weapon, after which the laser point and the center of the target must be combined. If the combination took place, then the shooting can be considered successful.
Cold shooting can be considered a better way to shoot a carbine than the traditional one. When cold shooting is not wasted bullets. In addition, the cold adjustment can be carried out just before the start of the hunt - in contrast to the traditional shooting. It is silent, and, accordingly, the beast will not be afraid.
The most famous samples of Russian and foreign carbines
Currently, you can find many different types, modifications and versions of carbines, both Russian and foreign production. Most of them have good design and excellent technical characteristics. We will review the most famous samples of this type of weapon.
Let's start with the Russian carbines. It should be said here that Russian carbines are for the most part not original versions, but domestic military weapons converted into carbines. During the rework, the carbines largely lost the qualities of their combat prototypes, so most of these alterations are suitable for hunting, insofar as.
- TOZ-78. Small-caliber version of the Russian-made carbines. This weapon is mostly used by hunters and sportsmen during shooting competitions. The weapon has very modest technical characteristics, and therefore the price of this carbine is low;
- Carabiner "Sable". Another carbine designed for firing small-caliber charges. However, according to its characteristics and qualities, it compares favorably with the previous model, therefore, the demand for it is greater, and the price is correspondingly higher;
- Carabiner "Vepr". It is considered perhaps the best carbine produced in Russia. This is a smooth-bore semi-automatic, which can be used as service and hunting weapons, as well as for self-defense. The basis for the production of this carbine served as a Kalashnikov light machine gun. Currently there are many versions of this weapon, from which you can fire with charges of different calibers;
- Carabiner "Saiga". This sample is based on a Kalashnikov assault rifle, which is clearly visible in its design. However, despite the appearance, this semi-automatic machine has rather dubious characteristics: in particular, it has a lot of weight and poor accuracy of fire;
- Carabiner "Tiger". The basis for its creation was the Dragunov sniper rifle. The carbine turned out to be too heavy and long and, moreover, with low accuracy.
However, recently quite successful domestic samples of hunting carbines have appeared. In particular, these samples include hunting rifle (carbine) Lobaeva. For firing from this semi-automatic, the original charge is used - 408CheyTac. This charge carbine is able to shoot at a distance of more than 2 km. At the same time, the accuracy of the shot with this carbine is the highest among all domestic analogues.
Let us turn to foreign models. Here, as they say, is where to roam. In other words, in terms of quantity and quality, foreign carbines today compare favorably with their Russian counterparts. Accordingly, the price they have more, but this is a separate issue. These are mainly semi-automatic machines, but occasionally among them there are also such models that need to be recharged after each shot.
- Carabiner "Tikka Master". Very good and reliable sample of foreign-made hunting weapons. Moreover, it is relatively inexpensive. Some experts argue that this carbine is of poor quality and has a poor ammunition supply. However, it almost does not prevent weapons from being popular both abroad and among Russian hunters;
- Carabiner "Benelli Argo". Lightweight, slightly more than 3 kg weighing semi-automatic rifle with a set of stores that can hold 2, 4 and 9 charges. A distinctive feature of this carbine is the ability to change the trunks of one caliber to another;
- Carabiner "Browning BAR II". This is a weapon with excellent features and an elegant design. Carabiner is perhaps the most sought-after type of hunting weapon in Russia;
- Carabiner "Sako 75". Such carbines are known since 1946. The weapon has an excellent reputation, and its price is relatively small. There are many models of this weapon with different calibers of barrels;
- Carabiner "Mauser-98". The hunting weapon of this brand has been known since the pre-war years. The rifle has not lost its popularity to this very day, especially since many modifications of this weapon have now been developed;
- Carabiner "Blaser R93". One of the most universal carbine models in the world, which is used for different types of hunting. At the same time, cleaning this weapon is not a problem;
- Carabiner "Voere-2185". This carbine has a wonderful fight and delicate finish. There are many modifications of this brand carbine for firing ammunition of various calibers. The cost of weapons is small;
- Carabiner "Marlin 336". This carbine is very ancient, even 1889 release. That is, the first sample of the carbine came out that year, but since then, despite the improvements, the rifle has not changed much. Nevertheless, the carbine is one of the most popular types of hunting weapons to this day. American hunters claim that this rifle is the best for deer hunting;
- Carabiner "Sauer 303". Who has not heard of the weapons company "Sauer"? Weapons of this company has been a success for many years. History claims that the best weapons of this company were welcome gifts even for kings and presidents. This version of the carbine is, so to speak, a weapon for the elect. It has great features and great design. Thanks to these qualities, as well as its name, this carbine is almost the most expensive in the world.
By the way, about the price of carbines. Long-term practice shows that it is better to buy not cheap crafts, but expensive hunting carbines, which will not let you down.
Choosing a carbine, you certainly need to know what material it is made of. It is believed that the best carbines are those made from various grades of stainless steel. One of the best of these grades is considered to be steel produced by Böhler from Austria, as well as steel produced in the Scandinavian countries.
