TOZ-8M
Tula Arms Plant · Rifle · Discontinued · 1959
Also known as: Tula TOZ-8M, TOZ-8-M
Overview
The TOZ-8M is a single-shot, bolt-action .22 Long Rifle training rifle produced at the Tula Arms Plant as a modernized derivative of the TOZ-8. Introduced around 1959, it retained the simple, reliable single-shot action and full-length wooden stock of the original while incorporating minor refinements such as an improved adjustable rear sight. Like its predecessor it served as a standard marksmanship trainer in Soviet schools and DOSAAF paramilitary programs, and large numbers survive today as inexpensive surplus plinking and cadet rifles.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3120 g (110.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1120 mm (44.09") |
| Barrel Length | 640 mm (25.20") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 330 m/s (1083 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 141 J (104 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle · primary — also known as .22 LR, 22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Single Shot, Open Sights, Gas Escape Cover, Full Length Wood Stock, Adjustable Rear Sight
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Armed Forces · adopted 1959
- DOSAAF
Production
Production years: 1959-1985
Modernized successor to the TOZ-8; produced in large quantities at Tula alongside and after the original into the 1980s.
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: D. M. Kochetov
Discontinued: 1985
Notes
Configured as a single-shot rifle with no magazine; each cartridge is hand-loaded into the chamber. The 'M' denotes the modernized variant of the TOZ-8; a cover behind the bolt shields the shooter from escaping gas in the event of a case-head failure.
Background
A staple of Soviet DOSAAF shooting ranges, the TOZ-8M taught generations of students and conscripts the fundamentals of marksmanship, and its rugged simplicity keeps countless examples in service on club ranges long after the USSR dissolved.