MP-153 - the famous Izhevsk semi-automatic gun based on a pump-action shotgun

The MP-153 hunting rifle is one of the most common Russian semi-automatic rifles, created on the basis of pump-action shotguns. The MP-153 semi-automatic shotgun has a wide range of applications, from hunting to self-defense. Unlike Tula semi-automatic devices, the gun is reliable and “omnivorous” in relation to brands of ammunition. Despite the positive qualities, the disgusting assembly of Izhevsk weapons makes Russian hunters wary of this rather non-standard system for Russian hunting rifles. Often a purchased semi-automatic weapon can cause many problems associated with poor fitting of weapon components.

Since MP-153 shotguns are not currently produced, they can only be purchased on the secondary hunting market. In this case, there is a chance that the purchased semi-automatic machine will already be modified by the previous owner, but you should not fully hope for this. It happens that a low-quality gun with factory specifications passes through several hands, and each new owner, convinced that shooting from the MP-153 is far from ideal, tries to quickly get rid of the gun.

History of the creation of MP-153

The history of the MP-153 began in 1993, when the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant developed and launched its pump-action smoothbore shotgun IZH-81. The creation of a pump-action shotgun was necessitated, since the Russian market for hunting weapons was filled with foreign models of pump-action shotguns, depriving Russian manufacturers of many potential customers.

The creation of IZH-81 could not have come at a better time. The reliable and trouble-free Russian pump-action shotgun was loved by many hunters, although many did not like its rough shape. Time passed, and after a few years, hunting rifles of a new system poured onto the Russian market - semi-automatic ones created on the basis of pump-action shotguns.

In 1997, development of a self-loading gun based on the IZH-81 began. Interestingly, these developments were of an initiative nature and were carried out by a group of enthusiasts. By 1998, it was possible to create two prototypes of a self-loading shotgun:

• The first was created by the design bureau of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant;
• The second sample was submitted for testing by an employee of one of the Nizhny Novgorod private companies.

These specimens were tested in full, but their results were unsatisfactory. However, they interested the plant management so much that the developments were transferred to the category of planned and began to be carried out using all the capacities and resources of the design bureau. Already at the initial stage of development, it became clear that the IZH-81 receiver does not allow the use of cartridges longer than 70 mm.

The first factory model of a semi-automatic machine based on IZH-81 was called MP-151. The abbreviation “MR” had to be used instead of the abbreviation “IZH”, since it was planned to sell the new guns abroad, and it was very difficult to translate “IZH”. The first sample of the MP-151 was demonstrated at the Nuremberg international exhibition IWA'99. At the same exhibition, the American IZH dealer made it clear to management that the 12/70 mm semi-automatic would not be sold in the USA, since they needed 12/89 caliber guns. Shotguns of this caliber allow the use of a wide range of ammunition, ranging from lightweight 12/70 mm for clay pigeon shooting to powerful 12/89 mm cartridges.

Since the plant had already created a batch of MP-151 kits, 70 units of semi-automatic machines were assembled from them, which were sold in the Udmurt Republic.

The development of a new model, called MP-153, began in 1999. Already at the initial stages of development, it became clear that the IZH-81 design, which was used as the basis for the creation of the MP-153, needed deep reworking.

Information from the manufacturer

MP-153 is the only domestic model of a self-loading rifle. It is designed for the 12/89 cartridge type, but functions reliably with the entire range of cartridges in this caliber, from 70s to 89s in various combinations, without requiring additional switching or adjustment. So any standard cartridges can be used for the MP-153 (12 gauge, loaded with both shot and bullet). A version with a chamber length of 76 mm is also available. The MP-153 weapon is produced with different barrel lengths - from 510 to 750 mm. With a maximum barrel (750 mm), the length of the gun is 1280 mm, and the weight does not exceed 3.5 kg (may vary depending on the material from which the stock is made). "Murka" is produced in several modifications: with replaceable barrel attachments designed for firing steel and lead shot; without sighting bar with front sight and rear sight; with various options for the forend and butt (beech or walnut, with a rubber shock absorber, made of plastic), as well as with a folding butt. The plant also produces specialized versions. For example, a service modification (MR-153 C), intended for equipping private security organizations, or a “practice” sports model.

Similarities and differences between MP-153 and IZH-81

Although IZH-81 and MR-153 are similar in appearance, they have much more differences than similarities. Similar parameters of the two models are:

• The principle of locking the barrels on the two models is absolutely similar;
• The MP-153 under-barrel magazine is exactly the same as on the IZH-81 model;
• A folding stock is available on modifications of both models. The ability of the butt to fold is good for weapons that are used for security or self-defense, but for hunting it is better to choose the classic modification.

A much longer list will be obtained if you start listing the differences between the MP-153 and IZH-81:

• The IZH-153 receiver is significantly different from the IZH-81 receiver. Its length increased by 10 mm. At the same time, the width and height of the new receiver are smaller;
• The design of the rod that transmits movement from the piston to the bolt has been changed. As for the description of the new MP-153 thrust, it is a U-shaped part;
• The handguard on the MP-153 also took on a different shape. It became longer and thinner, which gave the MP-153 a certain elegance;
• The MP-153 shutter has become lighter, which has significantly simplified the operation of the automation. The MP-153 locking latch has also been lightened;
• The cartridge feeding mechanism has been changed. The new mechanism received one cartridge interceptor instead of two that were in the IZH-81 design;
• The design of the feed tray has also been changed.

In addition, many minor improvements were made to the design as a whole.

Description of the MP-153 design

Technical characteristics differ in the following indicators:

• The MP-153 is a smooth-bore hunting rifle that operates on the principle of automatic reloading using a gas engine;
• The piston is located in the underbarrel pipe. It is adjustable using a spring made of heat-resistant steel. The spring regulates the process of releasing powder gases, thanks to which the firing process is stable when using ammunition of various powers;
• The barrel channel and chamber are chrome plated. The muzzle of the gun allows for the installation of various barrel attachments. Thanks to the special thread design, barrel attachments are installed inside the barrel without lengthening it;
• Since the return spring is put on the tube of the under-barrel magazine, it is possible to replace the standard stock with a pistol grip. If you plan to use the gun for self-defense, we can recommend installing a folding stock on the MP-153;
• After emptying the magazine, the bolt carrier remained in the rearmost position. It can be removed from the delay by pressing a special button;
• The receiver is made of aluminum alloy;
• USM has two degrees of protection. This is a mechanical fuse and a special striker release, which is located in the bolt cylinder.

Of course, the MP-153 semi-automatic shotgun is not as reliable as a simple pump-action shotgun, but still the overall reliability of Izhevsk semi-automatics significantly exceeds the reliability of shotguns of the same class produced by the Tula Arms Plant, although the quality of materials for Tula weapons is much higher.

Description of the MP-153 for assembling and disassembling the gun

The sequence of assembling and disassembling the weapon is included in the instructions, which the manufacturer of the MP-153 necessarily includes in all deliveries of the kits.

Step-by-step process for disassembling MP-153:

• unscrew the magazine nut;
• remove the forend;
• move the bolt halfway, then remove the barrel;
• remove the safety flange;
• remove the charging handle;
• remove the moving part of the bolt frame, bolt and piston;
• remove the return spring and its thrust part;
• remove the feed spring and feeder;
• Unscrew the pins and remove the trigger mechanism.

Variety of modifications of MP-153

Hunting semi-automatic shotguns were produced in the following versions:

• With replaceable choke tubes;
• Without an aiming bar and without interchangeable choke tubes;
• In plastic or wood, with different stock options;
• With pistol grip;
• With folding tactical stock.

In addition, when installing a suitable bracket on the weapon, you can install a red dot sight. True, for this the weapon will have to be modified a little, since there are no recesses for the bracket on the receiver. Sometimes you can see optics, but the use of an optical sight on a smoothbore gun can hardly be considered advisable.

The most interesting modifications in the line are the following:

• Remington Spartan 453 - a model that was manufactured from 2006 to 2008 specifically for export to the USA;
• Mr-153 for practical shooting is a special modification, which was already modified at the factory for IPSC competitions and training. Has a new stock and handguard. The magazine holds 9 rounds of 12/70 mm caliber. Also equipped with a Picatinny rail;
• MP-153S - this modification was specially designed for private security companies;
• Shotgun 18.5 KS-P is a special modification of the MP-153, adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Has a flash suppressor and a pistol grip. Not put on commercial sale.

The semi-automatic MP-153 was recognized as a Laureate of the “100 Best Products of Russia” competition in 2001. In 2012, the shotgun was discontinued and replaced with an updated version, called the MP-155.

MP-153 smoothbore shotgun

MP-153 is a smooth-bore, self-loading shotgun designed for hunting, security structures and sports shooting. There is also a known modification of the MP-153S (for service structures), which was developed in 2000 and is purchased mainly by security companies. You can often hear the affectionate name “Murka” from gun owners. The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant produces shotguns with different barrel lengths: 750, 710, 660, 610 mm. It can be loaded with cartridges from 12/70 to 12/89. Currently, the MP-153 is the only domestic model of a self-loading shotgun that is designed for the 12/89 cartridge and functions reliably with the entire range of 12-gauge cartridges - from 12/70 to 12/89 in any combinations without additional adjustments and switching. A version with a 76 mm chamber is also available.

MP-153 smoothbore shotguns use gas-operated automatics with an annular gas piston located around the magazine tube. The design of the gas outlet unit includes an automatic gas regulator that discharges excess powder gases into the atmosphere. The gas regulator is located around the magazine tube, which allows, if necessary, to increase the capacity of the under-barrel magazine by extending it forward. The barrel is locked by a swinging cylinder located in the bolt and, in the firing position, entering a groove in the tail end of the barrel. The receiver of the gun is made of aluminum alloy, the fittings (forend, stock) are made of wood or plastic. The cartridges are fed from an under-barrel tubular magazine, the standard capacity of which is 4 cartridges, but in the basic configuration you can load 5 cartridges at once - 4 into the magazine and one into the barrel. The barrels are equipped with replaceable chokes.

The trigger mechanism is equipped with a safety system:

-non-automatic safety that blocks the trigger;

- from a shot when the shutter is not closed.

The magazine is tubular under-barrel, with an improved system for cutting off cartridges during feeding. Capacity can be increased with an extension cord. The recoil action reduces the rubber butt pad. MP-153 is a high reliability, rate of fire, reliability and versatility in the choice of ammunition.

What to look for when buying a gun

You should be very careful when choosing a gun in a store, as there are frequent cases of barrel misalignment and poor-quality chamber work. Make sure that the rings in the gun barrels are even and coaxial - this indicates that the barrels are drilled correctly. Pay attention to the sighting rib, it must be smooth and the soldering of the aiming rib to the barrel must be of high quality.

The front sight should be located exactly in the center of the aiming bar. When inspecting the shutter, you may encounter loose pins; this can be easily treated at home. If in the store there are problems and inconveniences with loading the cartridge into the store, do not worry, everything can be very easily solved at home with the help of a file :)

Ask sellers to show all the guns they have in stock; very often they are too lazy to do this.

Among the advantages of MP 153 we can note

:

• Very high reliability - there are practically no jams. In 2 years there were only three delays in firing;
• Little recoil;
• Wide variety of interchangeable barrels;
• Great omnivory of cartridges, “eats” cartridges that famous foreigners refused to fire;
• Small presence of composite materials, which will increase service life;
• A small price that covers all the disadvantages described below.

Minuses

:

• Very poor workmanship. It is necessary to be able to choose from a large number of units in order to select a model with good performance characteristics and acceptable workmanship;
• Bad balance. The gun “leans” forward, which indicates a shift in the center of gravity to the left hand. We can firmly say that the standard stock is very uncomfortable and almost all gun owners change it;
• Burnishing of barrels. The top of the trunks very quickly become covered with rust spots in wet weather.

Produced in the following modifications:

• MP-153S is a service modification of the gun, intended for private security companies.
• With interchangeable choke tubes for firing lead and steel shot.
• Without an aiming bar with a rear sight and front sight.
• With various stock and fore-end options:

– made of walnut or beech, with a rubber shock absorber; – made of plastic, with a rubber shock absorber; – with a folding butt.

Testing the MP-153 shotgun for strength

I would like to tell you about an interesting experiment carried out by an Italian weapons magazine. They decided to test the plastic MP-153 for survivability and shoot 50,000 (!) rounds of ammunition on it. It should be noted that the average hunter fires approximately 200 rounds of ammunition per year. Multiply by 50 years of use and get 10,000 shots, add another 5 thousand shots when shooting on a stand. This means that on average a hunter will fire 15,000 rounds, but exactly 50,000 rounds

in... 5 days(!).

As you might guess, the barrel was heated to the point where it could burn your hand, so it was forcibly cooled in a bath of water after every 200-300 shots.

The Italians noticed that for excellent operation of the automation, it is necessary to run-in the weapon with 50 shots of a magnum charge. The bolt, piston and gas chamber were cleaned after firing every 800-1200 rounds.

When the barrel cooling time was reduced, after 20,000 shots, the soldering of the sighting bar began to deteriorate. To protect shooters, the aiming bar has been removed. The automatic operation of the gun continued to work flawlessly, this was facilitated by the correct setting of the gun for light cartridges. If the valve is correctly adjusted, this facilitates the flow of powder gases into the cylinder, and, therefore, the pressure on the piston, which acts on the loading axis. True, sometimes the cartridge case was not ejected, but it was easily removed by hand.

By the end of the 5th day, MP-153 had undergone significant transformations. There was no chrome plating in the barrels; bright marks from the passage of the carriage were visible inside the bolt frame. But the gun continued to shoot!!! The MP-153 withstood the test of 50,000 thousand rounds in 5 days.

Caring for MP-153

Since there is only one barrel, cleaning and lubrication takes less time than caring for a double-barreled shotgun. To clean, you can use WD-40 and wipe the magazine tube and return spring with a cloth. The piston needs to be wiped with a rag and sprayed with the same WD-40. Use a toothpick to pick out the carbon deposits and clean off the points opposite the gas outlets. Using a kitchen metal mesh soaked in oil, you need to clean the magazine tube, then wipe it dry with a rag. In some cases, I have heard that when the frost is over 15 degrees, the return mechanism freezes, and only one shot can be fired. This can be fixed by cleaning and spraying the mechanism with WD-40.

For shooting bullets there is a Paradox

, inside of which there are 8 rifling directed clockwise, the price is about 1500-2300 rubles. Already when using the attachment, it is better to use optical or collimator sights.

As with all gas-operated systems, cleaning time is significantly longer than with inertia-cocking shotguns, such as the Pietta Zephyrus semi-automatic, but takes less time than completely cleaning a double-barreled shotgun. Compared to inertial systems, it has the advantage that the spring is charged even when firing cartridges with a low shot weight of up to 28 grams.

I would conclude that the gun is mainly for hunting mallards or for hunting in which you won’t need to walk a lot, since the gun is large in size, and in the forest with it you feel like a bull in a china shop. It is also good for goose hunting when you need to make a lot of shots and you are sitting in a hole, but for running hunting it is better to look for something “foreign” or buy a new MP-155.

Type

: semi-automatic, gas-operated automatic
Caliber
: 12 (chamber length 76 or 89 mm)
Length:
1280 mm (with 750 mm barrel)
Barrel length
: 610, 660, 710 or 750 mm
Weight
3.7 kg
Magazine
: 4 rounds in a tubular under-barrel magazine (standard)

( 3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

Pros and cons of MP-153

Russian hunters are very distrustful of such guns, preferring proven double-barreled shotguns, semi-automatics like Saiga or Vepr, or, in extreme cases, ordinary pump-action shotguns, so the advantages of the MP-153 include the following design nuances:

• The gun is quite unpretentious to use;
• Possibility of using a wide range of 12-gauge ammunition, including those with case lengths up to 89 mm;
• The adjustable gas engine piston provides comfort when shooting with both maximum and minimum powder charges.

Traditionally for semi-automatic machines of this design, the list of disadvantages is very long:

• The design of the magazine does not allow the use of cartridges with pointed bullets, as this can be dangerous;
• The lack of a mechanism for intercepting cartridges in the magazine does not allow you to quickly change the type of cartridge;
• The fuse location is inconvenient. In addition, the button is very small, which causes some inconvenience. In particular, it will be very difficult to press it with a winter glove;
• The receiver does not have recesses for the optics mount;
• The gun is very heavy compared to imported analogues;
• Low build quality of weapons;
• Placing the choke constrictions inside the barrel is not popular with many hunters;
• The bolt handle may fly out of the stem;
• Lack of this model in gauges other than 12.

The disadvantages of the MP-153 are not critical, so most of them can be solved by independent modifications.

Design

The design of the gun: removal of gases formed during the combustion of gunpowder, with an automatic regulator of the pulse automation engine. The unloading of the receiver at the moment of firing, as well as the durability and strength of the locking, is ensured by the coupling of the bolt directly to the barrel. The receiver is made from a special aluminum alloy. The bore, piston, gas chamber, chamber, outer surface of the magazine and other parts that are exposed to powder gas are coated with a protective layer of chromium. The piston rings and valve are made of stainless steel. The under-barrel tubular magazine has been improved with a special system that cuts off cartridges during feeding. The magazine capacity can be increased using an extension cord. The trigger type firing mechanism is made in the form of a detachable unit. It is equipped with a safety system that blocks the trigger when the bolt is not fully closed.

Reviews and analogues of MP-153

As for reviews from real owners of the MP-153, the situation here is ambiguous. Those hunters who have modified their semi-automatic machine speak extremely positively about it. Those who don’t want to bother with modifications often complain about bad Izhevsk assemblers. If the future owner is not ready to bother with modifications, it is better for him to refuse to purchase this semi-automatic machine.

As analogues, we can recommend more expensive and high-quality foreign models of guns of a similar class or a new model from the Izhevsk plant - MP-155. The new model has become much lighter and is also available in 20 gauge.

At first glance, the MP-153 semi-automatic shotgun makes a favorable impression. The gun has a good grip and has a sharp action. If you initially eliminate factory defects and monitor the state of operation of the automation, the gun will please its owner for many years. The problem is that not every hunter is ready to take such care of his weapon.