TK-600 - barrel insert with Lancaster drill bit for 12 gauge shotguns

Legal features

Many hunters are concerned about the question of whether Russian legislation allows the use of insert barrels for smooth-bore weapons. Such a device is by no means a new technology, so you can find the answers in the Federal Law “On Weapons”. According to this document, the owner of a smooth-bore weapon does not have the right to carry out various manipulations (including the use of inserts) in order to transform the model into a rifled carbine. That’s right - what’s the point of limiting the purchase of rifles if in just 5 minutes you can transform a smooth-bore weapon into a rifled one.

However, do not rush to get upset, because engineers are masters at circumventing federal laws. The fact is that weapons with a Lancaster drill are not classified as rifled, since the pitch of the rifling and their depth are negligible. In this case, the characteristics of the gun will be almost the same as those of the carbine. Accordingly, the TK-600 insert barrel is also not prohibited by the Law on Weapons, since it is not rifled, which means it can be safely installed in a gun. The most important thing is to use .366 TKM cartridges for shooting, which are certified as smoothbore. Any adjustments to the design of the lining are prohibited.

However, to purchase the TK-600 modification, you will need to present a document called POX (permit to carry and store hunting firearms or pneumatic weapons). You can obtain such a paper from any organization whose activities are related to licensing and permitting work, upon presentation of a passport and a hunting license. After this, you can safely install the insert into the smoothbore gun, load it with .366 TKM cartridges and go hunting. The cost of such a barrel is on average 13 thousand rubles. Perhaps it would be cheaper to buy a carbine with a Lancaster drill?

Design of TK-600

Considering the fact that the TK-600 is the first production model of a liner barrel on the Russian market, interest in it is increasing every day. In addition, it has a rather unusual Lancaster drill, which is classified by law as a multi-radius thread or an oval-helical bore drill. That is, there are only two riflings, which stretch along the entire length of the barrel channel. This design significantly improves combat accuracy, bullet speed, and range, but the weapon is still classified as a smoothbore.

Hunters can customize the TK-600 design to suit their needs

The TK-600 slip-on barrel is suitable for use in almost any 12-gauge shotgun from a Russian manufacturer. The most striking examples are the MP-18 and MP-27 models, however, the overlay can also be installed on some imported “fractures”. recommends that before purchasing a TK-600, you “try on” the modification, bringing the gun with you to the store. In this case, the length of the barrel channel should not be less than 520 millimeters, otherwise the insert barrel will bulge. At the same time, the pad supports models with choke constrictions.

Fixation of such a simple device is carried out using a special spacer sleeve, which is supported by a threaded sleeve. Both elements are made of bronze (a metal that is much softer than steel), so you don't have to worry about damaging the bore during installation. The barrel is fixed from the breech side. To do this, you will need a special hex key included in the kit. We simply insert the lining into the barrel, and then expand the structure to the desired diameter.

One of the most significant disadvantages of this design is that the owner of a weapon with a receiver will have to independently extract the spent cartridge case after the shot. For this purpose, the modification comes with a special manual extractor, which, although quite convenient, still cannot be compared with automatic ejectors. Nevertheless, this is still better than nothing, otherwise you would have to look for various improvised devices in order to pull out the spent cartridge case.

Insert barrel TK-600 from Tekhkrim

In 2015, Russia introduced the 366 TKM , based on the 7.62x39 mm . The new ammunition was quickly appreciated in the shooting community - the versatility of the new product made it possible to hunt animals weighing more than 150 kilograms and conduct targeted shooting at a distance of up to 200 meters from conventional semi-automatic smoothbore carbines. The 366 TKM cartridge has good stopping power and ballistic properties approaching those of rifled weapon ammunition.

Inspired by the success of the new cartridge, I decided to develop its potential. And just recently, Izhevsk designers presented another new product - the TK-600 insert barrel, designed for firing 366 TKM caliber cartridges. This product can be installed in the most popular models of 12-gauge smooth-bore shotguns (MP-18, MP-27). The barrel went on sale in the spring of 2022, and has already caused lively debate in the hunting community. Why is this new product so interesting?

Design Features

Firstly, the interest is caused by the fact that this is the first production model of an insert barrel on the Russian market. Another important detail is that the barrel is not entirely smoothbore. It is available with a Lancaster drill (Multi-radius cutting) - an oval-helical drill for the stem canal. It involves only two wide cuts with gradually widening edges. This solution can significantly improve the accuracy, range and accuracy of fire, while officially weapons with Lancaster drilling are considered smoothbore.

The barrels are recommended by the manufacturer for use with MP-18 and MP-27 shotguns, but they can also be installed in other 12-gauge “breaks.” It’s just that the barrel has already been tested on these two models, and they are guaranteed to be combined. Before purchasing, he advises everyone else to visit a store with a gun and “try it on” on the spot. The length of the insert barrel is 520 mm , thanks to which it can be installed even in relatively short smoothbores and models with choke constrictions.

The device is fixed in the barrel of the gun using a spacer sleeve, which is supported by a threaded sleeve - they are made of bronze so as not to damage the bore during expansion. The insert barrel is installed into the gun from the breech side - you need to loosen the thread of the sleeve and insert it until it stops. A special hex key is used to fix the insert barrel - it is inserted from the muzzle side and securely fixes the entire structure.

One of the disadvantages of the TK-600 model is the need to manually extract the cartridge case from the barrel after each shot. For this purpose, the product kit includes a special manual extractor, but if necessary, the sleeve can be removed using improvised means.

Specifications

But, of course, everyone is primarily interested in how the new product performs in practice. The first results showed that it will be of interest to both shooters and hunters. The insert barrel in combination with the 366 TKM cartridge showed solid accuracy and range. The cartridges themselves have already proven their ability to hit an animal weighing up to 200 kilograms at a distance of up to 150-200 meters. Overall, the cartridge shows much better stopping power than its related caliber 7.62x39. At the same time, the persistence of 366 TKM will be worse than that of the “ancestor”, taking into account the decrease in the bullet’s flight path by 10 cm in the first 100 meters of flight.

But you shouldn’t expect similar results when shooting from smoothbore shotguns modified with an insert barrel. Tests by the manufacturer have shown that when firing from an MP-18 rifle at a target located at a distance of 100 meters, the aiming point almost exactly coincides with the point of impact. But aimed shooting at long distances can become a problem.

Firing accuracy will largely depend on the chosen gun, not only on the model, but also on the characteristics of a particular specimen. The basic sighting bars of smooth-bore rifles are also not very helpful for shooting at 200 meters - for such cases you will have to purchase at least a collimator sight.

Legal aspects

Outside of Russia, rifled insert barrels can be found for almost all popular weapon models. In our country the situation is somewhat different - and, as often happens, very confusing. The Weapons Law allows citizens to install rifled barrels, but they cannot be certified.

After all, rifled weapons are subject to mandatory shooting, after which the cartridges are sent to the bullet chamber. A removable barrel can be installed on different guns, and the cartridge cases when fired from each will differ from each other. Due to the impossibility of identifying cartridge cases, insert barrels are also prohibited. In addition, Russian authorities treat rifled weapons much more strictly. Therefore, no one will allow a situation where in a few minutes a smoothbore gun can be turned into a full-fledged rifle.

However, for shooters and hunters, insert barrels are a very convenient solution, considering the cost of a full-fledged rifled weapon. And so, she offered an elegant way out of the situation by releasing a TK-600 insert barrel with a Lancaster drill.

The main thing you need to know is that the insert barrel is chambered for the 366 TKM caliber cartridge, which is certified as a smoothbore cartridge. Accordingly, weapons of this caliber are also considered smooth-bore. Therefore, the new TK-600 is sold as a smooth-bore modification, and there will be no problems with its registration.

To purchase an insert barrel, you will have to apply for a separate ROX - with this permit you can buy ammunition for the barrel and use it with any suitable smoothbore gun.

Let's summarize. For Russian hunters, the new Techkrim product is a unique opportunity to acquire a universal combined gun based on the simplest IZH/MR smoothbore, which almost the majority of our citizens still hunt with today. Considering the cost of an insert barrel - less than 13,000 rubles for a complete set , it will definitely find its buyers.

Of course, the TK-600 will not be a full-fledged replacement for rifled weapons, but it can well be used as a budget alternative for driven hunting at medium distances. And a wide selection of powerful 366 TKM cartridges allows you to hunt even large animals.

You can find out the availability of an insert barrel from Techkrim in our catalog of manufacturers and suppliers of hunting goods.

Material prepared by Peter Senin

More on the topic:

Cartridge caliber 366 TKM

Cartridge 9.6x53 Lancaster

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Specifications

Many hunters are concerned about how the characteristics of a 12-gauge weapon change after installing an overhead barrel. Buyers have already tried this modification and shared their shooting performance:

Thus, although the indicators are inferior to most calibers of rifles and carbines, they are still closer to rifled weapons than smooth-bore weapons. Such ballistic characteristics allow you to hunt even large animals weighing 200 kilograms. At the same time, the bullet has good stopping power and does not leave a through hole in the carcass.

Unlike the 7.62x39 mm cartridge, with which the .366 TKM is often compared, the latter does not have such a sharp decrease in firing efficiency at long distances. That is, if at 300 meters it is almost impossible to hit a target with a 7.62, then the 9.5 mm, although it deviates from the course, shows a completely acceptable result.

It is worth considering that shooting accuracy will depend on the model of the gun in which the overhead barrel will be used, as well as the length of the modification. The greater the distance the bullet covers, moving along the channel with rifling, the better speed it will develop, and accordingly the better fight it will show.

Thus, the TK-600 lining is a good alternative for those people who do not have the opportunity to purchase a weapon with a Lancaster drill, but already own a 12-gauge shotgun. There is not the slightest doubt that a weapon with such a modification will show a much better fight, but for this you will have to acquire not the cheapest .366 TKM cartridges. So it is still recommended to purchase an overhead barrel for professional hunters who know exactly what they want. Well, beginners can only wait for Techkrim to release barrels chambered for the cheap .22LR rifled cartridge, circumventing the Federal Law, which, unfortunately, also applies to small calibers.

Characteristics