From Russia with Love

[gb6491]

What is there not to love about air guns (especially with the ammo situation right now) and some backyard fun?
Recently, I came across a unique looking, little air rifle on the web. It's an IZH 61 made by Baikal. I was intrigued by the look and really liked the size of it, so I decided to buy one. Now, having it in hand, I can say I'm pretty pleased with it. It is quite compact and light. In .177 cal, it is a magazine (actually a clip) fed, 5 shot repeater. Power and indexing of the clip is done by a single stroke of the side lever. It's decently accurate and fun to shoot! I'm guessing it shoots in the 500-550 fps range (I had a Daisy/Feinwerkbau 300 years ago that shot about the same speed); not a power house, but it flattens pellets on a swinging chicken at at 40' and bounces soda cans at 80

Here's the IZH 61 and my 10/22 for comparison:

My shooting range:

My targets (there is usually a backstop behind the chicken, but it has been cleverly removed to conceal my less than stellar shots):

Ammo (from a Gamo Variety Pack):


One other thing I like about the IZH 61, the sight picture is similar to my other Russian black rifle (Saiga 308, which I am also very pleased with):


I'm enjoying this little rifle so much that I think there will be an IZH 46 pistol (got to shoot one the other day) coming my way in the future,

Regards,
Greg

 

[7X57chilmau]

Nice little gun... I spend a bunch of time throwing lead with my Diana 34...

Great way to keep the squirrels in check in this neck of the woods.

J

 

[Carl Levitian]

It's almost tragic how few firearms enthusiasts realize how much an airgun will improve thier shooting. Too many see the airgun as a "kids" gun, or a gun for the Geek squad. No macho bragging rights with a .177 pellet.

Practice in the holy trinity with an airgun, is still practice in the holy trinity. Sight picture, breath control, trigger squeeze. It all comes down to just those three things.

Last year we had in interesting match at the gun club I belong to. We have a men's and woman's indoor airgun league, and we were trying to get more people to take part. We couldn't get many of the younger guys out on the range with thier Glocks, and 1911's to come out and participate.

One day, out on the regular pistol range a conversaton took place between a couple of members. Sort of a no it doesn't, yes it does kind of thing. The end result was some of the regular handgunners agreed to a shooting match with the airgun league. Weapons were agreed on to be box stock Ruger bull barrel MK2 target pistols. Three of them were got together and the meet took place with the opposite teams taking turns using the Ruger .22's. That way all shooters were using the same guns.

When it was over, the airgun league shooters cleaned the clock of the non airgun shooters. It was not a narrow victory. Then one of the non airgun shooters loaned his tricked out 1911 to an airgun shooter, and the airgun shooter out shot him with his own gun. The next week, there were alot of new shooters for the indoor airgun league.

It's a little known fact among shooters, that an airgun shooter has to be a bit better technical shot, because the follow through has to be perfect.

The holy trinity, is still the holy trinity, no matter what you shoot.

 

[7X57chilmau]

Spring piston airguns are the ultimate trainers for follow-thru and consistant hold/cheekweld. Their lock times are so slow (the pellet is still in the barrel when the recoil is over!), that if follow through isn't good, you'll know.

With dozens of great airguns available for under $200, it's amazing that every gunny doesn't have an airgun range in his basement. I've got 10m in mine, and when I'm using it, my skills improve very quickly. When I neglect it, it's equally obvious.

I fired about 3500 shots down there last year...

J

 

[arcticap]

I have a 10 meter lane with a .22 trap in my basement too.
I never really shot any high velocity spring rifles until I bought a Crosman G1 Xtreme. But since I've started shooting it mounted with a 4X scope, I haven't been shooting my other target velocity air guns much at all.
I thought that a springer would vibrate a lot more than this model does. But maybe the forward barrel weight helps to dampen it, or they're just making them better than I expected. It's Chinese, around $100 on sale at Dick's and I really enjoy shooting it over and over again.
I've also been lubricating the chamber with the recommended silicone oil.

 

[7X57chilmau]

I've not used any lube in my M34 yet, 4000 rnds in. While the instructions recommend silicone oil, the prevailing wisdom among springer enthusiasts is it's best not to, unless you're willing to tear the gun down and perform a proper lube tune with moly greases and tar.

Mine is also remarkably vibration free, and to those near me sounds more like a framing nailer than an air gun.... The shooter hears a bit more mechanical noise, but still, it's just a quick, short Bampf! and pellet's away.

J

 

[arcticap]

I think that the Germans use different material for the seals than the Chinese do.
Someone said that the seal of their Crosman springer wore out in 1 year and they never lubed it as recommended. The Crosman manual mentions every 250 shots, and it only has a 1 year warranty. So they probably don't expect most people to lube it at all.
I'm being cautious and religiously lubing it because I had a Beeman P-3 topcocking pneumatic pistol that they recommended not to be lubricated at all, and the seals wore out at around 4,000 rounds max.
So I decided to test this gun's longevity potential by lubing it per the manual.

 

[7X57chilmau]

I figure if (when) I ever wear mine out, I'll tear it down and fit new guides, a Maccari spring, seal and lubes and go for another 5-10K rounds.... By then I should be about ready for a new gun.

She has lost a touch of power over time, but only gets smoother as we go. Probably shooting in the 850-900 range now, used to be in the 930 range until the factory lubes burned out and she stopped smoking a touch.



Thar she be!

J

 

[gb6491]

That's a nice, clean looking rig you have there 7X57chilmau
Regards,
Greg

 

[arcticap]

I liked the ergonomics of this stock well enough
that I bought another twin G1 for when this rifle
wears out. And the added length of the barrel weight
turns it into a comfortable handle for easy cocking.
The scope mount is a bit high, but it was included
with the rifle along with a 3-9X32 A.O.. The mount
also has 4 clamping screws and a stop screw that
mates into the receiver. So it's not moving anywhere!

 

[General Geoff]

Can anyone recommend a reputable online dealer who sells this IZH 61? I simply must have one, that is the coolest looking air rifle I've ever seen.

 

[arcticap]

Compasseco was the only place that I checked and they have it listed:

IZH-61
A unique air rifle that says “I’ve Got To Have One”.

http://www.compasseco.com/rifles-baikal-c-1_27.html?osCsid=354449b18e4d313e4797d8983db3f417

 

[arcticap]

I hadn't shot in couple of weeks so after some needed warm up,
I fired my 3rd and last target where 9 out of 13 shots went into
the 9 ring shooting with Geco wadcutter pellets.
Not too bad for a $100 Chinese rifle with a 4X scope at 33 feet.
Shooting it is a lot of high velocity air gun fun!

 

[7X57chilmau]

5 Crossman Premier HP's at 20yds, Diana M34, Bushnell 3-9x32:

 

[arcticap]

Wow, that's very impressive!
That's why I only shoot at a short distance indoors or my offhand groups would probably measure a foot across!

 

[7X57chilmau]

Admittedly, about half to a third the size of my norm.... But we only post our best, don't we

I'm happy if I'm minute-of-squirrel at 20 yds, generally speaking...

That makes me minute-of-moose out past 100, and really... That's all the range I'm likely to get in this neck of the woods!

J

 

[WardenWolf]

Izhmash makes good stuff all around. I'm trying to dig up a Korshun, which is basically a 10/22 equivalent. I'm quite confident it will easily outshoot a stock 10/22, probably for less money than it would take to upgrade said 10/22.

 

[TimboKhan]

I have every intention of putting in a 15 meter or so range down the hallway of my house. Blanket and trap as a backstop, and it should prove to be pretty fun.

 

[DCobler]

I am currently running shy in the air-rifle category and have been considering purchasing another one. Yeah, I think I will. Okay, its a solid yes. I've been too interested in growing my firearm collection to really think about-air rifles so thank you.

 

[Hostile Amish]

If you think that's fun to shoot...

Buy an IZH Drozd.

 

[arcticap]

Crosman .22 Quest 800X

I also have the Crosman Quest 800X which is one of the few Chinese springers
that's offered in .22 caliber in the $100 price range.
It's light weight, has a velocity of 800 fps., a nice wood stock, fiber optic front
sight and a 4 X 32 scope was included.

I shot these targets offhand at 33 ft. using open sights and Crosman Super Pell wadcutters.
It's challenging to shoot such a hard hitting .22 springer using open sights.
This rifle is definitely a keeper!

The diameter of the 9 ring is 1 1/8".
Check out the size of these .22 wadcutter pellet holes compared to 22LR bullet holes.
(These were used rimfire targets and the 4 smaller holes were made by .22LR bullets)

 

[alemonkey]

Great thread! I have a Chinese B3 which I bought for something like $30. Definitely not in the same league as the high end guns, but you can't beat it for the money. Great for cheap practice. I need to set up a trap in my basement.

 

[7X57chilmau]

With some work, the B3's can be excellent guns. Many put aftermarket seals and springs in'em, along with better trigger groups...

Couse, do all that and you may well have been better off with a better gun, but the Chinese are getting better at airguns.

Charlie da Tuna (no, not joking) does a great business tuning chinese guns, and does great work from what I've heard.. I think another fellow is taking on his business now, with a similarly good reputation (Gene, iirc?)

If you wanna know about how to hop up your B3, Gateway to Airguns is a great place to start...

J

 

[fritz1]

Just saw this, my best triggers are on Air Arms Pro sport and Pro Eliet also
Weihrauch Rekord trigger, all better than any of my firearms triggers I own except very few

 

[fritz1]

Here is a better pic my favorite Springer can't miss a dime