A person’s desire to own a real weapon is quite understandable, and the point here is not even about ensuring one’s own safety. Many people would like to carry a gun in a holster just for the sake of status. However, it is almost impossible for a civilian to own a real military weapon, and to purchase traumatic weapons it is necessary to go through a licensing procedure. If we also take into account the cost of many models, amounting to tens of thousands of rubles, then the dream will remain unfulfilled.
Fortunately, you can purchase inexpensive air guns. Although its lethal characteristics are far from ideal, the pneumatic still performs some of its functions.
- The air pistol is suitable for sports and recreational shooting.
- Pneumatics can be used to practice the skills of holding a weapon, disassembling and assembling, aiming and shooting.
- Some models are an exact copy of a combat barrel, so the desired status is ensured.
An air pistol that has become a legend in certain amateur circles is the IZH-53M, which is also known as the MP-53M.
general information
The IZH 53M 4.5 mm air pistol is perfect for sport shooting, but not for self-defense. Although it should be noted that when fired, the bullet reaches a speed of about 110-120 millimeters, and this is more than enough to cause minor bodily injuries.
In addition, the handle is designed in such a way that it can be used to strike with a comfortable grip.
This Makarov air pistol has a spring mechanism. Reloading is performed by “breaking” the barrel and manually installing a lead bullet.
For a review of the pistol, watch the video:
The maximum power per shot is 3 joules. This, of course, is not a traumatic weapon, but at a distance of up to 30 meters the bullet clearly follows the set trajectory. See also material about Colt 1911 a1 here.
A little history
The IZH-53m air pistol has been produced since 1990 and is the direct successor to the IZH-40 pistol. This is where we will finish the review of the story itself.
But let’s look a little at the pistol markings. Since 1992, modernization has given it an addition to its name - IZH-53M. Modifications affected the anatomical handle for right-handers (replaced with a symmetrical one for both hands) and sighting devices (in particular, the dovetail was removed). Some people still divide this pistol into MP and IZH. We will assume that the MP-53M and IZH-53M air pistols are the same, because they are still 53e.
And here are the classic tactical and technical characteristics of the pistol.
Shot speed, m/s:
Platoon by “breaking” the barrel
Lead bullets, caliber 4.5 mm
Option 1
Option 2
In practice, from what I have seen, the IZH-53m air pistol is delivered in a box (at best, if it has not been lost along the way). The kit includes a cleaning rod (again, if you haven’t lost it). Well, the gun itself is more or less assembled.
Device
The IZH 53M pneumatic pistol has a fairly simple device. Hidden in the handle is a gas-spring mechanism with a reservoir, designed for only one single shot. The barrel is rifled, 215 mm long.
The weight of pneumatic weapons is 1.2 - 1.3 kilograms (depending on the model). The trigger mechanism is adjustable (only the trigger force, as well as the hook stroke).
It should be noted that until 2002, models were produced exclusively for right-handers. Then replacement grips for left-handed people appeared in gun stores.
Fans of pneumatics will be interested in material about IZH pneumatics and the most powerful air pistol in the world.
Barrel weighting
The bulk of the IZH-53M pistol is in the area of the handle, where the metal trigger mechanism is located. During a normal shot, the upward movement of the barrel can be controlled by the force of the wrist. But after the upgrade it is very difficult to do this. You can weight the barrel with regular lead by carefully pressing the edge of the barrel, but the appearance of the pistol will be unpresentable. Experts recommend installing a 250-300 gram muzzle, which, along with a counterweight, will act as a muffler.
A small cylinder is suitable as a muzzle, which must be equipped with two screw-in caps. One cover is drilled out along the diameter of the barrel and threaded, the second is drilled out according to the diameter of the bullet. The standard front sight is removed from the barrel, and a thread is cut into its edge. The weight is screwed onto the barrel. The front sight can be glued on the barrel closer to the frame, or you can continue the upgrade with the installation of optics.
Standard equipment
When buying a new air pistol IZH 53M, you will find a rather meager set of equipment in the box. The manufacturer supplies with the weapon only a screwdriver, a cleaning rod (for oil), a trigger spring and a passport with technical data.
But it should be noted that modernization of the IZH 53M is possible. In particular, you can replace the spring (with a more powerful one), as well as the sight, since a dovetail mount is used (in models released in 2011 and later, this feature was excluded. Now only the standard sight can be used).
Disassembly and cleaning
How to disassemble IZH 53M? There's nothing complicated about it. The mechanism is standard (but at the same time very reliable).
Disassembly is performed in this order:
- First, the deep screw under the trigger is unscrewed, then the side ones. After this, you can separate the handle;
- We take out the pin with thin pliers (it sticks out a little from the barrel), and remove the IZH 53M gas spring. You should be extremely careful, as it can “shoot”;
- Next we get to work on the trigger mechanism. Remove the sear and hook springs and the support pin;
- move the sear aside and completely remove the ratchet mechanism;
- then we knock out the axis of the cocking lever, after which we remove the piston of the pneumatic mechanism. At this point, the disassembly is considered complete.
If necessary, the compressor is also disassembled, in which most of the debris often accumulates. Cleaning is done in the usual way, using oil. As you can see, disassembling the IZH 53M pistol is not difficult and it is quite possible to do it yourself.
How to shoot an IZH 53M after disassembling and cleaning? Owners of this type of weapon complain that the sight often “lies” and the bullet flies upward.
To set it up, you need to use a special adjustable screw, and to control the flight of the bullet, you need to use any training model. The shot is fired at a distance of up to 10 meters.
Among the interesting modifications is the modernized Makarov pistol (PMm).
In addition, there is a model of the Makarov pistol “Pugach”, read about it here.
For tactical and technical characteristics of the Makarov pistol, see: https://pwpn.ru/oruzhie/pistolety/mr-654k.html
Miracle beast of Russian gunsmiths
The IZH-53M air pistol is called a “hedgehog” among its owners, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, because of the markings - the name “IZH” looks like “Hedgehog”. Secondly, because of its size, you can’t put it in your pocket. The size of the pistol is impressive. It looks more like a rifle whose barrel has been shortened by half and the butt has been removed. But this is the value of the pistol: as you know, the accuracy of the shot is achieved due to the length of the barrel.
The body of the weapon is made of black plastic. Although its appearance is far from ideal, the strength of the plastic is excellent. All other mechanisms, including the barrel, are made of high quality steel. The weight of the IZH-53M pistol is 1.2 kg; when you take it in your hands, you immediately understand that this is far from a toy, but a full-fledged weapon with enormous potential and wide capabilities.
Repair and replacement of parts
Since spare parts for the IZH 53M are produced by both domestic and foreign manufacturers, it is not difficult to buy them - they are available in almost any gun store and are relatively inexpensive.
Springs are usually the first to fail. They can not only be replaced, but also upgraded by installing more powerful variations (up to 5 joules). Spare parts for pneumatic IZH 53M are also produced in specialized kits.
Complete restoration should be performed once every 2 years with light use. Repair of IZH 53M weapons is also carried out in specialized workshops.
Tuning
The pistol can be upgraded. In particular, replace the spring mechanism (up to 5 joules), the sight. also install a seal on the barrel, which guarantees an increase in the initial speed of the bullet by 10-20 meters per second.
It should be noted that by installing a more powerful spring, not only the “destructive force” of the air pistol will increase, but also the wear of the barrel (rifled). Therefore, upgrade the IZH 53M air pistol only if absolutely necessary and if you fully understand all the consequences of the procedure.
For example, by replacing the spring in the IZH 53M, you will be able to use steel bullets, among other things, but be prepared for the fact that this will cause the barrel to wear out faster.
Upgrade
The pistol in its factory version is frankly weak, but its design lends itself well to modification. There are several tuning options; you can combine them or choose just one.
- Eliminate the ring groove on the cylinder at the bypass hole. The most labor-intensive operation. Before this, it is necessary to take measures to protect the bypass hole from epoxy resin getting into it, and also to prevent the formation of sagging on the cylinder walls.
- Replace the standard spring. The reinforced one is taken from the MP-512 rifle. It must be cut into four turns. When replacing the spring, do not forget to replace the plastic mechanism plug with a steel one.
- The piston weight and spring guide are machined out.
Drawing of the weighting material and guide
The butt plate plug of the mechanism can be machined to be long enough. Then it will be possible to drill a hole in it (not through) and cut the internal thread. This will make it possible to screw the butt to the pistol, turning it into a kind of carbine.
Drawing of the mechanism butt plate
Advantages and disadvantages of the model
The main advantage is the price. The basic model will cost a little more than 4 thousand rubles. This is the most affordable Russian-made pneumatic weapon (Izhmekh).
How much does a used air gun cost? From 1200 rubles and above. But keep in mind that the characteristics of the IZH 53M can be increased through simple modernization.
The model itself is very reliable, since the barrel and other elements are made of high-quality steel.
But it also has several disadvantages:
- Firstly, the gun itself is very massive and heavy, which makes its use not entirely convenient. To carry it, you can only use a holster.
- Secondly, the handle is made of plastic, which quickly becomes damaged and loses its original appearance.
- Thirdly, factory springs wear out quickly, which is why the trigger begins to play, and the power decreases significantly (the initial bullet speed is about 50 meters per second).
- Recharging is long and difficult.
- There is no pressure gasket installed in the barrel clamping area. For this reason, part of the power of the installed cylinder responsible for pumping air is lost. In general, the mechanical structure leaves much to be desired.
Review of the Baikal MP-53M air pistol
This is a pistol of a spring-mechanical design with a 4.5 mm rifled barrel. It is charged in the classic way - by breaking the barrel.
Advantages and disadvantages
The IZH MP-53M pistol is very simple in design. It contains a barrel, a compressor with a spring and a piston, as well as a trigger, consisting of two parts. A pistol grip, it’s tempting to call it a stock, it’s so massive and large, made of impact-resistant plastic.
The barrel is long, rifled. Thanks to this, the pistol has great potential for further modernization. In the factory version it is frankly weak, the power does not exceed three joules.
The IZH MP-53M pistol is loaded by breaking the barrel. Exclusively lead bullets are used as ammunition. With a factory spring, it is better to use light ones, weighing no more than 0.75 grams.
The pistol is extremely durable and undemanding to operating conditions, although this should not be abused.
The sights are classic - rear sight and front sight. They are metal and do not have the now fashionable fiber-optic threads that make aiming easier. The rear sight is equipped with two adjustment screws - for changing the horizontal and vertical position during zeroing. There is no rail for optics, and it is not needed, since it will not be possible to shoot accurately from the IZH 53M further than 15 meters.
The design does not provide for installation of a moderator on the barrel. The length of the trigger stroke can be adjusted, but this is not very convenient. The pistol does not have a safety. Recently, the Izhevsk arms factory began producing these pistols with a plastic mechanism plug. This does not seem like a good solution, since the force of the spring is directed directly into the shooter's eye.
The pistol is massive and large. Carrying it with you all the time is difficult and inconvenient.
Photo of the MP-53M air pistol
Purpose
IZH 53M is a classic pistol for indoor shooting. Its large weight and dimensions make it unsuitable for recreational shooting. And the absence of a fuse is also dangerous.
GP on IZH-53M.
I’ve been meaning to write this article for a long time, but I never got around to it, although I already had some photos in stock.
The topic is far from new, this is just my personal experience in this matter.
The question is where I purchased the GP in a personal message, who is interested, because... Not purchased from this store.
We are disassembling the IZH-53 compressor, there are very good disassembly and reassembly instructions here
We change everything that is needed according to the instructions supplied with the spring, and “heaps” we change the compressor piston collar (if it’s old or damaged, which will be visible during disassembly).
The groove of the piston collar (new) is filled with silicone sealant (be sure to dry it for at least 24 hours after filling, only then put it on the piston). All grease was carefully removed from the compressor and replaced with CV joint-4. The first time I didn’t remove the oil completely - it was a serious “diesel”, I had to disassemble it a second time, keep in mind!
We assemble and cut down the front sight, or rather its body, to install a weighted muzzle instead of it to reduce barrel vibrations during recoil.
Please note that I have a 1993 IZH model, the front sight body is aluminum, what kind of front sight body will you have and how to remove it, if yours is different, look on the Internet!
We use a file to refine the butt plate of the compressor for easy removal and installation of sighting devices. Please note that on the latest IZH-53 models, the compressor backplate is not aluminum, but plastic - in this case, when installing the GP, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR BACKUP WITH A METAL ONE TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY TO YOURSELF OR OTHERWISE.
About the features of the model
The simple design of the Izh air pistol is liked by many. It consists of a trigger, a compressor with a spring, a piston and a barrel. The pistol handle itself is made of plastic, which can withstand impacts well.
In case of emergency, this weapon can be used for self-defense, but in general it is a sports model. Note that the speed of the bullet is sufficient to cause minor bodily harm to the criminal.
Having reviewed the air pistol, you can note that it has a long rifled barrel. This feature allows for future modernization and improvement of the model.
Having the simplest possible design, it is worth noting that the model also has disadvantages. For example, its power is 3 Joules.
Lead bullets are used for shooting. To load the gun you need to break the barrel. When choosing a bullet, you should give preference to models weighing up to 0.75 g.
As for aimed shooting, the pistol is equipped with a rear sight and a front sight. These parts are without fiber-optic threads, which could facilitate the aiming process.
There are two screws on the rear sight, with their help you can adjust the position vertically or horizontally when zeroing.
The model is not equipped with a rail for optics, but this is not necessary, since you can shoot accurately from this model at a maximum distance of not exceeding 15 meters.
If the pistol has the prefix M, then this means the presence of a sighting mechanism in the pistol. Since the caliber is 4.5 mm, you will not need to obtain permission from law enforcement agencies to purchase a weapon. This is a very reliable pistol. In order to reload, you need to break the barrel and manually install the lead bullet.
This weapon is not traumatic, but at a distance not exceeding 30 m, the bullet flies along a clearly defined trajectory.
The length of the rifled barrel is 215 mm. Note that the trigger mechanism is adjustable. The weight of the weapon is 1.2 - 1.3 kg, it all depends on the model. The shot speed is approximately 100 m/s.
It is not very convenient to adjust the length of travel of the trigger hook. The pistol is not equipped with a safety. Model with ergonomic handle. It is comfortable to hold in your hand.
Functional
The shot speed is not prohibitive - approximately 100 m/s on a half-gram bullet (2.5 J). But like any other domestically produced pneumatic design, this model can be considerably tuned.
The barrel is rifled. The lead bullet is fed into the breech of the barrel when it breaks. Here's a single-shot air pistol, again a reference to rifles.
The pistol has an automatic safety lock - the shot will not fire unless the barrel is completely closed. Not the same, of course, as the Colt 1911, but for some reason it’s called that here.
Sighting devices include rear sight and front sight. The rear sight is adjustable in two planes, but its performance does not leave the user in admiration. The wide slots do not allow this pistol to be used for ideal sport shooting.
About disassembling and cleaning the pistol
Disassembling and cleaning the IZH 53 M air pistol is not particularly difficult. Don't forget that you will need a screwdriver when disassembling the weapon.
First you need to unscrew the deep screw hidden under the trigger. After this, unscrew the side screws, then separate the handle.
Using thin pliers, carefully pull out the pin. Visually it is slightly visible from the barrel, then you need to remove the gas spring. When performing these actions you should be extremely careful, otherwise it will “shoot”.
After this, you need to clean the trigger mechanism. It is necessary to remove the springs of the sear and hook, then pull out the support pin.
Move the sear to the side and completely dismantle the ratchet mechanism. After this, you should knock out the axis of the cocking lever, then remove the piston of the pneumatic mechanism. This is how this weapon model is disassembled.
To do everything right, watch the video.
It is important to clean and lubricate the gun regularly. You need to look at the condition of the spring, piston, and whether anything needs to be replaced.
Special cleaning kits are sold for cleaning. You will also need a universal gun oil spray for cleaning.
Open the cleaning kit. You will need it to disassemble the handle and see what condition it is in.
Start by cleaning the spring; you will also need to clean the barrel. First remove the handle. Remove bolts or screws. Usually it is enough to unscrew three screws; there is no need to unscrew the screw at the end of the handle.
Pull up on the weapon and the barrel will come off. The handle must be cleaned with a brush, dust and dirt must be washed off. You can use polish.
To see what condition the spring is in, you need to see what the pin looks like. We remove the spring, the “butt plate”. We take out the spring itself, it is long. You will also need to remove the sear - to do this, pull out the font and it will allow you to easily remove it.
It is necessary to clean the barrel because when fired, bullets can get stuck in it, it can be so dirty. Use a rough brush to clean.
Interesting things about the pistol
The affordable price of the IZH-53 M pistol made it very popular. It is inferior to foreign models, but it is a classic model, which also has its adherents. Production of this model began in 1990, this model is based on the IZH-40 pistol.
Until 2002, IZH 53M models were designed for right-handers. Since 2003, gun stores began to offer grip covers (replaceable) that could be used by left-handed people.
Pistol shooting
When shooting, it is important to ensure stability. Pointing at the center of the target, the shooter fires the first shot.
In the case when the bullet goes up, you need to tighten the grooved head of the rear sight behind the mechanism plug. This will help raise the rear sight.
Advantages and disadvantages of the model
An air pistol has its advantages, here they are:
- it can be tuned;
- affordable price;
- reliable;
- famous model;
- provides the greatest shooting accuracy.
One of the advantages of this model is that it is unpretentious in operation and use. In addition, it is undemanding in terms of workmanship, shape and materials for the manufacture of ammunition.
There are some drawbacks, here they are:
- The model has large dimensions;
- low power;
- This is a single shot air pistol.
However, overall this is a good model. Thus, we can say that this element in the line of pneumatic weapons has taken its rightful place.
The basic package includes a pistol, a mainspring, a training target, an aiming bar, a bullet receiver, a piston collar and a set of bullets. Also in the package there is usually a registration certificate for the weapon and the transport case itself.
The package may also include a cuff, a pistol, a cleaning rod, a mainspring, an aiming bar, and a packaging box. The package also includes a screwdriver and a data sheet.
