Baikal, Brno, or Husqvarna?

Rhodesian

Rhodesian

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Hello all,

I'm going hunting with a group of friends who have a bit more experience than I with shotguns. I've never really had much of an interest in them but the area requires shotguns and doesn't permit centrefire rifle.

The only experience with shotguns is an old SxS that's been in the family.

I've decided on a SxS or O/U, since it has the benefit of offering me two chokes without having to get those screw-in chokes. And ideally I don't want to spend too much on something I will be using once for this trip so I've narrowed down my selection to 3 shotguns that fit this criteria.

1. Baikal IJ 12 or 27
2. Husqvarna 300 or 600-series
3. Brno ZH301

Anyone who can help me decide between these? Just looking for someone who has had personal experience with any of these and can recommend one over the others. Or any other realtively cheap SxS or O/U options that I've missed?

Thanks CGN:)
 
Husqvarna is a finely made shotgun, at least the 300 series. For me, there is no choice. A lot of (most?) pre war Huskys used Sauer actions and Krupp barrels. I have one in the other room right now. These are undervalued guns IMHO.

While mostly I go after more highly regarded vintage SxS, I’m totally impressed with Husqvarna 300 series guns. I’d recommend them to anyone. Just look for current condition.

Look for a 310S. The S stands for higher quality barrel. Or a 310N for an even higher quality barrel but quite rare. Try to find one with a serial number over 135000. That will mean it was produced post 1925, and thus designed to handle modern powders and pressure levels. It will also most likely have original 2 3/4" chambers.

Look on Tradex Canada. Stay away from anything with pitted barrels unless described as very minor.
 
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For the price, I like the Brno sidelock SXS. They feature a true sidelock, coil mainsprings, chopper lump barrels, hidden third fastener and were hand fitted. I have 3 of them. Tradeex has some but the trick is not to pick one that has been rode hard and put away wet.
 
I second the BRNO SxS. Beautifully built guns and usually available very cheap. Mine has chokes measuring out at Mod/Light mod.
 
Its not clear what your intended use for the shotgun is? Deer only? Small game and deer? Small game only? Clay Sports? If its for deer, you might want to review your selection for a shotgun model that can accept a rear sight (slugs). If you are intending to shoot waterfowl, then a tight fixed choke gun with 2 3/4 in chambers would be considered sub-optimal, and possibly unusable. If you want a do-all gun then a modern pump with removable chokes can be had for reasonable coin (ie less than 400$) Alternatively a newer Baikal O/U or SXS with 3 in chambers and removable chokes can be considered. The Baikal model 27 (O/U) and 43 (SxS) can be had with these features at the same price level, and it might even have a single trigger....
 
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I have a few Baikals. My O/U is an IJ12. I prefer it over the 27 because the fit and finish is better. I also like double triggers and extractors for the simplicity and durability. Parts for all the brands you mentioned are hard to find. The soviet era Baikals are hard to beat for built in reliability. As mentioned pitted bores are not good but the Baikals have chromed bores and pitting is highly unusual. Minor wood cracks and dings are easily repaired. Barrel dents are not good as are guns with missing parts such as sling swivels and screws. Most are choked Full and Imp Mod. Basically full and fuller. That means lead and bismuth for shot options. I have shot standard load #4 and #6 steel in mine with no issues. Enjoy your search. I too recommend Trade Ex good guys there for sure.

Darryl
 
Baikal ij58 is a great sxs gun for not much coin. Heavier than most but still handle well. I have one with over 66000 rounds thru it. The forend metal has worn and has a slight play in it but the action is still strong and tight. I use it for everything i can use a shotgun for. I also have a husqvarna but with 2.5" chambers. Again well built guns. Ive had several brno guns and while well built i never kept them around. I prefer sxs over ou guns and the brno sxs huns just didnt fit right. The comb tends to be higher on them
 
cosmic said:
Its not clear what your intended use for the shotgun is? Deer only? Small game and deer? Small game only? Clay Sports? If its for deer, you might want to review your selection for a shotgun model that can accept a rear sight (slugs). If you are intending to shoot waterfowl, then a tight fixed choke gun with 2 3/4 in chambers would be considered sub-optimal, and possibly unusable. If you want a do-all gun then a modern pump with removable chokes can be had for reasonable coin (ie less than 400$) Alternatively a newer Baikal O/U or SXS with 3 in chambers and removable chokes can be considered. The Baikal model 27 (O/U) and 43 (SxS) can be had with these features at the same price level, and it might even have a single trigger....
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Deer mostly, but they also mentioned small game could also be a possibility. I narrowed my decisions based on the above reasons and ran my ideas through my friends who said that any of these would be sufficient, but as I stated I'm willing to consider any other ideas I may have overlooked. I'll look at some other Baikals then, thanks.
 
Rhodesian said:
Deer mostly, but they also mentioned small game could also be a possibility. I narrowed my decisions based on the above reasons and ran my ideas through my friends who said that any of these would be sufficient, but as I stated I'm willing to consider any other ideas I may have overlooked. I'll look at some other Baikals then, thanks.
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If it's deer you are after as the main thing, I will rescind my Husqvarna 310 recommendation. Too old, likely after 70 plus years, with not great wood to action contact and the likelihood of a split stock shooting slugs rears it's head.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions & tips. I think I will be going with the Brno. Although I found a Baikal 27 that has full over IC, which would give me the opportunity for slugs, I have been reading more & people seem to like the quality of Brno over Baikals.
 
The Brno is a unique gun - I have two of them, and managed to visit the factory back in the 80's. You may not know this - the Brno has two triggers, but the rear trigger has the additional feature of being able to fire both barrels in sequence. This feature is usually found on guns that cost three times a much. BTW - You can shoot slugs in a full choked gun - the slugs are designed to do this...
 
Mount Sweetness said:
A shotgun that is accurate shooting slugs.
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Would you care to tell me which ones I should be looking at in particular? Everyone else in this thread hasn't told me that they aren't up to deer gun standards - but this is why I asked at the beginning to be corrected if I have missed something.

From what I have been reading online, Brnos and Baikals are recommended cheap hunting shotguns.
 
You were warned, see post #5. None of the shotguns you are looking at have a rear sight, or the provision to install one. That means you will be limited to using buckshot to a max range of 50 yards, or slugs to a similar range - maybe a bit more if you are lucky. Alternatively, you can buy a Rem or Mossberg pump that has a slug barrel c/w rear sight, or even a cantilever scope mount. This will let you go out to 100 -150 y, perhaps more if you get a rifled barrel and shoot sabots.
If the distance limitation is not problematic (ie your group will give you a watch that suits) then your problem is solved. Alternatively, maybe you can get a clamp on rear sight that mounts on a shotgun rib - this would solve this issue. Perhaps some other members can chime in..
 
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Rhodesian said:
Would you care to tell me which ones I should be looking at in particular? Everyone else in this thread hasn't told me that they aren't up to deer gun standards - but this is why I asked at the beginning to be corrected if I have missed something.

From what I have been reading online, Brnos and Baikals are recommended cheap hunting shotguns.
Click to expand...

Maybe you want to do a Google search for "Slug gun". A slug gun is basically a shotgun designed for shooting slugs.
And there are two different kinds.

1.) Slug gun with a smoothbore barrel.

This type of gun normally has iron sights or some other aiming system and will shoot rifled slugs ... like Foster slugs and Brenneke slugs. The advantage of a smoothbore barrel is that you can still shoot buckshot .... or bird shot to hunt small game. The range limit of such a setup ... and to ethically hunt deer size animals ... is somewhere between 50 to 100 meters.

2.) Slug gun with a rifled barrel ... like a rifle.

This type of gun has a rifled barrel and shoots sabot slugs. And that is more or less the only projectile you can shoot from it. So, this is not the sort of gun to go grouse hunting with. This type of gun is still considered a shotgun because of the caliber ... normally 12ga or 20ga. And you get a bit more accuracy ... and the range limit is somewhere around 100 to 150 meters (some push this to 200 or 300 meters).

If you want a cheap shotgun to go deer hunting .... maybe you want to have a look at an American classic like a pump shotgun ... and because of the advantage that you can swap out barrels. With a slug barrel the gun is a good choice for deer hunting ....

Here is just one suggestion:

h ttps://www.cabelas.ca/product/108341/mossberg-maverick-88-slug-pump-shotgun

Now, if you limit your range to lets say 30 meters .... then nearly any shotgun with a tight choke will do to shoot buckshot ... and a Brno or Baikal will just do fine.
 
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One can get adjustible sights that clamp on to ribs but ive never been a fan of them.
Dispite the advancements in slug guns a sxs gun can still be used for deer. I have shot 7 deer with shotguns. 6 of which were killed with sxs guns. The other was a rifled barrel pump gun. I load 00buck in the full choke and rio full bore slugs in the mod barrel. Several of my sxs guns shoot well out to 60 yards at which point the bead becomes to large against the target.
If you want a sxs buy a sxs. Buy a variety of slug and buckshot loads and go pattern it. See where and how it shoots. Likely one barrel will be better with slugs than the other. Know your limits and hunt within them. Of the 90 deer ive shot id bet the average distance would only be 20 yards.
 
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