TOZ rifle
A family of Soviet .22 LR bolt-action cadet rifles.
The TOZ is a series of .22 Long Rifle bolt-action rifles built by the Tula Arms Plant, whose Russian initials stand for Tulsky Oruzheyny Zavod. The most well-known models—the TOZ-8, TOZ-17, and TOZ-78—were used for decades to train Russian military, paramilitary, and police cadets.
The TOZ-8 is a single-shot bolt-action cadet rifle designed in 1932 by D. M. Kochetov. It is simple, reliable, and trouble-free. Over a million were made from the early 1930s to the late 1950s. It was widely used in Soviet primary schools and paramilitary organizations like DOSAAF for marksmanship training. Many remain in civilian hands, still used for hunting small game. The rifle has no magazine; instead, a guide controls the cartridge as it is loaded into the chamber. The bolt locks by the charging handle rather than lugs. The trigger mechanism releases a striker to hit the primer. Sights are open front and rear, and a cover protects the shooter from hot gas if a case fails. The stock has a butt, neck, and forearm.
Variants include the TOZ-8M, an improved post-war version; the TOZ-8OPF, made by RPC Fort in Ukraine; the TOZ-9, a sporting version; the TOZ-11, a lightweight hunting and fishing model designed in 1946 by K.I. Shihvatov, about 2 kg lighter than the TOZ-9 and produced until 1957; the TOZ-12, an improved TOZ-8M with an adjustable aperture sight; the TOZ-12OPF, made by RPC Fort; and the TOZ-16, based on the TOZ-11 but using modern manufacturing.
The TOZ-17 is a repeating bolt-action rifle with a 5-round detachable magazine, designed in 1956. It looks and functions similarly to the Mosin–Nagant and is intended for hunting and sport shooting. It is simple, strong, and reliable, with twin extractors on the bolt for positive ejection. The bolt is large for a rimfire, with a big firing pin and spring. It has a rear safety like the BSA Sportsman. The barrel is free-floating for accuracy, and the bore is anodized to reduce wear. The TOZ-18 is the same rifle adapted for a 2.5-power fixed scope, with a dovetail rail that requires high rings to clear the rear sight.
The TOZ-78 is a repeating bolt-action rifle using 5- and 10-round detachable magazines. Designed in 1986, it is still in production and based on the TOZ-17.
Quick Facts
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Designer
- D. M. Kochetov
- Design Date
- 1932
- Manufacturer
- Tula Arms Plant / RPC Fort
- Production Date
- 1932 to late 1950s
- Number
- about 1 million
- Variants
- TOZ-8M / TOZ-8OPF / TOZ-9 / TOZ-11 / TOZ-12 / TOZ-12OPF / TOZ-16
- Weight
- 7.16 lb
- Length
- 44 in
- Part Length
- 25 in
- Cartridge
- .22LR
- Action
- Bolt action
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The TOZ rifle family began with the TOZ-1, a single-shot .22LR bolt-action cadet rifle designed in 1927 by V. G. Selivanov and Ya. I. Kanevsky, produced from the late 1920s to early 1930s. It was replaced by the improved TOZ-8, conceived in 1932 by designer-gunsmith D. M. Kochetov. The TOZ-8 is a simple, trouble-free, and reliable single-shot rifle widely used for marksmanship training in primary schools, gunsmith and DOSAAF paramilitary organizations in the USSR for decades. About one million TOZ-8s were made from the early 1930s to the late 1950s, and many remain in civilian circulation for hunting small game.
The TOZ-17, designed in 1956, is a .22 LR bolt-action repeating rifle with a 5-round detachable magazine. It has a similar appearance, sights, and functions as the Mosin–Nagant rifle, intended for professional and amateur hunting and sport shooting. The TOZ-78, designed in 1986 and still in production, is based on the TOZ-17 and comes in various improved models, including versions with threaded barrels for suppressors and heavy barrel models.
Reader's Guide
The TOZ rifle family holds significance as a primary training tool for Soviet and Russian military, paramilitary, and police cadets for generations. The TOZ-8, with its simple and reliable single-shot design, was produced in large numbers—about one million units—and served as the standard marksmanship rifle in schools and paramilitary organizations across the USSR. Its variants, such as the post-war TOZ-8M and the Ukrainian-produced TOZ-8OPF, extended its service life. The TOZ-17 introduced a repeating action with a detachable magazine, bridging the gap between training and practical hunting and sport shooting, while the TOZ-78 continues production into the present day. The legacy of the TOZ rifles is their role in teaching marksmanship fundamentals to countless cadets, and their continued civilian use for hunting and sport shooting demonstrates their enduring utility.
Did You Know?
- The TOZ-17 has a free-floating barrel for increased accuracy.
- The TOZ-78-04 has a threaded barrel to attach a suppressor.
- The TOZ-11 was a lightweight version of the TOZ-9, about 2 kg lighter, and was an award-winning design.
More in Bolt-Action Rifles, Part 4 1-24
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