Flaubert's cartridge is a subspecies of cartridges with rimfire and no powder charge, and the propellant in it is a capsule composition. What else is known about this type of cartridges and where are they used today?
The history of patron Flaubert
Rimfire cartridges with primer and no powder were invented in 1845. The first round bullet, placed in a primer-igniter, was created by the French gunsmith Louis Flaubert, who patented his invention in 1849. Initially, the Flaubert cartridge was produced only in 9 mm caliber, but over time, its caliber expanded to 4 and 6 mm. Due to their relatively low cost, quiet sound of a shot and reliability, Flaubert's cartridges and weapons quickly gained popularity in the world.
This type of ammunition belongs to extremely low-power ammunition, the muzzle velocity of which almost does not exceed 210 meters per second.
Flaubert's most common cartridge today got its modern look thanks to American gunsmiths in 1888. Flaubert's classic cartridges are currently manufactured with a conical lead-free bullet, but spherical bullets are also available. Most often, Flaubert's cartridges have a caliber of 5, 6 mm, but a caliber of 4, 2 and 4.5 mm is no less common. In some cases, a little gunpowder is added to them - for example, in Czech-made cartridges.
Application of the Flaubert cartridge
Today, the scope of Flaubert's cartridges is rather narrow, since their functionality is for the most part perfectly replaced by pneumatic weapons. However, they are still used - both for target shooting at short distances, and for self-defense with the help of special revolvers made for this type of cartridges. The quiet sound of a shot with Flaubert's cartridges allows them to be used in weapons with a barrel of sufficient length.
The lack of gunpowder in the cartridges prevents muzzle flames, which are the source of loud shots in standard firearms.
Flaubert cartridges with spherical bullets are often used to shoot small rodents from smooth-bore weapons. Today they are produced less and less - the Americans removed these cartridges from production back in 1940, but they still continue to be made in Europe. On the territory of Russia, Flaubert's cartridges and weapons for them are very difficult to get. Small-bore bullets of these cartridges cannot fatally injure a person, therefore revolvers designed for them are not considered firearms. However, Russian law prohibits their implementation because they do not have the required legal certification.
