Determining the ballistic characteristics of hunting cartridges

The object of this study is hunting cartridges. The task addressed is to determine the ballistic indicators of hunting cartridges. The standard deviation of shot distribution on the target has been determined, as well as the area of damage by hunting cartridges and the probability of penetrating a duralumin plate. The result of experimental studies has established that the maximum value of the standard deviation of shot distribution at the level of 8–12 cm occurs with a minimum shot weight of 32 g and a minimum shot diameter of 3.75 mm. In this case, the powder charge was an average value of 1.65 g. The area of damage was simulated by using an original software by increasing the penetration point on the target to the size of the total equivalent diameter of the most vulnerable elements of UAV with FPV piloting. On a target with an equivalent diameter of 8 cm, the area of damage has a maximum value of 0.45–0.5 m2 when using a minimum shot diameter of 3.75 mm. In this case, the shot weight had a maximum value of 42 g, and the weight of the powder charge was at an average level of 1.65 g. Therefore, a decrease in the diameter of the shot and an increase in the weight of the shot lead to an increase in the number of elements that hit the target, which, accordingly, leads to an increase in the area of damage. The probability of penetrating a duralumin plate 1 mm thick was determined as the ratio of the number of shots that pierced the duralumin plate to the total number of hits in it. This value has a maximum value of 0.6–0.8 rel. units at maximum values of the shot diameter of 4.75 mm, the shot weight of 42 g, and the weight of the powder charge of 1.71 g. The practical significance of the research results relates to the fact that they could be used to improve ammunition and means of defeat for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are controlled using FPV piloting under combat conditions