The hunting rifle MTs 20-01 is a single-barreled store smoothbore carbine. Lightweight, beautiful, elegant, its bolt-lock design eerily resembles a rifle rifle. As stated on the website of the Tula arms factory, the MC 20-01 is intended for amateur and professional hunting. Simplicity, reliability and lightness combined with low cost are the main advantages of this model. And the presence of a box-shaped quick-detachable magazine makes this gun more convenient to use. Consider this model in more detail.
A masterpiece of the Tula arms factory
As soon as the hunters of our country did not name this booty gun! Developed in the middle of the last century under the guidance of Berezin Yu. I., the legendary craft they affectionately called simply “the twenty”, and “emtseshkoy”, and “berdanka”. With this gun, by the way, which immediately became scarce and popular, domestic hunters obtained any living creature that inhabited the territory of our country, from squirrels to moose. Universality and lightness, attractiveness of the small-caliber palette, design specifics of the 20-01 - all these factors became decisive when choosing this gun for several generations of Soviet hunters.
Description
Shotgun 20-01 is a single-barrel three-shot rifle, produced in 20, 28 and 32 calibers, with a carbine design and layout scheme. Cartridges are powered from a double removable box magazine. The barrel is connected by a guide sleeve and a pin to the receiver, it has a rear sight and a front sight located on a long base (its length is 600 mm). The muzzle narrowing in the form of a half-hole, the chamber (length 70 mm) and the bore are covered with a layer of chromium. Bed 20-01 is presented both in wooden and plastic versions. The slide of the longitudinally sliding type in the first embodiment contained a number of design flaws, which were subsequently eliminated. The fuse slider is located at the rear of the receiver. The trigger of an unregulated type is mounted on an independent base. The weight of the MC 20-01 is, depending on the caliber, 2.6-2.75 kg.
Early Model Issues
Shotgun 20-01 is a modernized version of 20-20. The model, which we now see on the shelves of arms stores, was released in 1979, replacing the 20-20 MTs manufactured from the 60s. In addition to the defects of the bolt mechanism, the most significant drawback of the first copies is the plastic box. It was carried out integrally with a plastic receiver. In fact, for its time, this constructive solution became revolutionary, but unsuitable for the real conditions of the Soviet Union - because on its territory there is a significant temperature difference during the year. As a result, the bolt mechanism dangled in the receiver, or vice versa, its movement was difficult. As a result, the plastic often cracked, and in this case the gun cannot be repaired. In addition, the fuse caused significant complaints. However, all the shortcomings of this weapon were eliminated, and to this day the MC 20-01 is in great demand among hunters.
In the upgraded version, the receiver is made of metal, it is rigidly connected to the barrel. Two combat symmetrical bolt stops, a bolt insert, and a cocking indicator appeared. The design of the stop and reflector has been changed. Now you can disassemble and assemble the shutter without the use of tools. The stock is only wooden, has a pistol neck, is made of beech or birch, and is fastened with a screw. The barrel is chrome plated. The shotgun has a pair of hunting slats on the screws. It is equipped with double stores, characterized by the original design and fixing method.
20-01: characteristics
The total length of the gun is 1150 mm, barrel length - 600 mm, sighting line - 610 mm. Weight, depending on the caliber, can reach 2.75 kg. The trigger pull is less than 2 kg. The shotgun beats a bullet perfectly, has a very good shot battle, very light. Buttstock 20-01 is well weighed relative to the whole structure, it fits perfectly into the shoulder. However, in order for the gun under consideration to please the owner, you should be extremely careful when buying it in the store, in addition, it is advisable to allocate a little time for revision. Now on the shelves of hunting stores, in addition to the base model, you can find three more modifications. They have been produced since the beginning of the 90s: MC 20-04 (or TOZ-106), MC 20-08 and MC 20-09. These models differ only in the absence or presence of a stock, its design features, and also the barrel length.
Gun selection
When buying a gun in a store, the following criteria should be taken into account: barrel quality (the most important parameter), bolt adjustment, fuse and trigger safety, as well as draft metal parts in the box. Various kinds of troubles, such as the heavy running of the bolt part or poor fixation of the store, can be neglected. After all, all the same, you will not be able to avoid work on refining weapons. When inspecting the trunk, be sure to ensure that there is no difference in the muzzle of the barrel and the oval choke narrowing. Trunks MTs 20-01 are rarely found with other defects, which, of course, does not eliminate the need for a full inspection procedure. Pay attention to the fly - sometimes it is crookedly soldered. Inspecting the shutter, check the functioning of the locking mechanism, as well as the trigger. If all the nodes work normally, that is, the sleeve is confidently sent to the chamber, the shutter is clearly triggered (heavy movement is allowed), the trigger operates without failures, then you can think about acquiring this instance.
Lapping guns
Ergonomics and gun mechanics refinement works are usually carried out in two main directions: grinding all surfaces of the receiver and the bolt, as well as improving the ergonomic properties of reloading and weapon control elements. The second point most often comes down to optimizing the pitch, the thickness of the crest at the box, finalizing its neck, installing a rubber butt pad, and also finalizing the shutter handle. But on the first point it is necessary to dwell in more detail. The tight operation of the shutter mechanisms, especially when lifting the handle to the upper position, is the result of poor-quality processing of weapon parts, nothing more. Thus, if desired, it is guaranteed to achieve smooth and easy operation of the unit, to make it possible to control the shutter with two fingers when shooting, and the sound of its operation will become “oily”, pleasant and clear, radically different from the previous rattle.
Shutter refinement
Stiffness while bringing the handle to the upper position with the trigger pulled is observed in the following cases:
- incorrectly formed geometry of the worm cocking of the hammer or its rough processing;
- deep excavation under the trigger tooth, as well as inconsistencies in geometry and dimensions;
- mismatched surfaces of combat stops and corresponding planes in the cutouts of the receiver;
- unpolished rear ends of the shutter stem and the front end of the liner;
- rough processing of the external surfaces of the shutter and channel in the receiver;
- incorrect insertion of the liner, resulting in uneven load distribution.
Finishing up other parts of the gun
After adjusting the shutter mechanisms, you can grind the channel of the receiver, with particular attention to be paid to its planes along which the shutter slides. First, you need to carefully work with this node, listening to the friction of the metal, identifying the largest foci of resistance. Grinding USM MTs 20-01 is usually not required, the descent is already quite satisfactory. Intervention in this node is shown in a frank marriage. In this case, remove the block, then polishing the channel will be much easier. It is also advisable to handle the slide “slide”. If they are poorly sanded, then additional resistance will be created at the moment of axial rotation of the shutter. The revision of MC 20-01 also includes fitting the box, removing the old coating from it and applying a tinting compound. Depending on climatic conditions, it may be drying oil or beeswax.
Shop finishing
Established Berdank stores often drop out when fired. This is due to poor-quality fit of the locking tabs with the contact surfaces of the frame. The elimination of this malfunction requires only ten minutes of triangular file operation. It is necessary to slightly sharpen the side tabs of the store. Even when equipped, the clip should snap into place easily. Backlash at an empty fastened store is not considered a defect. In addition, the bends and the upper surface of the feeder should be sanded, which will eliminate the next rough surface. As a result, the magazine’s equipment and ammunition supply will noticeably improve.
This completes the standard refinement of the MC 20-01, all further research remains on the conscience of the owner. For a pessimistic reader about the quality of this gun, it can be noted that now impeccably assembled MTs 20-01 are increasingly found, you only need to be more careful when buying your copy.
Firing
This weapon is intended for fishing a large beast. Shooting from the MC 20-01 bullet from a distance of 30-50 meters shows an excellent result. With a well-aimed shot of a moose, you can fill up with one bullet, but if it was not enough, then there are two more cartridges in the store. As for firing, the hare can be beaten from a distance of 50-60 meters with the third or fourth number. This weapon shows a good result in hunting black grouse, but here it is better to use a fraction of four zeros. Shooting from a berdank is characterized by accuracy and good accuracy regardless of the type of charge (bullet, shot, buckshot) at a distance of 100-110 meters.
Weapon Maintenance Recommendations
Before shooting, it is necessary to wipe the barrel of the gun to dryness, because the oil remaining in it during the shot under the influence of pressure and high temperature forms a deposit, which is very difficult to remove. In addition, this affects the power, as the friction force increases . Wooden parts of the gun should be periodically wiped with oil or linseed oil - this helps to maintain the water-repellent properties of the material. Also, the owners of the MC 20-01 need to understand that this weapon is significantly different from the “fractures”, it is very difficult to extract foreign objects from it that can get into the barrel. Therefore, it is better to purchase or sew a special leather cover on the entire base of the front sight. This minor addition to the equipment of the gun will allow you to freely move through the forest and wade through thickets. Even a random shot will not be able to damage the barrel, because the charge will simply tear the case.
20-01: reviews of owners
Before acquiring this weapon, the hunter should decide what game he is going to get with it. Say, for the fishing of geese and ducks, foxes and hares, it is not optimal: a small caliber and, no less important, there is no way to produce a doublet from the single-barrel MC 20-01. The responses of hunters come down to the fact that this gun perfectly beats fur animals and large animals (bear, elk, deer, etc.), and for flying game it is better to use a double-barreled shotgun.
Conclusion
Today the arms market is oversaturated. But as for the classic smoothbore fishing rifles, here we have a rather limited number of models. The MC 20-01 considered by us most fully meets the fishing requirements and has an adequate price-quality ratio. Of course, for professional hunting, it is sometimes preferable that it is a double-barreled shotgun, but it is rarely found in small calibers. Nowadays, Berdanks are often bought for the purpose of conducting entertaining shooting, because for such events they are sometimes much more suitable than self-loading shotguns, since they are less demanding on ammunition and are notable for the principle of reloading. For most shooters who do not have rifled weapons, the twenty is a good alternative. It allows you to practice the skills of using classic bolt rifles. 20-01 is ideally suited for these purposes, and given the low price, you can close your eyes to minor manufacturing and assembly flaws.