TOZ-55

The TOZ-55 «Zubr» (ТОЗ-55 «Зубр») is a Soviet double-barreled combination gun for big-game hunting.^[3][2]

TOZ-55 «Zubr»
Type	double barreled shotgun
Place of origin	USSR
Production history
Designer	N. I. Korovyakov[1]
Manufacturer	Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod[2]
Produced	since 1975[3]
Specifications
Mass	3.8 kg[3][2]
Barrel length	600mm, 675mm[3][2]
Caliber	12 gauge[3][2] 9×53mmR[2]
Action	Break action[3]
Rate of fire	variable
Sights	iron sights[3][2] optical sight[3][2]

History

In the early 1970s N. I. Korovyakov began work on design the new model of double-barreled combination gun based on design of his TOZ-34 shotgun. In 1975, first TOZ-55 «Zubr» shotguns were made.^[3][2][4]

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.^[5] After this, production of TOZ-55 was discontinued.^[4]

However, even in December 1988 TOZ-55 was the most common hunting firearm in 9×53mmR caliber in the Soviet Union.^[4]

After the fall of the Soviet Union, some unfinished TOZ-55 shotguns and their spare parts remained in Tula Arms Plant. In 1990s it was announced that new TOZ-55-2 «Zubr» combination gun will be made.^[6] However, due to the economic crisis in Russian Federation in 1992 production of 9×53mmR ammunition was discontinued and TOZ decided not to make this model and to continue production of TOZ-34.

Design

TOZ-55 is an over and under hammerless shotgun, with one barrel above the other.^[3]

All TOZ-55s were equipped with three pairs of detachable chrome plated barrels^[3][2]

• a pair of 9mm rifled barrels (600mm)^[3][2]
• a pair of 12/70mm smoothbore shotgun barrels (675mm)^[3][2]
• a rifled 9mm barrel over a 12 gauge smoothbore barrel^[3][2]

All TOZ-55s have iron sights and they were equipped with scope base for optical sight.^[3][2]

• PO-4×34 (ПО-4×34),^[2] TO-6P (ТО-6П)^[2] and TO-6PM (ТО-6ПМ)^[7] scopes were standard optical sights, although custom aftermarket variants are known.

All TOZ-55 have a walnut stock and fore-end, some of them were decorated with engravings.^[3][2]

Variants

• TOZ-55-2 «Zubr» (ТОЗ-55-2 «Зубр») - simplified and cheaper version of TOZ-55. It was equipped with one pair of detachable barrels (a rifled 9mm barrel with six right grooves over a 12 gauge smoothbore barrel)^[6][8]
• TOZ-55-3 «Zubr» (ТОЗ-55-3 «Зубр») - simplified and cheaper version of TOZ-55. It was equipped with one pair of detachable barrels (a 12 gauge smoothbore shotgun)^[8]
• TOZ-56 (ТОЗ-56) - test prototype, a double-barreled combination gun (with rifled 9mm barrel and smoothbore barrel)^[1]

Users

• Soviet Union^[3]
• Latvia^[9]
• Russian Federation^[2]
• USA - the import was allowed^[10]