MTs 21-12
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| MTs 21-12 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Semi-automatic shotgun |
| Place of origin | USSR |
| Production history | |
| Designer | V. A. Nikolaev[1] |
| Manufacturer | TsKIB SOO Tula Arms Plant[2][1] |
| Produced | since 1965 |
| No. built | over 300 000[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.7 kg[3] |
| Length | 1275[3]-1285mm[2] |
| Barrel length | 750mm[3][2] |
| Width | 65[3] |
| Height | 200[3] |
| Cartridge | 12/70[3] |
| Caliber | 12 gauge[2] |
| Feed system | four round tubular magazine, plus 1 in the chamber[2] |
| Sights | iron sights[2] |
The MTs 21-12 (МЦ 21-12) is a Soviet semi-automatic shotgun.[2]
The shotgun was designed in 1956-1958 in TsKIB SOO, it was the first Soviet semi-automatic shotgun. In 1965, the shotgun was awarded the golden medal of the Leipzig Trade Fair.[2][4]
Since 1965 began the serial production of the shotgun by Tula Arms Plant.[2] The price of one standard MTs 21-12 was 350 roubles and custom guns were more expensive.[5]
In February 1981 a detachable ring sight was proposed for this shotgun.[6] In April 1981, the price of one standard MTs 21-12 was 335 roubles and custom guns were more expensive.[7]
In December 1988, MTs 21-12 was the most common semi-automatic hunting shotgun in the Soviet Union (the second was Browning Auto-5),[2] although TOZ-87 had already begun to make.
After the fall of the Soviet Union due to the economic crisis in Russian Federation in the 1990s, the prices of firearms increased.[8] In September 1994, the cost of one new standard serial MTs 21-12 shotgun was from 480 thousand roubles to 3.3 million roubles.[9]
Over 300 000 MTs 21-12 shotguns were produced.[1] Unknown number of shotguns were sold in foreign countries.[4]
Design
MTs 21-12 is a smoothbore shotgun.[7]
The detachable barrel is chrome-plated and has 1mm choke at the muzzle end.[7]
It has a walnut shoulder stock (with or without cheekpiece) and fore-end[7]
Shotgun shells with paper or plastic cases must be used for shooting.[7] It should be taken into account that the USSR produced two different types of 12 gauge plastic cases, and for shooting from MTs 21-12 it was recommended to use plastic cases with a length of 67.5-68 mm, made according to GOST 23568-79.[10]
Variants
- MTs 21 (МЦ 21) - the first version, was produced by TsKIB SOO in small numbers for less than a decade. It was chambered for 12, 16 and 20 gauge[11]
- MTs 21-12 (МЦ 21-12) - the main production version, was produced by Tula Arms Plant from 1965 and was chambered only for 12/70 shells[2][1][11]
- MTs 21-12P (МЦ 21-12П)[12]
- MTs 21-12R (МЦ 21-12Р) - MTs 21-12 with rubber recoil pad on its shoulder stock[7][3]
- MTs 22-12 (МЦ 22-12) - was chambered only for 12/65 mm shells, and only one prototype was made in 1960[13]
- TTs 22 (ТЦ 22) - next model
Users
Soviet Union[4]
Belarus - is allowed as civilian hunting weapon[14]
Moldova - is allowed as civilian hunting weapon[15]
Russian Federation - is allowed as civilian hunting weapon[16]
Museum exhibits
- MTs 21-12 shotgun is in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in Tula Kremlin[4]
- MTs 21-12 shotgun is in collection of Museum of hunting and fishing in Moscow.[17]