Introduction to the Drulov Model 70
The Drulov Model 70 is a purpose-built .22 caliber free pistol developed in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War era for 50-meter precision competition. It reflects a distinctly pragmatic approach to elite target pistol design, emphasizing mechanical consistency, durability, and accessibility rather than luxury or novelty. Though outwardly plain compared to some Western European contemporaries, the Drulov Model 70 is fully capable of world-class accuracy and earned a lasting reputation as a reliable and effective competition arm.
The pistol occupies an important position in the evolution of international free pistols, representing a mature and technically sound solution shaped by competition rules, industrial realities, and a strong regional tradition of precision shooting.
Manufacturer and Industrial Context
Production of the Drulov Model 70 is associated with the post-1948 Czechoslovak firearms cooperative system, specifically the organization originally known as Lidové družstvo puškařů “Lov” of Litomyšl, later operating under the name Dílo Svratovice. Following nationalization, Czech sporting arms manufacture was reorganized into state-controlled cooperatives tasked with producing reliable, standardized firearms for domestic use and export.
Within this system, emphasis was placed on mechanical integrity, repeatable manufacture, and long service life. Decorative finish and bespoke fitting were secondary concerns. The name “Drulov” became an export-associated designation for a line of rimfire target pistols produced under this cooperative structure.
The Model 70 represents the most competition-oriented free pistol produced under that banner and reflects the industrial philosophy of the period with unusual clarity.
Competitive Discipline and Design Requirements
The Drulov Model 70 was designed specifically for the 50-meter free pistol discipline. This event requires the shooter to fire single shots at a target 50 meters distant using a .22 Long Rifle cartridge and iron sights. Pistols are fired one-handed, with no magazine feed, no optical aids, and no minimum trigger pull weight. Grips may not provide support to the wrist or forearm.
These constraints strongly influence pistol design. Over time, free pistols converged on several shared characteristics:
- Single-shot operation for maximum consistency
- Long barrels and extended sight radius to reduce angular error
- Anatomically shaped grips to ensure repeatable hand position
- Extremely refined trigger mechanisms
- Balanced mass to stabilize the muzzle during the aiming cycle
The Drulov Model 70 conforms closely to these principles while employing conservative mechanical solutions chosen for durability and reliability.
Mechanical Design and Construction
Action and Locking System
The Drulov Model 70 is a bolt-action, single-shot pistol chambered in .22 Long Rifle. Operation is accomplished via a knurled rear knob that retracts the bolt and exposes the chamber. Closing the bolt chambers the cartridge and cocks the striker.
This design choice is unusual among free pistols but entirely effective. Bolt lockup is consistent and rigid, providing uniform ignition and repeatable shot behavior. In a discipline where only one round is fired at a time, bolt operation introduces no competitive disadvantage while offering mechanical simplicity and long-term durability.
Barrel and Accuracy
Barrel length is approximately 9.75 to 9.84 inches, depending on production variation. This length provides a long sight radius and contributes to forward stability. Barrels were well finished and capable of mechanical accuracy exceeding the practical limits of human precision at 50 meters.
The pistol was designed for standard-velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition. As with all true free pistols, ammunition selection is critical. High-velocity ammunition provides no benefit at this distance and often degrades consistency. Competitive shooters historically tested multiple ammunition lots to identify the most stable performance.
From a mechanical standpoint, the Drulov Model 70 is fully capable of holding the ten-ring at regulation distance. Differences between it and more expensive free pistols lie primarily in ergonomics and adjustability rather than inherent accuracy.
Trigger Systems
The Drulov Model 70 was produced in at least two primary configurations.
The Drulov Model 70 Standard employs an adjustable conventional target trigger. When properly set, it provides a clean and predictable release suitable for elite competition.
The Drulov Model 70 Special incorporates a set trigger system. A setting lever located within the trigger guard prepares the trigger, and a separate firing button releases the shot. When set, trigger pull weight is extremely light, allowing release with minimal disturbance to the sight picture.
Both systems take advantage of the absence of a minimum trigger weight requirement in free pistol competition and reward disciplined technique.
Sights
The Standard configuration is fitted with a rear sight adjustable for elevation and a front sight adjustable laterally for windage. The sight picture is intentionally simple, emphasizing clarity and repeatability.
Later variants in the Drulov free pistol line introduced more fully adjustable rear sights, but the Model 70’s original arrangement remains entirely functional for formal competition.
Grip and Ergonomics
The pistol is fitted with a wraparound walnut target grip featuring a pronounced thumb rest and moderate palm support. Grip geometry is upright and neutral, promoting a natural point of aim. While less sculpted than later anatomical grips, it accommodates a range of hand sizes and complies fully with free pistol regulations.
Dimensions and Handling
The Drulov Model 70 weighs approximately 1,250 grams, or about 44 ounces. Overall length is approximately 35.8 centimeters, with a barrel length near 24.5 centimeters. Balance is steady and muzzle-settled, favoring deliberate aiming and controlled follow-through.
Recoil is negligible, and the mass of the pistol dampens movement during firing. The design encourages a slow, disciplined shooting rhythm consistent with the demands of the event.
Production Period and Output
Documented examples exist with confirmed production dates of 1963, establishing the Model 70 firmly in the early 1960s. Based on this evidence and the existence of later refined variants, it is accurate to state that the Model 70 entered production in the early 1960s and remained in production through at least the mid-to-late 1960s before being superseded by improved models such as the Model 75.
Exact production totals are not preserved in published factory records. This absence is typical of cooperative-era Eastern Bloc sporting arms manufacture. The widespread export of the Model 70, its frequent appearance on the secondary market, and its long service life in club competition indicate substantial production, almost certainly numbering in the several thousands rather than hundreds.
Evolution and Successors
The Drulov Model 70 represents a fully realized design rather than an experimental platform. Its most notable successor, the Model 75, retained the bolt-action single-shot architecture while incorporating a more refined set trigger, improved rear sight adjustability, and a more anatomically developed grip. These changes reflect evolutionary refinement of a proven concept.
Position Among International Free Pistols
The free pistol field has always been narrow and specialized. Swiss manufacturers established early dominance with highly refined pistols emphasizing trigger quality and ergonomics. Soviet designs emphasized ruggedness and mechanical soundness. Later developments explored electronic triggers and advanced materials.
Within this landscape, the Drulov Model 70 occupies a distinctive position. It does not rely on ornamentation or technical novelty. Its value lies in consistency, durability, and honest mechanical execution. The bolt-action design, while unconventional, proved entirely suitable for elite competition and offered advantages in simplicity and service life.
Shooting Characteristics
On the firing line, the Drulov Model 70 reinforces disciplined technique. Single-shot loading through the bolt establishes a deliberate cadence. Each shot is isolated and intentional.
Trigger behavior depends on configuration, but both variants support precise release. The pistol neither conceals errors nor compensates for poor fundamentals. Successful shots reflect correct execution by the shooter.
Legacy
The Drulov Model 70 stands as a clear expression of free pistol design stripped to its essentials. It demonstrates that elite-level accuracy can be achieved through conservative engineering and careful manufacture rather than complexity or luxury.
Its enduring reputation rests on quiet competence. As a training arm, a competition pistol, and a historical artifact of Cold War-era sporting arms manufacture, the Drulov Model 70 remains a significant and respected example of practical precision engineering.
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