Bought a very neat gun....
....that I have wanted for quite a spell. It is a Baikal IZH94 combination, chambered to .22 WRM and 20 gauge! It is built on a slightly different version of the action they use for O/U shotguns, and thus hammerless. Sports a decent piece of walnut, and for whatever reason even has a small hand guard . Maybe the thought there is that it would protect your hand from freezing to the barrel when out on the Taiga.
These are sort of a cult firearm with the bushcraft crowd. I have followed postings of the REAL adventures of some Russian bushcrafters in Siberia and noticed this appears to be the gun of choice over there, and why not? It can handle virtually anything they might run into with aplomb. I might want to back it up with a good, heavy single action resolver in bear country, and it isn't much for fast follow up shots, but I am well pleased!
Otony.
those baikal combos are really good...accurate, and
sturdy and lately have had nice wood, well fitted wood, etc i have several with centerfire rifles and am quite pleased.
you did good, the rimfire versions are hard to find at anything like a reasonable price.
The hammerless rimfire versions.....
.....with the top lever release are no longer imported for some daft reason. The version with the odd bottom lever release is still available but those are all .410s combined with a rimfire. That variation is a little cheesy to my eyes. I am very pleased with this one, and it came with an inexpensive Konus .22 scope to boot, that will probably go on one of the kid's rifles.
The funny thing is that I had just bought two Rossi combos, both .22LR, one with a spare 20ga barrel and the other with a .410 tube. Sold the .410 version in a heartbeat, now I am set to peddle the .22/20 in anticipation of a REAL .22/20!
Otony
yes, the rossi is nice, but in reality you are not going to
carry both barrels with you and switch in the field. the true combo gun makes the mnost sense. i think the baikal , though heavier, is actually a more practical gun than the old savage 24s.
Strong like Jeep, Komrade..!!!.
a long-time Russian correspondent on DoublegunShop related q few stories and instances of the Biakel's worthiness. A Siberian Engineer friend of his had 12/12; 12/.308; and .308/.308 sets: his only gun. Because -- they always worked.20
Bought a very neat gun....
if you ever run across one of the single shots in 7.62x39, I'd much appreciate a call.
b
Nyet, tovarich, strong like GAZ 69!
I would dearly love to own a GAZ 69 by the way
Otony
OK, Komrade. To carry Biakels!!
x
I don't know about the GAZ 69...
But we have the remains of a UAZ 469 here that was brought back from the Gulf War. It is a pretty interesting vehicle.
Bought a very neat gun....
Yup, that one there!
No longer imported, super hard to find.
Happy camper, I am!
Otony