Thread: Toz 17 worthwhile seeking parts?

Hi, I am new to this website, seeking opinions from anyone who has owned this model of .22 LR bolt action.
I’ve been given this Toz, it hasn’t been used in years and is missing bolt, and magazine. If I had a bolt at least could use it as a single shot. I’ve seen online photos showing some with a cap over the rear of receiver, and some without cap. IDK if the bolt is the same or different for these styles.
Otherwise rest of rifle is in tidy condition, bore looks good, some surface rust on receiver and steel buttplate.Stock is tidy and original finish I think.
These rifles are advertised in the $300 range as complete units from what I’ve seen.
Is it worth trying to source a bolt?

My usual .22 is a Gevarm semi auto, but am keen on trying a bolt action to have something with a better trigger.

It would be probably more straightforward to spend $200 and just buy a different one that is already complete. There are a couple in the gunshops down here for that kind of money. The only way to get the parts would be to buy another rifle and use the bolt and mag from that....so you might as well just buy a different one and use it.

Good little guns though, my one shoots as well as anything else and is made properly, no plastic, no aluminium etc, real open sights, and has never faulted. My one is Soviet era. They were originally made by the Russian government to equip fur trappers in Sibera, and as military trainers, and then they started to export them.

Thanks for your reply John. Good points! Yes, this one has USSR stamped on top of receiver so likely similar age to yours.

Best to get the grinder out and then bin it.
The Toz 17 is an 'agriculturally made' Russian .22... just not worth trying to find a bolt or magazine for.
There are some cheap second-hand .22s on the market at the moment. Look for an old wooden stocked JW-15 bolt action (the older the manufactured year the better). These can be bought for ~$200 with a scope.

Thanks Hermitage, yes the JW 15 looks a good alternative. They often seem to be threaded for suppressor too, which I had thought about doing on the Gevarm, but am a bit reluctant to alter it from its original condition.

The Toz-17's are rugged and accurate rifles but not set up for scopes and suppressors. They were designed as simple and reliable tools for people in Siberia to survive on small game. The JW-15's are equally rugged and accurate but set up for the usual shooting aids.

Thanks gundoc!

I have a bunch of the TOZ 22 rifles. My favourite bunny buster is one with the end bulb removed to thread it. Yes the bolt is not super slick, but can be made slicker with some attention, and the wood is not flash but man can that thing shoot straight! Easy ones came with no provision for optics. Later ones have slots machined in to accept standard 1 in rings. I have examples of both. Not hard to have the early ones drilled and tapped. The 5 shot mags are very agriculture and hand fitted to each rifle so can be finicky to move to another one. The 10shot Mossberg Pinker magazine is a viable alternative. A little judicious sanding with fine emery paper produces a good friction fit. Close the bolt (getting one is the harder part), insert the loaded mag up to the bolt just enough to depress the cartridge stack in the mag one cartridge down. Not too hard. It will now feed all 10 rounds and is firmly enough seated not to fall out. I've used one for years.

Don't be too quick to pick up the grinder. Put it in the safe and keep your eyes peeled. There are a lot of these around. Some with bolts and no mags and rusted barrels and crappy beaten up wood will go dirt cheap if not for nothing.

I built one up with odd parts from here and there including a bolt from an old gunsmith now passed. Its a great shooter and a nice bit of history.

Yea the russian stuff isnt desighned to be pretty or win pissing contests. Ive got a baikal target rifle its rough as and got a pretty shit trigger but it out shoots my mauser target rifle there are parts around for them, I knew a guy that had bolts and mags for them but lost contact with him a while back

never ever seen a toz 17 where the bore was concentric with the outer of the barrel.
last mag i saw was $150, never seen a bolt for sale.
buy a 10/22 with a trigger job done on it, preferably an early one with metal trigger guard etc not the polymer version

He said he wants a bolt action

Originally Posted by gonetropo

never ever seen a toz 17 where the bore was concentric with the outer of the barrel.
last mag i saw was $150, never seen a bolt for sale.
buy a 10/22 with a trigger job done on it, preferably an early one with metal trigger guard etc not the polymer version

Neither, doesn't stop them shooting fantastically though. I've got one I chopped to 16" and threaded for a suppressor. The bore was definitely not concentric, but that's what dial indicators and four jaw chucks are for.
Damn think shoots better than my CZ.

My first rifle was Toz17 that I saved up for when I was 15ish cost me $49.50 back in the 1970’s - in the 1980’s my dad lent it to a neighbour who lost the mag and it cost $50 for a replacement. Great wee rifle for a young guy to start out with i shot lots of goats, rabbits and possums with it.

Originally Posted by Makros

Neither, doesn't stop them shooting fantastically though. I've got one I chopped to 16" and threaded for a suppressor. The bore was definitely not concentric, but that's what dial indicators and four jaw chucks are for.
Damn think shoots better than my CZ.

I noticed mine was off-centre also. Asked my GS about it. He said, "show me a low cost rifle that is not. As long as the the last few inches follow a straight line and the sights are in line with those inches it matters not".

Thanks Jhon,yes this one has grooves for scope mounting.Thanks for your tips about magazines, yes I’ll hang on to rifle for now. Plenty of room in gun cabinet!