Some guns are built to shoot birds. Some are built to break clays. The over-under you see here was built to say F-U to the United States.
Back in during the Cold War, the USSR did all the could to win every international competition out there. For their shooting teams, that meant building a new, Soviet-designed over-under shotgun.
The name of the company that built this shotgun translates in different ways — Vostok, Baikal, TsKIB. Trap/Skeet models like the one you see here were known as MU-8s, MT-8s, MC-8s, or MTs-8.
Most of the Soviet national team used a plainer, but mechanically identical version to beat the US and win a ton of international competitions, including an Olympic Gold Medal in 1968. All these guns were handmade, perfectly balanced, and had excellent trigger pulls. They also had unique actions that were designed to never break. Models like you see here were beautifully polished and blued, hand engraved, and featured European walnut stocks with a nice reddish hue.
Bid on this Russian MC-8-3 MU-8-3 12 Gauge Competition Trap & Skeet O/U DBL Shotgun*
The 26 1/2″ Skeet bbls for this gun feature Tula chokes, which were cutting-edge shooting technology back when the gun was made. You can read more about them here: Tula Chokes, Bruce Buck, The Technoid, Shotgun Report and here MYTHS OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS. Tula-chok. Tula Choke.
Russian MC-8-3 MU-8-3 12 Gauge Competition Trap & Skeet O/U DBL Shotgun*
Blast from the Past: Baikal MTs-8: This vintage gun was Russia’s response to the West when they decided to get in on the sporting-arms race
FYI: The accuracy of this listing has not been verified by Dogs and Doubles. All information has been provided by the sellers. Buyers are responsible for verifying the physical condition and all specifications of the listed items. Dogs and Doubles recommends you and a qualified gunsmith physically inspect an item before purchasing.
