With the hunting weapons, however, it wasn't so easy.

Until 1976, shotguns, for all practical purposes, were bought and sold free.

De-jure only a hunter could buy one, and the seller had to enter the purchase, with the serial No and such, into the buyer's Hunter's Card (the principal document giving the right to hunt). But on ptactice this rule was hardly ever enforced. Basicly, until 1976, there were no gun control regarding shotguns.

Russian Hunting Shotguns