TOZ-66 Hammered Coach Questions

[Kansas City Munny]

So I am going to need an intervention. I've been looking for a hammered SXS to shoot Classic Cowboy and have a backup to my Stoeger Coach. After recently picking up a really nice vintage Central Arms Co. hammered SXS, I found a Tula (USSR) manufactured TOZ-66 which was a deal I couldn't pass up. It's in good shape, feels like it's built like a T90 tank, and will do the job albeit with an extra challenge of cocking hammers for Classic Cowboy.

 

Two questions:

1. This thing has hammer springs made for Godzilla to operate. I'm sure parts are non-existent. Is there a solution that can be performed by someone with sufficient mechanical aptitude? 

2. When operating the front trigger, on occasion the front trigger can travel past what feels like a stop with a "click". Then the trigger must be manually pushed forward again to operate normally upon cocking. If you pull the trigger to the tension before it passes the stop, all functions as normal.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thank you!

[Blackwater 53393]

I have two of these and had a third stolen from me a few years ago.  These are tough little shotguns.  A good gunsmith can properly grind and polish the hammer springs to be MUCH lighter. He must take into account that this same spring furnishes the hammer rebound and that must be adjusted as well.  The trigger problem is unfamiliar to me, but I'm certain a competent gunsmith can fix it.

 

Numrich and Jim First DO have some parts for these guns.

 

NOTE!!  The barrels on most of these shotguns, (the twenty inch versions) are extra full and full choke. None of mine would let a dime slide all the way through the barrel!  The one that was stolen would pattern about the size of a Kennedy half dollar at fifteen yards using #7 lead shot out of the left barrel. The one I have that is all original will do about the same!  I won a state championship and several matches in the Frontiersman category with one of these.

 

OH!!  YEAH!! I believe that Boomstick Jay was experimenting with a long eared hammer for these!!

[Kansas City Munny]

Thanks for the information Blackwater. I'll look at the gunsmith option as I have a very competent guy locally. I'll see if he knows anything about this fine piece.

[Blackwater 53393]

Those “coach gun” models, (they made a longer barrel model too) were originally ceremonial weapons for the escort of foreign dignitaries to, and condemned prisoners of the Soviet Union. Four of them would be issued the guards who would accompany said persons in a diamond formation, front, rear, right, and left. A pristine example can be worth as much as $3,500.00 in some markets, according to more than one article I’ve read.

[Kansas City Munny]

$3500??? Wow! That's obviously quite a bit more than I paid for it. It's actually in really good shape.

[M.T Chambers, SASS#76185]

6 hours ago, Kansas City Munny said:

So I am going to need an intervention. I've been looking for a hammered SXS to shoot Classic Cowboy and have a backup to my Stoeger Coach. After recently picking up a really nice vintage Central Arms Co. hammered SXS, I found a Tula (USSR) manufactured TOZ-66 which was a deal I couldn't pass up. It's in good shape, feels like it's built like a T90 tank, and will do the job albeit with an extra challenge of cocking hammers for Classic Cowboy.

 

Two questions:

1. This thing has hammer springs made for Godzilla to operate. I'm sure parts are non-existent. Is there a solution that can be performed by someone with sufficient mechanical aptitude? 

2. When operating the front trigger, on occasion the front trigger can travel past what feels like a stop with a "click". Then the trigger must be manually pushed forward again to operate normally upon cocking. If you pull the trigger to the tension before it passes the stop, all functions as normal.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thank you!

 

I have three of these also. A competent gunsmith can work the springs. The problem you are talking about with the trigger is this- the sear extension sits over the trigger, in the TOZ-66s that leg just barely reaches past the top of the trigger. When you feel the "click", the trigger blade has gone off the edge between the sear extensions. I preferred reversing my triggers as i am right-handed and actually bent the top of the trigger blades to better engage the sear extension. I also heated and straightened the hammer spurs, but be gentle if you do this yourself.

 

 

[Kansas City Munny]

That's great information M.T Chambers. I'll disassemble this thing and see what I can do. If beyond my skills, then I'll drop it off with my local smith for sure.