TOZ-57

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 the second half of the 1970s.^[4]

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^[5] and Tula Arms Plant began the serial production of these shotguns.^[6] In summer 1981, the price of one standard TOZ-57K (or TOZ-57T) shotgun was 640 roubles.^[7]

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^[8] In February 1983, TOZ-57-12E was presented at the hunting weapons exhibition in Krasnoyarsk.^[9]

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.^[10] After this, production of TOZ-57 was discontinued.^[11]

These shotguns were used by Soviet teams in international shooting competitions (incl. the ISSF World Shooting Championships and the Olympic Games).^[12]

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)^[5] - skeet shooting shotgun^[1][3] with 675mm barrels^[2]
• TOZ-57K-1S (ТОЗ-57К-1С)^[10] - skeet shooting shotgun with 675mm barrels (TOZ-57K with different trigger mechanism)^[2]
• TOZ-57T (ТОЗ-57Т)^[5] - skeet shooting shotgun^[1][3] with 750mm barrels^[2]
• TOZ-57T-1S (ТОЗ-57Т-1С)^[10] - 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^[12]