Shotgun MP-43. Characteristics of a smoothbore gun

One of the leaders in popularity among guns from the times of the Soviet Union was the horizontal smoothbore gun IZH-43. It was manufactured by Izhevsk gunsmiths, using the classic IZH-58 gun as a basis. The new model was so popular that entire batches were often exported. True, the abbreviation was modified: instead of “IZH” they put “MR”. The best qualities of the new horizontal plane were considered to be its reliability, simplicity of design and relatively good budget.

History of the creation of IZH-43

Design work to develop a new model began in 1984, and 2 years later the new IZH-43 entered mass production. By this time, the once popular IZH-58 was already obsolete, and the cost of its production was quite high, which cannot be said about the IZH-43. Thus, the cost of a serial IZH-43 in the late 90s was about 170 rubles, and a one-piece model could be purchased for 380 rubles. In the new model that entered the market, individual mechanisms and components have been improved and modernized.

It should be noted that experiments to improve the gun did not stop even during mass production. All useful innovations were displayed in model modifications. For example, the ejector of the IZH-43E has undergone a major modernization: 2 independent ejector springs were replaced with one spring one. At the same time, the cartridges began to extend further by 6 mm.

Unlike its predecessor, IZH-58, which has triple locking, or more precisely, two under-barrel hooks and a shutter lever of the upper receiver hook, the IZH-43 has two of them. The locking reliability was not affected. The designers also proposed to remove the shoulder of the barrel coupling from the IZH-43 so that the barrels fit more tightly to the block and modernize the safety mechanism. Also, unlike its predecessor IZH58, the IZH-43 had improved and modernized individual mechanisms and components of the gun.

IZH-43 EM

Design Features

The reliability of the IZH-43, its simplicity of design, low cost and low budget allow the production of weapons to continue to this day. The features of this gun are also very popular among hunters from friendly countries of the former Soviet Union. A steel carbon alloy was used to make the channels and breech; there is no protective coating. Inside the barrels there are areas with metric threads for replacing choke constrictions. Horizontal trunks are connected by soldering. The sight is represented by a classic non-glare rail and a bronze front sight. The channels are locked by lower latches, and there is an unlocking lever on the receiver. The bottom of the chamber hides the extractor lever, which extends when broken. The trigger internal trigger has single triggers with rebound springs. A removable separate block accommodates a fixed stop with coil springs. A separate larva has a mounted trigger mechanism. Along with it there are autonomous hooks.

At the Leipzig Fair in 1986, the IZH-43 horizontal plane received a Gold Medal

To eliminate play, release hooks are spring-loaded to the heels of the sear. With the rear trigger pressed, the finger is now also protected from being hit by the front hook. The IZH-43 has another distinctive feature - the automatic fuse has an additional ball fixation of the triggers. Selective ejector is not present on all guns - in this case, the cartridges have to be removed manually. The firing rate of the gun has also increased significantly, now this figure has risen to 15 thousand shots. A detachable forend is attached to the hinge post using a lever latch. Double locking is carried out by a retractable locking bar on the underbarrel hooks.

IZH-43 K

Tuning at home

One of the main advantages of the IZH-43 over its competitors is that the weapon can be easily modified at home. Tuning is usually divided into three categories:

1. Technical - modifications that make changes to the performance characteristics of the weapon or correct manufacturer defects. For example, a common problem is the failure of the ejector to work. You can solve the problem using a file - you just need to slightly trim the barrel channel in which the cartridges are located. Well, to increase the power of the shot, you can cut the barrel by 150 millimeters (reduces the accuracy of the fire).
2. Operational - installation of various body kits, which simplifies the process of using the weapon. For example, hunters often install a collimator sight or an open rear sight with a fiber-optic thread on a dovetail sighting bar. Also included in this category is the attachment of an under-barrel “body kit” - a laser pointer (laser designator), a bayonet-knife or an under-barrel flashlight.
3. Visual - an upgrade that affects only the appearance of the weapon and does not make any changes to its operation. Most often, owners sand wooden parts with medium-grain sandpaper or cover the stock with a layer of varnish. Connoisseurs can ask craftsmen to put personalized engravings on the metal or even make silver or gold inserts in the weapon.

MP-43 with a collimator sightIZH-43 is one of the most successful smoothbore shotguns produced by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. In terms of its characteristics, the model is not inferior to foreign analogues, and high reliability and an excellent security system force potential buyers to give preference to the domestic manufacturer.

Characteristics of IZH-43

Removable horizontal barrels are connected by a lower strap and a sighting bar. The forend and butt are made of birch, walnut or beech. All variants of the IZH-43 have a 70 mm chamber, the right muzzle constriction is 0.5 mm, and the left one is about 75 mm. Other parameters depend on the caliber.

The accuracy of fire is quite decent. The sears and hooks are locked automatically. To perform a shockless descent, the following procedures are carried out: Full opening of the barrels; Transfer to the front safety position; Simultaneous pressing of triggers; Smooth closing of the gun. The insufficiently ergonomic stock of the IZH-58 has also undergone modernization - the radius end in the IZH-43 has been replaced by a contour one. Now, when firing, the weapon's motion has become much less.

IZH-43M

Advantages and disadvantages

To form an objective opinion about what a particular weapon is, it is necessary to study its main advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with the positive aspects:

Price. One of the main reasons why many hunters prefer this model. Despite the fact that the guns are made of good quality, they will not cost the owner a fortune - the average price for a used model is around 7 thousand rubles. All this is due to the fact that the IZH-43 model is not equipped with expensive engraving and was produced in a large batch. Design. It is difficult to find another smoothbore weapon that boasts such a simple device. It will not be difficult for even a novice hunter to understand it. Thanks to this, the maintenance procedure will not cause any problems, and if it is necessary to repair a particular system, you will not have to contact the workshop for help. Tactical and technical characteristics. With correctly selected ammunition, the gun shows excellent accuracy and combat power. The IZH-43 model is often used by professional hunters for shooting bears, moose, wild boars and other large game

At the same time, shooting can be carried out at a fairly large distance from the game (up to 80 meters), which is important when hunting predators.

Of course, every weapon also has negative sides, and the IZH-43 was no exception in this regard. Here are the main disadvantages that users complain about:

1. Unstable production quality. This feature is typical for almost the entire model range from IZHMEKHA. The buyer may receive either an excellent quality gun or a defective gun that simply refuses to fire. Yes, the manufacturer provides a guarantee for its product and will certainly replace the unsuccessful sample upon presentation of the receipt and box. However, there will no longer be much pleasure from the purchase.
2. The quality of processing of wooden parts. The IZH-58 shotgun, although expensive, looked almost perfect. Particularly pleasing were the forend and butt, which fit tightly with the metal parts and were manually processed to remove burrs. This is not observed with the IZH-43 model. Gun owners very often have to eliminate all the irregularities themselves, using available tools.
3. Low quality barrel bluing. Due to the fact that the nickel layer on the metal is quite thin, it fights rust very poorly. Therefore, owners recommend regularly wiping the gun with a dry cloth after use, and also from time to time covering the surface with a thin layer of oil. Ideally, it is recommended to carry out re-bluing yourself at home.

Modifications of IZH-43

Over the 35 years of production, the IZH-43 model has been produced, and many of its modifications and variants continue to be produced. These are guns intended for domestic fishermen, for export, as well as the production of single copies for individual orders. Export samples are marked with special markings and an international passport written in English is attached. Each version of the IZH-43 has its own unique differences: the IZH-43E model is equipped with a selective ejector. When opening the barrels, the spent cartridge case is removed directly, leaving the entire cartridge behind – a huge plus for quick reloading. IZH-43M was not produced for long; it is almost completely identical to IZH-43. IZH-43EM replaced the previous copy. Now the weapon has an ejector, but the serial production of this model did not catch on.

IZH-43-1S - the designers once again tried to reduce the number of triggers, leaving only one. The sample has a sequence switch. IZH-43E-1S - this modification is completely similar to the previous one, with the exception of the only detail: the presence of an ejector. IZH-43K - this option is popular among fans of historical weapons: false triggers are rarely found in modern models. IZH-43KN has full external triggers. It should be noted that individual orders were collected with mandatory finishing, engraving was applied, and decorative plates were inserted. The Izhevsk plant produces souvenir guns from the base model IZH-43: “Collectible”, “Exclusive”, “De Luxe”, “Prestige”. In addition to hand engraving, IZH-43 is decorated with precious metals and sometimes stones.

IZH-43M

Who is the MP-43 shotgun suitable for?

This model of smoothbore shotgun will be most suitable for hunters who constantly hunt and do not sit at home.

An excellent option would be to buy it as the first one in your life for hunting a wide variety of birds and animals, since its reliability, simplicity and price will be comfortable for almost every amateur.

The nature of the design and design features allow you to select a gun of a specific modification for certain purposes.