Baikal MP-153 opinions

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CanadaBoy

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Well I just bought a used Baikal MP-153 in MAX-4 camo from Epps and am waiting for it to arrive. Thought I'd ask if anyone can tell me their experiences with this gun. I only plan on using it to hunt geese and ducks, which isn't likely to be more than about 8 or 10 days of the year for me so I opted to keep the budget low on this one and put most of my expendable income into a quality O/U for upland hunting and sporting clays.

I've handled a few and think I may put in a spacer to give me a little more length of pull and perhaps add a little weight in the stock to adjust the balance to suit me a bit better. Has anyone done this to theirs?

I know I'll also need to make sure its broken in well before I expect too much from it (don't know if it is or not as its used but still in excellent shape).
 
I had one but i got rid of it worked well most times but the return spring used to jam once in a while.I had to take the gun apart to fix it not fun in a blind.That was the only real; problem i had...
 
As good or better than any semi in its price range. Should cycle duck/goose loads no problem out of the box. Light target loads are another story. I added a slip on recoil pad to get a bit longer LOP, seems to have helped. I've had mine about a year and a half, and have roughly 3500 loads through it. For less than $475 shipped, brand new, I can't really complain.
 
I just got mine this past friday. Only mine is in synthetic. Took it out hunting saturday morning for about couple of hours and got couple of geese. I shot 3" federal shells in BB, 1-1/4 oz with a full choke. Seems to group very well. Gun cycled fine right out of the box. Very easy to take apart for cleaning. There's some good videos on youtube. Goodluck.
 
On my second MP 153 at the moment. My initial one, never properly cycled the shells correctly. Under warranty it went down to epps to be fixed ( they are good guys there and I am happy with them), though returned it still did not function correctly and baikal replaced it with a new one this past weekend one year warranty). So far it has cycled everything I have put through it ( ounce and a qtr and ounce an 1/8 high brass). Bailkal Canada was also responsive.
Cheers
 
I almost bought one, but decided at the time to spend on a higher-end pump over a low end semi. I will echo what many have said - in the price range it can't be beat. Some guys developed issues, but most guys seem happy with theirs - they can take a beating for sure.

In a similar price range, you could look at the Mossy 935 - it should pattern much better than the Baikal, the customer service at Mossy is excellent, but sadly you'll probably need it a lot - lol...I never owned a Mossy that didn't need lots of tlc. The Baikal was taken over by Remington - more than likely because it out-lasted and out-performed the 11-87, and Big Green couldn't handle that. The Franchi I12 will be a little pricier, and has a less than stellar track record, as does the Stoegers - for that money, the MP153 is the safest bet, followed by the 930 or 935 (the 930 is the 3" Mossy - it still has the over-bored barrel for great patterns, and it has great reviews - and 3.5" steel is really not all that necessary anymore anyway).

In that price range, I would look for a good shaped, used Auto 5 with a Jap barrel, or a higher end pump - a nice BPS for instance. The MP153 is based on the AK47's action - that is simple and tough, but an Auto5 is about the best piece of waterfowl hunting equipment ever invented - a used one will outlive you, your kids, and may become the favorite duck smasher of their kids.:cool:
 
***EDIT*** I took the gun out today & ran LIGHT LOADS through it without a hiccup. I guess it needed more of a breaking in period then the 100 rounds I orginally put through it. Last years duck/goose season seems to have been it! Probably have 300 rounds through it now... VERY HAPPY with this shotgun!!!

I've owned several of the MP 153 shotguns. Still have a synthetic one with a 26 inch barrel. It has become my "go to" duck & goose gun, no problems with it using 3 or 3.5 inch steel loads. When it was BRAND NEW I put 100 rounds of 2.75 inch target loads through it shooting skeet. It would not cycle them, BUT, now that the gun has a couple hundred rounds of steel through it, I really should try cycling the light stuff again... After all, they do say the gun has to be broken in...

Over all, I like the gun, it's a good price & reliable.

Cheers
Jay
P.S. My brother has the 24 inch barreled synthetic version, same experience as me, IT WORKS...
 
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I own a max 4 camo one also, that I bought used. I have put about 150 rounds through it of everything from target loads to turkey loads and it has never had a problem cycling anything. I love waterfowl hunting with it. Its built like a Russian Tank.

 
just got back from duck hunting with mine... never had any problems when it shoots 3 inchers and will cycle 99% of the target shells i've put through it
 
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