Field report: breaking in Baikal MP-153

A

aridan

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More like breaking my shoulder. It now looks like a bloody mess, even though I gave in, cried 'Mommy', and bought a sissy pad half-way through my shoot. Before you say it, I DO know to press the butt into my shoulder before firing, but this thing kicked so hard, I thought I was getting a concussion or something.

I am now concerned about being unable to break the gun in properly. I read a lot about heavy loads for the first 100+ shells, and wasn't going to skimp. Here it goes:
1. 10 shots of Federal Premium 3.5" magnum buckshot, 1100fps - 1 failure to reload, i.e. ejected OK, but didn't chamber the next shell.
2. 20 shots of Winchester Supreme turkey loads 3.5" 6 shot 2 Oz - two failed to reload. Kicks even harder than Federal Premium.
3. 10 shots of Winchester Super-X high brass 2.75" 7.5shot 1.25 Oz - NOT ONE proper extraction/ejection, the gun hasn't cycled once! Mostly stovepipes, but some failures to extract, too.
4. 20 shots of Federal magnum turkey load 3" 6 shot 1 7/8Oz - not a single problem.
5. Another 15 shots of Winchester Super-X (see No.3) - properly cycled ONLY ONCE. No more stovepipes, but no extraction either.

Soo, after 75 shots fired, me & my shoulder had to quit, with very dismal results. I thought the 1.25Oz load was the recommended minimum, mixed in with 3.5" roman candles etc. Am I doing something wrong, or is it Winchester's fault? :D

Considering the even some 3.5" shells didn't reload, I'm a little concerned. Any ideas? TIA.
 
Pretty sure the manual said NOT to shoot loads over a certain weight on the factory gas setting. Mine cycled everything from 2 3/4" 1 1/8oz hunting ammo on up flawlessly on the factory setting (i changed the setting to shoot the 3.5" 2oz+ loads). Take off your forestock and check to see if gas adjustment cylinder is visible in the notch. It should be relatively close to the painted line. Theres some good instructions somewhere on the net....search MP-153 gas adjustment in google, should be in the first few pages. Also, winchester shells seem to be fairly poorly made, even the $35/box extreme doesn't use brass.
 
diemaco said:
Pretty sure the manual said NOT to shoot loads over a certain weight on the factory gas setting. Mine cycled everything from 2 3/4" 1 1/8oz hunting ammo on up flawlessly on the factory setting (i changed the setting to shoot the 3.5" 2oz+ loads). Take off your forestock and check to see if gas adjustment cylinder is visible in the notch. It should be relatively close to the painted line. Theres some good instructions somewhere on the net....search MP-153 gas adjustment in google, should be in the first few pages. Also, winchester shells seem to be fairly poorly made, even the $35/box extreme doesn't use brass.
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Looking at what lots of ppl are saying in the MP-153 forums, I think it is a typo in the manual. Makes sense, my gun won't cycle with light loads. I'm almost considering the gas cylinder adjustment, but again, most ppl recommend against it, just to suck it up and do 100+ heavy-load shots, then everything becomes normal.

P.S. My shoulder is now turning from pink to deep blue. Fascinating... :D
 
This really scares me because I have yet to break my new one in! Before you shot yours did you rip it all completely apart and clean out all the cosmo and packing grease. If you haven't that would have been an important first step and I can see how built up cosmo and grease would cause fte's and muck with the cycling.
 
LGswift said:
This really scares me because I have yet to break my new one in! Before you shot yours did you rip it all completely apart and clean out all the cosmo and packing grease. If you haven't that would have been an important first step and I can see how built up cosmo and grease would cause fte's and muck with the cycling.
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Everything except for the magazine was completely stripped & lightly lubed. I didn't want to take chances with the mag spring. I'll probably do it again tomorrow, including the mag this time.
 
Holy smokes, I'm petrified now! Looks like I should have bought a single shot :(

If you have any luck with anything you try or just more round count let me know, I will be doing mine this saturday.
 
LGswift said:
Holy smokes, I'm petrified now! Looks like I should have bought a single shot :(

If you have any luck with anything you try or just more round count let me know, I will be doing mine this saturday.
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I think most ppl didn't have any problems, but stay away from cheap Magnum shots, try Remington instead.

When was your MP-153 made? Was it after June 2006? Check your manual for a date stamp. Mine is made in 2005, i.e. the older model, they've had a few problems. When I stripped it, there was barely any grease left, just some dried-up crud.
 
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Mine was made in 05, signed off on October 30th according to the manual. There was mostly dried up remenants of packing grease when I went to clean it. So I guess its the older model?

I understand some shells are better than others for consistency and pattern performance, and that is a big deal during skeet and trap competitions but I always figured a magnum is a magnum is a magnum? I will be looking into ammo this afternoon.

In my manual it says "When firing the first 100 shots, use the 12gauge 70mm shotshell with less than 35g load or the 12gauge 76mm or 89mm.

During initial period of usage, lubricate it each time you are going to fire."

I figure the less than must be a typo, and to use a 2 3/4 shells with a shot charge over that weight or 3 inch / 3 1/2 inch shells will do. It also suggests a lot of lubrication i guess so I will have some on hand.
 
LGswift said:
I figure the less than must be a typo, and to use a 2 3/4 shells with a shot charge over that weight or 3 inch / 3 1/2 inch shells will do. It also suggests a lot of lubrication i guess so I will have some on hand.
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You are right.

It should read "at least".

I recommend 2 3/4" shotshells with 1 1/4 oz. lead loads.
 
i've run a pile of heavy loads through mine also, and i had to start tinkering with it for things to cycle properly, my notch isn't cut out enough to extend past the white mark, or the white mark is in the wrong spot so i have no idea.. when that piston or whatever slides into the peice below the barrel, it seems to rub a bit, while its sliding along the mag tube, but if i take it apart, that piston easily fits inside the tube below the barrel... im not sure whats up with that, its like its crooked or something.
 
you guys got me on the wire on buying this shotgun. They have them on sale everywhere up to $300 off. I wonder if this is why? I'll see where this thread goes before I purchase, thanks.
 
Just to set your mind at ease, after a few hundred rounds, mine will cycle even the cheapest ammo I can buy locally. winchester universal, super target, and federal promo packs all shoot fine now.


On a side note, marlin1895gs, my gun seems to suffer from a similar problem. I think its the piston hitting the handguard on mine. If I pull the bolt back and VERY slowly let it return, it gets hung up right near the end sometimes. If I press on the handguard it will close fully. It doesn't hang up with the handguard off. Let me know if you discover any remedies.
 
I've disapointed it's been a few days i'm half in the bag i come to check for a update and nothing???

You shoot it more? it getting any better? common man git r don! I was thinking of getting one and I wanna know how its going for you..
 
Jimbobob08 said:
I've disapointed it's been a few days i'm half in the bag i come to check for a update and nothing???

You shoot it more? it getting any better? common man git r don! I was thinking of getting one and I wanna know how its going for you..
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X2, It's starting to sound a little better. Sounds like it just needs a little breaking in.
 
Jimbobob08 said:
I've disapointed it's been a few days i'm half in the bag i come to check for a update and nothing???

You shoot it more? it getting any better? common man git r don! I was thinking of getting one and I wanna know how its going for you..
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I haven't touched mine yet. It was Stoeger Day at Target Sports on Saturday, so I couldn't resist & pumped a few military rounds from an M2. Now my shoulder feels even worse. :D But I'm glad I got a chance to try the M2 & M4, compared to my Baikal for $400, I wouldn't buy either of them, not worth the difference, IMO.

I decided to not rush things & to take my time. Picked up 2 boxes of Remington 3" 1-5/8" & will go to the range tomorrow. My club is 1.5Hrs away - that's Toronto for you - so I can't just go when I feel like it, which is 24/7. ;) But I have an interview tomorrow, and that place is half-way to my range. Hell, if the interview doesn't go well I can always bring in my Baikal, see if it the employer becomes more agreeable. :D

The Stoeger day was amazing, kudos to guys and gals at Target Sports. I brought my 22-year-old kid, he hasn't shot since he was 12. I bought extra tickets, so we fired over 200 rounds, and by the end the kid got a hang of it, making his daddy so proud! They also had a draw for a PX4, too bad we didn't win it.

Sorry for the offtop. I'll keep you posted.
 
I think you're suppose to break it in with high brass loads, no super heavy turkey and slug loads. The 3 that I've seen all works great.
 
You don't need to fire rds to break-in the gun, save your shoulder please see this thread for more info (scroll down to post #12 by Ned S)

http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=404983


Enjoy;)
 
I bought mine last year at the Shooter's Choice Fall Hunting Sale for $325. I figured that at that price how could I go wrong? I didn't do any special break in, I just grabbed some slugs, went to the range and shot it to see where it hit. Things were good, so I carried it in the Nov deer hunt. After approx 20 slugs and 15-20 high brass #4's to patern for turkey hunting I have yet to experience any problems. I have not tried any target loads yet, but so far so good. Guys that are having problems with the gas system rubbing, I would check for interference with the fore end and check the gas system setting. If it is cranked in too much it could have too much friction on the mag tube, it could cause problems. I know when I cleaned mine when I got it, I had to back the gas system off 3/4 of a turn just to get the barrel back on. For anyone out there looking for a reasonably priced semi, I don't think you can beat the Baikal. Buy with confidence, and if there are some teething problems, just shoot the sh*t out of the thing and it will fix itself.
 
Spcamno said:
You don't need to fire rds to break-in the gun, save your shoulder please see this thread for more info (scroll down to post #12 by Ned S)

http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=404983


Enjoy;)
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You mean honing the end of the barrel? I haven't heard that one before, thanks. The one I've heard though was dry-firing with snap caps, to let all parts adjust by wear to where they're supposed to be after break-in.

Today I took my Baikal apart and saw a lot of grinding marks on the inside of the receiver and the bolt.I used 1500 grit sandpaper and gun oil to polish those areas. I then re-cleaned & lubed the gun with Ballistol, paying special attention to the extractors. Yesterday, I couldn't dry-fire without the snap cap staying in the chamber - the extractors were not working - and often there was no feed from the mag. Today, it cycled perfectly. I did it like 50-60times. By the end of my 'jerking off', I suddently noticed the bolt moving much smoother than before.

I'm looking forward to a real test tomorrow or Wednesday. Thanks for all the help!
 
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