TOZ-57
Double barreled shotgun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The TOZ-57 (ТОЗ-57) is a family of Soviet double-barreled high-quality skeet shotguns.[1]
| TOZ-57 | |
|---|---|
| Type | double barreled shotgun |
| Place of origin | USSR |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Tula Arms Plant[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.8 kg |
| Length | 1100, 1130 or 1185[2] |
| Barrel length | 675, 711 or 750[2] |
| Width | 55[2] |
| Height | 210[2] |
| Caliber | 12 gauge[2] |
| Action | Break action[2] |
| Rate of fire | variable |
| Sights | iron sights[2] |
History
Development of the TOZ-57 began in connection with the growing popularity of skeet shooting in the USSR in the 1970s.[3] The first prototypes were made in 1974.[4][5]
In 1977, TOZ-57 shotgun was awarded the golden medal of the Leipzig Trade Fair and received the State quality mark of the USSR.[2] In July 1978, TOZ-57K and TOZ-57K-1S were officially announced as new models of skeet shotguns.[4]
After tests and trials, in January 1979, TOZ-57K и TOZ-57T shotguns were shown at VDNKh exhibition in Moscow[6] and Tula Arms Plant began the serial production of these shotguns.[7] In summer 1981, the price of one standard TOZ-57K (or TOZ-57T) shotgun was 640 roubles.[8]
At the beginning of 1983, it was proposed to produce versions of IZh-27 and TOZ-57 shotguns with "paradox" rifling for hunting in densely populated areas[9] In February 1983, TOZ-57-12E was presented at the hunting weapons exhibition in Krasnoyarsk.[10]
In April 1987, it was announced that Tula Arms Plant would begin mass production of new TOZ-84 shotgun and this gun will replace in production TOZ-34, TOZ-55 and TOZ-57.[11] After this, production of TOZ-57 was discontinued.[12]
These shotguns were used by Soviet teams in international shooting competitions (incl. the ISSF World Shooting Championships and the Olympic Games).[13]
Design
TOZ-57 is an over and under hammerless shotgun, with one barrel above the other. The design is based on TOZ-34 and TOZ-55 models, but it has different barrels, receiver and trigger mechanism[3]
It was equipped with detachable chrome plated barrels.[3][2]
TOZ-57 has a walnut shoulder stock and fore-end without sling swivels.[2]
Variants
- TOZ-57 (ТОЗ-57) - hunting and skeet shooting shotgun[3] with 711mm barrels[2]
- TOZ-57K (ТОЗ-57К)[6] - skeet shooting shotgun[1][3] with 675mm barrels[2]
- TOZ-57K-1S (ТОЗ-57К-1С)[11] - skeet shooting shotgun with 675mm barrels (TOZ-57K with different trigger mechanism)[2]
- TOZ-57T (ТОЗ-57Т)[6] - skeet shooting shotgun[1][3] with 750mm barrels[2]
- TOZ-57T-1S (ТОЗ-57Т-1С)[11] - skeet shooting shotgun with 750mm barrels (TOZ-57T with different trigger mechanism)[2]
- TOZ-57T-12E (ТОЗ-57Т-12Е) - custom skeet shooting shotgun for the Olympic Games and other international competitions (TOZ-57T variant with special trigger mechanism and special lightweight fore-end)[3]
Museum exhibits
- TOZ-57 shotgun is in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in Tula Kremlin[13]