MTs 8
TsKIB SOO · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1953
Also known as: MTs-8, MC-8, MTs8
Overview
The MTs 8 is a Soviet 12-gauge over-and-under break-action shotgun designed in 1953 and built by TsKIB SOO in Tula for competitive skeet and trap shooting. Featuring double superposed barrels with a ventilated rib, internal hammers, ejectors, and finely engraved receivers, it was the mainstay competition shotgun of the Soviet clay-target shooting teams and was produced in a family of variants with interchangeable barrel sets in 12 and 20 gauge.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3600 g (127.0 oz) |
| Barrel Length | 750 mm (29.53") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12ga, 12 Bore
- 20 Gauge — also known as 20ga, 20 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Action Barrels
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Barrel Selector
- Features: Over Under Barrels, Ventilated Rib, Single Selective Trigger, Ejectors, Walnut Stock, Hand Engraving
Variants
- MTs 8-0 - Prototype
- MTs 8-1 - Skeet
- MTs 8-2 - Trigger Variant
- MTs 8-3 - Combination Barrels
- MTs 8-01 - Single Trigger
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Olympic Shooting Team · adopted 1953
Production
Production years: 1953-1980s
Hand-built competition shotgun produced in limited quantities by TsKIB SOO
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Notes
The MTs 8 series included interchangeable second and third barrel sets, allowing a single stocked action to be reconfigured for skeet, trap, or smaller-gauge use.
Background
At the 1962 World Shooting Championships in Cairo, Soviet shooter N. D. Durnev used an MTs 8 to set a world record by hitting 200 of 200 clay targets.