MTs 8
Soviet shotgun
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The MTs 8 (МЦ 8) is a Soviet double-barreled high-quality custom skeet shotgun.[4][5]
History
MTs 8 was designed in 1953[1] and produced by TsKIB SOO.[3]
These shotguns were used by Soviet teams in shooting competitions (incl. ISSF World Shooting Championships and Olympic Games).[4][1]
In October 1962, at the 38th World Shooting Championships in Cairo, Soviet shooter N. D. Durnev, armed with MTs 8 shotgun, set an absolute world record, hitting 200 of 200 targets.[6][7]
In 1970, at the 40th World Shooting Championships in Phoenix, Soviet shooter Yu. V. Sidorova, armed with MTs 8 shotgun, became the winner.[8]
In September 1981, the price of one standard MTs 8 shotgun (without second pair of barrels) was about 700 roubles.[5]
Design
MTs 8 is an over and under hammerless smoothbore 12 gauge shotgun, with one barrel above the other.[2][3][1][5]
It is equipped with safety mechanism and ejector.[3][5]
All guns have a walnut shoulder stock (with or without cheekpiece) and fore-end,[5] some of them were decorated with engravings.[2][3]
Variants
- MTs 8-0 (МЦ 8-0)[5] - test prototype
- MTs 8-1 (МЦ 8-1)[1] - first model, a skeet shotgun with 750mm barrels[2]
- MTs 8-2 (МЦ 8-2)[1] - second model, with different trigger mechanism[2]
- MTs 8-3 (МЦ 8-3)[1] - third model, MTs 8-1 with second pair of 675mm barrels[2]
- MTs 8-4 (МЦ 8-4)[1] - MTs 8-2 with second pair of 675mm barrels[2]
At least several MTs 8 shotguns were equipped with third pair of barrels (20/70mm R).[3][5]
Museum exhibits
- MTs 8 shotgun is in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in Tula Kremlin[4]