Hunters - people are very conservative. Most domestic, and the European hunters convinced: hunting rifle - it is only a shotgun. even the self-charging, which recently on civilian arms market by the thousand, and which by their reliability is not too inferior "dvudulkam", hardly fit into this scheme. Not to mention the "Pompeii".
Meanwhile, fans of the "classic" tradition and there are also among the very rather big group of shooters, not engaged in hunting and shooting practice, which is conventionally called the "samooboronschikami".
And some of them are convinced, that the best defense weapon - a shotgun with a short barrel and with external Kurki.
Such a weapon was once, perhaps, the most common means of defense and figured under the name dilizhansnogo or Kuchersky gun, Luparev and koachgana. It is successfully used and Russian coachmen, protected him from the "wicked people" and the wolves, "Shalivshih" in the vast tracts of the Empire, and Cowboys, and sheriff depyuti, and Sicilian shepherds and many, a lot others.
During the Civil War in the United States with a short barrel shotgun was the favorite weapon of horsemen on both sides. The legendary commander of the Confederate cavalry Nathan Bedford Forrest claimed, that shotgun - the best weapon of his horsemen.
Need to say, American cavalry, Unlike their European counterparts, rarely used machetes, longer leaning on "Boomstick". They approached the enemy and fired at him from a revolver or dvustvolok. The latter had the advantage, that the shot sheaf much easier to gallop was to catch the enemy. Especially that shoot more than two times in a cavalry skirmish, when opponents rush at a gallop towards each other, it was unlikely, reload the gun and galloping was easier, than revolver. Well, finally, revolver worth much more.
Shotgun due to "budget", and also because of the greater flexibility, than the "master's" guns and carbines, It was popular among American immigrants, and Russian peasants.
Almost until the middle of the last century shotgun with a short barrel used in some police departments, Again, because of their cost-effectiveness.
Fans of "dvudulok" claim, that "nemnogozaryadnost" dvustvolok in reality, the problem is not, as in the case of three armed attack enemies defending odds are zero. Statement, from my point of view, not undisputed.
The best balance is indicated as strengths, than the magazine rifles, no moving parts automation and high reliability. shotgun mechanism is closed in block and is not available for external actions, the worst of which - unprofessional disassembly and cleaning. Two trunks and two trigger mechanism gives a double guarantee, and the failure of one does not block the system as a whole.
Chambering a cartridge in the barrel is carried out directly by hand, that allows the use of different, including not seamed cartridges. Extraction also extremely simple, even in the presence of the ejector, ejecting the cartridge from the open trunk, rather than through the extraction window.
The need for short barrel is caused not only by the desire to make the most compact self-defense weapon and razvorotistym, but also provides a fairly wide dispersal fractions or grapeshot at a distance of about 10 m from the muzzle. In this case, the gun must ensure that a battle bullet at a distance of up to 50 m. For 12 The optimal length of the barrel caliber is 500 mm (this is the length indicated in the "On weapons" law as the minimum acceptable). And in the US in length 510 mm (24 inch) It is standard for bullet-shotguns models of self-defense.
Important to "samooboronschikov" point is the presence of external hammers, that allows you to store or transport the rifle with cartridge in the chamber and uncocked Kurki, ie the maximum combat ready, without the risk of "squander" spring or get an involuntary shot. but, remark, that the storage and transport of weapons with a cartridge in the chamber is against the law.
Now available in Russian, perhaps, Only one gun, falling under this class - MP 43 KH, manufactured by IMZ. Barrel length - classic 510 mm, the weight- 3,4 kg. Trunks are cylindrical Porting, optionally equipped with interchangeable choke.
curious, that the original gun was made exclusively for the US, the prospects for the domestic market, the factory workers have not seen him for. However, after, as a small party got on the shelves of local stores, and its "grind" at once, the gun and began to sell in Russia.
Despite the usual complaints about the quality of products Izhmeha, with respect to the MR-43KN often hear positive reviews, noted the good performance of the gun, good fit wood to metal. The gun has a good balance and a very compact. The disassembled easily located in any backpack or travel bag.
It has a pretty good battle bullet in the usual shotguns distances, it can be used on hunts zverovyh. Besides, it successfully used for hunting quail.
Among the shortcomings, perhaps, It may be mentioned circuit breaker, joining at the turn of the trunk and pulled out from vnutrikurkovogo grandparent - Iz-43. On the gun with external Kurki, thing in my opinion, completely unnecessary.
Strictly speaking, in a real self-defense shotgun niche is still inferior to self-charging and "Pompeii", many of which are not inferior to her in any compact, any reliability, but the bypass and on the rate of multiply charged.
Nevertheless, "Luparev" continues to be popular and even making its way into the sport. In particular, in the US it is involved in the competition on the "cowboy shooting", or "cowboy triathlon".
In Russia, is gaining popularity "Makhno-kulak and guerrilla shooting" - Comic matches, where organizers combine shooting competition with the costume show. FROM 2006 year, these competitions are held regularly, and the main weapon on them is just a shotgun.
