MTs 7

The MTs 7 (МЦ 7) is a family of Soviet and Russian double-barreled high-quality custom hunting shotguns, combination guns and rifles.^[2][3][1]

MTs 7
Type	double barreled shotgun
Place of origin	USSR
Production history
Manufacturer	TsKIB SOO[1]
Produced	since late 1950s[2]
Specifications
Mass	2.6 - 5.0 kg[2][1]
Barrel length	600mm - 750mm[2][1]
Caliber	12, 20 gauge[1] 7.62×54mmR[2][1] 9×53mmR[1]
Action	Break action[2]
Rate of fire	variable
Sights	iron sights[2][1] optical sight[2][1]

History

The first version of MTs 7 (MTs 7-1) was designed in late 1950s by TsKIB SOO as target rifle for competition shooting, although later it was redesigned and since 1960 it was sold as high-quality hunting weapon.^[2]

MTs 7 custom guns were among the most expensive of all hunting firearms made in USSR.^[3]

• In August 1981, the price of one custom MTs 7 smoothbore shotgun was 1,000 roubles and the price of one custom MTs 7 double-barreled rifle was 1,200 roubles^[4]
• In December 1987, the price of one custom MTs7-20 shotgun was 1,500 roubles, the price of one MTs7-12 shotgun was 1,700 roubles, the price of one MTs7-07 or MTs7-09 rifle was 1,800 roubles.^[3]

In 1990s it was announced that new MTs 7-17 combination gun will be made.^[5] However, due to the economic crisis in the Russian Federation, production of all versions of MTs 7 was greatly reduced.

Design

MTs 7 is an over and under hammerless gun, with one barrel above the other.^[2][1] The barrels are detachable.^[6]

It is equipped with safety mechanism and ejector.^[6][1]

All guns have a walnut shoulder stock^[6] (with or without cheekpiece) and fore-end, some of them were decorated with engravings.^[2][1]

MTs 7 hunting rifles and combination guns can be equipped with optical sight PO-4×34 (ПО-4×34)^[2][3][1] made by Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant.

Variants

• MTs 7-1 (МЦ 7-1) - first model, 6.5mm target rifle with 750mm barrels and diopter sight (4 - 5 kg)^[2]
• MTs 7-01 (МЦ 7-01) - second model, 6.5mm hunting rifle with 600mm barrels (3.25 - 3.75 kg)^[2]
• MTs 7-02 (МЦ 7-02) - third model, 7.62×54mmR hunting rifle with 600mm barrels (3.5 - 4.0 kg)^[2]
• MTs 7-07 (МЦ 7-07) - 7.62×51mm hunting rifle with 600mm barrels^[3][1]
• MTs 7-09 (МЦ 7-09) - 9×53mmR double-barreled hunting rifle with 600mm barrels (3.4 - 3.6 kg).^[3][1] This model has been produced since 1968. It was equipped with PO-4-1 (ПО-4-1) optical sight and rubber recoil pad on its shoulder stock^[6]
• MTs 7-12 (МЦ 7-12) - a 12/70 smoothbore double-barreled hunting shotgun with 750mm barrels (3.0 - 3.3 kg)^[3][1]

• MTs 7-12S (МЦ 7-12С) - a version of MTs 7-12 shotgun with new trigger mechanism^[7]

• MTs 7-17 (МЦ 7-17) - a combination gun (12 gauge smoothbore barrel and 7.62×54mmR rifled barrel)^[5]
• MTs 7-20 (МЦ 7-20) - a 20/70 smoothbore double-barreled hunting shotgun with 675mm barrels (2.6 - 2.9 kg)^[3][1]