Many different models of shooting units have been created for firearms lovers. Therefore, many are interested in what kind of gun should a novice hunter buy? The fact is that each weapon option has both strengths and weaknesses, which are difficult for a beginner to understand. Judging by numerous consumer reviews, the TOZ-200 shotgun is in great demand. This model is suitable for both commercial hunters and sports shooting enthusiasts. Information about the design and tactical and technical characteristics of the TOZ-200 rifle unit is contained in this article.
Introduction to weapons
TOZ-200 is a double-barreled hunting rifle, in which the barrels are located vertically. Produced at a weapons factory in the city of Tula.
This model is considered an atypical hunting weapon. Unlike other shooting units, the over-and-under shotgun is equipped with 76 mm cartridges. According to experts, other models of hunting rifles are not able to withstand their increased charges. To become the owner of TOZ-200, you will have to shell out up to 15 thousand rubles. The weapon is sold with a passport and instructions. Judging by the reviews, the TOZ-200 is not equipped with replaceable choke tubes, maintenance tools and other accessories.
Price TOZ-106
The TOZ-106 shotgun was discontinued in 2011, for this reason it is no longer available on the primary market.
You can purchase a TOZ-106 shotgun either in gun stores that sell used weapons, or through advertisements on weapons-related websites.
The price of a gun depends on its condition and the gun seller’s ideas about its value, and most often ranges from 6 to 20 thousand rubles. A used TOZ-106 shotgun in excellent condition can be purchased for 15 - 20 thousand rubles.
History of creation
According to experts, the main reason why they began to design this shooting model was that many hunters switched to guns that use ammunition with an enhanced charge. The use of Magnum class cartridges is only possible in shotguns with a reinforced overall design. This, in turn, led to an increase in the weight of the weapon and the length of the barrel. Often, owners of hunting rifles, especially TOZ-34, experienced difficulty disassembling the weapon.
It was technically difficult to make the front trigger function as a special key, with which it would be possible to disconnect the stock from the barrels. Over time, later models began to be equipped with a special flag, which was used as a lever for disconnection. However, with the advent of this separate part, disassembly did not become any easier. It happened that the shooter could accidentally move the flag, as a result of which the gun broke into two halves at the most crucial moment. The basis for the TOZ-200 was the Tula rifle model No. 34. In the new weapon, the designers combined all the strengths of the TOZ-34 with new original solutions.
About the design
As a result of frequent firing of cartridges with reinforced charges, the gun mechanism quickly becomes unusable. As a result, the barrel block becomes noticeably looser. To extend the service life of the TOZ-200, Tula developers equipped it with a hinge mechanism.
This device was borrowed from the MC sports model. Thus, thanks to the presence of a hinge and the ability to adjust the thickness of the front plate in the receiver, longitudinal and lateral rolling of the barrels is eliminated. In addition, the connection between the receiver and the receiver block turned out to be stronger. Aiming is carried out using a ventilated bar and a bronze front sight. A shotgun with a fixed fore-end and a semi-pistol-type stock. The buttstock, which the designers borrowed from the TOZ-34, is equipped with a shock-absorbing butt plate. The barrels are unlocked using a standard lever, which is presented in the form of a metal rotating plate. Its location was the top edge of the receiver. The trunks are blocked by a lower latch, which is also called the Perdet bar.
Advantages of the TOZ-106 shotgun
- Compactness is the main advantage of the TOZ-106 gun. It is difficult to find another gun that is only 53 cm long. Thanks to its compact size, the gun can be easily packed into a bag or backpack, placed under or behind a car seat, and some even carry the gun in a holster on the hip, like a pistol. Due to its compact size, the TOZ-106 shotgun is popular among hikers, kayakers, and cyclists.
- Light weight is another advantage of the TOZ-106 gun. Thanks to the short barrel and folding stock, the weight of the gun is only 2.5 kg. Light weight makes it easy to carry for a long time without fatigue.
- The presence of a rifle rear sight and front sight allows you to obtain good shot accuracy when shooting bullet cartridges.
- The sliding bolt and the installed 4-round magazine provide the gun with fairly fast reloading and a good rate of fire, which can be important when using the gun for self-defense.
- The design of the gun is simple and reliable; there is practically nothing to break here.
- Inexpensive cost of a gun.
USM
The trigger mechanism is made as a separate assembly. It has two internal triggers and two triggers. Structurally, it is identical to the TOZ-34 USM. It differs only in the mainsprings. The new gun was equipped with single-leaf leaf springs. This measure was taken to reduce their breakdown. A shot is fired from the lower barrel channel through the front trigger, and from the upper barrel through the rear trigger. The hammers are cocked, and the mainsprings are pressed into position when the barrels are opened. This rifle model is equipped with indicators for platooning. Their location was the top of the box. To prevent accidental shooting, Tula designers equipped the triggers with special interceptors and a non-automatic safety lock that locks the sear. Spent cartridges are removed from the chamber using ejectors-extractors, which are located in the chamber. The hunter only needs to open the trunks.
MAKSIMOV.SU
Probably, I wouldn’t have been able to write about this gun in a hunting magazine if I hadn’t met it several times in the field.
It would seem that what could attract hunters in a heavy shotgun that does not have a safety lock, a selector for switching the order of shots and swivels?
Probably, the answer here does not always lie on a rational plane. Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
But, oddly enough,
This gun continues to be bought not only by beginner stand-gunners, but also by hunters who sometimes have never even seen a stand. Let's try to understand the reasons for such actions and at the same time remember the Tula sports gun - TOZ-57.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57,
angles
What is TOZ-57
When we talk about TOZ-57, we mean a family of sporting shotguns, from 1978 to 1985. produced at the Tula Arms Plant and having a specialized purpose and, accordingly, differences in the design of the barrels.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
The known models are TOZ-57t-1s, TOZ-57k-1s and TOZ-57t-12e. These are 12-gauge sporting shotguns with vertical barrels. It is noteworthy that the TOZ-57 is a model that is maximally unified with the TOZ-34 hunting rifle. The differences lie mainly in the reinforced locking unit and barrel block.
Shooting from a double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
TOZ-57 was developed for firing on trench (TOZ-57t-1s and TOZ-57t-12e) and round (TOZ-57k-1s) stands. The model was produced in small series and was designed for use by mass sports organizations, although it could not seriously compete with TsKIB products, despite the large difference in price.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
Structurally, as already mentioned, the TOZ-57 is a reinforced version of the TOZ-34 (by the way, a much closer relative of the “57th” is the TOZ-55 “Bison”), and one of the most noticeable new design elements is the additional locking of the coupling with protrusions , included in the grooves of the box, which strengthened the locking unit and significantly increased the guaranteed durability of the gun.
TOZ-57,
gun barrels
TOZ-57t-1s has a trigger mechanism developed at TOZ in 1977, mounted on a separate base and has internal hammers and one trigger.
The trigger is a non-selective type and allows firing only in a certain sequence: first from the lower and then from the upper barrel. Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57, barrel breech
The trigger switch is a mechanical type and operates regardless of the recoil of the gun. To eliminate the possibility of a double shot during the firing period, an inertial disconnector was introduced into the design of the trigger. Autonomous trigger interceptors are used to prevent accidental shots.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57,
swivel on the barrel
As mentioned above, the gun does not have a safety lock. As well as cocking indicators. However, there are no indicators on many hunting models, so this is not very critical. Extraction of cartridges is simultaneous. The forend is integral and is attached to the barrels with screws. Removal of the barrel block is carried out using a special flag. The sighting bar is sporty and wide. The mainsprings are separate, horseshoe-shaped. When inspecting the gun, you immediately notice the powerful cockers, which sometimes bend easily if the TOZ-34 is not assembled correctly.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
It is necessary to note the features of the TOZ-57t-12e model.
This modification was developed at the request of leading Soviet athletes, has an ejector selective mechanism and is maximally unified with the TOZ-57-1s model, while having higher technical and operational characteristics. Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57, middle part of the shotgun
The design of the barrels of this gun, thanks to the enlarged transition cones of the muzzle narrowings, allows you to obtain excellent accuracy of fire and uniformity of scree. The sighting bar is replaceable, ventilated. One of the most noticeable differences between the TOZ 57t-12e and the original model is the quick-change single trigger firing mechanism, which can be replaced by the shooter himself without the use of tools. This avoids problems associated with the gun malfunctioning during competitions.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
The designers of the TOZ-57 took into account many of the shortcomings of the TOZ-34, with the exception of the design of the springs and the peculiarities of attaching the butt to the block. Athletes often made the springs for these guns themselves, sometimes using rather unusual sources - from sofa wire to springs from Moskvich 2141.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57,
the lower part of the barrel hooks in the cutouts of the block
Performance characteristics of the TOZ-57 shotgun
Year of creation: 1978 End of production: 1985 Barrel length: 675 mm for a round stand, 750 mm for a trench stand Weight: 3.3-3.6 kg for a round stand and 3.4-3.7 kg for a trench stand stand Caliber: 12 Cartridge: 12/70
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57,
single-trigger USM
Conclusion
In Soviet times, it was almost impossible for an ordinary hunter to purchase a TOZ-57. And there was really no need for it - hunters, like today, usually trained on stands with their regular double-barreled shotguns.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57,
barrel breech
As a rule, hunters use sporting guns either because of a bad life (if the gun was given for free or by chance) or for the sake of the outstanding characteristics of these guns, to solve specific and usually very narrow tasks. Thus, hunters like to use guns designed for a round stand on quail hunts. And models originally intended for the trench are for beautiful long-range shots. But this gun still often lacks classic hunting versatility.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
For a hunter, the disadvantages of this gun are clearly more significant than the advantages.
We have already noted the disadvantages above - the TOZ-57 is a purely sports gun, with all that it implies. Of the few advantages, the hunter will note only the relative “indestructibility” of this gun, which comes from a powerful block, reinforced locking and the ability to remove the shat by placing a strip of foil under the removable shield of the block. There are unverified rumors that the barrel steel used for TOZ-57 barrels was of higher quality than for TOZ-34 tubes. Sporting shotgun TOZ-57, bolt lever and shoe shank
Of course, the very fact of owning a rather rare Soviet-made gun warms the soul of the TOZ-57 owner. You can install swivels yourself, you can put up with the considerable weight of the gun, and even, if you really want to, you can install a safety lock. But it’s still impossible to bypass the narrow specialization of sporting weapons. Therefore, as a rule, owners of one or another TOZ-57 model use it only for training on a bench, for certain types of hunting, or as just a spare gun.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57,
shotgun block
Interesting guns were sometimes made based on the TOZ-57. So, I had a chance to see the “57th”, into the block of which the second pair was rubbed with a barrel block from “Perazzi”. What is noteworthy is that this gun, number 007, dates back to the mid-2000s. belonged to the honored coach of the Soviet champions, Valentin Aleksandrovich Karamyshev, and “originally” came from an experimental batch, specially made for competitions in desert areas in the USA. Having a huge shot, this example showed no significant signs of wear and was very impressive with its finish and overall build quality.
Double-barreled sporting shotgun TOZ-57
Somewhere there were statements that TOZ-57 is still being produced. Unfortunately, it was not possible to clarify this information offhand, so I cannot vouch for its accuracy. Yes, and this is doubtful. But “Soviet” TOZ-57s are rarely found today in perfect condition, which is explained by the sporting past of these guns.
Butt plate
TOZ-57
And those copies that sometimes “pop up” for sale are usually purchased from collapsing sports societies in the early 1990s. By the way, the cost (read: popularity) of the TOZ-57 is usually low - after all, the idea of hunting with a sporting rifle usually does not seem particularly attractive.
TOZ-57, lower swivel
The article was published in the magazine "Hunting", in November 2011, No. 11 (159)
How to use?
To unlock the receiver unit, you need to move the lever to the right side. At the same time, thanks to the hinge mechanism in the trigger mechanism, the triggers will be cocked, and the lever, which is responsible for extraction, will move forward and remove the spent cartridges.
To lock the block, the lever must be placed in its original place. Mostly this happens automatically. If the lever does not move, then the shooter will have to adjust it himself. Since the gun has a mechanical safety lever, if shooting is not planned in the near future, it must be turned down. To smoothly decock a gun, you need to open the case, remove the ammunition from the chambers, and then press the triggers. After completing these steps, the barrel block can be smoothly closed.
About the advantages
Judging by the reviews of the owners, the strengths of these guns are as follows:
- Since the rifle unit has a reinforced receiver and chrome-plated thickened walls, it can be fired with ammunition with an increased load of shot.
- Despite the fact that the TOZ-200 has a sharp and compact fire, it can be equipped with Magnum class ammunition.
- Many owners claim that the gun has high ergonomic properties that allow you to shoot offhand.
- The trigger mechanism with flat single-feather springs has a high service life. According to the owners, if the hinge in the receiver is periodically repaired and the frontal plate in the receiver is strengthened, almost a million shots can be fired from the gun.
The gun is mainly used by hunters. Using TOZ-200, large waterfowl are caught.
Disadvantages of the TOZ-106 gun
- The poor build quality of the gun is one of the main drawbacks mentioned by many of its owners. The guns produced by the plant in the 1990s are especially distinguished by this. There are guns that have problems with the barrel and butt; some of them have magazines that constantly fall out, the bolt jams, and there are guns with a crooked front sight on the barrel. When purchasing a gun, it is highly advisable to have the gun inspected by a knowledgeable person.
- In most cases, after purchase, the gun needs to be brought to good working condition using a file and sandpaper. When purchasing a gun, it most often turns out that the previous owner has already completed such mechanical adjustments.
- The need for fine-tuning and upgrading. Even if a hunter manages to purchase a model without visible defects or defects, it will still have to be polished with a file and sandpaper. It is especially important to grind the trigger mechanism, bump stop, as well as the surface of the bolt and receiver.
- Due to the short barrel, the TOZ-106 gun has a very loud shot sound, and when fired, a flash of flame appears, which can blind the shooter for a short time.
- Many hunters complain about the inconvenient pistol grip of the gun and the folding stock, which is inconvenient for shooting, but both are more a matter of habit. Some gun owners complain that the trigger is too short, in their opinion.
- Due to its low weight (2.5 kg), the gun has quite noticeable recoil.
- Due to the short barrel, the gun cannot boast of outstanding accuracy and sharpness of fire.
How to disassemble a sideflint?
In order for a rifle unit to serve for a long time, it needs to be properly cared for, namely, periodically cleaned. To do this, the gun must first be disassembled. This is done as follows. First you need to unload the gun. Next, disconnect the block with the barrels: press the lever in front of the trigger guard.
The locking metal plate is then folded back. After this, the unlocking lever is turned to the right and the receiver block is removed from the hinge.
