.22LR Tula rifle

[rockstar.esq]

I found one of these .22LR bolt action beauties at a local gun shop. The list of features are as follows.
User adjustable trigger pull and overtravel
Tipp off scope rail (drilled and tapped as well)
4 setting rear sight 25,50,75,100yds
Blond wood stock with inlet forend
Free float barrel
Cocked indicator
Threaded muzzle w/ protective cap
Comes with 2-5 rnd mags and 2-10 rnd mags
Price new at $169.00
The gun seems to fit me great (I'm tall and gangly) and it truly looks great especially considering the price. I can't find squat about them online and I was hoping that some of you guys could enlighten me a little.

 

[sillywetshooter]

hi i collect .22 and would love to see a pic of that gun and also would like to know if they have anymore where you bought that one

 

[rust collector]

I believe I have seen them in Southern Ohio Gun flyers recently. They were asking 149 or 159, and they appeared to be an entry level training/target rifle. I have not seen one in the flesh, but I would expect a solid rifle from Tula.

 

[rockstar.esq]

Sillywetshooter, I didn't buy it yet. I wish I could get a picture because it really is nice looking. All I know of Tula is that it is an arsenal in Russia where they built quite a few Mosin Nagant rifles.

 

[Snowdog]

Rockstar, I know exactly the rifle you speak of. I'm seriously considering the purchase of one myself. For the number of bells'n'whistles this target rifle possesses, the economical price tag might cause a bit of trepidation for some gun enthusiasts. However, I've always been impressed with the level of value Russian firearms offer and I believe this to be the latest entry.

The picture of this rifle available on the internet proves to be scarce. This small and grainy photo lifted off Gun Broker is the only one I could find.
As I'm sure you're aware, this photo doesn't do the rifle any justice....

 

[rockstar.esq]

THANK YOU SNOWDOG!!! I couldn't find a picture of this rifle anywhere! Although I agree with you the photo doesn't do it justice, it's better than my description.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Thanks for the photo, that rifle sure is easy on the eyes... Does anyone have a range report yet?

 

[Harry Tuttle]

TOZ 99
Self-Loading Hunting Carbine

Scoped .22 lr same accuracy and dependability as the TOZ. 78. Dark stained stocks, 4x24 waterproof Russian Scope. Two five and two ten round mags. along with tool set. Very limited quantities.

http://www.ssmedwi.com/Rifles page 3.htm
$250.00

TOZ 78:
Small-Bore Hunting Carbines

http://www.tecmagex.com/2002/fr/shopping/guns/22_rifles/toz/toz_78.htm
http://www.armurerie-girod.com/FR/cat_main.asp?8$8$1$102

http://www.fusil-calais.com/a_data/prods/B387_B387.gif
http://www.fusil-calais.com/shop/cat_main.asp?6$10$2

http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/toz78.html

The Tula Arms Plant, founded in 1712 under the decree of Peter the Great and transformed into the joint stock company in 1993, is one of the recognized centers of military and double technologies.

 

[rockstar.esq]

Harry Tuttle, you are part of the reason that THR rules! Those links are really great. Does anyone know if the muzzle threads would work with an AR type flash suppressor? Or perhaps an AK / SKS flash suppressor. Not that the .22LR needs much, however I just can't just forget about the Uber cool threaded muzzle! I'm not sure what country was allowing the rifle to be sold with it's silencer but I like the way they think!

 

[Mylhouse]

Does anyone know what the thread spec is? 1/2x28tpi?

 

[rockstar.esq]

I didn't have a set of calipers but the threads did "seem" like 1/2" I wish I could tell you for sure.

 

[Mylhouse]

If you have an AR15 A2 flashhider laying around, those are 1/2x28.

 

[M67]

My dad has a Toz from the 70s, I don't know the model number. I haven't shot it for years, but I put quite a few rounds through it growing up. I remember using it for 100 meter plinking at target patches which are 17x17 mm (I just measured). I didn't hit every time of course, but the fact that I did hit often enough (or close enough) to make it fun suggests that it is an accurate little rifle.

In fact, it's perhaps the most accurate "sporter" .22 I have ever tried. I mean Anschütz territory. I am talking about the accuracy of the barrel, not quality of the mechanism or trigger pull, which is down right crappy when compared to a rifle costing ten times as much (duh).

The rumor back then was that the factory had only one production line for .22 barrels and that they simply turned down the outside diameter of the match barrels for use on the sporter rifles, so that they used basically the same barrels for olympic grade match rifles and $100 plinkers. I don't know if there is anything to this rumor, but I wouldn't be surprised. In a communist economy that kind of thing might just make "sense".

Well, this isn't much help, since I have no idea how the current rifle compares to the communist era predecessor. But if you like the way it looks and feels, I doubt very much you can be disappointed at that price. Just making a guess, I would think the action/trigger is bit more polished on the newer guns, and that they are still very accurate for the money.

And rockstar,

I'm not sure what country was allowing the rifle to be sold with it's silencer

Norway, Finland, New Zealand, France, etc... even the UK, with an easy to get licence. Not that the rifle comes with a suppressor from the factory, just that most .22s sold in these places are threaded because almost everyone who buys one wants a suppressor as part of the package.

I believe the threads are standard. Is there something called 1/2 inch UNF, which I think is 20 threads per inch? I'm not quite sure.

 

[Cosmoline]

I'm really interested in getting one of these. They have the feel of a light weight Mosin-Nagant, in the same way the CZ 452 has the feel of a light weight Mauser. Quality appears to be good (though finish is rough), but I don't know about accuracy. Frankly I don't think any rimfire this side of a custom target job could match the 452.

 

[rockstar.esq]

I bought one and I'm going to the range in a couple of days. I'll post a range report. That said, I am very impressed by the adjustable trigger. The minimum weight is 4.25lbs and the creep adjustment kept everything nice and smooth. I set the trigger using a spent casing so as not to smack my firing pin around. The heft and balance of the rifle is spot on I think the pistol grip is a bit thicker than competing .22 rifles and this adds to the feeling that it's a bigger caliber than it is. I found it neccesary to buy high rings in order to mount a scope without the objective hitting the rear sight. Unless you are going to use a 3/4" tube scope, forget about the see through rings. There just isn't enough room to get it all to work together. I am looking for a source for a 3/4" sling as the rifle comes fitted with sling swivels in that size. I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of performance it will produce.

 

[TimboKhan]

Rockstar,
Don't they sell cheapy nylon 3/4 slings at wally-world? I think you can get them in a variety of colors, including black, which would instantly turn your Tula into a hardcore tactical .22, because as we all know, black = tactical.

BTW, I thought of a rad new word: Blackticle. I think it has a certain ring to it.

 

[rockstar.esq]

Range Report!

The Tula proved to be tons of fun and was hovering around 1" groups shot offhand at 100yds!