Soviet Typhoon-3 rifle [ Тайфун-3 ] - not a Sniper, only Rimfire but I think vintage

[PMB27]

At first I posted that thread in Rimfire Section but was advised to also ask for assistance at Vintage Rifle section - so here is my question :

I wonder if there are Colleagues who might have knowledge about Soviet Typhoon-3 rifle [ Тайфун-3 ]?
According to quite limited Russian web sources Typhoon-3 rifles were produced from 1969 till 1979 and only 130 rifles in total were manufactured. A pair of rimfire and centrefire rifles were designed - Typhoon-1 in 7,62x54r and Typhoon-3 in .22 LR. They were suposed to be used by top level sport shooters in USSR - it was not the rifle for recerational shooting at sport clubs for amateurs.

I happen to acquire a Typhoon-3 rifle, unfortunately without original documents, manual, factory accessories - there is even no story to buy- no info about the rifle's past, where was used, by whom, how it get to Poland - nothing.
When looking at the rifle, it turned out that it has mismatched serial numbers - receiver and bolt have M247 serial number, while the handguard and stock have "1202", the base of the front sight is also marked with s/n "1202" (?!), while the rearsight has s/n "235" - so it seems that it is a Frankenstein assembled from 3-4 different rifle parts

The beast is so rare that despite those faults I decided to buy it anyway.

What I would like to know? First - it there were only 130 rifles produced how my rifle can have s/n M 247? How do they numbered the rifles? There is no manufacture date stamped but I guess my rifle should be from the late production period. In UK there is a Typhoon-3 rifle with s/n M 060. Was there an export version of Typhoon-3? My rifle is marked on the top of the receiver "MADE IN USSR VOSTOK <ГИС> M247" - if only top Soviet shooters were to get that rifles why bother to mark it in English? What about the stock serial number - it should match the rifle - mine has a "huge" serial number 1202 - what was the pattern in stock markings for Typhoon-3?

Here is my Typhoon/Frankenstein :

I'll be grateful for any info concerning Typhoon-3 production batches, markings etc.

 

[camocorvette]

I've never heard of the rifle. Now I'm glad you've shared this. That looks simply accurate. I hope it shoots as good as it looks. Sorry I've no information to share on it. Good luck in that endeavor, I'll be along for the knowledge.

 

[Flint62a1]

What a cool find!! Cant wait to see how it shoots!

 

[Random Guy]

My rifle is marked on the top of the receiver "MADE IN USSR VOSTOK <ГИС> M247" - if only top Soviet shooters were to get that rifles why bother to mark it in English? What about the stock serial number - it should match the rifle - mine has a "huge" serial number 1202 - what was the pattern in stock markings for Typhoon-3?

Neat rifle that I have never heard about. Those appear to be hand-made rifles, made for a decade in small numbers, for an equally small number of top Russian shooters. That said, the mis-matched serial number suggest it was cobbled together and perhaps marked for export.

As to the English stamping that suggests an export purpose, here's a pet theory - and this is only a theory. In 1991 the USSR gov't collapsed along with it's entire economy. People, the factories, and entire industries were desperate for foreign currency. So, during the 1990s all kinds of former state assets were sold at rock-bottom prices to anyone with money outside Russia, which meant selling things to Europe, USA, Middle East, etc when possible. Maybe some of the old Typhoon rifles were sold-off during those desperate times of the 1990s, and perhaps that's how one landed in the UK, and perhaps that's also the story behind your rifle? Just a pet theory. I wouldn't worry about the mis-matched numbers, it's an old and rare target rifle as-is. Enjoy it(!).

 

[PMB27]

The theory that my Typhoon could have been assembled from what left at the factory or a sport club and sold in the 90's seems plausible. That might be an explanation.

And yes - that is a neat rifle

Guess what that is and what it is for?

This is the stock mounting axis - it is welded under the receiver.

The stock with a cheekpiece is removable.

The photoes above are of another Typhoon rifle. I haven't done this to my Typhoon yet.

So far I reached this level of striptease

 

[camocorvette]

That's cool. Have you cleaned the bore and shot it yet?

 

[USMCSGT0331]

What I would like to know? First - it there were only 130 rifles produced how my rifle can have s/n M 247? How do they numbered the rifles? There is no manufacture date stamped but I guess my rifle should be from the late production period. In UK there is a Typhoon-3 rifle with s/n M 060.

Sounds like the OPL M73B2 scopes that were made in France right after WWII. Maybe about half a dozen are known to exist, but their serial numbers cover a range of something like 500 numbers. There definitely wasn't that many M73B2 scopes made!

Really cool rifle, thanks from putring it here instead of the rimfire section! If anyone here knows anything about these unique rifles, my money is on @buffalowinter for the knowledge (it seriously wouldn't surprise me if he also had one in his awesome collection!).

 

[PMB27]

I haven't been to the shooting range yet. I'm looking forward to it, but first I have to complete all the formalities related to the registration of the rifle.

 

[PMB27]

I've posted a range report at the Rimfire section - https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...ifle-Тайфун-3-search-for-information.7180250/ - if anyone interested to check how my Typhoon-3 shoots,

Here I'd like to further explore the peculiarities of the production of the Typhoon-3 rifles.
I managed to find information that at least 5 rifles were imported and used by the Armed Forces of Polish People's Republic ( before 1990 ) - in 2015 Army decommissioned those rifles and offered for sale on the civilian market. They were in such a bad technical condition that the company that bought them decided to scrap them and sell them for parts.
I was only able to determine the serial numbers of those 5 scrapped rifles : H307; H345; H 359; H366; P1321.
In the Czech Republic I found 3 advertisments of Typhoon-3 rifles for sale - only one serial number I managed to catch : H113
One rifle, sold in UK, has the serial number : M060.
My Typhoon-3 has the serial number M247 ( the stock, apparently taken form other rifle has the number : 1202 ).
So, at least 3 letter prefixes - H, P, M - and serial numbers from 060 up to 1321 (?). And allegedly only 130 rifles manufactured.
What could have been the numbering system for these rifles?

 

[PMB27]

Another small update :
These are the Typhoon-3 rifles I managed to get familiar with, but only via interet photoes. Unfortunately this is a very superficial acquaintance with no further details on these rifles .
Eight rifles in the pictures ( 4 from the Czech Republic, 1 from Bulgaria, 1 from UK and mine ) plus information about 5 scrapped, which gives 13 rifles - 10% of the likely total number produced.
Maybe someone will add few more?

 

[PMB27]

Just for the record - my Typhoon-3 is not only a collector's item but a fully functional weapon, a very accurate one, which gives a lot of joy at the shooting range.
Yesterday I managed to improve my personal best and further reduce the 5-shots group size at 100 meters.
Sitting shooting position, reifle rested on bipod, scope : VOMZ Pilad 10x42LF, distance 100 m.

Previously my personal best was 0,67 MOA.

Ammo : Eley Benchrest Precision

Since yesterday it is 0,53 MOA

Ammo : Eley Match

 

[M77]

very cool rifle, looks like you are taking good care of it.
shooting very well at 100...

 

[PMB27]

A small progress has been made - a five-shot group at 100 meters now below 0.5 MOA - different ammo - SK Flatnose Match - less expensive than Eley Match - only advantages.

0,49 MOA - Lucky me

 

[PMB27]

I tried shooting a .22LR at 200 and 300 meters for the first time. It was quite a rollercoaster of emotions, expectations, and results.

In short – the rifle performed excellently, the scope was so-so ( it lacked a "crosshair" – but more on that in a more detailed description ), the Strelok ballistics calculator (basic version) had a significant error ( I guess it was a combination of the lack of ammunition in the database and the lack of real data, e.g. on bullet velocity ) and the spotting scope a modified Russian ZRT-457M – very poor – unfortunately, I havent seen the hits, so shooting was based solely on the calculator's settings, which led to a mood swing from defeatism and resignation to a smile and satisfaction.

In details – I had no data on wind strength or direction, and I was hoping to make any corrections based on the hits from the first group ( naive me ). The basic Strelok didn't have Eley Match ( black label ) in its database for the .22 LR ammunition, which I used to shoot the Tajfun at 100 meters – so I chose Eley Tanex for the calculations. I started at 200 meters using these calculated settings, and unfortunately, with each shot, my anxiety and disappointment grew. I stared into the corrective scope and Nothing – not a trace on the target, and a full-size NT-23P army target for an AK is a large piece of paper, and I was hoping to see something. But I saw nothing on the target. I fired three groups of 5 rounds, changing the aiming point, but only horizontally (which will be important), and seeing nothing on the target, I decided it was pointless. For peace of mind, since I had already paid for training on the axis up to 300 meters, I also shot one 5-round group at 300 meters, based on Strelok's calculations.

Sad and disappointed I took a ride with the target crew to the targets to see my defeat up close. Approaching the target at 200 meters, I could see from just a few steps that the NT-23P target was clean, no bullet holes – a failure. I hung my head, and only then did I see my three groups – below the target, on the edge of the plywood on which the target was mounted! Through the corrective scope, I stared at the target, didn't see it because I focused on the center of the target. If I had noticed them during shooting, I might have reacted somehow with the vertical aiming point – I probably would have started dealing with the settings. I didn't see them and stayed with the original calculations from the Strelok. It was a good thing, after all, because then at 300 meters it would have been different.

At the 300-meter target, I already knew where to look – and the group was there! It was also well below the target itself, right at the edge of the plywood, but it was there. In size, it was even better than the best of the 200-meter groups.

The scope mounted on the Tajfun was a VOMZ 10x42LF with a PSO-1 reticle. Closed turrets - the scope was zeroed at 100 meters, and I didn't want to change the settings on the turrets. I decided to use the chevrons on the reticle for corrections. At the 300-meter calculation, I was already missing a chevron! The Strelok calculated the aiming point below the fourth chevron – if I had realized at 200 meters that I needed to lower the aiming point further, I wouldn’t have the reticle to aim at 300 meters.

At the end of the day I am satisfied. Thanks to Tajfun-3.

A range report just a bit to brag about