Gun MTs-21 was the first semi-automatic hunting machine in the USSR. The development of the system began in the late 50s of the last century in the Central Design and Research Bureau of sporting and hunting weapons (TsKIB) in Tula. Serial production of the model was launched in 1965, but some sources cite other dates. The basis of the gun went to the well-known scheme of Browning Auto 5, which proved its practicality and reliability over the years. Some structural solutions were copied from the Italian weapon Breda Antares.
general information
Serial production of this hunting rifle was established in 1965 at the Tula Arms Plant. The release was discontinued several years ago due to the release of new, more modern types of weapons of this class. In the first years after the end of the "paper" development of the gun, it was assembled in TsKIB piece by piece.
The manufacturer has positioned its product as a weapon for hunting (amateur and commercial). The people called him "Soviet Browning". The first few years, the MC-21-12 was not particularly popular due to the weak compatibility with cartridges in papk sleeves. With the growth of production of charges with plastic shells, the popularity of these weapons began to grow. According to the Tula Arms Plant, about 300 thousand copies were produced.
This tool performs well when hunting for birds. Shooting shot from medium and long distances shows excellent accuracy and accuracy. More hunters like to use bullet cartridges. Accuracy becomes even higher, and the ability to make five shots in a row makes the MTs-21-12 an indispensable assistant when hunting for ungulates.
Device
If the shutter is not locked, the design of the gun will not allow the hunter to make a shot. There is a manual flag-type fuse, upon activation of which there is an impact on the trigger.
Lodge can be of two types: walnut or beech. It has comfortable projections under the arm and cheek. Handguard is standard, attached to the body with a simple nut, easily and quickly removed if necessary. The magazine is tubular and holds 4 cartridges, one cartridge can be installed directly into the chamber.
As in all such systems, the cartridge is fed into the chamber through the movement of the bolt to the front position. The shot is carried out after the shutter returns to the full front position. Automatic placement of the cartridge in the chamber through an established scheme is disabled using a special cut-off. Using the control button, the shutter is moved from the rear position to the front.
The weapon is decorated with a plane ornament. On exclusive copies, assembled to order, made artistic hand engraving, as well as chasing the outer surfaces of metal parts.
Barrel engineers have made reliable, mobile. If necessary, the owner can quickly and easily remove it. The length of the barrel is 750 millimeters. It has a constriction of 1 millimeter, which improves accuracy and accuracy of shooting. The length of the chamber is 70 millimeters, so the use of 12/76 cartridges is unacceptable here.
USM is also standard, characteristic of many similar guns. It has a good build quality, its design allows only single shots. The cock is cocked while the valve is moving backwards. The cartridge case of the shot cartridge flies out of a gun through a special window during the movement of the bolt to the front position.
Technical characteristics of the instrument:
- Used for firing ammunition 12 gauge;
- Barrel length - 750 mm;
- The length of the chamber - 70 mm;
- Total length - 1 285 mm;
- The stock of a working resource is 6.5 thousand shots;
- The weight of the discharged gun - 3.4 kg;
- The magazine holds 4 cartridges + 1 cartridge can be immediately installed in the chamber.
What happens during a shot?
During the shot, the barrel with the bolt coupled, located in the front position. Their movement begins under the influence of pore gas, which is transmitted from the liner.
Simultaneously with the movement of the charge along the bore, the movement of the barrel and the shutter to the rear position begins. At the same time, the trigger is cocked and the springs are compressed. The bolt stops moving at the initial stage, while the barrel continues its movement further. It is at the moment of their release that the barrel bore is unlocked.
During the "single movement of the barrel" occurs "spitting out" spent cartridges. At the same time, the new cartridge is placed in the feeder. After that, the return spring starts to act on the shutter, it starts moving upwards, raises the feeder with the cartridge. As a result, a new cartridge is sent to the chamber.
At the end, the feeder returns to its original location, and the barrel bore is locked. At the end, the barrel re-engages with the bolt and returns to its most forward position. With each shot, the whole process is repeated. When the magazine runs out of ammunition, the shutter remains in the extreme rear position.
A common problem with the barrel and bolt MC-21-12
For the correct and stable operation of hunting weapons, the process of locking the barrel must take place without any hesitation. In the area of the tail there is a special groove of a round shape, and if its surface is not smooth, there may be a problem with the disengagement of the barrel and bolt. Therefore, you need to constantly monitor this groove.
The problem may also be the misalignment of the groove in relation to the combat stop. The reasons may be several, the most common is the wear tube store. To determine the causes it is better to consult a specialist. Weapons must be constantly monitored if you want stable and high-quality work.
Care for MTs-21-12
The hunter must be familiar with the basic rules for the care of hunting guns MC-21-12. Some rules also apply to other similar rifles:
- Each owner must be familiar with the design of the gun and the operation of each mechanism;
- Each owner is obliged to keep the cleanliness of all components of the instrument. Before shooting, you need to check that there is no grease residue in the barrel bore. Foreign objects in the bore and box should not fall;
- If there is a misfire, the shutter can be opened only 10-15 seconds after the shot. A prolonged shot may occur. Stuck into the chamber of the charge you need to get neat;
- In case of failure of the hunting weapon or its complete refusal, immediately stop shooting and go with a gun to a specialist to identify the problem;
- At the end of the shooting, you need to completely discharge the gun and make sure that the chamber is empty. This check needs to be done constantly and brought to automatism.
It is advisable to carry out lubrication and cleaning in a warm room immediately after the end of the shooting. Dismantling of hunting weapons MTs-21-12 should be carried out strictly according to the instructions supplied with the gun.
Conclusion
MC-21-12 has a rich history. This weapon is very popular among amateur hunters due to the simplicity of its design and excellent characteristics. The number of copies produced is 300 thousand. Production was stopped a few years ago, so it is now not to be found on the counters of gun shops, you can only buy it with your hands.
Another advantage is its low price - about 15 thousand rubles. Due to its simple construction, it is inexpensive to maintain, and in the event of a breakdown, you will not have to spend a lot of money on repairs. We recommend it to acquire beginner shooters who want to learn how to handle hunting rifles and become professional hunters.
