Izhevsk new products based on MP 155: ask an expert!

Self-loading shotgun MP-155... After even the most superficial analysis of the statistics available on our website, among the users of the Siberian Hunter you can easily find more than 10,000 owners of weapons from the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. And this is only from the number of registered users, and only from those who indicated the brand of weapon in their profile.

Guns of the model in question regularly appear in photos in your hunting reports and, judging by the trophies obtained, shooting from them is more than effective.

So, the MP-155 self-loading rifle. Over the past two years, this model has undergone several monumental changes. As you probably already know, the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant has released a variation for 20 gauge and updated the design of previous models. But in 2022, dealers should already receive two hot new products MP-155 Lancaster and MP-155 Pro.

Let's look at them in more detail!

MP-155

Smoothbore self-loading shotgun for all types of hunting

The MP-155 smoothbore self-loading shotgun has been produced since 2011 and is the most popular model among all self-loading hunting shotguns sold today in Russia. The gun is equipped with a reliable automatic gas system and is a convenient and versatile weapon, suitable for use with the widest range of ammunition, from “light” sporting loads to powerful Magnum cartridges for hunting any game. The gas engine with automatic adjustment ensures fast and reliable reloading on any factory cartridges. The gun is offered in three calibers and in a wide range of designs with different finishes and barrel lengths, which allows you to cover almost the entire range of hunting with smoothbore weapons.

Purpose: hunting, training shooting.

• 12 gauge variants can have a 76 or 89 mm chamber, 20 gauge - 76 mm;
• The 20-gauge version is available with Lancaster-bored barrels;
• Chrome-plated bore and chamber;
• Replaceable choke constrictions;
• Under-barrel tubular magazine;
• The forend and stock are made of wood or impact-resistant polymer;
• A set of replaceable inserts for adjusting the butt retraction included;
• Dovetail mount on the receiver for installing brackets for sights;
• The option with a plastic stock is also available in Camouflage.

The MP-155 model in all its variations is an excellent budget-class hunting rifle that justifies its price and has gained recognition among hunters throughout Russia.

Twenty is back in the hunt

PHOTO BY ANTON ZHURAVKOV
There was no rational explanation for this, but the fact remains a fact.

And the 20-gauge was the lot of those who knew how to shoot and who did not need a lot of shot and large scree to reliably kill game.

Hunting with a 20-gauge shotgun was considered prestigious and correct, just like hunting with a double-barreled shotgun today.

Then came the era of the 12-gauge, and what’s interesting is that the 16-gauge was almost completely forced out of production; ready-made cartridges of only 12-gauge left no choice for hunters and shooting enthusiasts.

Owners of other calibers were forced not only to load the cartridges themselves, but also to make cuttings for the wads and adapt the devices for loading the cartridges themselves.

In the 90s, thanks to , which launched various modifications into the Saiga-20 series, the 20-gauge was, in fact, revived. And not in the standard version, but in the “magnum” version.

I think it was at this moment that the fate of the 16-gauge was finally decided, and now it is the lot of narrow amateurs and owners of old, but, I note, very good guns.

The 20 gauge in the “magnum” version completely covers the 16, given that the 16 simply does not have magnum cartridges, and partially covers the 12 in standard loads, while the 20 gauge weapon always looks more elegant and more attractive.

Unfortunately, until recently, almost none of the weapon manufacturers bothered to produce hunting rifles in this wonderful caliber.

No, guns were produced, but they were usually adaptations of models, that is, guns with a 12-gauge frame and 20-gauge barrels. This option is less attractive than a model designed and made directly for 20 gauge.

The Kalashnikov concern has pleased hunters with two models at once. This is the good old MP-43, a classic horizontal rifle in 20 gauge with a box just for it, and MP-155 in the same caliber.

The latter is extremely interesting, and, it seems to me, more attractive for the modern hunter.

Let me remind you that the MP-155 is a semi-automatic shotgun that replaced the well-proven MP-153, and the new model turned out to be very successful.

The designers took into account the complaints and wishes of users and made a number of significant changes to the device and design of the weapon. First of all, the box was shortened, which immediately affected the weight and had a positive effect on the appearance.

The MP-153 model was unified for 12 gauge with a case length from 70 to 89 mm. The latter option required a long box, which affected both the dimensions and weight of the weapon.

In the basic MP-155, the long box was abandoned; the maximum usable cartridge is 76 mm long (in any caliber), the box has become shorter and lighter. The ergonomics of the gun have also been revised.

The new replaceable rubber shock absorber not only better absorbs recoil, but can also be of different lengths, which allows you to change the length of the stock, selecting the one that the hunter needs.

Gaskets appeared between the butt and the box, of varying thickness and shape, so that you could change the outlet and angle of attachment of the butt to the box. Only these two options, which were not there before, allow you to tailor the weapon to the characteristics of a particular shooter and make it possible to shoot in more comfortable conditions.

The controls have become noticeably more convenient: a large reloading handle, a new massive triangular safety button, which is convenient to operate with gloves.

A cartridge cutter has appeared in the magazine - a very useful feature, especially if you need to quickly replace the cartridge in the barrel with a cartridge with a different shot number.

The shape of the forend has also changed, the forend has become thinner, a cone has appeared with an extension towards the butt, thanks to which holding and pressing the weapon to the shoulder has become more convenient and comfortable.

Following the shortening of the box, the bolt of the weapon also became smaller. All these changes have led to a lighter weight of the gun: in the same configurations it is 300–400 g lighter than the old one. The new design has become much more noble, and, so to speak, the gun has acquired a certain swift profile and just begs to be picked up.

The above applies to the MP-155 model. With the 20-gauge modification everything is even more interesting. The concern did not follow the simple path of converting the 12-gauge into the 20-gauge, but developed, in fact, a new weapon.

Although most parts are interchangeable, the box, bolt, magazine and of course the barrel are all original. Thanks to this, the weapon turned out to be light, compact and, most importantly, harmonious.

The gun with a plastic butt weighs only 2.9 kg. Agree, this is a very good result for a semi-automatic machine. The result is a real weapon for running hunts or for hunting by feather from under a dog.

It should be noted that 20-gauge weapons, due to the peculiarities of internal ballistics, almost always have sharper combat than 12-gauge rifles. Shooting with standard loads, we get a comfortable and at the same time full-fledged shotgun shot.

Of course, in this version the gun is more “strict” in terms of aiming and errors, but this is exactly what a real hunter should strive for - a beautiful and clean shot.

For difficult conditions, there are magnum cartridges; as I wrote above, their shot characteristics are close to ordinary 12-gauge cartridges. In my opinion, you should not abuse “magnums” as such - with such use, the service life of the weapon is noticeably reduced.

So, the 20-gauge MP-155 went into production, which took almost four years. Today you can find it in stores, but not in all.

For example, in order to hold and photograph the MP-155, I had to run. And I found it in the “Okhotnik” on Kalanchevka.

And it was worth it. The impressions are the most positive. Of course, it has some minor flaws in finishing, but overall the gun is elegant, light and comfortable.

It would probably be ideal for a teenager or a woman. Considering that this is a gas-operated semi-automatic with the ability to regulate the gas engine, the recoil should be comfortable.

All controls are conveniently located, operating the gun is intuitive. The 20-gauge cartridge itself looks, in my opinion, aesthetically pleasing and attractive. The sleek cylinder is more cartridge-like in proportions than 12-gauge barrels.

The only surprise is that for some reason a modification with 500 or 550 mm barrels has not yet appeared. With modern gunpowder, 20-gauge can be fully implemented on short barrels, and this option would make it possible to obtain an even more compact and lightweight weapon.

Of course, the 20-gauge has a future. The MP-155 was originally designed for it, and not converted from its “big brother”.

It is absolutely remarkable that the Kalashnikov Concern paid attention to this caliber, not only on the Saigas, which at one time brought it back from oblivion, but also on hunting rifles. Izhevsk residents, one might say, are saving the “twenty” from extinction for the second time, and now in the hunting theme.

Alexander Kudryashov March 1, 2022 at 09:30

MP-155 Lancaster

Smoothbore self-loading shotgun for accurate shooting with bullet cartridges The MP-155 Lancaster smoothbore self-loading shotgun was developed on the basis of the well-proven MP-155 shotgun in a 20-gauge version. The weapon is optimized for accurate shooting with bullet cartridges, but can also be used for shooting shotguns and bullets. Purpose: hunting, training shooting.

• Chrome-plated bore and chamber;
• Lightweight receiver for 20 gauge;
• Reliable gas exhaust automation;
• Lancaster barrel drilling, providing improved bullet stabilization and increased shooting accuracy;
• Dovetail mount on the receiver for mounting brackets for sights.

Lancaster-bored guns shoot slug cartridges significantly better than conventional shotguns. A bullet fired from such a barrel receives a torque, which, of course, has a positive effect on accuracy and firing range.

At the same time, the MP-155 Lancaster shotgun belongs to the class of smooth-bore weapons. And anyone can purchase it, having an ordinary “green” in their hands. This is especially important for those who are interested in bullet shooting, but do not yet have the necessary experience to purchase a rifle.

In terms of variety of hunting types, this model, of course, expands the owner’s capabilities. The gun is suitable for hunting with shot charges over short distances, and with a bullet - if you need it “far and accurately”. The owner of the MP-155 Lancaster model can afford a full-fledged hunt for ungulates, large predators, and also catch game birds along the way, having only one firearm in the kit.

The main positive differences between MP-155 and MP-153

• Thanks to the use of a gas exhaust mechanism (the piston was significantly modified), the introduction of a lightweight sighting rail and a smaller receiver (for caliber 12/76), it was possible to significantly reduce the weight of the weapon and improve its balance;
• Gas piston settings have appeared, with which you can use ammunition with different powder loads;
• By using a special plastic insert between the butt and the receiver, it was possible to achieve greater ergonomics than its predecessor;
• What influenced the “convenience” of shooting was an enlarged safety button (by the way, it is now triangular in shape, unlike the MP-153), a reduced trigger stroke in the trigger, and a completely new butt plate design, developed specifically for this model, which maximizes effectively helps dampen recoil. And also, this gun is equipped with a mechanism that allows you to block the supply of the next cartridge from the magazine, which allows you to reload as quickly as possible, for example, with a cartridge of a different caliber;
• The red fiber-optic thread from which the front sight is made increases ease of aiming;
• It has become possible to install optical or collimator sights, without additional brackets, as was the case with the MP-153, because now on top of the receiver there are two recesses, 11 mm apart from each other, which are the attachment point for the dovetail mounting strip. ;
• The dream of all “lefties” has come true - this weapon can also be ordered in this version, with a cartridge ejector window on the left.

How to choose MP-155

When choosing an MP-155 in a store, special attention should be paid to, so to speak, “congenital sores.” And this:

• curvature of the trunk and misalignment of the rings in the trunk;
• chamber misalignment;
• crookedly soldered sighting bar;
• crooked (more than 1.5 mm) fit of wooden/plastic parts.

The MP-155 is sold in a regular cardboard box (don’t even think about the case). The weight of the gun is 3.1 kg for fans of 12 gauge, and 2.8 kg for 16 gauge. Also, when purchasing, you can choose the optimal barrel length for you - 610, 660, 710 for 12 and 20 gauges, and 750 (optional) for 12 th.

In the configuration of the gun you can find attachments: choke, choke and cylinder and a universal key for installing them and adjusting the tension of the gas piston. Inserts for the butt (also included in the delivery set) - you can adjust the angle of the butt.