remington/baikal SPR 310 20ga ?

[Smells like Powder]

Hi all,

I am back with a new thread and questions for you..

By the way thank you to all the posters on my previous thread...you guys helped me a lot! http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=539365

So now, I know what I would like to get.

Again, i am not interested in skeet shooting, duck/goose hunting either
I may shoot at some clays with friends, but mainly the shotgun will be used for small game in uplands.

caliber wise, it will be a 20ga with a 26" barrel over/under - I definitely prefer the look of an o/u

money wise, this will be perfect as well... i checked the trading posts for shotguns...can't afford Citori and others....

So if any of you uses or has ever tried/owned a remington/baikal SPR 310 in 20ga, I would like to get your feed back on this

Thank you very much in advance for your answers!
P.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

Generally, locating a great deal on a quality (used) shotgun in good/great condition could usually be a long winding quest. At times, one is fortunate enough to acquire something quickly. On the most part, however, it is a long term effort with much search as well as research needed in the process.

I would imagine that you may have quite likely looked at a few different brands/models of O/U shotguns so far in line with your search for one. If you haven't had yet an opportunity to personally inspect a Baikal (formerly also branded as SPR by Remington) - you may observe the following:

First, the Cons as it then make is somewhat easier to accept....
1. In a beauty contest among double guns (yes there is such an event too ), the Baikals (read general production) will never make it to the stage.

2. Comparatively heavier even for the sub-gauge models.

3. Extremely tight lockup and quite hard to break open specially in the case of a new O/U, the SxS not as much. Keep in mind though this is not a bad thing.

4. The quality of overall "finish" (note - I did not say construction) leaves quite a bit to be desired. However, one could ignore that easily by switching off the "compare" mode within one's mind.

Now some of the positive angles.....

1. Baikal shotguns (and other firearms) are built robust and can easily take the abuse.

2. The overall finish (wood/metal) is reasonably acceptable in light of a cost efficient but well made firearm.

4. Shotguns are equipped with ejectors/extractor (combo) and screw-in chokes on almost all of the late models available in the US/Canada.

5. Mechanical trigger on the O/U.....its a good thing (not sure, been a while since I owned 12ga IZH-27s....I believe the trigger needs to be pushed forward to select a bbl to fire otherwise the default kicks in i.e. bottom bbl first). FYI, the SxS (IZH-43) is equipped with SST....also had no trouble with the couple that I owned around the same time in 12/20.

6. The bbls are well regulated as far as a field model scattergun is concerned.

7. As far as balance/handling is concerned - I should just keep that plain and simple by saying, "ordinary" (for lack of a better term here). However, one could very easily live with that, well, until such time the individual starts to play with some of the more prominent brands.....specially Upland models.

FWIW, I've owned the Baikal (as well as SPR) IZH-27s, IZH-43s, IZH-153, IZH-94MPs and IZH-18 (CF Rifle). I did not keep those for long but that was an entirely different issue and had nothing to do with performance or problems. Well, other than the IHZ-94MP .22/.410 combo where the 410 bbl wasn't properly regulated in the cases of two different firearms that I tested. I'm still planning on trying yet another one!

Having said all that, the main question is - how would that O/U fit YOU? If that fits well, yes go ahead and buy.....you need to start someplace and I'm sure it won't be your first/last shotgun as you move forward.

On a final note, you may wish to visit the Baikal Lover's Forum (ShotgunWorld dot com) and read up and/or ask for more opinions there.

 

[brybenn]

Great bush gun. Just a side note baikal also produces some amazing double guns and rifles in their custom shop. High end engraving special materials wood that makes you hard and some of the best gold inlays I've ever seen but those are most likely out of your price range at upwards of $20 000

 

[Silver_wlf]

I shot a borrowed Baikal o/u in 20ga all season this year. I loved it but the trap shooters definitely looked down their noses at me. I will agree that the lock up is stiff to open and close.

I don't know what model it was but I can say that the auto-safety annoyed me - every so often I would forget to take it off and feel like a jerk. My only other complaint would be the trigger - really heavy pull.

Otherwise I had a blast with it. It smashed clays (when I pointed right) and that's what I wanted it to do.

 

[Smells like Powder]

Well,

Thank you all for your answers.

I think Brybenn summarizes it well by saying that the SPR 310 is a great bush gun, not the best on the market, but as a starter, i think it will do the job!

I will give it a try for sure!

P.

 

[sundog57]

My two cents worth on this one.
I purchased a 20g IHZ 27 (same gun as the Spartan) this year
Pros - it fits me and I'm not afraid to take it out in a pouring rainstorm and have water dripping out to of the trigger inlet - dry it off wipe it down with gun oil and Hawes lemon oil and good as new (we had a very wet bird season in NS)
Cons.
The machining is good, BUT the finish is not. The edges of the ejectors and the metal back end of the fore stock were razor sharp when I got the gun. I managed to cut two holes in my shirt and a couple of pretty nice ones in my fingers before I sat down with some 2400 grit paper and sorted things out.
The safety is a bit sticky
The action is tight but not outrageously so an after about 500 rounds it settled in.
The push the trigger forward barrel selector is not a very useful feature - it takes lots of forethought to use - ie. "I wonder if those birds are going to come in, the ones over in the next section, probably want to shoot top then bottom if they do, I guess I'd better finish my coffee before they get here"
In mine the chrome steel barrel lining has chipped or buckled in way of the breech (Just at the very edge, maybe 2mm wide - not fatal but not acceptable on a new gun). It will be going for a little vacation with Mr Baikal now that bird season is done.
The forestock on mine fits like a pair of size 14 galoshes. I stuck a piece of leather under it to "fix" it - but you really shouldn't have to do that with a new gun.
On Remington Gun Clubs it punches a pin hole in the primers - don't know if this has an effect on my shooting unless that's the reason my clays scores are so low. Only on gun clubs, not on Federal, Winchester or Kent hunting ammo.
BUT - I have shot quite a bit with it since I got it, probably near on 1000 rounds up the spout and it still goes bang when I pull the trigger and has done every single time I have asked it to.
I loaded some tungsten super shot this year - I have some opinions on that if anyone is interested, and it didn't put any marks in the barrel.
As above it fits and I can shoot it reasonably well much to the chagrin of Rusty and his cousins.
And I don't mind smashing around in the alders in the rain with it.
So basically it does what I want it to and it didn't cost a fortune.