Baikal Single Shot

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tiriaq

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A friend was telling me about a Baikal single shot rifle that he had seen. Started as a 7.62x39, it had been rechambered to .303 British. Sounds like an interesting and useful conversion. Only modifications were the chamber and the extractor.
 
Depends if you like .303. The rifles are made in other calibers, of course. This conversion turns a cheap ammunition plinker into a big game rifle.
 
I like the idea. The Baikal is hammerless and can be uncocked. Has a trigger guard mounted safety and is easily equipped with optics if desired. I once owned and foolishly sold one in 7.62x54R I miss that one. It did not occur to me that the 7.62x39 version would be an easy concert to .303 British. The 7.62x39's extractor version was for rimless rounds and would take some converting. Nothing a good smith couldn't do. Again good idea. Best of all these little rifles are tough and cost about 1/5 of a Ruger No 1 in .303. After all this would be a hunting rifle.

Darryl
 
I bought one in 222, shot a couple of coyotes with it, then sold it. It was a solidly built, accurate rifle. A much better rifle than the H&R rifles (I've had some of them too). If I wasn't already over-equipped with rifles, I would like one in 7.62x54R. Since I already have a Ruger in 303 Epps, I don't really need one. A nice, compact, hunting rifle though.
 
An interesting concept for sure, and would work. The question I have that would make me skeptical, has to do with bullet diameters. Reloading for the 39 the common sized bullet used is .310. The .303 is .311 or .312. Would this not create issues down the road? Say from increased pressures perhaps?

The Baikal is a pretty tough gun, may not be an issue.
 
When they were made in 7.62x54R ,i wonder if they used the same barrels for the 7.62x39 ? I don't see these single shots listed in the Baikal Canada site,I wonder if they are still being made? Harold
 
I had one in 7.62x39 and wish I'd kept it. It was fun and accurate. One problem with reaming them is they have a chrome lined barrel so cutting the chamber deeper is cutting into the chrome which can lead to flaking in the throat area. I seen one somewhere that was reamed as the OP suggests because there was an issue with the 7.62x39mm chamber and it didn't shoot good at all. Baikal quit importing them to Canada in 2012 I believe, when they were $199 but the last new one I seen was sold for $429.
 
Don't know if the bore was chromed on this one. Might be an issue which would scupper such a project. Do all the Baikal rifles in other calibers have chromed bores?
 
Why not just get a Baikal IZH18MN single shot rifle in .30-06 or .308 instead of trying to convert a 7.62x39mm one?

I see them come up for sale every now and then on the EE. They are just as cheap without any gunsmithing needed and in calibres a lot easier to get and cheaper than .303.

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tiriaq said:
A friend was telling me about a Baikal single shot rifle that he had seen. Started as a 7.62x39, it had been rechambered to .303 British. Sounds like an interesting and useful conversion. Only modifications were the chamber and the extractor.
Click to expand...


I was going to do exactly that a few years ago. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/747195-A-new-single-shot-303-British

Bore was chromed in the one I had, so passed on the project. Would definitely have done it otherwise.

Ted
 
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