The KO-8,2 is a Soviet bolt-action hunting rifle based on 7.62mm M1891/30 military rifle.Виктор Рон. От винтовки Мосина к карабину Кочетова НК-8,2 // журнал «Оружие», № 5, 2021. стр.57-58

History

In the early 1930s, it was decided to develop a large-caliber hunting cartridge with an

expanding bullet Expanding bullets, also known colloquially as dumdum bullets, are projectiles designed to expand on impact. This causes the bullet to increase in diameter, to combat over-penetration and produce a larger wound, thus dealing more damage to a li ...

and a hunting rifle for this cartridge based on the design of well-known standard military rifle. In 1932,

Tula Arms Plant Imperial Tula Arms Plant () is a Russian weapons manufacturer founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia in 1712 in Tula, Tula Oblast as Tula Arsenal. Throughout its history, it has produced weapons for the Russian state. Its name was changed from Tula ...

began serial production of the ''NK-8,2 mm hunting carbine'',История Тульского оружейного завода, 1712—1972. М., «Мысль», 1973. стр.475-476 which lasted until 1941. After the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, production continued, with the weapon being renamed ''KO-8,2''.М. Мардер, Д. Матвеев. Новые ружья для промысловой охоты // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 8, август 1961. стp.35-39И. Дерюшев. Охотничьи карабины "Ижмаша" // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 12, декабрь 1985. стр.16-17 After start of the serial production of new hunting rifles ( Bars, Los and Medved), the production of KO-8,2 hunting carbines and 8.2×66mm cartridges for them was discontinued.А. Соколов. Старые модели. КО-8,2 // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 11, ноябрь 1991. стр.29

Design

The NK-8,2 (KO-8,2) hunting rifle is a standard M1891/30 military rifle without

bayonet A bayonet (from Old French , now spelt ) is a -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... , now spelt ) is a knife, dagger">knife">-4; we might wonder whethe ...

with a new 8.2mm

barrel A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden stave (wood), staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers ...

and new bolt. The NK-8,2 (KO-8,2) hunting rifle had a birch stock and fore-end. A small number of rifles were equipped with detachable folding

bipod A bipod is a V-shaped portable attachment that helps support and steady a device, usually a weapon such as a long gun or a mortar. The term comes from the Latin prefix and Greek root , meaning "two" and "foot" respectively. Bipods are design ...

Variants

* NK-8,2 (''НК-8,2'') - first model, pre-war production, made by Tula Arms Plant * KO-8,2 (''КО-8,2'') - first model, post-war production (renamed without changes in design) * KO-8,2M (''КО-8,2М'') - second model, since August 1961. It has new 500mm barrel with four right grooves (320mm twist rate), new wooden gunstock and detachable scope base for optical sight ТО-4 * KO-9 (''КО-9'') - third model (9mm version of KO-8,2M for 9×53mmR ammunition). It had new 600mm barrel with

muzzle brake A muzzle brake or recoil compensator is a device connected to, or a feature integral (ported barrel) to the construction of, the muzzle or barrel of a firearm or cannon that is intended to redirect a portion of propellant gases to counter re ...

, different wooden gunstock with

recoil pad A recoil pad is a piece of rubber, foam, leather, or other soft material usually attached to the buttstock of a rifle or shotgun. Recoil pads may also be worn around the shoulder with straps, placing the soft material between the buttstock and t ...

and detachable scope base for optical sight, one test prototype was built Also, in 2005, the

Vyatskiye Polyany Machine-Building Plant Vyatskiye Polyany Molot Machine-Building Plant () is a Russian company based in Vyatskiye Polyany. The plant manufactures rifles and shotguns under the Molot-Oruzhiye (Hammer Weapon) and VEPR (Wild Boar) brands, and is a subsidiary of Rostec. It ...

announced that it would begin production of new VPO-103 (''ВПО-103'') hunting carbine (a surplus 7.62mm M1944 military carbine converted to fire 9×53mmR ammunition).

Users

* – was allowed as civilian hunting weapon * - at least several NK-8,2 rifles were sold to Mongolia as civilian hunting weapon

Museum exhibits

* ten rifles are in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in

Tula Kremlin The Tula Kremlin () is a fortress in Tula, Russia, Tula, Russia, which was constructed in the early 16th century. There are two cathedrals within the Kremlin: *Assumption Cathedral (1762-1766) *Epiphany Cathedral (1855-1863) History In 1507 V ...

"''В начале 1930-х гг. Д. М. Кочетов разработал охотничий карабин НК-8,2. Основой для его создания послужила трехлинейная винтовка С. И. Мосина. Тульский музей оружия располагает десятью карабинами Кочетова, время изготовления которых относится к 1932 - 1940''"
Хроника ружейного производства // журнал «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 10, октябрь 1987. стр.20-21

References

{{Reflist

Sources

* А. Я. Зеленков. Универсальное охотничье ружье для промысловой охоты // Рационализация охотничьего промысла. Выпуск 4. М., Заготиздат, 1955. ("Библиотека промыслового охотника") * В. Н. Трофимов. Отечественные охотничьи ружья нарезные. М., ДАИРС, 2007. стр.106-109 Bolt-action rifles of the Soviet Union 9×53mmR firearms Tula Arms Plant products Izhevsk machine-building plant products Hunting rifles