Looking for CGN's opinion on BAIKAL shotguns

T

Teac

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
50   0   0
Hi CGN,

I am looking to get a Baikal side by side as an all around outdoors gun to replace my Winchester Defender which doesnt feed reliably :(

I have been reading on Baikal guns and find opinions from "crap" to "great". I am a little aprehensive to anything Russian made (no offense). I need a gun that is 100% reliable, where no parts break when I need the gun, doesnt jam, doesnt break.

Would a Baikal be a good idea? What is your experience ?

Thanks

Teac
 
Last edited:
I have a semi auto baikal mp-153 shotgun, and its built like a russian tank. Its not pretty like a beretta or browning, but it works great and never has let me down.
 
Thanks guys! Great comments! Looks like the baikal stuff is alright.

It seems like CZ makes a nice coach gun, but seems a little hard to get in canada
 
I have a mp153 semi 3.5" and a sxs ij58. I love them. My sxs is my go to gun for skeet sporting clays crows bunnies and everything else I use a shotgun for. I've put over 15000 rounds thru my sxs never had an issue yet. They are heavy bulky but if I run outta ammo or my motor quits I can club my prey to death and use my gun to paddle home. Btw some baikals are AMAZING quality and much nicer then most berettas
 
I borrowed a baikal semi auto from a member of this board for an afternoon of duckhunting, shot a box and a half of steel and never had any issues at all, I thought it pointed well and mechanically never skipped a beat.
 
I've had a 18.5" SxS for years and, coincidentally, I just bought another from a buddy this past weekend. They lock up like a bank vault and will serve you well.

Here's my old faithful, I don't have a pic of the recent purchase yet.

P1010359.jpg
 
Solid, indestructible, ugly, crude, not particularly well balanced.

I was shopping for an inexpensive SxS 20-gauge last fall, and when I handled a Baikal or Stoeger next to a CZ, found that the difference was night and day; the CZ's are lighter, handle better, and are much better finished. I should note, though, that I have seen some pics of some rather nice-looking Baikals. Also, in the subgauges they are built on scaled frames whereas the Baikals weren't.

I decided that the difference in handling and fit and finish was worth the extra money for my purposes (small game hunting) and went CZ (in fact, I liked the 20 so much I ran out and bought a matching 12 a couple of months later). If I didn't care about weight, and just wanted an indestructible knockabout shotgun that could take being used to club zombies during the apocalypse, the Baikal might have been the better choice. And I would definitely pick the Baikals I handled over the Stoegers I handled.

Of course, this is all very subjective; I'd suggest hitting all the gun stores you can and fondling every shotgun you can until they threaten to throw you out for gun molesting, and buy whichever you like best.
 
I have 2 side by sides + one semi auto MP153
and i just ordered a over and under izh 27
they are built like a tank
 
I love Baikal shotguns alot! Here's a Baikail IJ18 1976, was my father's shotgun. Its a beauty, aim very well, pattern great and have a very nice finish,more than today baikal i think. This one have a thin walled chamber, its a light shotgun, perform flawlessly:D
IMG_1297.jpg
[/IMG]
IMG_1298.jpg
[/IMG]
IMG_1299.jpg
[/IMG]
IMG_1301.jpg
[/IMG]
I dont hunt much now, i'm more a milsurp collector but a Bakail semi auto MP153 is the next shotgun i will buy for sure, wood or synthetic, dont know yet but will be Bakail 100% sure.:)
Jocelyn
 
Make sure to shoulder them for proprer fit.
I was going to buy an O/U years ago but found
I had to adjust my line of sight with it.
Decent enough, but not for me at that time.
My buddy bought one and still has it to this day.
 
I just bought a few months ago a Remington/Baikal Spr-210 (same as IZH-43) in 20ga. I've done the same research that you've done.. and also gone from bad to great as review.. But I finally decided to go for it. And for the price '' The JOB'' will be done for years and years.. This gun isn't the prettier, the parts fitting isn't that great the finish on the barrel and wood could have been done by a Kid (Maybe dunno who made it in the factory) .. But This gun works great, and is definetly a shooter .. I put about 150 round through it by now and the more I shoot the more I love it... You have to care a bit more about cleaning the hinge and all the mecanism to prevent grime and assure the gun works fine.. A bit of Rem.. ACtion Cleaner let it dry and your favorite oil that's it.. I was looking for a CZ But to hunt over my pointing In hardwood, moist, Rock and mud I was thinking about the price and the scratches when I 'll be back home.. Again for the price you can't go wrong .. Mine is about 6 3/4 lbs that is ligther than a CZ and some other Like Stoeger.. So why Not..
 
I once had an IJ 58 just like dorms. Idiot as I was, I loaned it out and the shooter slipped on a rock just under the snow and when he landed on the shotgun, it broke in the wrist area!
I suspect the choke was extra full. It was no problem rolling running jackrabbits in the open prairies using single 0 buckshot @80 yards.
It wasn't pretty but in my hands, that thing was a surely long distant killer with any lead loads I could fit into the chrome lined chambers.

Edit: I think us capitalists truly benefited in this small way from the exported sporting arms of the then Soviet Russia.
IMHO, thier no frills but accurate 22 rimfire rifles and uber tightly choked shotguns gave the end user, very good value for money expended.

my two bits.......
 
First O/U I ever bought new was a Baikal with walnut stocks. Loved the gun.
They will last for their intended purpose much like Lenin will last with refridgeration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom