The Ruger Hole Punch

"Hey Xavier, tell about that long stainless Ruger pistol you sometimes post a picture of, OK?"

I believe the pistol you are referring to must be my Ruger MKII Government Model. Before the time of the Ruger Hunter and Ruger Competition Target, another 22 pistol from Prescott Arizona ruled the Ruger roost.

Officially known as the KMK678G, the Ruger MKII Government Model did not have the fluted barrel of the Hunter, or the slab sided barrel of the Competition Target. Nor did it come with nice wooden grips. It was a deceptively simple pistol that shot from a six 7/8 cylindrical bull barrel, and plain black plastic grips were screwed to it's sides. The take home price was usually twice that of the Ruger Standard models, hardly what could be termed a glitzy fast selling pistol.

The Ruger Government Model's grey plastic box held an extra piece of documentation, however. Inside was a 25 yard proof target, with a single hole inside a black circle. The extra cash paid for the Government Model got the buyer a pistol with a bore that was aligned with a laser and rifling with a 1-15 twist instead of Ruger's standard 1-14 twist. It was drilled for optics, and the sights were a basic Ruger micro-adjustable rear sight paired with an undercut Patridge front sight. It was a superb foundation for modification.

Over time, my KMK678G received several upgrades. The plastic grips were tossed in a spare parts bin, and a Nill grip was installed. A mix of Volquartsen and Clark Custom parts replaced the original Ruger action. The Ruger lockwork that remained was polished.

Finally, to add a bit of weight to the muzzle, I screwed on a Volquartsen compensator. The V-Comp did the trick, making the pistol stay in the X-ring with virtually no recoil. It was heavy, but if the shooter wanted to rapid fire ten shots into a bullseye, this pistol was up to the challenge. Of course, harnessing that kind of accuracy off hand was the shooter's responsibility. On bags, the pistol took care of itself.

Because it was an autoloading pistol, the Ruger Government Model could suffer flyers from time to time. Still, it was long my standard for judging the accuracy of other handguns. Indeed, when a genuine free pistol, the TOZ-35, finally came on the market at a price I could afford, it was the Ruger Government Model that I took to the range to compare it to.

The Ruger Government Model is no longer available. Originally entering production under a military contract in 1986, it has been superseded by the Ruger Competition. As a 22 pistol in my inventory, it remains a gun capable of punching a hole exactly where I want it to, as long as I am up to the challenge.

The Ruger Competition Government Model

TOZ-35 Range Report

There is an old saying.......an inaccurate gun is a boring gun. There are handguns that have "combat accuracy," better known as acceptable accuracy. This is often a compromise between durability, portability, marketability, and of course, cost. Then there are handguns with "target accuracy".........two inch groups at 50 yards with the right ammo. True, these pistols, usually semi automatics, are well above the average pistol in the ability to put holes in the black, but they are compromised by a reciprocating action that must return the barrel and sights to the same position over and over.

Finally, there are "free pistols".......The free pistol is a handgun built for extreme accuracy. A free pistol is easily identified by its grip, which may completely envelope and stabilises the shooter's hand, although it cannot reinforce the wrist. Regulations require only that a free pistol fires .22 calibre long rifle cartridges and has open sights. These pistols posses a longer barrel, and sight radius. Most are single shot pistols, or they use a modified magazine that can only contain one round.

Free pistol, a precision shooting event, has been part of the Olympics since 1896. Competitors shoot .22 caliber pistols from 50 meters at precision targets with a 5cm 10 ring. Competitors fire 60 shots in two hours. 600 is a perfect score, and 565 is considered world class. The top eight competitors advance to a 10-shot final round, with 75 seconds allotted for each shot. The final is scored in tenths of a point and added to the match score to determine winners. A perfect final score is 109. A perfect aggregate (Match + Final) score is 709 points. The free pistol is a no excuse precision hole puncher. The shooter of these handguns only has himself to blame is a shot flies wide of the bullseye.

I purchased my TOZ-35 from CDNN for $499 with the wooden case. With overnight shipping, the price came to $512. The outside of the case was pretty badly scuffed up and the top of the case was loose, but nothing a bit of wood glue can not repair. The felt lining was intact throughout. the wooden case had persevered and protected the treasure inside. Included with the TOZ-35 was an English version of the manual, and an odd bottle for lubricant. The rest of the package.......Tools and assorted sight leaves were missing. The absent items didn't really bother me that much, it was still a deal in my opinion. I immediately went online to research the pistol.

Designed in 1959, the Vostok TOZ-35 is still a worthy competitor against such names as Hammerli and Pardini. At the 2000 Milan World Cup, Bill Demarest won and set a new world record in Free Pistol of 676.2 points with a TOZ-35. The TOZ-35 won Gold, Silver, Bronze, and 4th place at the 1996 Olympic Games. Yes, it's still a competitive pistol without all the lightweight unobtainium high speed space age gyroscopic whiz bangs. Heck, I kind of like it's antique-ish flavor. I guess I'm just a walnut and blue kind of guy.

The grips of the TOZ-35 are adjustable walnut. The left grip fully encircles the thumb. The upper wing supports the firearm on the hand, while the adjustable lower wing supports it underneath. The lower wing would not adjust far enough down for my big ham of a hand, so I removed it for this range report. In the future, I will fabricate a bracket so the lower wing can be attached when I shoot the pistol.

The action of the Toz-35 is not unlike that of the old Martini-Henry rifle. The breech is locked by means of a bolt rocking on its pin, which is actuated by a release lever extending beneath the grip. A single round is fed in, and the breech is locked. The firing mechanism housed in the bolt is simultaneously actuated by an accelerator mounted on a separate base plate. The accelerator is armed by deppressing the trigger cock lever on the left side of the pistol. Until the trigger is cocked, the trigger is unable to fire the pistol. The sight radius of the TOZ-35 is 375mm. The sights are about as far apart as possible. The crown is recessed into the muzzle.

The fittment of the pistol is quite nice. Although manufactured in the Soviet Union, the Russkies placed some craftsmanship into this firearm. The trigger mechanism itself is quite amazing. It appears complex with an array of very finely threaded screws to adjust it. The trigger is fully adjustable, for pull length, pull angle, angle of alignment, degrees of rotation towards the finger, and of course, pressure and creep. I do not know what this trigger is set at. The directions say it will adjust up to one pound. It is light........So light a butterfly fart could trip it. I'll be careful of butterflies, and not cock the trigger until I am prepared to fire. So, after a careful inspection and lube job, I packed up the TOZ and headed for the range. I took along a 550 round bulk pack of Federal .22 ammo. I also took my Ruger MKII to compare the TOZ with.

It was a cold, clear day when I arrived. Cold at least for Louisiana. It was about 55 degrees. I removed my jacket to go to work. The sky was crisp and blue, a Bluebird kind of day. I read over the instructions again to familiarize myself with my new hole punch, and I removed the lower wing from the grip. I placed some targets out, my usual index cards with a spot in the center. I loaded a round into the TOZ chamber and raised the pistol, being mindful to keep my trigger finger extended. I reached up and cocked the trigger. I moved my trigger finger to the trigger. POP! SaZaaaam! WOW! I moved the release lever forward, extracting and ejecting the spent shell casing. Damnnnnnn, that was a light trigger!

I set the TOZ down to think about this a bit. I picked up the Ruger. The Ruger I had brought for comparison is a modified Target Government MKII. It wears a Nill grip, and cranks out .22 bullets using Volquartsen internals and compensator. It seemed heavy compared to the TOZ. It was heavy by comparison. I loaded up a magazine and warmed up with the Ruger. I blew through several magazines, controlling my breathing and trying to reach that tranquil and calculating place of zen shooting. Once I had reached that transcendental plane I returned to the Russkie gun.

I picked up the TOZ-35 and slipped it on my hand. That's right, I slipped it on. Like a glove. It immediately became apparent that you don't hold this pistol as I had the Ruger. You wear it. Like a well fitted prosthesis, it becomes a part of yourself. I loaded it again, raised it, cocked the trigger and aimed it. I touched the trigger and it placed a hole an inch low. I ran a few more rounds though it to make certain. The TOZ grouped them tightly. I removed the pistol from my hand and tried to turn the rear sight knobs to adjust. They were stiff with dried grease.

With a little dexterous persuasion and a squirt of Break-Free, I was moving the hits where I wanted them. I had the windage adjustment knob all the way to the left, so I compensated for that by loosening the sight leaf and moving it to the left. Then I returned the windage knob back to place the rear sight centerline again.

I transitioned between the two pistols every fifty rounds or so, shooting offhand, and the difference was startling. I had thought the Ruger was the cat's knees before I shot the TOZ-35. The Ruger was a good, accurate pistol, but the TOZ out-classed it handily. In fact the TOZ plucked and fried that Ruger eagle and fed it to the MKII on Bolshevik china.

The TOZ-35 was a dream to shoot. I didn't have to think about shooting the pistol. I only had to aim it. It was as though I willed the hole to appear where ever I aimed. The TOZ-35 is a perfectly balanced pistol. It aims as though it were the finger at the end of your arm. The hole appears where you aim. What more could a target shooter want?

Notes:

To prevent damage to the action, the TOZ-35 must be stored properly. If dry firing is desired, steps must be taken to prevent damage as well.

Placing the TOZ-35 into storage:
1. Check that the chamber is empty, then carry out the following procedure.
2. Cock the trigger set.
3. Using the action lever protruding beneath the grip, slightly open the action.
4. Fire the set trigger. This will release mainspring pressure.

If the action lever moves to the rear, it shows that the main spring is released. Check by slightly opening the action. Residual spring tension indicates that the mainspring has been released. The pistol may now be stored.

If the action lever is moveable without tension, the mainspring is still compressed. Repeat the procedure to release the tension on the main spring.


To Dry Fire the TOZ-35:
1. Open the action enough to check that the chamber is empty.
2. Make certain the mainspring is not under tension.
3. With the mainspring pressure released and the action lever locked in the rear position, the set trigger may now be cocked and dry fired without damaging the mechanism.

Parts are available at Larry's Guns in Maine.

TOZ-35 Manual

TOZ-35 Hole Punch

I finally took possession of my TOZ-35 yesterday. I had ordered it from CDNN on Tuesday the 20th, but shipping was slowed by the holidays. My FFL is kind of slow as well, as guns are not their primary business. I was on call at the hospital forever it seemed, so busy I just came home and crashed. I'm still recovering, but I now have the TOZ......

I will be doing a range report soon, but for anyone that wants to order one, they are $499 plus $13 shipping, with the wooden case. My case came with an odd double tin of lubricant, and little else but a Xeroxed English version of the manual. I have not shot the pistol yet......gotta wait for Saturday, but if you are interested in ordering one, they seem to be a solid deal. These are Olympic quality Free Pistols manufactured by the Russkies. It's a solid, well built pistol, and it appears to be unfired. I look forward to being the first to fire it.

Free Pistols

There is a sublime beauty in form following function. Perhaps this is why Glock pistols, and the M1911A1 seem to be the two handguns shooters eventually gravitate towards. Both are unadulterated in a quest to get shots on target as quickly as possible. There is another style of shooting however. Shooting for absolute accuracy. Shooting a handgun as Robin Hood shot a bow and arrow. Placing a hole exactly where one wants, and then placing rounds through the same hole.

Free pistols are used in 50m Pistol, an ISSF and Olympic event. Free pistols only have a few limitations. They must have open sights. The grip can not lock the wrist in any way. Caliber must be .22 caliber rimfire. The pistol must be loaded and fired as a single shot pistol. Anything else is permissible.

For several years I have enjoyed shooting my Ruger MKII Government Target Model. I has a Volquartsen/Clark Custom action, an anatomically formed Nill grip, and a Volquartsen compensator, added primarily for weight. With Ruger's competition barrel, the gun is accurate, darned accurate. Still, the trigger is not adjustable, and it is not a true single shot. Competition is possible only with a modified magazine.

My IZH 46M was produced by the Russkies for the 10m air pistol event. It is an extraordinarily accurate pistol. With a fully adjustable trigger and swappable sights, it is probably my most accurate pistol.

Still, the IZH 46M was an air pistol. While handy for killing mice, and for winning a few bucks in a friend's back yard, I continued to lust after Pardini K22s and especially the Hammerli 162. Let's face it, old Xavier ain't to awful bad at hitting paper plates on the run with his 1911, but I'm not a world class Olympic shooter. The precision and purity of calling and placing a shot exactly where you want to fascinates me though. The esoteric and functional beauty of a tool designed for that type of transcendental shooting captivates me as well.

Today, I placed an order for a TOZ-35M Free Pistol with the wooden case from CDNN.
$512 with the case.

Ho Ho Ho!

Looking through CDNN's most recent catalog, I find a TOZ-35M for me, and a CM-2 Target Rifle for Little Darling. They also have Colt AR-15's for fairly decent prices. Hmmmmmmmm It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas.......

Storing & Collecting Airguns

Jogging around the gun-blogosphere, I see more and more gunnies beginning to appreciate airguns. With quality airguns like the IZH-46M available for a pittance, that is not surprising. They are a different animal than regular firearms though, and a new owner must adjust.

B.B. Pelletier at The Pyramyd Air Report has given an answer to the question of storing your airgun charged or discharged. It does make a difference in the longevity of the gun's seals. BB has also shared some insights on advanced air gun collecting. If you enjoy airguns, don't miss this blog!

IZH 46M....This'un aint no toy!

When I bought a Winchester 1000XS, I knew it was likely to happen. Being able to walk out your back door and shoot targets with an accurate gun at any time you like has amazing appeal. The Winchester air rifle is nice. It is accurate. But I'm much more a pistol shooter than a rifle shooter. Thus, the search for an accurate, well made and cost efficient air pistol was under way.
Through several weeks of internet research, one pistol kept popping up. The IZH-Baikal 46M Match pistol was repeatedly heralded as one of the world's best single stroke pneumatic pistols made. The 46M has won many international competitions competing against some of the best German made air pistols, and it's available at less than half the cost! That sounded like the pistol for me. I placed an order to Pyramyd Air.

Today, I recieved a world class target pistol in the mail for a paltry sum of $269. The 0.177 caliber instrument (I hesitate to even call it a pistol) has a micrometer adjustable rear sight with replaceable steel blades. The front sight blade is also easily swapped out. It has a fully adjustable two-stage trigger that can be adjusted down to telepathy release. The IZH 46M will propel a pellet at 500 ft/sec.

As I stated, this precision instrument is no toy. There is not a shred of plastic on it. Even the knobs on the rear sight are aluminum instead of polymer. I wanted to monkey with the trigger, but I held off and read the manual first. That did not help much. The adjustment instructions presumed knowledge I do not yet possess. I decided to shoot the gun first.

I immediately noticed the Ruskies must have terribly small hands compared to us Americans. I had to sand the grip, especially the bottom piece to accomodate my ham fisted mitts. A little Dremel work, a little 320 grit, and some tung oil, and they were made just for me. Custom grips are available.

The real question though, is how does it shoot? I went out in the back yard and set up some informal targets about 20 feet out. I loaded up the pistol with Daisy flat nosed ammo and nailed every McDonald's toy I shot at. I hung up a few dot targets, and the IZH 46M showed every inadequacy I had shooting off hand. My groups were good, but I knew the gun could do better. So, I benched the pistol and rested it's cylinder on a couple of sandbags. With my inadequacies out of the equation, the gun was a consistent one hole shooter at 30 feet.
The under barrel cocking lever charges the pneumatic cylinder with almost no effort. There is no discernable recoil when firing. The sound it makes is an audible pffffffft. The sound of the pellet hitting the target is potentially more audible. If a shooter uses a padded backstop, a neighbor will never know marksmanship training is occuring next door. The IZH 46M is, of course, a single shot pistol.

Red dot scopes and Weaver scope mounts are available for this pistol. Baikal has a winner here. For under $300 you will likely not find a better made, more accurate true target gun anywhere.

Pyramyd Air Report on the IZH-46M