Mts 20-01: hunter reviews, device, range, photo

Each hunter has certain requirements for the weapon that he will use for shooting. When choosing it, an amateur or a professional focuses on convenience and shooting qualities. The original MTs 20-01 gun can often be found in the hands of hunters, including women; some may have seen it in the hands of their fathers or grandfathers. Young hunters may be interested in the characteristics and some advantages of this type of weapon; you can find out about them in our review.

Modifications

A five- or three-shot repeating shotgun, successfully competing with double-barreled shotguns popular among fishermen, is available in several versions, which have a number of differences from the main model:

Replicas 20-02 and 20-03 were released as a pilot batch and did not go into production due to low demand. Today they can be considered a rarity. The MTs 20-08 repeating carbine is mainly used by security forces or purchased for self-defense purposes.

MC 20-04 is universal. It is compact for transportation, and the presence of a folding stock allows for fairly accurate shooting.

What to look for when choosing MC 20

Choosing a weapon is considered a responsible procedure that should not be rushed. Before making a purchase, the carabiner must be carefully inspected and checked how well its mechanisms function

In this case, special attention should be paid to the following nuances:

Barrel geometry. The barrel channel is checked for straightness by inspection from both sides. At the same time, its walls must have the same thickness;

Visual inspection of the stem canal. Barrel without defects in Fig. 1

• Front sight verticality. If it is soldered with a slope or deviation from the aiming axis, you can forget about accurate shooting;
• The performance of the trigger mechanism, the bolt, the reliability of fastening in the magazine socket, the fixation of the fuse.

If the inspection satisfies you, you can think about purchasing one of the most popular hunting rifles, for example, the MC 2120.

What to look for?

To get the maximum effect from using the MTs-20-01 during hunting, you need to pay attention to some nuances when purchasing. There are several most important parameters that are checked first:

• USM;
• reliability of the fuse;
• metal sediment in the stock;
• shutter adjustment;
• quality of the weapon barrel.

If you are unlucky and end up purchasing a weapon with a defect, then do not worry. Most of them can be eliminated on your own in a few minutes. Also, do not forget that the store provides a guarantee on the weapon, so it is obliged to replace the low-quality product with a new one. The most common defects when purchasing include poor magazine retention and heavy shutter travel. The fix is ​​quite simple. You just need to partially disassemble the weapon and lubricate all the mechanisms.

When choosing a shotgun brand MTs-20-01, be sure to pay attention to the following factors

1. The choke constriction should have a perfectly oval shape.
2. The thickness of the barrel walls at the muzzle should be the same.

As a rule, these are the only serious defects that you can stumble upon when purchasing an MTs-20-01. After this, you can start looking for minor deviations. It is worth checking the soldering of the front sight. It must be perfectly level, otherwise the hunter will only be able to hit a tree during the hunt.

Finally, it’s worth saying a few words about the bolt - an important component of any weapon

Pay close attention to how easily the chamber slides into the cartridge. After the shot, the cartridge case should fly out quite sharply, and the movement of the shutter by hand should be smooth

Features of hunting

This weapon is distinguished by the fact that it can use cartridges of different calibers, although 20 caliber would be ideal for hunting and fishing purposes. With such cartridges, you can significantly increase the accuracy of a shot, which is important for hunters trying to get the skin of a shot animal.

Important! If you use cartridges of a different caliber, they can damage the skin of the prey, and the accuracy of fire will decrease significantly. A shotgun with cartridges of a given caliber is suitable for use by both beginners and experienced hunters.

Design Features

Design and diagram of the trigger mechanism

The MTs-20-01 shotgun has a simple design designed for ease of use and maintenance. The model takes into account all the shortcomings of the previous version. In addition to the first models, there were modifications with various additions. For example, the MTs-20-08 modification had a shortened barrel and a pistol stock without a stock.

Fuse

The safety reduces the likelihood of accidental discharges by locking the trigger. The mechanism is not automatic; to install it, when the trigger is cocked, the safety button is moved to the rearmost position.

Sighting mechanism

Aiming is ensured by the front sight and the front sight. The first is located in the slot of the receiver. The front sight is soldered to the muzzle of the barrel and does not have a target, which makes it difficult to aim at taking off targets. There are modifications and individual copies with optical sights.

Butt

The standard stock is made of birch or beech; there are also examples made of walnut. For convenience, the butt plate is made of plastic. The stock has a pistol-shaped neck and a tap to the right.

Trunk

The barrel is connected to the frame with a press fit and bolt-on design. In the basic version of the vertical, the muzzle narrowing is semi-choke. The bore is chrome plated.

Gate

The bolt mechanism MTs-20-01 is longitudinally sliding and rotary. In the front part there are two lugs for locking the barrel bore. Reloading is done manually by moving the bolt to the rearmost position and then to the forward position. There is a pointer protruding above the surface of the bolt cover when the firing pin is cocked.

Trigger mechanism

The firing mechanism is located in the bolt of the gun. The trigger is mounted in a housing connected to the box. The hammer is cocked by unlocking the barrel. The firing pin is spring-loaded, the trigger mechanism has its own base. Stainless steel is used to make parts of the trigger mechanism.

Description and features of the gun MTs 20-01

The proven hunting classics have remained relevant for almost 50 years, and this despite the fact that the market of modern weapons is constantly replenished with new and interesting models (Figure 1).

The MC 20 01 hunting rifle has three main qualities: a simple and convenient design, versatility in use, and a low price compared to other models.

The MTs 20 01 is perhaps the most accurate smoothbore gun in the history of domestic weapons - a short flash suppressor, a shortened barrel and a folding butt allow it to be used not only for fishing, but also as an effective and reliable means of self-defense. For this reason, even outdated versions that have been discontinued do not leave their leading positions in sales.

In the basic configuration, the technical description of the MC 20 01 is quite simple:

1. This is a smoothbore hunting carbine equipped with a box magazine and bolt action typical of sniper rifles.
2. One of the features is the constant narrowing of the barrel “poluchok”, as for sighting devices - these are standard rifle rear sights and front sights.
3. The main model is presented in 20 gauge; modifications in 28 and 32 sizes are quite rare.

Figure 1. This model is one of the most popular types of firearms

Where it is produced - MTs 20 01 is produced at the Tula Arms Plant. The first version was produced from the 60s until 1971 - after a long break, it was replaced by an improved version intended for hunting. The modernized weapon went on sale in 1979 - it is still produced and sold today, and is widely used for hunting and self-defense.

Advantages and disadvantages

If we talk about the pros and cons of the gun, then the weight and design of the MTs 20 01 can rather be attributed to its weaknesses than to its strengths (Figure 2).

Among them also:

1. Not a particularly reliable fuse - there is a risk of failure when the butt hits the ground.
2. The magazine is fastened with two latches - there is a high probability of misalignment during installation and locking on one side, which is why it often falls out when fired.
3. The blunt-ended cartridges used may rest against the breech, preventing loading.
4. Poor processing of the bolt surfaces, the need for a sharp reload to remove the cartridge case, which sharpens in the receiver as a result of the smooth retraction of the bolt.
5. The impossibility of firing with a doublet, which is often practiced by hunters.
6. Mounted rifle sights make it difficult to track fast and chaotically moving game.
7. Very harsh recoil, which leads to cracks in the lightweight stock, which ineffectively absorbs the energy of the shot.

Despite these dubious features of MTs 20 01, the characteristics of the product are not so bad; it has its strengths:

1. The sample is designed for firing bullet cartridges, equipped with a rifle rear sight and front sight.
2. Again, the rifle design of the bolt with two side protrusions guarantees reliable locking of the barrel, which provokes some owners to equip cartridges with a reinforced charge, with which you should be extremely careful.
3. Due to the box magazine, the specimen has an increased rate of fire compared to double-barreled horizontal and vertical guns.

Figure 2. The design of the gun cannot be called absolutely perfect

In addition to good shooting qualities, the product is visually attractive - elegant and laconic, due to the bolt action, it looks like a sniper rifle.

Purpose and varieties

The most widespread in the hunting environment was a replica of the MTs 20 01 shotgun, the length of which varied on different models. It was produced from 1979 to 2006 and produced about 80% of the game during the Soviet period.

The weapon was intended for hunting small ungulates and predators; it was also allowed to be used for self-defense.

Some versions differed in caliber; for MTs 20-02 and MTs 20-03 there were 28 and 32 sizes of ammunition, respectively.

Varieties of 20 gauge MTs 01 include:

1. Basic example with a semi-pistol beech stock.
2. MTs 24-04 with a 295mm shortened barrel and a folding metal stock.
3. Another sawn-off shotgun MTs 20-08 - 550 mm barrel, pistol grip instead of a butt.
4. Another short-barreled MTs 20-08 with a full stock, like the original.

My Berdanka: MC 20-01

PHOTO BY IGOR SHMELEV
I have been interested in weapons, especially small arms, since childhood, although we didn’t have any at home.

And in my youth, instead of the Komsomolskaya Pravda, which was obligatory for all Komsomol members, I subscribed to the weapons magazines “Soviet Military Review” and “Foreign Military Review” and read them to the core.

Then a period began when there was no time for weapons at all.

And only in 2010, already in adulthood, I “returned” to him. By this time I was working as a geologist in Yakutia, Chukotka, often outside of civilization.

And to my surprise, most of the field team employees did not even seriously consider the possibility of encounters with wild animals “in the field,” so in our department of forty employees only me and one more engineer had weapons.

After working in the Khabarovsk Territory in 1992, I preferred to have some kind of firearm with me “in the field.” Back then, we were given Nagan system revolvers or Mosin carbines for our route pair.

But those blessed times when in every geological exploration party in the Far North or Far East specialists were given firearms “to protect secret materials” are gone, and today “the rescue of drowning people is the work of the drowning people themselves,” i.e. You have to take care of your own safety...

I started preparing to buy my first gun early. I studied everything that was available in stores and on the secondary market, and formulated for myself the defining requirements for weapons.

The main source of information was, of course, the Internet, and in particular, forums on hunting and weapons, since my work included both stationary geological or hydrogeological observations and the routes themselves.

The purchase of a weapon was planned more for work than for hunting, which means the barrel had to meet the following requirements:

1) caliber 16 or 20; 2) single-barrel and magazine design; 3) light weight; 4)? box or under-barrel magazine or drum; 5) magazine/drum capacity 3–5 rounds; 6) low cost.

Of all the variety of weapons that were presented on our market, not many samples met these requirements: the short TOZ-106 (“Death of the Chairman”), MTs 255-20 and MTs 20-01/08.

I have not seen pump-action shotguns in these calibers, and semi-automatic shotguns were represented either by AK-style products (Saiga 20) or rare imported models that did not fit into the sixth parameter - low cost. Saiga, in my opinion, is not very suitable for field work due to its excess weight. And I don’t really like AK-shaped samples due to problems with ergonomics.

I was very interested in the MTs 255-20 revolver gun. Five-shot drum, USM trigger circuit, fairly simple and reliable design. At the same time, the gun is also beautiful.

It has been produced since 2000 by TsKIB in different calibers: 12, 20, 28, 32 and .410. But the model is very rare; it was no longer produced by 2010, and it is practically never found on the secondary market. TOZ-106 is a 20-caliber smooth-bore repeating shotgun with a bolt action, developed in the second half of the 90s of the last century primarily for self-defense, as well as for hunting birds and small game at short distances.

Compact and lightweight, with magazines for two or four rounds, it is a shortened version of the MTs 20-01/08 shotgun. It was not suitable for my tasks, because... “in the field” it is possible to encounter an animal larger than a dog, and the short barrel did not allow the bullet to be accelerated to acceptable values.

What remained was the MTs 20-01, a lightweight 20-caliber single-barrel repeating shotgun with a bolt action and box magazines for two or four rounds, developed back in the 60s of the last century for commercial hunting.

Chrome-plated chamber and bore reduce the risk of component corrosion. The universal 20-gauge is suitable for any hunting, while weighing one-third less than the 12-gauge, which means either the ammunition will weigh less, or with the same weight you can take 1/3 more cartridges.

For long field trips this is essential, and for walking routes it is especially important.

Through a “flea market” on an online forum, I bought a gun made in 1993 in a piece version and actually unfired. Sometimes there was information on the forum that “pieces” undergo a more careful selection during assembly.

But, as my experience has shown, this is a gross exaggeration. The main difference between a “piece” and an ordinary gun is the decoration on the stock and receiver. For the rest... Read below. After the purchase, I took the gun into the forest and fired several rounds from rest at a distance of 70 meters.

The first two bullet shots from the rest converged within the five-ruble coin to the left and below the aiming point. I quickly corrected the misalignment of the point of impact using a needle file and “crazy pens.” But more serious problems emerged:

1) when firing shot charges, the bolt jammed and it was necessary to put a lot of effort into moving it out of place; 2) the magazines did not hold well in the shaft and fell out when fired, this was especially true for four-round magazines; 3) after the first two dozen shots, cracks appeared in the stock in the area of ​​the rear of the receiver and the neck of the butt. When I was going to buy a gun, I went through the entire topic on it and was ready to modify it. Fortunately, at work I had a locksmith’s workshop with a set of tools, and I knew how to treat weapons.

The bolt, or rather the lugs, had to be sanded with sandpaper to achieve a smooth movement of the bolt. And I polished the bolt stem itself so that its movement would be easy. I dealt with magazines falling out by inclined milling of the planes to which the magazine clings during installation, and by adjusting each magazine.

And I trimmed the magazine shaft using epoxy resin so that the magazine would not dangle in the gun.

Cracking the stock required more painstaking work. I first wedged out the cracks that appeared, and then applied superglue and glued them. Superglue was chosen because it has good fluidity, which means it will close all microcracks.

It was necessary to install another pin behind the receiver, and glue a metal spacer between the recoil paw and the front pin, which would transfer recoil from the receiver to the pin, distributing the recoil energy more evenly.

I did all the work, except milling, myself. I had to increase the butt, because... for me it was a little short, and the recoil of the gun was sharp and harsh. I solved both problems by using a rubber butt pad from the TOZ-87.

As a result, I got a very light, reliable and useful gun, which showed itself excellently both in feather hunting and in hunting ungulates. The bolt action, after a few practices, allows you to fire several shots at a rapid pace without lifting the stock from your shoulder.

The center of mass of the gun is located in the magazine area, which allows you to quickly transfer aiming to the front.

What has not yet been achieved is the quality of four-round magazines. You have to use what you have. Unfortunately, I cannot fix this on my own. Now new four-round magazines have appeared, but their quality is still unclear to me; I don’t have them.

They continue to frustrate the gun and its sighting devices, which are very small, and in the twilight they are simply invisible. But I plan to fix this by using a red dot sight, especially since I have already installed the rail for the optics on the gun.

I don’t manage to hunt very often, but I’ll tell you about two hunts for different types of game.

This was my first time out, and I was very pleased with the gun. Five rounds (four in the magazine plus one in the chamber) made it possible to correct errors when aiming. Light weight and a balanced feature helped to quickly react and shift the direction of aiming.

The action of the gun turned out to be very dense and sharp. The shot down pheasant from a distance of 20–25 meters was shot right through with shot No. 7. If a sheaf of shot hit a bird at a distance of about 15 meters, then the carcass was smashed into mince.

In general, as a hunting rifle it has fully justified itself, but you must take into account that it is better to hunt birds with it at medium distances - at close ranges there is a high risk of breaking the prey.

On our second moose hunt, we were unlucky with the weather: it rained heavily all day. On Saturday, in good weather, we carried out three runs, but without results. Elks were seen, but they were moving around the enclosure beyond the capabilities of the extreme shooters.

The second and final run on Sunday was productive. The sound of rain drowned out all the sounds around. Out of my peripheral vision, I noticed movement to my right. The first shot went higher. The animal turned around, I pulled the bolt and took aim again.

I shot from about 40–45 meters with a Gaulandi bullet and Glavpatron cartridges. An elk weighing approximately 320 kilograms lay down with the first hit in the area of ​​the left shoulder blade (moved away 15–20 meters and lay down).

This means that this weapon also works reliably against large prey, although it requires a hit strictly in place, unlike larger calibers, for example 12-gauge. Here, too, the balance of the weapon played a positive role, which made it possible to quickly change the direction of fire.

And the magazine circuit helped correct the aiming error on the first shot. In addition, the low weight of the gun also had an effect, thanks to which I was almost not tired while standing at the number.

Today I have several smooth-bore and rifled weapons in my arsenal, but the MC 20-01 is my favorite gun for hunting. Convenient, lightweight, flexible and versatile, simple to use and reliable in use.

It also arouses constant interest among everyone who sees it for the first time, and respect among huntsmen and fishermen.

I know several owners of such weapons, and none of them, even having more modern guns, are in a hurry to part with the “emtseeshka”.

Igor Shmelev April 12, 2022 at 02:19 pm

Price and analogues

Today, you can purchase this weapon in a consignment store or secondhand. The price depends on the condition of the unit, but it rarely exceeds ten thousand rubles. Judging by the reviews of the MTs-20-01, the most important competitor of this weapon is the well-known TOZ-87, the price of which is approximately identical.

Also an analogue can be the smooth-bore carbine "Muflon-410", manufactured by Molot Arms. Its prototype was the Mosin sniper rifle of the 1938 model, which speaks of the quality and reliability of this weapon. The design feature is that it uses 410 caliber, which was specially made for the Paradox bullet.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the MTs-20-01 is a budget version of a smooth-bore hunting weapon, which is highly reliable and can be used in various conditions. Most of the shortcomings can be corrected independently, and the simplicity of the device allows all repair and lubrication work to be carried out with ease. If you purchased a new model at a hunting store and it turned out to be defective, then replace it with a better version. Although, it is worth noting that such defective models have become much less common than before.

Independent finishing

The fine-tuning of a hunting rifle is carried out in two stages:

1. The receiver and bolt surface are ground and then coated with gun oil.
2. Processing of parts responsible for recharging and control.

The finishing process involves carefully sanding the weapon and carefully checking the fit of the parts. It is much more difficult to fine-tune the liner, since ordinary sandpaper will not help if it does not fit into the grooves in the receiver. This requires the ability to work accurately with a file. It is necessary to make the entrance chamfers and also grind the valves.

Design

The MTs 20-01 shotgun is a single-barreled, magazine-fed, bolt-action shotgun. Thanks to the design used, it is more reminiscent of a rifled carbine, both externally and ergonomically. It was decided to completely abandon the plastic stock - now it is made of wood, usually birch. In addition, the stock no longer serves as a supporting body - the shotgun received a steel receiver. The barrel in the stock is fixed with a dowel, which prevents parts from moving during shots.

The shutter device has also been improved - now it can be completely disassembled without using any tools. The bolt locks the barrel by turning, using 2 lugs. Sights MTs 20-01 – front sight and rear sight of “rifle” type.

An extended 4-round magazine can be purchased as an “optional accessory”. Since 1 more cartridge can be directly in the chamber, the shotgun can be considered a 3- or 5-shot shotgun.

The basic model is considered to be chambered for “commercial” 20 caliber cartridges (15-16 mm). Options for “fur” 28 caliber (13-14 mm) and “teenage” 32 (12-13 mm) are also available. Initially, the shotgun was designed only for the use of cartridges with a paper or plastic sleeve. Later, the receiver was modified so that the cartridge with a metal sleeve did not stick into the chamber or the protrusion of the bolt cylinder.

Disassembly

Disassembling the MTs 20 carbine, which every self-respecting small arms enthusiast does after every shooting, is not particularly difficult. The procedure consists of the following sequential steps:

• disconnecting the magazine and inspecting the chamber for the absence of ammunition;
• separating the bolt from the box after it is retracted to the rear position and the trigger is pressed all the way;
• disassembling the bolt by removing the firing pin, the ejector cylinder and the insert with the trigger from the frame by turning the insert clockwise;
• removing the firing pin and trigger from the liner;
• separating the stock from the barrel after unscrewing the rear and front fastening screws;
• Removing and disassembling the trigger mechanism.

Carbine MTs 20-01 disassembled before maintenance

Refinement of the store

the MTs-20-01 magazine falling out while hunting

, believes that the factory modernization of the magazine is insufficient, and consists only of increasing the angle of deflection (“camber”) of its side latches. The real reason, according to the hunter, is as follows.

The difference between the planes of the window under the magazine in the receiver and the internal surfaces of the window in the stock. This increases the gap between the walls of the magazine and the stock, which in most attempts to install the magazine leads to it being skewed in the window and sticking into the protruding edge of the receiver window. In this case, the magazine only has one latch. A slight side pressure on the installed magazine from the side of the triggered latch is enough - and the magazine falls out without your noticing. The same thing happens when reloading a gun. So, the hunter believes that the main (and, in fact, the only) reason for the magazine falling out is the failure of one of the latches (and sometimes both - the magazine is held in place due to the friction of the strongly spaced latching blades) due to its skew in the window and sticking into the barrel box.

Benefits and possible problems

Possible problems with the gun include the magazine falling out. The magazine with cartridges may fall out due to the fact that the locking protrusions were poorly adjusted.

Upon inspection, you won’t be able to notice this, and while shooting across the field it’s not too scary, but during hunting on the water there is a possibility of losing the magazine forever. To eliminate this problem, the sides of the fixing protrusions are slightly ground down.

It is worth saying that recently MC hunting rifles have been produced in almost perfect condition and have the following advantages:

1. Rigid fixation of the barrel in the receiver led to a significant increase in the accuracy of the weapon.
2. The design of the weapon is very simple, which is why it is low cost, reliable and has a long service life.
3. Reloading a weapon of this model requires less physical effort.

Performance characteristics

Let's look at the main parameters of some shotguns of the MTs-20 family. Specifically, the basic modification and “cut-off shotgun” TOZ-106.

TTHMC 20-01TOZ-106

Caliber 2020 Weight, kg 2.82.5 Barrel length, mm 635 295 Magazine capacity, cartridges 2+1/4+12+1/4+1

Hunting with the MC 20-01 does not provide such wide opportunities as when using a 12-gauge shotgun. However, this lightweight, compact and convenient shotgun was perfect for the role of a “just in case” shotgun. It is good for hunting fur game, but at the same time it can also help out in a collision with a large animal.

The shotgun also has disadvantages, mainly related to the quality of workmanship. For example, a not very successful design of the latches could lead to the magazine spontaneously falling out. Some shooters independently strengthened the design of the stock by adding a second dowel to it.

And when shooting bullets with a fairly short barrel, the combat is not so accurate that such a sight makes sense.

This is not a disadvantage, but although the gun is multi-shot, manual reloading does not allow you to fire a second shot immediately (unlike, for example, the double-barreled MTs-105). The design with a longitudinally sliding bolt is inferior in rate of fire to designs with a movable fore-end. However, the popularity of the reliable and simple shotgun MTs 20-01 turned out to be well deserved.

Hunter reviews

Many hunters who have such a gun express their opinions about its shooting qualities.

Ivan, hunter

The MTs-20-01 shotgun is quite light and easy to use. But if you shoot from it at a moving target, then some difficulties begin to arise. You cannot aim and take the required lead at the same time. But it shoots bullets pretty well - from 50 meters I can hit a circle with a diameter of 7 cm.

Sergey, experienced hunter

I have been using this gun for quite some time and often take it with me on hunting trips. I can note the sharpness and accuracy of the combat, which helps when hunting small animals. It is lightweight and easy to use. I consider one of the disadvantages to be the long reload time; it takes too much time to insert a cartridge into the chamber.

Nikolai, hunter

Several years ago I decided to buy myself a light gun for running hunting and chose the MC 20-01. I made adjustments to fit the bolt and magazine latch, after which I used it without any problems in shooting. It could shoot at ducks from a distance of more than 40 m. I consider the main advantage to be a spare cartridge and the ability to quickly reload, which is especially important if you take a wounded animal on the water.

Characteristics

Unlike the MTs-20, the new model significantly exceeds the previous one in service life. Increased strength is ensured by replacing the load-bearing plastic body of the gun with a steel box rigidly connected to the barrel. Shutter insert for MTs-20-01

closes the hole and grooves for the bolt in the box, reducing the likelihood of sand, dust and other foreign objects getting into the trigger and impact mechanisms of the gun. When cocked, a cocking indicator appears in the hole in the insert. In order to increase the reliability of the gun, the reflector and bolt stop, located in the groove on the left side of the box, were respectively replaced with a rigid reflective protrusion, which is part of the trigger housing, and the stop is installed on the same axis with the sear and safety. To separate the bolt from the gun, simply pull the trigger.

The gun has an original magazine for two cartridges, the fixation of which is carried out by means of two symmetrically located latches, made in the form of spring plates, which are part of the stamped body of the magazine. Its design allows you to turn off both latches in one step and separate it from the gun, and also virtually eliminates the possibility of losing the magazine during operation. An additional 4-round magazine can be purchased separately.

Single-barreled repeating shotgun MTs-20-01

, characterized by simplicity of design and manufacturability, operates reliably in a variety of climatic conditions, and is easy to use.
Like any weapon, the MTs-20-01
requires proper care from the owner, especially in terms of matching the lubrication of parts to the season (summer or winter lubrication), in order to avoid misfires when shooting or difficult operation of the mechanisms.

From foreign analogues, the MTs-20-01

can be compared with the world-famous American repeating shotgun model 395K.

User manual

Maintenance of MTs-20-01 includes the following rules:

• before preparing the gun for use, remove grease from the outer surface, barrel and chamber;
• Blank shots are not allowed in the absence of a cartridge, they lead to rapid wear of the parts of the trigger mechanism;
• the weapon is stored only unloaded with the trigger pulled to avoid spring subsidence;
• Snow, sand, dirt and other substances are not allowed to get into the trunk;
• cartridges that fit tightly into the chamber are not used;
• before use, check the reliability of the tightening screws;
• do not point the gun at a person or domestic animal;
• in case of a misfire, you should wait at least 5 seconds to avoid a prolonged shot, only after that the gun is checked.

Weapons are inspected and cleaned after shooting and at least once every three months. The barrel channel is cleaned from powder deposits with a bristle brush with an alkaline solution. To remove lead deposits, use a brush made of thin steel or brass wire, and additionally use gun lubricant.

Disassembling and assembling the gun

Before disassembling the gun, make sure it is unloaded. To do this, check the presence of a cartridge in the chamber and magazine. After this, proceed to the following actions:

• carry out partial disassembly of the gun - separate the magazine by pressing the retaining latches, and remove the bolt, moving it back and pressing the trigger all the way;
• holding the bolt by the cylindrical part, turn the liner clockwise until it extends along with the cylinder from the bolt frame;
• separate the trigger and firing pin from the liner, simultaneously removing the spring with the lock.

The weapon is assembled in the reverse order. If necessary, the components of the weapon are cleaned and lubricated. The gun should be loaded only before further shooting.

Features of hunting with MC 20-01

A special feature of this gun and hunting with it is the presence of a variety of calibers that it can shoot. Although the most popular caliber is still 20 mm. It is this type of ammunition that is best suited for commercial hunting tasks. Despite the fact that the weapon was intended to be universal.

Using a 20-gauge rifle for professional hunting with this gun is very important, since the accuracy of the fight is greatly increased. And this is important, since during commercial hunting hunters often obtain animal skins.

Using a different caliber will result in less accurate shooting and more damage to the animal’s skin. In addition, the purchase and use of this type of weapon with this caliber is suitable even for beginners in hunting.

Performance characteristics

The technical characteristics of the MTs-20-01 are good for a light hunting rifle. Despite having only one barrel, the magazine provides the weapon with a good rate of fire. However, the hunter is deprived of the opportunity to choose between the type of cartridge, as is the case with a double-barreled shotgun.

Cartridges and caliber

The caliber of the MC-20-01 hunting single-barreled shotgun is 20 mm. For shooting, standard hunting cartridges 70 mm long with a paper or plastic sleeve are used. Some weapon modifications allow the use of ammunition with a metal casing.

Dimensions, weight, length

The total length of MTs-20-01 is 1150 mm, height and width are 188 and 67 mm. Barrel length - 635 mm. The standard weight of the weapon is 2.8 kg.

Store capacity

The gun's own chamber only holds enough charge for one shot. Additionally, a magazine for 2 or 4 rounds is provided. The modifications have options for 3 and 5 charges.

Firing range and lethal force

At a distance of 35 meters, the percentage spread of pellets on a target with a diameter of 750 mm is no less than 50%. This accuracy indicator is considered good, which is why the gun remained in demand among hunters for a long time.

Origin story

Back at the end of the 19th century, Russia began to convert previously released Berdan rifles into smoothbore guns. These were forced measures related to the shortage of weapons for military operations, but these weapons did not become particularly widespread. However, in the 60s. In the 20th century, under the leadership of Yu. Berezin, the development of a new type of hunting rifle began at the Tula Design Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weapons.

First, an experimental model MTs-20 with a detachable magazine for 2 rounds of 20 caliber was produced, which was approved and put into mass production in 1964. Although the weapon turned out to be light and convenient, it had a number of disadvantages, including fragile plastic and a non-separable bolt. This gave rise to problems with weapon repair and prompted designers in 1979 to develop on its basis the more current model MTs 20-01.

The new weapon turned out to be more durable, and the bolt mechanism began to work much more efficiently. This version of the smoothbore gun allowed the use of cartridges not only with plastic or paper, but also with a metal sleeve. Initially, the MTs 20-01 was designed for 2 or 4 cartridges, later modifications with 3 and 5 cartridges appeared. Over time, the appearance of the weapon began to improve, for example, there were models with a shortened barrel or pistol grip.

Specifications

The improved weapon model MTs 20-01 is produced in various calibers. There are three types of such calibers - 32, 28, 20.

The structural assembly of this weapon also does not have any unique parts:

1. The receiver is made of steel.
2. The bolt lugs of this weapon model are located symmetrically.
3. Has a cocking indicator and a bolt insert.

A distinctive feature of the MTs 20-01 model compared to the usual twenty is that it is possible to disassemble the weapon model without the use of auxiliary means.

The barrel must be chrome plated. The tree used to make the handle is most often Karelian birch. European beech is used much less frequently.

MC 20-01 – characteristics:

• The total weight of the model is 2.8 kg;
• The total length of the weapon is 1150 mm;
• The length of the weapon barrel is 600 mm;
• The length of the aiming line is 610 mm;
• Starting force less than 2 kg.

Those who have acquired such a weapon praise it for the fact that it is conveniently weighted, quite light, which is very important during long hunts, and also has good stopping power not only with shot, but also with a regular bullet.

Story

The MTs20 shotgun was produced from the 60s until 1971. After a short break, a new, improved model of this type of hunting weapon went on sale. The upgraded MTs 20-01 weapon went on sale in 1979 and is still being produced and sold today.

Despite the fact that this model is already quite old, and the market is replete with a variety of the latest models, MC 20-01 does not leave its leading position in sales. Weapons with a simple and convenient design, versatility and low cost are popular among hunters.

It is worth saying that in the 90s another version of this type of hunting rifle was released, with some more improvements. But this has already led to the fact that the cost of the product has increased significantly. Currently, the most popular model is the MTs 20-01 hunting rifle.

Recommendations for weapon maintenance

Before shooting, it is necessary to wipe the barrel of the gun dry, because the remaining oil in it during a shot under the influence of pressure and high temperature forms carbon deposits, which are very difficult to remove. In addition, this also affects power, as the friction force increases. The wooden parts of the gun should be periodically wiped with oil or drying oil - this helps maintain the water-repellent properties of the material. Also, owners of MTs 20-01 need to understand that this weapon is significantly different from “fractures”; it is very difficult to remove foreign objects from it that could get into the barrel. Therefore, it is better to purchase or sew a special leather cover for the entire base of the front sight. This minor addition to the gun’s equipment will allow you to move freely through the forest and wade through thickets. Even an accidental shot will not be able to damage the barrel, because the charge will simply tear the case.