Baikal 7.62x54 single shot rifle

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tinbird

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Hi guys, I would think this would make a good bush/200 yard deer/bear/moose rifle, but when checking out Baikal Canada's website, it appears it is no longer available. Anyone here have this rifle in this caliber, what are you're thoughts. Would be particularly interested in the accuracy and any hunting experiences, as I could then know whether to keep an eye out any longer for one.

Thanks in advance

Tb
 
tinbird said:
Hi guys, I would think this would make a good bush/200 yard deer/bear/moose rifle, but when checking out Baikal Canada's website, it appears it is no longer available.
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Why do you think it would make a "good bush/200 yard deer/bear/moose rifle"?

I'm thinking that not enough folk would agree with you given it's no longer listed. They realize that there are far too many entry level, better suited bolt action repeaters in better chamberings for this to be a good choice for BG hunting.
 
Tinbird Not sure why you would limit it to a 200 yd rifle. The 7.62x53 R is between the 308 and 30-06 power wise and would certainly handle the same range of game. I have one in this caliber and they are a handy little rifle. Being a break action they are 7 to 8 inches shorter than a bolt action rifle. Very light and handy to carry and being short very handy in the bush. You can mount a scope on them. Mine wears a 2-7 x. It groups around 1 inch @ 100 yds with factory ammo and handloads. The trigger is not the best I have shot but it works. If you think you need one check out Canadian Tire store in Kenora Ont. They have a large gun shop and the last time I went through Kenora they had several of these rifles in stock.
 
SuperCub said:
Why do you think it would make a "good bush/200 yard deer/bear/moose rifle"?

I'm thinking that not enough folk would agree with you given it's no longer listed. They realize that there are far too many entry level, better suited bolt action repeaters in better chamberings for this to be a good choice for BG hunting.
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Nothing wrong with the cartridge, being single shot it would be light as well as short, but I could be wrong :)
 
tinbird said:
Nothing wrong with the cartridge, being single shot it would be light as well as short, but I could be wrong :)
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Nothing wrong with the cartridge or the rifle, except ammo availability and selection.

I just think that a good bolt action in 308 would be a better choice. Make it lightweight and short for bush gunnery :) and you will be better served.
 
SuperCub said:
Nothing wrong with the cartridge or the rifle, except ammo availability and selection.

I just think that a good bolt action in 308 would be a better choice. Make it lightweight and short for bush gunnery :) and you will be better served.
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Exactly. But the "Milsurps are awesome" crowd will insist that there is no barrier. I agree that there are probably 200 better choices.
 
Canada tail said:
so would a mosin do a batter job ? plus you can get it everywhere.
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Depends on which Mosin. 91/30's are Pole Vaults. Not exactly a handy bush rifle.

An M38 Carbine is a lot shorter, handier, lighter. Good one's can be plenty accurate.

But then you're going down the road of "finding a good one".

There's plenty of decent 54R hunting ammo around, but you might have to order it from online.

I dunno... I have no problem arguing in favour of x39 as a good White Tail calibre for bush hunting, but that's largely because there's plenty of selection of rifles available for the calibre.

But 54R? Tough call. It's a good cartridge with all the power you need for Moose and other larger game, but there just isn't a great selection of rifles out there chambered for it. Hunting with Milsurps is a thing unto itself, you end up buying and selling a bunch before you find one that has the accuracy you need. There are lots who do it, and do it successfully, but you kind of need to make a commitment to spending a lot of time on getting the right rifle.
 
rokoro said:
Tinbird Not sure why you would limit it to a 200 yd rifle. The 7.62x53 R is between the 308 and 30-06 power wise and would certainly handle the same range of game. I have one in this caliber and they are a handy little rifle. Being a break action they are 7 to 8 inches shorter than a bolt action rifle. Very light and handy to carry and being short very handy in the bush. You can mount a scope on them. Mine wears a 2-7 x. It groups around 1 inch @ 100 yds with factory ammo and handloads. The trigger is not the best I have shot but it works. If you think you need one check out Canadian Tire store in Kenora Ont. They have a large gun shop and the last time I went through Kenora they had several of these rifles in stock.
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Rokoro, thanks for the responding to the intent of my post. I appreciate your input, if I had also posted 'or what other cartridges would you guys suggest or think are better' then some of the other posts here would be useful too.
I'm limiting the cartridge based on its abilities, it's my personal shooting distance limit.
Again, thanks :)
 
tinbird said:
Hi guys, I would think this would make a good bush/200 yard deer/bear/moose rifle, but when checking out Baikal Canada's website, it appears it is no longer available. Anyone here have this rifle in this caliber, what are you're thoughts. Would be particularly interested in the accuracy and any hunting experiences, as I could then know whether to keep an eye out any longer for one.

Thanks in advance

Tb
Click to expand...

The reason for these being no longer available, along with the other Baikal single shots like my amigo's one in 7.62x39 is that Izhevsk had a bunch of barrels made by Steyr in Germany for an upscale version of their single shot which panned out due to lack of interest by buyers, so they pushed them out as lower priced units. (Sorta like a Russian version of a Handi Rifle.)

Many of these single shots were sold under the Remington "Greed Machine" label over here for a short time (Like my Bud's gun) as well as through Baikal Canada as well.

These rifles are sturdy & shoot well, but the main drawback I find with them is the opening lever which requires a very firm pull to get the action open. I don't like that heavy pull (Which I figure also cocks the internal hammer, though I can't say fer sure as I haven't taken one apart yet to confirm.) nor the flimsy, stamped metal of the lever itself which I'm sure will bend back with a lot of use.

Interesting rifles they were, but they never caught on well enough to keep going once the barrels dried up.
 
I owned two of these rifles, one in the 7.62 x 54r and the other in .223. As mentioned, they were both very stiff to break open, but that loosens up as you shoot more. The open sites leave a lot to be desired, I never had much luck with them. If you want to scope it, be prepared to go through some trouble, as they have some kind of European dovetail.

The .54 kicked like a mule and was extremely loud. It was not a fun gun to fire 20 or more shots from. It is very portable, breaks down into three small pieces. They have internal cocking hammers, and I'm not convinced they are completely safe. I had the .223 discharge once when closing the barrel.

Back when I bought the 54, Baikal was moving them out like crazy, picked it up for 200 bucks. Don't think I'd pay more.
 
I believe they have an 11 mm dovetail. There are mounts available but as said they have to be 11 mm. I used a one piece mount from utg that I bought from an airgun supplier. I have it on a 45/70 that's seen a lot of use with heavier recoil and never had an issue. I've seen the baikal rifles shoot. They were on par with the hnr. Some shot great. Others needed slight work. I couldn't stand the twist look barrel on the ones I came across so I never bought one. I have several baikals. For what they are I like them. Dependable sturdy reliable but often heavier then need be
 
I looked at one of the over unders at Sail recently and was pretty shocked at how much flex there was between the barrels.....for $700 not a chance.
baikal-mp94-11.jpg
 
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