Am I Crazy? Traded a Browning for a Baikal

bill c68

bill c68

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 99.4%
163   1   1
Location
Prince Edward Island
I just traded a Browning Gold (wood/blued), 3", 26" bbl, 12G, I used it for two or three seasons for a used Baikal MP-153 (synthetic/blued) 3.5" 24" bbl barely used.
The Browning sells for around $1100 and the Baikal $650

In my opinion the Baikal is not as pretty but much tougher. I couldn't care less about the 3.5" but it is nice to have, I like the shorter bbl, I wanted synthetic, I was a bit uncomfortbale having to take care of the walnut stock in the field.

To me the Baikal is better suited but the Browning did hold more value. I made an even trade with Ellwood Epps, they got one more choke tube than I did (sort of, I got 2 ICs but only need one)

Anyway.. will the Browning do this?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt1QV3DFUrQ

What do you guys think??
 
Last edited:
Your Browning would easily stand that test. In fact I bet the Gold would have performed better after mud test than the Baikal did. After 30 years of waterfowling with auto shotguns I have just about put every one of them through that test by accident. They all worked well with a water rinse. My old A 5 magnum was unstoppable. Having said that the baikals are good guns. I just found they didn't fit my square build and fat face. Relax you are not crazy, just a gunnut.

cheers Darryl
 
Don't sweat it. if you get the gun you want and its better suited to your needs thats all that matters. A few bucks more or less isn't worth the worry. Hell if we all wanted to get the top end of every deal we'd never have any new toys to try.

Enjoy some roast goose and have a few beer and anyone gives you the gears obout the deal tell them to go Duck themselves:D
 
madtrapper143 said:
Your Browning would easily stand that test. In fact I bet the Gold would have performed better after mud test than the Baikal did. After 30 years of waterfowling with auto shotguns I have just about put every one of them through that test by accident. They all worked well with a water rinse. My old A 5 magnum was unstoppable. Having said that the baikals are good guns. I just found they didn't fit my square build and fat face. Relax you are not crazy, just a gunnut.

cheers Darryl
Click to expand...


Really, do you think? Maybe. I know after my 3rd trip to the skeet club with no cleaning and a bit of rain and it was jamming. I had a buddy with a Baikal and another with a Beretta that would run about 1000 rounds beofre cleaning.

Anyway.. doesn't matter I feel they are incredible guns for the money.
 
i realize that test is based on a semi auto, but would an 870 pump stand up to that test?
 
Jay said:
bill c68... Who carries that the Baikal MP-153 in Canada?

Cheers
Jay
Click to expand...

Lot's of guys have them now, Elwwod Epps was one of the best price wise, don't know if that still holds. I know in your neck of the woods, your good buddy Gordie carries them and Lawson can get them but somehow thinks a Remington is better and about the same price.:runaway:

(IMO Remmy is the most high maintenance of the semis... alot of cleaning)

If you go to the Baikal Canada website, they list all of their dealers

Also get your hands on one if you are interested, to me the Syntthetic is a great gun, the wood stock is very uncomfortable. You should be able to get a new one for less than $700, Ellwood lists them for $619 and used for $499 ( I like used as they require a break in of about 75-100 heavy shells)
 
Last edited:
The geese will never know what brand firearm shot them.

I have both wood and synthetic MP-153 semi-autos.

I use the synthetic one for waterfowl and Turkey. The walnut leaves the gunsafe less often (mostly for upland game).

I had them synthetic for 3 seasons, the wood for two. Never had any problems, jams, misfires etc. IMHO, the MP-153 provides the best value for your money.
 
bill c68 said:
Really, do you think? Maybe. I know after my 3rd trip to the skeet club with no cleaning and a bit of rain and it was jamming. I had a buddy with a Baikal and another with a Beretta that would run about 1000 rounds beofre cleaning.

Anyway.. doesn't matter I feel they are incredible guns for the money.
Click to expand...

I've found that the need to clean will depend on the weather and ammunition! Hot humid weather = sticky powder residue gumming up the works. Sooty or dirty powders = more frequent cleaning.

I often run 1000 rounds through my 11-87 between cleaning in the cold, dry winter with no appreciable buildup in the gas system. On humid summer days, the gas system will be cleaned (depending on the ammo and other conditions) every 200-400 rounds.
 
i don't think i would trade a browning gold for a baikal straight up. i know i wouldn't. by the same token are you happy with the deal? if so then it works. the baikal is a good gun. i've worked on more sxs 's than any. as far as whoever said their browning auto 5 never failed, it's like comparing apples and oranges. the auto 5 is a recoil operated system, far less affected by dirt and crud. the gold is a gas operated sytem, needs more cleaning and tlc. the rem.'s 1100 & 11-87 probably need more than the rest ,sometimes. my 1100 is 35 years old, been a good gun but is moody in cold weather. needs to be kept very clean.
 
martinbns said:
If you are happy it doesn't matter if I think you're crazy, for the record I think you are crazy.
Click to expand...

I am crazy... your're right.
To be honest I put this up here for fun... I knew I wanted the baikal and am happy with my trade.
I tried selling my gold for $800 obo on the EE and no one bit, when I saw the deal on the Baikal at Epps, I jumped on it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom