Baikal / Izhevsky IZH-46M Match Air Pistol

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Baikal / Izhevsky IZH-46M Match Air Pistol

BAIKAL / IZHEVSKY IZH-46M
.177 CAL. MATCH AIR PISTOL

Baikal IZH-46 manual in English

Baikal IZH-46/46M manual in Russian/English

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Model:	IZH 46M
Caliber:	.177 @ approximately 470 fps
Capacity:	Single
Barrel Length:	11.02"
Finish:	Anodized Matt Black
Grips:	Adjustable Wood Target
Weight:	2.86 lbs
Front Sight:	Blade
Rear Sight:	Micro Adjustable
Trigger:	Two Stage Adjust. 14* - 36oz Adjustable Position Adjustable Pre-travel Adjustable Post-travel
Length:	16.53"
Cocking Effort:	14 - 18 lbs
Safety:	None
Accessories:	B-Square #17900 Mount Walther MRS RedDot

* Manufacturer recommends no less than 500 grams (16 ozs) trigger pull weight

I have been wanting to try 10 meter air pistol shooting for a very long time but have never got around to it. Y'all know how that is. Well I believe now is the time for action. To this end I wanted a pistol capable of pretty decent accuracy and scores but I did not want to have to mortgage the house and sell my first born to get a quality match pistol. After spending much time on the internet seeing what is available, reading reviews and the like I came to the conclusion that the Russian made IZH-46M single pump pneumatic single shot match air pistol will fit the task and most importantly, the budget.

The IZH-46M is an entry level match air pistol for around the $300 mark and is actually very well equipped for the price as opposed to pistols you could be paying upwards of $1500. So this pistol is not an Olympic caliber pistol but is as accurate as I need. But dont be misled, the IZH-46M is capable of some very tight groups in the right hands and is more accurate than I can shoot freehand. Also there are lots of after market parts available, like scope mounts for a reddot for silhouette shooting and anatomical R/H and L/H grips, etc.

What I like most about this pistol is that it is a single pump pneumatic action as opposed to CO2 or PCP powered. This means I have to pump it each time to shoot. Sure modern CO2 or PCP powered pistols with their tank of CO2 can shoot upwards of 50 to 100+ shots off each tank but then there is extra expense like additional tanks for the gun, a filler tank and attachments or pre-filled caplets and as I said I wanted to try this on the cheap side. Maybe the bigger bucks approach may come later.

As I become more familiar with this pistol I will write a full review as I see it and maybe post some targets, etc. Also I have made and testing a silent pellet trap so I can shoot indoors during foul weather or when its just too darn hot and humid outside during the summer months. I have come up with an acceptable silent pellet trap design I believe. Its not as slick as the bought ones but should do the job. The finished trap can be seen here.


Pistol arrived promptly from PyramidAir absolutely superbly padded with no way contents were going to be damaged. The pistol itself comes from the factory in a solid cardboard box and sealed in heavy plastic ensuring no moisture will be able to get to the pistol.		The pistol comes with a Certificate of Acceptance from the Baikal factory, a user manual in english, a brass cleaning rod, a steel pin punch, a multi-tool screwdriver and a sealed bag containing spare seals and alternate size sights.

My Owners Review of the Baikal/Izevsky 'izzy' IZH-46M

YOU NEED THE CORRECT CONTEXT

You have to remember that the IZH-46M is a $300 single pump pneumatic match air pistol as opposed to a $1500-$3000 olympic grade CO2 or PCP match air pistol so it must be put into the correct context as I am talking about this pistol, not one that costs 5 to 10 times more. I should also state that I am relatively new to air pistols and bought this as a way to practice at home for smallbore pistol target shooting. So I may not use all the correct terms and 'buzz words', but will hopefully get my points over.

When my wife first saw this pistol her initial comment was 'now you have bought a toy'. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a precision firearm and deserves to be treated with the respect and the safety as such.

OK, now we are on the same page let my review begin.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Upon receiving my shipment via Fedex I opened the extremely well packaged box (great packing job by PyramydAir) and found the heavy duty carboard pistol box which is then enclosed in a sealed heavy duty plastic bag to keep moisture out and the pistol in good condition and it seems to have worked. The pistol was in great condition and had a sparing application of good ol' Russian preservative on it. Also in the box sealed in their own sealed plastic were the following:

1 x owner's manual
1 x Acceptance Certificate from the Baikal factory
1 x brass cleaning rod
1 x multitool screwdriver (for replacing sights, etc)
1 x steel pin punch
1 x small bag containing an alternate front and rear sight, spare piston seal and 2 x o-rings

The IZH-46M seems to be a robust and well made pistol. There are few if any sharp edges nor burrs on machined parts. It could be considered a wee bit 'neanderthal' compared to it's $3000 counterparts but it is simple, effective and performs just fine and that works for me.

INITIAL INSPECTION, CLEANING and LUBRICATING

Read the manual if needed ... then my first job was to give the pistol a once over to ensure all appeared to be where it was supposed to be and all appeared ok. Then I cleaned the preservative from the outside metal areas and then preceded to work on the bore. Now I do things different to most in this area. First, using the supplied cleaning rod and patch I pull through a dozen or so times with Iosso bore cleaner. This being a very mild abrasive paste smooths out the microscopic imperfections in the bore. I then pull through several times with a patch with CLP and then dry patches until they come out clean. I now removed the pump handle and the piston and clean all preservative from the bore and piston of the pneumatic cylinder. After reassembly no more than two drops of PellGunOil in the cylinder ensures it has enough lubrication and will seal. A smear of petrolium jelly on the hing pins complete my initial cleaning and lubricating.

NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF

Now I am ready to test fire. I put five pellets through the pistol gun just to function test it. First thing I notice, having large hands and long fingers is that the grips will need some work, Sharp edges on the grip and palm rest need to be rounded at least and preferably with the use of a dremmel scalped to provide a comfortable hold of the pistol. Aftermarket grips can be bought but will probably need work anyway so I will stay with the originals for now.

Trigger is ok straight out the box for now also. When a gun of any kind is new it takes time to wear everything in. There are always small manufacturing burrs and imperfections on anything man made. I have read on air gun web site upwards of 2000 pellets to be fired to ensure all parts are mating together like trigger sears etc. After this initial stage 'fire-in' stage I will get serious with trigger adjustments. With that said I dispise pre-travel and over-travel and will adjust down both of these to something a tad more to my liking before I go too far. Having long fingers I will probably need to get the trigger as far forward as I can also. Actual trigger pull can wait but feels pretty good straight out of the box.

The long pumping handle makes for very easy charging of the cylinder. I have read its about 14lbs and may be a struggle of sorts for a junior but I found it very easy but it may test your muscles after 60-100 loads or so in a session. This pistol also has a dry fire ability without compression. All that is required do this is to move the slide forward releasing the spring loaded bolt. Pivot the bolt all the way up until you hear/feel the sears engage. Then push it all the way down until it locks back under the slide and squeeze the trigger. I have read that on the 'izzy' the trigger feel dry firing is different to actually firing which is not good for high level shooters. Personally I cannot feel any difference. Anyway it's a good way to practice without firing and to learn to hold 2.86 lbs at arm's length (not a natural act) and to hold a sight picture and to learn trigger control.

ACCURACY

Straight out of the box this was shooting, at 10m (33ft), approximately 1/4" left and 1/2" low. Probably the way I hold it and sight it. A couple of clicks on the rear sight micrometer dials and it was shooting pretty close. As I get more comfortable with this pistol and get it bedded in I will do some accuracy tests and try different pellets to see what it likes best.

CONCLUSION

The pistol has to be close at the very least and probably the best $300 I ever spent on a gun, I believe. Countless hours of practice and most definitely, enjoyment can be had with this pistol. It's simple, robust, accurate and cheaper than the big boys. It's a single pump pneumatic so no extra expense for caplets, bulk cylinders and attachments so you just pump and shoot. I can practice at home when weather or time does not permit a range trip and can be dry fired also. Good points and benefits far exceed bad points which as of writing this review, I have not really found any.

A great 'bang for the buck' in my opinion.