To date, in shops for hunters you can find many beautiful imported guns. But there were times when the ultimate dreams of every boy were the Soviet guns of the Izhevsk factory. One of these, IZH-12, will be discussed today. Let's find out what characteristics this double-barreled vertical has (one barrel stands above the other) and thanks to which it still serves hunters immaculately. And technical data and reviews of real users will help us with this.
Design
The gun is absolutely easy to disassemble into three main parts: the barrel unit, the receiver and the forend. To do this, you only need to remove the fore-end and push the locking lever as far as the stop. In the hands will be paired trunks and a receiver with a stock. The barrel length of 12 gauges is 720 mm. They have a chrome channel and a 70 mm chamber. According to the type of muzzle narrowing, one trunk refers to the half-shells, and the second to the chokes. The barrels of the IZH-12 rifle (12 gauge), the characteristics of which have gone ahead in comparison with its predecessor, the IZH-59 "Sputnik", are connected to each other by interbarrel strips, in a vertical plane. The main problem of Sputnik was that the barrels vibrated during the shot, and the accuracy of the shooting was doubtful. On the upper barrel is the sighting bar and front sight. In the side grooves of the barrel coupling, an ejector-extractor is installed on two barrels.
Receiver block
The receiver is made of steel and has a deep cutout to accommodate the breech of the trunks. On the bottom side there are two windows - for the front and rear underbarrel hooks. Inclined grooves for pushers are selected on the inner side walls of the receiver block. Their rear thorns act on the trigger pins while opening the gun. The pad guard has two inclined openings for strikers. On the back of the receiver is a shank with a sear and a fuse.
Locking mechanisms
This mechanism provides a strong connection between the barrel unit and the box when fired. It includes a wide locking bar with a spring, an axis and the locking lever itself. The locking in the IZH-12 gun (12 gauge), the characteristics of which we are considering today, is single. It is carried out by hitting the strap in the transverse groove located on the rear hook.
Shock mechanism
Type of mechanism - trigger. Triggers have a rebound, which is necessary so that the strikers, after hitting the capsule, extend beyond the pad guard. The springs have a cylindrical spiral design. They have enough power to ensure reliable breaking of the capsule, in conditions of freezing temperatures, when many are already thinking about winter hunting.
Trigger and fuse
The trigger mechanism of the IZH-12 gun (12 gauge), the characteristics of which deserve respect, consists of: a base, a pair of whispers and a pair of triggers. The gun is equipped with special devices - interceptors, which exclude the possibility of a shot in the event of a trigger breaking from a platoon without pulling the trigger. It is noteworthy that before the IL-12 such mechanisms could only be found on expensive guns. The fuse here is non-automatic, but it does its job perfectly - it locks the whispers tightly. By the way, in some cases, automatic fuses were also installed on the latest gun models. The gun can be used for a smooth trigger / trigger release.
Bed and forend
The bed has a pistol shape and is made of beech or walnut, like a forend, on which a deep gutter is drawn. On some models they put a forearm, which in the ranks of hunters is called the "beaver tail." It has a more thickened shape, which positively affects the strength of the structure. The ergonomics of the bed deserve mostly positive reviews from hunters. Everything is simple and clear here, but at the same time reliable. Thanks to its good balance, the gun is easy to operate.
Production and success
In addition to the model IZH-12 12 gauge, there was also a version of IZH-12 16 gauge. The characteristics of this modification are not fundamentally different from the main character of our review. The main difference comes from the name - increased caliber. The IZH-12 shotgun was mass-produced from 1963 to 1974. During this time, the plant produced 312 thousand guns. 129 thousand of them went beyond the borders of the Soviet Union. Not only Soviet, but also foreign hunters praised the IZH-12 gun (12 gauge). The characteristics of the gun allowed him to achieve a high hit rate. The plant guaranteed that when shooting at a 75-centimeter target with shot number 5 from a distance of 35 meters, the accuracy of the battle would be 52% from the lower barrel and 56% from the upper barrel. Also, the manufacturer gave a guarantee that the product "will live" at least 10 thousand shots.
IL-12 in sports
It is worth noting that in those days in the USSR, shooting, or rather, bench sport, was quite popular. Sports societies trained good shooters. In sections, as a rule, inexpensive guns were used, one of which was IL-12. Caliber, characteristics, price, reliability - the main arguments when choosing weapons for the section. Beginner shooters with this gun without problems received the 2nd and 3rd categories. At the trench stand, especially talented shooters with an IZH-12 gun even managed to get the first rank. However, in the round it was practically impossible for anyone. More expensive shotguns were far from in all circles and went to only the most promising athletes.
IL-25
The designers of the Izhevsk factory quickly responded to the need for sports sections in inexpensive, but accurate shotguns for training. So, on the basis of IZH-12, a new shotgun was constructed - IZH-25, whose trigger had one hook. The chief designer of this model was the talented inventor E. Gubin. The gun had two modifications: for round (SK index) and for trench (ST index) stands. The model has gained recognition not only among beginners and amateurs. Such masters as L. Gurvich and V. Gorelov, achieved high results with this gun at international and domestic competitions.
The disadvantages of the gun IZH-12
The main drawback of the gun is a solid aiming bar, which makes the barrel heavier. And in the summer heat it heats up and causes vibrations of hot air above itself, which prevents the arrow from aiming. Handguard from overload sometimes crack. But this is a normal occurrence for rifles in which the fore-end has an integral groove-shaped shape.
Now briefly consider other famous models of the Izhevsk factory 12 gauge.
IL-18
For adherents of single-barrel rifles from the beginning of the 60s to this day, the IL-18 model (12 gauge) is available. The characteristics of the model are as follows: weight - about 2.8 kg; barrel length - 725 mm; chamber length - 70 mm for old and 76 for new models. There is no aiming bar on the barrel, there is only a front sight. The chamber along with the bore is coated with chrome. The gun is easily disassembled into three parts. The neck of the lodge is pistol. As a rule, the bed is made of birch or beech. The IL-18 shotgun, in addition to the standard 12th, can have other calibers. In this case, the weight of the gun and barrel length will be slightly different.
IL-58
This is a double-barreled horizontal bar, which has been produced since 1958. Some of its versions are produced today. Initially, the model was to become a small-caliber hunting rifle (20-28), however, the serial versions of IZH-58 (12 caliber) were produced most of all. The characteristics of the gun allowed him to get a significant advantage over the models IZH-54 and IZH-57. The box of the gun was made of strong steel, which does not need to be thermally processed during assembly. Instead of numerous screws that require careful installation, pins were used in this model. And the complex attachment of the box in the box was replaced by a simple one. Leaf springs have also been replaced with coil springs. The barrel was connected to the breech through the coupling connection.
Izh-27
The IZH-12 shotgun is no longer available, as is its second version, the IZH-25. Instead, in 1973, the IL-27 double-barreled vertical model (12 gauge) was launched. The characteristics of this gun are different from its prototype. Changes affected the shape of the forend and the bed, as well as the shape of the box at the junction with the box. And on this model a ventilated aiming strip was installed. This modification is produced at the Izhevsk plant today. There is also a special version of the gun designed for bench shooters. She received the name Izh-39.
Another model created on the basis of the IZH-27 gun is called IZH-27E (12 gauge). The characteristics of this version are distinguished by the presence of an ejector, which, if necessary, can be switched off and the use of a single trigger, which provides alternate firing (the lower barrel alternates with the upper one). Serial production of this modification began in 1970.
IL-54
This model is a double-barreled horizontal intra-type. The basic model, which has been manufactured since 1949, was the IZH-49 gun. In 1954, he was replaced by the IZH-54 version (12 gauge). Description of the main indicators of the gun: barrel length - 730 or 750 mm; muzzle narrowing - standard parabolic; chamber length - 70 mm; barrel diameter - 18.5 mm. The trunks are coated on the outside with nickel or chrome. Some versions also have chrome chamber and barrel bore. Locking the trunk - triple. The trigger is located on a separate base and includes a pair of triggers. Triggers have a return type and cock when opening the gun.
IL-43
In 1986, the IZH-58 rifle was replaced by the IZH-43 double-barreled horizontal rail (12 gauge). The characteristic of the model is similar to the prototype, with the exception of some important design features. USM universal type allows each trigger to shoot from both barrels. The front hook fires in the right-left trunk sequence, and the rear hook is the other way around. The mechanism also allows you to shoot in a simple way, when the finger is thrown from one hook to another.
Conclusion
The model of the IZH-12 gun was a serious step in the development of the production of domestic weapons for hunting and, later, sports. And, as reviews from ordinary users show, this is true. Soviet hunters remembered this product as a reliable serial weapon with a vertical method of mounting trunks and a very reasonable price. To this day, many continue to operate the IZH-12 gun and are not going to look for a replacement for it. With special thriftiness they keep models of piece production or those made for export. Such a product in good condition in the secondary market will cost at least 600 dollars.