The TOZ-66 (Russian: ТОЗ-66) is a Soviet double-barreled shotgun.
| TOZ-66 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Double-barreled shotgun |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Tula Arms Plant |
| Produced | 1968-1974[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.2kg[1] |
| Length | 1150mm |
| Barrel length | 710mm[2] |
| Cartridge | 12 gauge[1] |
| Caliber | 18.5mm[1] |
| Action | Break action with hammers |
| Rate of fire | Variable |
| Sights | Iron sights |
History
editThe TOZ-66 was introduced in 1968 as a rugged, reliable shotgun designed for hunting, particularly in the Soviet Union.
The TOZ-66 is a successor of the TOZ-63, an earlier double-barreled shotgun that featured a similar break-action design but with internal hammers. The TOZ-66, however, stood out because of its external hammers - this feature gave hunters manual control over each barrel’s readiness to fire, making it reliable in operation.[2][3]
Production of the TOZ-66 continued through the 1970s, but by the late 1970s and early 1980s, more modern designs began to overshadow it. Shotguns with internal hammers and more advanced safety mechanisms became more common, gradually phasing out external hammer designs like the TOZ-66. Though TOZ-66 remained in use for many years after production ceased due to its durability and widespread availability.[4]
Design
editThe external hammers of the TOZ-66 were part of a design that appealed to hunters - the hammers provided a visual and tactile cue as to whether the gun was ready to fire, which was considered a safer option for those who might need to carry their shotgun loaded but uncocked during long hunting trips. The gun’s double triggers also allowed the shooter to fire each barrel independently, which was ideal for close-quarters combat.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "TOZ-66 - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games". www.imfdb.org.[unreliable source?]
- ^ a b "Курковка ТОЗ-66 с блоками коротких стволов: стоит ли покупать" [TOZ-66 hammer gun with short barrel blocks: is it worth buying?]. www.ohotniki.ru (in Russian). May 26, 2022.
- ^ "ТОЗ-66 двуствольное курковое ружье" [TOZ-66 double-barreled hammer-action shotgun]. hunt4u.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ a b "Ружьё ТОЗ-66. Тест современными патронами" [TOZ-66 Shotgun. Test with Modern Cartridges]. Персональный сайт Юрия Максимова. Оружие и снаряжение. Обзоры и тесты оружия, оптики, снаряжения. Тюнинг оружия, охота, политика, полевая медицина (in Russian).