TOZ-106, Death of the Chairman

Although the TOZ-106 hunting rifle cannot boast of any interesting history of creation or outstanding tactical and technical characteristics, it is incredibly popular in Russia. Although the production of this weapon was discontinued back in 2011, many still strive to buy this “sawed-off shotgun” at least second-hand.

The TOZ-106 shotgun can hardly be called suitable for hunting; this Tula weapon, due to its compactness and light weight, has won recognition in the niche of security and self-defense. When creating the TOZ-106 gun, the designers of the Tula Arms Plant relied on the external resemblance of this weapon to the legendary kulak sawn-off shotgun of the “three-line” rifle, and they were right. Aptly nicknamed “Death of the Chairman,” the weapon has been in steady demand since its appearance on store shelves.

General information about TOZ-106

The TOZ-106 smoothbore shotgun is a 20-caliber weapon. The TOZ-106 stock has a folding design. This weapon was produced at the Tula Arms Plant from 1993 to 2011. This gun was positioned as a hunting rifle, intended for hunting birds and small animals at short distances, for protecting farm animals, crops and various objects and cargo.

In fact, it is very difficult to imagine an animal or bird that will allow a hunter to approach a distance suitable for making a well-aimed shot from this weapon, therefore the main purpose of the TOZ-106 is self-defense.

The ammunition used for the TOZ-106 shotgun is 20-caliber cartridges equipped with buckshot, bullet or shot. The length of the 20 gauge cartridge case is 70 mm. The cartridges are loaded into the TOZ-106 magazine, which can hold either 2 or 4 rounds. One extra cartridge is always in the chamber of the gun.

The TOZ-106 hunting rifle was developed on the basis of the MTs 20-01 hunting rifle, which has a very interesting history. The MTs 20-01 is a Mosin rifle that has been converted to fire hunting cartridges. Since there were many Mosin rifles left in army warehouses, Tula engineer Frolov proposed making them into hunting weapons. This idea was not new, since even after the revolution, defective barrels from Mosin rifles were actively used for the production of hunting rifles.

The main differences between the TOZ-106 and the MC 20-01 are the short barrel and an iron folding stock, similar to the AKMS. Since the gun was a fairly shallow modernization of the MTs 20-01, the first batches were known to the consumer under the name MTs 20-04. Only later did the gun receive its own name - TOZ-106.

Advantages and disadvantages

To better understand what “Death of the Chairman” represents, it would be useful to study the main advantages and disadvantages of the Tula gun. It’s worth starting with the advantages of TOZ-106, since there are more of them:

Dimensions. The TOZ-106 is known for its unsurpassed compactness - it would be difficult to find another 20-caliber gun on the market that is 53 centimeters long. It was precisely because of this that the model was popular in the dashing 90s, because it could easily be hidden in a bosom, as well as put in a bag or case.
Low weight. The weight of the weapon is the indicator that owners of smooth-bore shotguns most often complain about. However, thanks to the telescopic butt and short barrel, the weight of the model is around 2.5 kg. For comparison: the mass of the famous Russian IZH-27 12-gauge shotgun is almost 4 kilograms.
Possibility of modernization. TOZ-106 is an excellent platform for virtually unlimited upgrades. The sighting device can be mounted on a dovetail rail (11 millimeters), and a bayonet, under-barrel flashlight, or laser target designator can be easily attached to the barrel.
Caliber. Many will say that 20 gauge is the weak point of Death of the Chairman. However, let's face it: Almost all modern shotguns come in 12 gauge, leaving hunters with fewer and fewer options when it comes to purchasing a specialty shotgun. The only way out is to take weapons from the last century.

Death of the Chairman has relatively fewer disadvantages than positive aspects, but many of them may be critical for most buyers:

Poor build quality. The weapons produced by Tula Plant PJSC between 1990 and 2000 do not have the best reputation, since almost half of the samples had problems with the barrel or butt. Also on sale you can still find crude versions in which the magazine does not work, the bolt is jammed or the front sight is crooked.
Low sighting range. Despite the fact that an accuracy of 50% is a fairly good indicator for a smoothbore gun, do not forget that the tests were carried out from a distance of 35 meters. Shooting from a 20 gauge from a distance of more than 50 meters is practically useless, so the range of use of the weapon is significantly reduced.
The need for fine-tuning and upgrading. Even if a hunter manages to purchase a model without visible defects or defects, it will still have to be polished with a file and sandpaper. It is especially important to grind the trigger mechanism, bump stop, as well as the surface of the bolt and receiver.

In general, if you are not afraid of the need to modify the weapon after purchase, and also you do not plan to shoot the gun from a long distance, then the TOZ-106 will do quite well. The model will seem especially interesting to those who like to upgrade weapons, because you can change the “Death of the Chairman” almost beyond recognition.

Description of the design of the TOZ-106 smoothbore shotgun

The main difference between the TOZ-106 and the legendary kulak sawn-off shotgun is its folding stock, which has a frame design and is made of stainless steel to avoid corrosion. The butt rotates on a special hinge, which is located in the rear half of the receiver. Although many buyers do not like the stock, which deprives the TOZ-106 of some of its identity with a sawn-off shotgun, the appearance of the stock is associated with Russian legislation, which prohibits the use of short-barreled civilian weapons. That is why shooting from the TOZ-106 with the butt folded is impossible, since the gun is equipped with a blocker. The blocker is an automatic safety device that completely prevents effective pressing of the trigger of the gun.

In addition to the automatic lock, the TOZ-106 also has a mechanical fuse. It is a special slider that is located on the shank of the weapon's receiver, directly behind the bolt. The TOZ-106 magazine is equipped with a latch that prevents it from spontaneously falling out. The TOZ-106 sights consist of a front sight and a non-adjustable rear sight. The TOZ-106 stock is solid, made of birch and has a pistol grip.

The TOZ-106 barrel is pressed into the receiver of the weapon. It is fixed using a font. The barrel of the gun does not have a muzzle constriction, but is chrome-plated. Before firing a shot, the bore must be locked by turning the bolt. Reloading the TOZ-106 is carried out manually, since the TOZ-106 is the closest relative of the famous Mosin rifle, which is a classic “bolt gun”. Unlike the bolt of the Mosin rifle, the TOZ-106 bolt is made of stainless steel.

Design and operating principle

The product has a simple and reliable design. The barrel and receiver of the 106th are connected using hot pressing and form a non-separable unit. The barrel is chrome plated and has no choke. The pistol-type stock is made of wood (birch). The barrel is equipped with a front sight for aiming at the target.

The impact device is located in the bolt. The receiver contains the trigger mechanism. The rifle is equipped with a cocked bolt indicator. The pointer is located above the insert when the gun is loaded and below it when it is lowered.

In order to reload the rifle, you need to manually pull the bolt, first all the way back, and then forward. When the bolt moves to the forward position, the cartridge is chambered. A shot is possible only with the butt unfolded.

After the shot, the cartridge case is pushed out of the chamber by the ejector, and when the bolt moves back, it is thrown out by the reflector. To prevent an accidental shot, the TOZ-106 has a safety lock. The magazines are removable, for two or four rounds.

The process of firing from TOZ-106

In order to fire a shot from the TOZ-106, you need to follow the following algorithm:

Since the cartridge is already in the chamber, you need to turn the bolt handle up;
After this, you need to pull it back all the way, sharply move it forward and lower it back to the starting position;
After that you can shoot.

The process of aiming from the TOZ-106 shotgun is quite convenient, since the weight of the weapon, as well as its balance, allows you to shoot a shotgun with one hand. According to the manufacturer, the target firing range of a bullet is up to 50 meters using open sights, and if you install an optical sight on the TOZ-106, then this distance can be up to 150 meters. Although the TOZ-106 design does not provide a bracket for installing an optical sight, installing it is quite simple.

Shooting Features

The gun is cocked by sharply turning the bolt handle upward. At the same time, thanks to the presence of an automatic fuse, the risk of an accidental shot is reduced to almost a minimum. Before firing, it is necessary to move the butt to the firing position, otherwise you will not be able to load the rifle. Once the shooter is ready to fight, simply release the safety, take aim, and pull the trigger.

The undeniable advantage of "Death of the Chairman" is its good balance. The center of gravity is located in a good place, which is why the barrel does not deviate forward or backward while aiming. This will increase the chances of hitting, especially for novice shooters. Considering that the weapon weighs only 2500 grams, the TOZ-106 can be suitable for shooting with one hand. Although the target range in this case will be noticeably reduced.

The gun also has a very comfortable recoil due to the presence of a lightweight butt with a shock absorber. The sound of a shot may seem too loud for some owners, but this problem can be quickly solved with the help of a sound moderator - a special device that is not prohibited by law and acts as a silencer.

It is quite normal for a moderate flash of flame to appear when firing.

Pros and cons of TOZ-106

Toz-106, although not well suited for hunting, has a number of undoubted advantages:

Light weight of the weapon, which is only 2.5 kg;
The simple design, based on the Mosin rifle, is easy to maintain and unpretentious in operation;
The compactness of the TOZ-106 makes it easy to carry or transport the weapon;
The use of brass cartridges can significantly reduce the cost of a shot if the gun owner loads the cartridges himself;
The chrome-plated chamber and bore greatly facilitates cleaning and lubrication of the gun;
Low price TOZ-106.

The disadvantages of the TOZ-106 include the following features of the gun:

The build quality of the TOZ-106 is at a very low level. After purchasing a gun, a thorough mechanic's work is required. Since TOZ-106 is not currently produced, this weapon can be purchased second-hand. Most likely, the previous owner has already carried out plumbing modifications, although you should not count on this 100%;
The TOZ-106 pistol grip is inconvenient for some owners of this weapon, so it also needs “piling”;
Very tight shutter;
Small capacity store;
The magazine latch is unreliable, so the magazine can sometimes fall out.

Most of the disadvantages of TOZ-106 can be eliminated on your own.

Weapon specifications

The main combat properties of the TOZ 106 and the technical characteristics of the weapon can be described in three words: light, compact, powerful.

Choosing a TOZ-106 smoothbore shotgun

Since TOZ-106 is currently no longer in production, you can buy this charismatic shotgun either second-hand or in specialized consignment stores. In any case, it's better than getting a new weapon whose build quality has always been terrible. When choosing TOZ-106, you should pay attention to the following design nuances:

The quality of the barrel;
Shutter adjustment;
Operation of the trigger mechanism;
Butt fixation;
Metal deposit in the gun stock.

The remaining shortcomings can be eliminated at home, so you don’t have to pay attention to them when purchasing.

The most important thing in any weapon is the quality of the barrel. If the trunk is crooked, then it is almost impossible to straighten it. With such a “stick” it is very difficult to hit the target clearly. No matter how much you would like to have a TOZ-106 in your arsenal, it is better to refuse to buy a weapon with a crooked barrel. In addition, the trunk may have a difference in thickness, which cannot be eliminated on its own. Sometimes the front sight, which the Tula Arms Plant sometimes managed to solder crookedly, can also cause trouble.

The next important point is to inspect the bolt of the gun. This procedure boils down to checking the locking unit. You can also immediately check the firing mechanism. To check, you need to pull the shutter repeatedly at both a slow and fast pace. This process must be accompanied by the mandatory release of the trigger to check the trigger. When checking the shutter, it is advisable to use cartridges without primers.

If the TOZ-106 barrel, its bolt and trigger work flawlessly, you can immediately take this copy, since you can deal with unclear fixation of the butt and magazine on your own. If these mechanisms also work flawlessly, then this means that you are very lucky.

Modification TOZ-106: characteristics

Below are the main technical parameters of the gun in question:

caliber of charges (mm) – 20;
barrel/chamber length (mm) – 260/70;
magazine capacity (pcs.) – 2/4;
accuracy indicator as a percentage at a distance to the target of 25 meters - no less than 35;
unregulated trigger force (N) – from 10 to 25;
total length/width/height (mm) – 820/70/170;
mass without charges (kg) – 2.5.

The delivery set includes a 106-TOZ multi-shot smoothbore shotgun, a box-case, an additional MTs-2001 magazine and an instruction manual with a passport. The bolt mechanism consists of a trigger, a spring, a lock, a hammer and a frame.

Do-it-yourself improvements to TOZ-106

Since there is quite a bit of information on the independent modification of TOZ-106, you can use the information on the modification of MTs 20-01, which is much more numerous. The only problem with this may be that the short TOZ-106 gun requires more serious modification. Since the TOZ-106 is purchased mainly as a self-defense weapon, it is required, first of all, to have trouble-free operation of all mechanisms. Although, having picked up the unfinished version of the TOZ-106, one gets the impression that the designers of the Tula Arms Plant had the task of creating a gun that would allow the criminal not only to escape, but even to take it away from the unlucky owner, who is confident in the reliability of the Tula design.

Since the TOZ-106 bolt handle is shortened compared to the MC 20-01, combined with the heavy work of the unfinished bolt, it turns the gun into practically a single-shot model, since you may not have time to fire the second shot.

It is for these reasons that improvements to the TOZ-106 will have to be carried out in two directions:

Careful grinding of all surfaces of the receiver and bolt;
Improving the reloading and control elements of the gun.

In order to eliminate the tight operation of the shutter, you should disassemble it and carefully process all surfaces of its parts with a file and sanding tape. After thorough grinding of the bolt parts, you need to proceed to the procedure of grinding in the lugs. All contact surfaces of the TOZ-106 gun lugs are, as a rule, extremely poorly processed. The receiver stops are processed even worse, so you will have to work with sandpaper for a long time.

The procedure for eliminating poor stock fixation, although very unpleasant, is quite possible at home. The entire assembly will have to be disassembled to eliminate this defect.

Owner reviews

Modern and well-thought-out by the manufacturer, the carbine model TOZ-106 (MC 20-04) copes well with the assigned tasks: hitting a stationary and moving target from a distance of 30-50 meters, training accuracy and for entertainment. Many owners note the incomparable compactness of the gun: its convenient design makes it possible to operate it with maximum comfort, and its relatively small size guarantees ease of transportation.

Many people note the possibility of tuning as an important plus: small changes can improve the quality of shooting and its accuracy.

Optical sight for the kulak sawn-off shotgun

Although the designers do not provide for the installation of an optical sight on the TOZ-106, it can be installed using a suitable bracket. The sight of an optical sight mounted on an analogue of the kulak sawn-off shotgun “Death to the Chairman” can inspire awe in a robber. In addition to the fact that the weapon will lose its brutal appearance, the balance of the gun will be disrupted, and the total weight can increase to 3.5 kg. Much of this weight will come from the homemade bracket that may have to be built.

For self-defense and recreational shooting, an optical sight is not needed; installing it will add accuracy to the TOZ-106, although it will not turn the sawed-off shotgun into a sniper rifle. Since brackets suitable for the TOZ-106 size cannot be found, you will have to make it yourself, making a dovetail bar and using parts from the bracket for Saiga. Using a vice, files, files, a screwdriver and a minimum set of various taps, you can make a homemade bracket in a few free evenings.

Shooting from a TOZ-106 gun

When shooting from a TOZ-106 smoothbore shotgun, you need to take into account several nuances:

The recoil of a light gun will be quite uncomfortable and you will need to get used to it. If the TOZ-106 has an optical sight, and the weight of the gun increases by 500 grams, then the recoil will be perceived quite calmly;
Paradoxical as it may seem, the smooth-bore sawn-off shotgun is very “butt-able”;
The sound of a shot from a short-barreled shotgun is quite loud. If you put the butt to your shoulder, it can stun, so when shooting it is better to stuff your ears with cotton wool;
The visual effect of the shot is quite impressive. Muzzle flash can blind the shooter, especially if large amounts of gunpowder are used;
After several shots from the TOZ-106, a real smoke screen may appear.

Options and packaging

When sold, the rifle in question is accompanied by a corresponding quality certificate and passport. It is packed in a cardboard box with information on the side with the name of the product and information about the selling company.

By agreement with the customer, this model can be equipped with a case for a carbine, a waist and shoulder belt, a cartridge belt, pouches, and a case. All this adds convenience to the process of using the carbine.

This video gives feedback from hunters about the TOZ-106:

Is it worth buying a TOZ-106 and who is such a gun suitable for?

TOZ-106 is a rather controversial weapon; it is quite difficult to say about its practical use in hunting. On the one hand, this is a lightweight weapon that can easily fit into a backpack or sports bag. Moreover, such a weapon (subject to its modification) is ideal for self-defense. For recreational shooting, this is an almost ideal option, creating a lot of noise and fun.

As for the use of TOZ-106 for hunting, perhaps the gun is suitable for shooting at short distances, since the 20 gauge is capable of taking down not only a roe deer, but also gilts. In practice, TOZ-106 in the forest is found among mushroom pickers, tourists and other adventure lovers who often spend time in dense forests. In addition to this target audience, TOZ-106, along with the short-barreled Saiga, is very popular among professional long-distance drivers.

Practice has shown that, despite the short barrel, the TOZ-106 is excellent for target shooting. The accuracy of the gun at short range is very surprising. For example, in the “standing roe deer” exercise from TOZ-106, it is often possible to score 30 points out of 30 possible, although the average result in this category is 25 points.

Now TOZ-106 has long been discontinued. As an alternative to this gun, you can consider short-barreled versions of Saiga or short-barreled pump-action shotguns. If you still want to have a TOZ-106, then you need to look for this gun at gun flea markets. True, the price of such products is becoming higher every year, since those wishing to purchase “The Death of the Chairman” are not decreasing.