Stock (weapon technology)
In a rifle , the stock is a component that either connects all of the main assemblies or serves purely as a grip and shoulder rest. Break-open rifles and many other rifles have a split stock: fore-end and butt- end (also called butt ). Some rifles have a full stock.
Other weapons can also have a shaft, for example arrows and spears . The shaft has a different shape and function depending on the type of weapon.
Stocks of rifles
Forend
The forend is located between the muzzle and the rifle breech. It can be located under the barrel or completely enclose it. While the front part of the barrel is exposed in most rifles, the barrels of sockets and carbines are usually completely surrounded by the fore-end up to the muzzle and cannot swing freely. With some weapons, a special bearing allows free swinging.
The fore-end serves primarily as a grip for the hand that is not pulling the trigger . Many shafts also have a checkering or corrugation surface. In addition, from an aesthetic point of view, the barrel and mechanics are concealed or additional protection against impacts and the like. Modern military weapons have a complete casing around the barrel so that mounting rails for accessories (lamps, lasers) can be attached to the side, top and bottom . A pistol grip can also be attached to the forend.
In the case of forend repeater shotguns, the forend also encloses the tubular magazine. It is attached to be movable in the longitudinal direction. If it is moved, it triggers the ejection of a fired case and the reloading of a new cartridge.
Buttstock
to form
In the hunting area there are different basic forms, some of which are also combined with one another. The photo opposite shows some of the most common variants.
- A: English shaft
- B: stock with pistol grip
- C: Stock with pistol grip and pig back
- D: Stock with pistol grip and pig back as well as Bavarian cheek
- E: Stock with pistol grip and pig back as well as German cheek
- F: Pistol grip stock, Monte Carlo effect and Monte Carlo cheek piece
The English stock is particularly suitable for wearing without a rifle sling. A more voluminous and downwardly bulged shaft of this type is called a skiv or fish belly shaft.
The German normal stock has a pistol grip and a mostly round cheek. If the pistol grip is only weakly pronounced, one speaks of the French stock, if it is particularly pronounced, one speaks of the imperial grip. In some weapons, the stock is perforated for a thumb hole so that the pistol grip can be better grasped.
The back of the pig (also known as the humpback stock) is a special stock shape in which the stock is pulled upwards and then falls off more strongly. With the Monte Carlo effect, the upper edge of the shaft forms a step over the last few centimeters.
The cheek (cheek rest) is an increase in volume of the stock, which should enable the shooter to lean his head against the stock. This should achieve greater stability for the shooter. If the back of the cheek is angular, it is called a Bavarian cheek. If the jaw is extended to the other side, it is a roll-over jaw. The Monte Carlo cheek is round and starts right at the top of the shaft.
Pig-back and Monte Carlo stocks are preferred for rifles with telescopic sights, as the head is higher here and therefore corresponds better to the telescopic sight axis.
So-called bump stocks replace the standard stock in semi-automatic rifles, so that their firing frequency is similar to machine guns .
Modern military rifles are designed to be used in house-to-house combat or from vehicles. For this reason, the buttstock is often either retractable or foldable. The term shoulder rest is mostly used here.
Shaft dimensions
According to the hunter's saying: The barrel shoots, the shaft hits! It is important for a good, repeatable shot with rifles that the stock fits the shooter. The graphic below shows the most important dimensions to be observed. This includes the shaft length, the depression, i.e. the difference between the shaft height and the line of sight, and the angle of the shoulder pad. The offset, that is to say the lateral angle of the shaft in relation to the barrel axis, is not shown. Other important dimensions relate to the distance from the trigger to the pistol grip or to the upper front edge of the stock.
A suitable choice is very important for hunting rifles with a solid wooden shaft. Sports and military weapons often have shafts that are adjustable in length and also have a height-adjustable jaw. Special shafts are fully adjustable; these are preferably used to determine individual shaft dimensions for shooters.
Independent pistol grip
In the case of military weapons, the pistol grip is often attached separately from the shaft as an independent assembly.
In addition, submachine guns in particular are also equipped with an additional pistol grip on the fore-end.
Full stock
Full stocks are made of wood, plastic, fiberglass or aluminum. They serve as a connecting element for the components of the weapon (breech, barrel, trigger group, bipod, telescopic sight) and transmit the loads that arise in the shot.
They start between the barrel muzzle and the barrel root, enclose the actual closure and then go into the piston.
The modern stock of the sniper rifle DSR No. 1 : [The stock is] ergonomically adjustable to the shooter's needs with a spring cheek, height-adjustable butt plate, adjustable stock length, ground spike with quick and fine adjustment, movable and height-adjustable bipod and movable rail support element on the fore-end, a reserve magazine is attached in the fore-end.
Many modern weapons no longer have a continuous shaft, but a split shaft. The center shaft thereby beidet the closure housing (with single shot rifles action frame ) with closure (weapons technology) or repeater mechanism.
Cripple shaft
Another type of shaft is the cripple shaft. These are specially adapted shafts for one-armed people, disabled people, right-handed people who aim with the left eye (or vice versa), and similar cases. Such shafts are cranked , heavily set or provided with shell-like recesses.
Socket bedding
Most rifles have the front part of the barrel exposed. The free-swinging barrel is usually stabilized to increase the precision at the barrel root together with the system in the shaft by synthetic resin bedding in the shaft. In the buttstock, the system can also be bedded with so-called pillars . With sockets and carbines, the barrels are completely surrounded by the fore-end up to the muzzle and cannot swing freely. The fixed connection prevents incalculable states between freely swinging and firmly connected . It is used in particular in military stocks to stabilize fastenings such as bayonet mounts.
Stocks on other weapons
An arrow shaft is the basic structure of the arrow . An arrowhead is usually attached to the front and a fletching to ensure aerodynamics in the rear . The shaft is often made of wood.
Even with spears , the shaft is the largest part of the weapon, namely the rod with the exception of the point. Similar to other polearms .
There are also weapons with short shafts, for example historically the battle ax and the morning star . Here the shaft has the function and appearance of a handle, comparable to the shaft of tools .
See also
literature
- Heinz Oppermann: The perfect shotgun. Shank dimensions and their determination. Kosmos, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-440-12080-4 .
- Rolf Richter, Small Gun Expert for Training and Practice. BLV Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Munich 1980, ISBN 3-405-12404-2 .
- Monty Kennedy: Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks. New edition. 16th printing. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg PA 1990, ISBN 0-8117-0630-3 ( available online ).
- Karl Theodor von Sauer: Outline of the weapon theory. Cotta, Munich 1869, p. 218 ( available online ).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Lueger 1904, page 225 (stock)
- ↑ . Sascha Numßen, David Th Schiller, visions of the future , in: sight, Vogt-Schild Germany GmbH, Oct. 2003, 8, ISSN 0933-4491
- ^ Carl Hoffmann, Franz Friedl (Ed.): Military Pocket Library. A reference book for Imperial and Royal officers and cadets of the Imperial and Royal Army and Landwehr. III. Theil , 1875 [1]
- ^ Rolf Richter, Small Gun Knowledge for Training and Practice , BLV Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Munich, 1980, pages 33–34, ISBN 3-405-12404-2