Russian-made single-barrel fitting - MR-18MN

Unlike hunters in other countries, hunting rifles of the “fitting” type are not in great demand among domestic hunting enthusiasts. Our hunters are more accustomed to other types of weapons. However, there are always many hunters who have just started hunting; to begin with, they may not need some expensive and complex, but relatively cheap and simple hunting weapons. In this case, sellers of hunting stores can recommend a Russian-made single-barrel fitting MR-18 MN.

Weapon details

A single-shot rifle with a single barrel called MP18MN was designed by Izhevsk gunsmiths more than 20 years ago. The prototype of this carbine was the MP-18M-M smoothbore shotgun. Like any weapon made in Izhevsk, the fitting can also be designated by the abbreviation IZH, in this case – IZH 18 MN.

This weapon is widely distributed in Russian specialized stores. Most often you can find the IZH 18MN sample MP-18MN 308 Win, adapted for firing 7.62x51 caliber charges. A slightly less common variant is the MP-18MN 223 Rem, which fires 7.62x54R rounds. There are other modifications of this weapon, but it is difficult to find them in Russian stores.

MAKSIMOV.SU

The single-barrel “breaker” Izh-18 has long been known to almost every Russian hunter and enjoys well-deserved authority.

The appearance on the market of a rifled version of this gun became an important and noticeable event for the domestic hunter - for more than a modest amount it became possible to purchase a lightweight single-barrel rifle with a Mannlicher “twisted” barrel.

And the gun

It was also produced in a version with a set of interchangeable barrels for a decent list of “rifled” calibers. But the most popular was a set of 2 barrels: rifled and 12 gauge.

Users were generally satisfied with the fitting,

although they complained about the “oaky” shot trigger, which is not best suited for accurate bullet shooting, as well as about the general careless workmanship.

Extremely low price

could not serve as a full justification for the visible shortcomings of the rifle, so connoisseurs looked for the opportunity to order a piece fitting or modified the weapon themselves, polishing the trigger and installing new wood for the butt and forend.

liberalization of weapons legislation and the need of the domestic hunter for a light and compact rifle, the appearance of a rifled version of a common gun was only a matter of time.

Mikhail Dragunov talks about the design features of the Izh-18MN:

“The single-barreled rifle IZH-18MN (MR-18MN) was developed and put into mass production in 1994.

Development

was carried out as part of the expansion of the IZHMEKH model range and was carried out in two directions: deployment of each basic model into the full family and filling new niches in the arms market - both those that opened with the advent of the first law on weapons (1993), and those where the company did not exist presented earlier.

So the appearance of the “18th MN”

was, on the one hand, a deployment to the family of base model models, on the other hand, the single-barreled rifle (fitting) was a completely new niche in the arms market for a mechanical factory.

The development of IZH-18MN was carried out by Valery Dmitrievich Zagrebin,

a representative of the “middle generation” of Izhmekhov designers, who came to the chief designer’s department in the early 1980s.

The main problem

which had to be addressed when creating the IZH-18MN was the design of the receiver unit. In the basic design, the steel handguard base (or handguard hinge) is connected to the barrel with a classic Anson latch that engages a post that is soldered to the barrel.

That is,

the forend is connected to the barrel “in a space”: the radius surface of the forend hinge rests against the mating surface of the bolt box, and the end surface of the hinge stem rests against the hinge post.

Naturally,

that such a design does not contribute to the stability of the average point of impact: during the shooting process, as the barrel heats up, it will lengthen, and the nature of the connection between the barrel and the fore-end will change. Accordingly, the average point of impact will shift.

In IZH-18MN

The design of the receiver block has been radically changed. The barrel is placed in a breech coupling with a hook, which has an extension on which the hinge post is made. Thus, the forend is attached to the breech coupling; the barrel is unloaded.

Barrel material – alloy barrel steel 30HN2MFA;

In a breech coupling, the barrel is press-fitted. The barrel itself is made by cold rotational forging; its outer surface is not machined, which has a positive effect on the accuracy of the barrel bore geometry.

And this,

in turn, contributes to achieving high accuracy of fire. Vladimir Bugaev, who for a long time competed in varminting tournaments with IZH-18MN, used his own ammunition at a distance of 350 m to fire three shots into a five-ruble coin - 25 mm, which corresponds to a quarter of an angular minute! The result is more than worthy for a rifle that was not intended to be a precision weapon.

The base of the front sight and the base of the rear sight are attached to the barrel with nuts

on threaded pins that are laser welded. The remaining components - the locking mechanism and the trigger - remained the same as the base sample. Thus, the “MN” modification inherited both the advantages and disadvantages of its progenitor.

Extremely simple locking mechanism

– a lever conveniently actuated by three fingers of the working hand, with a natural movement of “clenching a fist”; in this case, it is not necessary to remove the working hand from the neck of the butt. The same lever, which simultaneously performs the function of cocking the striking mechanism, allows, with a certain skill, to silently remove the trigger from the combat cocking and just as silently cock it (at one time, this feature of the “18th MN” was highly appreciated by a high-ranking diplomat and a passionate lover of hunting Sergei Ivanovich Kislyak).

High requirements

the fit of the locking surfaces of the locking lever and hook (at least 80% of the nominal) provide sufficient locking strength when exposed to the pressure of modern bullet cartridges.

The largest dose of criticism of IZH-18 MN

goes to the trigger mechanism. It is quite adequate for a smoothbore gun: the force and characteristics of the trigger are suitable for firing a dynamic shot at fast-moving game. According to factory documentation, the permissible trigger force ranges from 1.53 to 3.06 kg. But even 1.5 kg of force is too much to produce a well-aimed shot.

The simplest design of the trigger mechanism

does not allow, without compromising operational safety, to reduce the trigger force and trigger stroke. Moreover, it is unacceptable to do this at home, “on your knees”: there is a risk of “collapse” of the working edge of the sear, which, with a high probability, can lead to the trigger being pulled off the combat cock.”

Piece Izh-18MN. We hold it in our hands

First thought

appeared in everyone who picked up this fitting - “What a toy!” What is curious is that hunters who are more or less knowledgeable about Russian hunting weapons also ask a question about the manufacturer: “Is this TsKIB”? Having compared the rifle with several custom-made copies of the Izh-18MN, I can confidently say that the copy you see in the illustrations for this article is one of the best works of Izhevsk craftsmen.

In the St. Petersburg Museum of Artillery and Communications

Now the personal collection of M.T. Kalashnikov is on display, incl. – and his “personal” Izh-18MN, with an engraved portrait of the designer. Comparing these two copies (albeit visually), one can see approximately the same level of performance (although, of course, the personal Kalashnikov copy is completely unique).

Possession

a weapon of this level always warms the owner’s soul. And it doesn’t matter that this is just the highest quality assembled and richly decorated version of a cheap gun.

Our copy was purchased with two barrels,

in calibers 30-06 and .223 Rem. This combination was due not only to the banal availability of just such a set, but also to the buyer’s hunting goals - the ability to hunt almost any animal and bird in Russia.

When disassembled, the fitting is very compact,

which is always convenient for transportation and storage. It is in disassembled form that the high quality of manufacturing of the weapon is clearly visible - pay attention to the under-barrel hooks and the breech cut of the barrels. The fitting is assembled tightly, no looseness.

But also excessive effort

There is no need to apply the same during assembly. The assembled rifle produces a holistic impression - a full-fledged weapon, at the same time - light, agile and “thoroughbred” visually and to the touch. I would like to mention once again that this Izh-18MN gives the impression of being an expensive, full-fledged rifle, pleasant in all respects.

All metal parts of the weapon have the correct geometry.

There are no blocked edges, no cracks, no mismatches. The polishing of the metal is beyond praise, while under the gloss of the oxide film there are no traces of coarse abrasive, which is typical not only for relatively inexpensive “improved” domestic weapons (and such incidents are not uncommon at TsKIB), but also for expensive Western models. All planes are clearly displayed, everything is symmetrical.

I don't know

whether additional processing of the barrel bores was carried out, but, contrary to expectations (formed by reviews of owners of ordinary and improved Izh-18MN), both barrels of our specimen turned out to be gorgeous not only on the outside, but also on the inside. And as subsequent shooting showed, the working potential of the barrels also turned out to be brilliant.

On the latch of the forend

On one of the trunks, the engraver carved out his name and the name of the assembler with a graver. Thanks to this, it was possible to find out the history of this fitting. The cocking indicator is made of metal, not plastic. The lever for opening the barrel is easy to use and visually harmonious.

Open sights

are presented with a classic hunting open sight and a front sight on a high base. The front sight is adjusted in height by rotating the screw; along the horizon, the rifle is adjusted to normal combat by moving the rear sight in the dovetail.

Front sight

rectangular in cross-section. The same rectangular slot in the rear sight mane. Aiming through the “mechanics” is convenient, although there are clearly not enough white markings along the edges of the aiming slot and at the end of the front sight. It is clear that a classic is a classic, but still, in the twilight such a sight becomes practically useless.

Design of Izh-18MN

involves installing an optical sight on a standard “dovetail” barrel breech coupling, which has a limiter that prevents the bracket with the sight from sliding. It should be noted here that, in this case, it is the “outdated” and not very convenient for installing optics “dovetail” on weapons of this kind that is more acceptable than the more reliable Weaver rail, which has already become familiar.

The last one

for all its practicality, the elegance of the single-barrel fitting is visually rude. And on a classic European “breakthrough” rifle you rarely see a Weaver or Picatinny rail.

The descent of our example of the fitting

in terms of characteristics it turned out to be more “shot” than “rifle”, although quite soft and understandable. This was expected and therefore met with understanding. It is possible to improve the descent; the Izh-18 USM has potential for this. But, on the other hand, we got excellent results when shooting from both barrels (less than 1 MOA or 20-25 mm), so I don’t see much point in improving the already good trigger.

The fuse is easy to use and reliable.

Loading a weapon requires some skill and practice. The algorithm here is simple, but... a fitting is a fitting. After the shot, even more skill is required - removing a flangeless spent cartridge case is not such a simple matter. In this regard, the Izh-18MN for our three-line cartridge is much more practical, but what to do if this is where the real choice of a domestic fitting for a cartridge with a flanged sleeve ends.

Among the shortcomings in this copy, the following can be noted:

not the best arrangement of fibers in the neck of the butt and some flaws in the settling of the “iron” in the wood (which is what Western manufacturers often sin with now, including those of really expensive weapons). There were no significant complaints about the metal at all.

Considering the original purpose of the smoothbore Izh-18,

there is a completely adequate idea to supplement the kit shown in the article with a 20-gauge smooth barrel, for hunting hazel grouse, etc. Paradoxically, the manufacture of such a barrel and grinding it into an existing block requires separate certification, because The gun with a combination of smooth and rifled barrels is certified only in 12 gauge.

There is

There are also “pitfalls” in the form of the absence of an engraver who worked on the fitting. But if this can be accomplished (there is already a preliminary agreement with the plant), then I will definitely tell the readers of MasterRuzhya about this epic. I think this will be useful to someone in a purely practical aspect.

Part II

Above we started the story about an interesting example of the Izh-18MN,

assembled within the walls of the 28th workshop of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. In this final part of the article, we will talk about the specifics of the work of the legendary workshop and its craftsmen. Including those who created the fitting that you see in the photographs illustrating this article.

Now I would like to talk about the creators of our rifle.

For help, I turned to the head of experimental workshop No. 28, Alexander Vitalievich Kazakov. By the way, Alexander is a former student of Mikhail Dragunov, and one of those of whom Mikhail Evgenievich is rightfully proud.

Workshop 28 is one of the most secret places of Russian rifle production.

In fact, shop foremen are intermediaries between the designers’ ideas and their implementation in metal. This is where new weapon designs are created, where they are improved.

Right here

technology for serial production of weapons is being developed. Employees of the 28th workshop provide direct assistance to designers in design decisions and take an active part in the exhibition activities of the plant.

The number of workshop employees is not advertised,

but you can name their specialties: these are mechanics-assemblers of small arms, engravers (that’s how they pronounce it in Izhevsk). These are wood and birch bark carvers (in professional Izhevsk slang - spoon makers), finishers (they are also impregnators), turners, grinders, milling operators, adjusters and other specialties that mean so little to the majority of our “consumers”.

Drew

Note the presence of not only old (but fully functional) Izhevsk-made machines, but also modern machining centers. By the way, if you remember advertising articles about the products of serious European manufacturers or handicraftsmen, then the presence of old machines and old chisels and files “they” have is the norm or some kind of special chic, clearly demonstrating the continuity of traditions. But for some reason this is a sign of “outdated technology” and a lack of understanding of the subject.

Last time

We hear a lot about the drop in the level of so-called "production culture". Not everyone understands what they are talking about, but, apparently, among other things, they mean the qualification level of the masters. So, in the 28th workshop, the average level of worker category is 5.3, with the maximum being the 6th category.

Qualification of masters

the workshop is very high, people mostly have the 6th category, but there are also those with the 7th category! These are traditions of the past: in Soviet times, the seventh category was given to the winners of republican competitions.

It is accepted in Russia

compare the level of weapon skill with the reference TsKIB. So, the craftsmen of the 28th workshop of IZHMEKH are confident that they can compete with any manufacturer, incl. and foreign. There are bright heads and golden hands, but sometimes there is a lack of modern equipment.

That's why,

If the issue of updating the material and technical base of the workshop is now resolved, it will be possible to talk about another serious step towards restoring the former greatness of the Russian weapons school.

Now about those whose names are engraved on the latch of the forend of the fitting.

It turned out that the engraver, Yakov Kashtanov, is not currently working at the plant, and, apparently, his current work is no longer related to engraving.

But the assembly mechanic is Nikolai Ivanovich Bobylev,

being one of the best craftsmen in the workshop (by the way, it was he who assembled the first copies of the modular carbine developed by M.E. Dragunov MR-142k), is still in service. And meeting Nikolai Ivanovich personally turned out to be one of the brightest moments when visiting the workshop.

This man deservedly belongs to the cohort of the most respected masters of Izhevsk.

A former competitive shooter who was once a member of the factory's skeet shooting team. A unique locksmith, never afraid to take responsibility, creative nature. It was Bobylev who collected the first copies of Izh-39, Izh-48, Izh-52, MP-213, MP-233, Izh-94, Izh-43EM, combat pistols of the “Rook” family.

Nikolay Ivanovich

He could always offer profitable solutions himself, knew how to work in conjunction with a designer, and, what is very important, he always understood the essence of the work being performed. Bobylev is a graduate of the famous Izhevsk School of Gunsmithing, now named after the legendary engraver Leonard Vasev.

Moreover

He is the only “schoolboy” who has been working at the plant since graduating from school and has such extensive experience - the foreman is now 58 years old. Taking this opportunity, on behalf of myself and all the readers of the magazine, I would like to wish Nikolai Ivanovich health and many more years of fruitful activity.

It should be added that in the workshop,

Despite the empty workbenches and not entirely clear prospects, very young craftsmen are also working. If they learn from the experience of their senior comrades and stay to work at the plant, everything will be fine for IZHMEKH and the famous workshop.

The opinion of another famous Izhevsk gunsmith and author of many publications, Victor Valnev, about the Izh-18MN will be interesting: “Actually, the main advantages are quite obvious - cost, weight and dimensions. Which means accessibility and convenience, allowing you to see this gun in the deepest wilds of the Russian outback.

On the other side,

single-shot and “turning point” give a certain shade of elitism, hinting at the hunts of aristocrats and the slogan: “one target, one shot.” Another plus is the ability to install a replacement barrel of a different caliber, both smooth and rifled.

The disadvantages are somewhat less obvious.

The first is a typical shotgun trigger. With a long and tight trigger, which is also difficult to debug. After reaching a certain, still quite large value of the trigger force, the “self-tightening” disappears, that is, the cocking of the hammer and sear when the trigger is released without firing (the so-called “delayed shot”) simply stop returning to the original position of full engagement .

What

makes the operation of a gun modified in this way quite dangerous and requires constant attention and understanding of the true state of affairs. Schneller, as an opportunity to correct the matter, is absent in principle at all Izhevsk rifled fractures, regardless of the number of barrels.

Second minus

- clearly insufficient length and rigidity of the base for optics. The single-shot nature and the presence of a rifled barrel in themselves suggest a powerful optical sight. Which, by definition, has a solid mass and must be mounted on a stable, rigid base. In general, the gun has confidently filled its niche both in our country and abroad.”

Conceptually Izh-18MN

is a weapon for running hunting and is sincerely appreciated by fans of the “royal shot” concept. Of course, in order to mature psychologically and technically for such a weapon, considerable experience is needed and a certain adherence to principles is important. You also cannot do without the proper courage (there are those who like to hunt large animals, including brown bears, alone with a single-barreled gun).

Agree,

that in our time, when European manufacturers compete in producing the fastest-firing rifled hunting weapons made of duralumin and plastic (it doesn’t matter whether it’s a semi-automatic or the now familiar “straight gun”), not every esthete, no matter how he was experienced and he was not principled.

In the “luxury” version of the Izh-18MN

really competes with expensive fittings from famous European manufacturers. At the same time, it is gratifying that the rifle’s performance characteristics fully correspond to its appearance and initial cost. Skeptics can ask one question: where else for 50-60 thousand rubles can you buy a one-piece fitting of a high gradation of finish with two barrels?

At the Gunsmithing School

At IZHMEKH I got acquainted with a copy of IZH-18MN, made by the hands of school students. The piece, poetically titled “Autumn Forest,” is a kind of diploma work by young masters. But what!

Unfortunately

, I did not have the opportunity to take photographs of the appropriate quality, but even from the photos that exist, it is clearly visible that the fitter P. Sidorov, the engraver I. Gallamov and the stock assembler A. Bobrov created a truly interesting, aesthetically complete and superbly balanced model single-barrel fitting of the “De Luxe” class.

Among the features

In artistic design on metal, one can note the technique of notching gold and silver, notching and planar notching of silver.

Most likely, many readers already know that in September 2013, a powerful holding company, the Kalashnikov Concern, was created in Russia on the basis of Izhevsk arms enterprises. It is planned that it will include Vyatsko-Polyansky and even Tula enterprises in the shooting industry.

I really want to believe

that IZHMEH will safely survive difficult times in its history, now as part of a concern with a world-famous name. Let's hope that highly qualified specialists will return to our defense enterprises, and new students will come to the Gunsmithing School.

The time has come to create

it is no longer possible. Will the new leaders of the domestic arms industry be able to revive the former glory of Russian weapons?

Read more about the design features of the weapon

As already mentioned, the gun has one barrel, and it is rifled. The barrel design is the so-called “free floating” (also suspended). Thanks to its design, the fitting has excellent accuracy. The weapon is loaded in the traditional way for most hunting rifles - by breaking the barrel. It is clear that with this design the gun is single-shot. There is no chrome plating in the muzzle channel, which is unusual for rifled fittings.

The barrel is locked using a swing lever. The calibers of weapons are varied. You can shoot from a gun with traditional rifle charges used for shooting from hunting rifles that have a rifled barrel; you can also use all sorts of intermediate charges and even cartridges intended for shooting from a pistol.

At this time, in addition to the MP-18MN 308 and MP-18MN 223 Rem, other modifications of this weapon are being developed. In particular, some versions will be equipped with barrels adapted for firing 12/76 and 20/76 charges. Such versions of the weapon will be produced with an additional barrel or with several additional barrels of different calibers (up to 4 barrels for one weapon). Additional barrels provide the opportunity to hunt small, medium, and large game.

The trigger of the fitting is hidden in the inside of the box, this makes its operation more reliable. The gun has a rebound trigger and a spring-loaded firing pin. The gun has an open sight and is made traditionally. The front sight is adjusted according to the “up-down” pattern, the rear sight according to the “right-left” pattern. The gun can be equipped with optics. To install an optical sight, the gun is equipped with a Picatinny rail. The butt and stock of the gun are wooden.

What is the gun for?

This weapon can be used for various purposes. Hunting from the MP-18 MN is the first and main purpose of the Izhevsk rifle. You can use a gun to catch all kinds of game - large, medium, small, waterfowl. You can successfully shoot predators (such as a wolf or a fox) from the rifle, you can also kill a deer or a red deer, but the MP-18MN is rather weak against a bear; here you will need a more powerful weapon.

The second goal is sports shooting. The gun can be used to shoot at skeet targets, as well as other targets. In addition, this weapon is well suited for teaching the intricacies of hunting: sighting, training shooting, etc.

About the technical characteristics of the fitting

The performance characteristics of the MR-18MN fitting are as follows:

• Its calibers are: 223 (with the 7.62x39 option), 308 (with the 62x54 option), 243 (with the 30x06 option), 222 and 270 (weapons with such calibers are mainly exported);
• 12 gauge barrel length is 72.5 cm;
• 16 gauge barrel length is 73.5 cm;
• For other calibers, the barrel length is from 67.5 to 68 cm;
• Chamber length – 76 mm;
• The total weight of the weapon is 2.6 - 2.8 kg.

With proper use and storage, the gun can be fired at least 8,000 times without making any major repairs.

Modifications

Since 1970, the plant began producing a new modification of the IZH 18, known to many hunting fans as the IZH 18 E gun. The product is equipped with a switchable mechanism for automatically removing the cartridge case after opening the barrel (ejector). Soon this mechanism became the basic equipment of new models.

Subsequently, the name of the IZH 18 gun received an additional letter “M”, meaning that this is an improved version. Changes have occurred in the mounting of the barrel with the box, which has been given strength and reliability. The stock neck and fore-end began to be made thicker.

Here are examples of the implementation of the main modifications:

• IZH 18 MA - a gun with an updated fore-end and a pistol stock made of birch material;
• IZH 18 MAE shotgun - with a dual-mode ejector that can be switched off in both single and continuous modes;
• IZH 18 MK – external hammer model, equipped with a safety lock for a cocked hammer, half-cocked;
• IZH (MR) 18 MK IZH 18 MM – the cartridge case is removed by an ejector, the fuse is normal, installed behind the trigger, blocking it when turned on;
• IZH 18 EMM “Sporting” is a good choice for a hunter and athlete. Buttstock with a high comb, high-quality stock, excellent external characteristics. The cut of the muzzle has holes that act as a compensatory brake and reduce the toss of the weapon during recoil. The length of the barrel is 75 cm. The model is equipped with a wide aiming rail and two front sights;
• IZH 18 MM “Junior” is another model that you should pay attention to. The weapon is designed for 20 caliber cartridges and is as lightweight as possible; there are also products with 410 caliber. The weight reduction was made possible by reducing the weight of the wood - the butt and fore-end on this modification are shortened and somewhat thinner. There is a rubber butt pad. The model is perfect for female shooters, weak people and teenagers - its weight does not exceed 2.6 kg;
• IZH 18 MAX shotgun is a rifle model, produced mainly for export purposes. All elements are of different quality; patterns are applied to the block.

About the advantages and disadvantages of a gun

Every weapon has exclusive advantages over other similar weapons, as well as unique disadvantages. The MR-18MN fitting is no exception. It also has its own advantages and disadvantages.

First, let's talk about the advantages. The weapon has excellent shooting accuracy. The fitting is simple in design and easy to maintain. It works great in hot and cold weather, as well as when there is excessive humidity. In addition, compared to other brands of hunting weapons, the fitting is extremely cheap.

Now about the disadvantages. According to user reviews, the most annoying drawback of this weapon is that it has an excessively hard and loud trigger. In addition, when using domestic charges, repeated misfires occur. In addition, the butt of the weapon and other wooden parts are often cracked and burred.

Equipment and disassembly of weapons

The gun arrives at retail establishments in disassembled form. All metal parts of the weapon must be wrapped in oiled paper. In general, the branded packaging is a cardboard box on which the brand name of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant should be visible. In addition to the weapon itself, inside the package there should be a special instruction brochure from which you can learn how to properly handle the gun.

As for disassembling the fitting, before starting it, you need to make sure that the shutter mechanism is released, and, in addition, whether there is any ammunition in the barrel. Once you are convinced of these two important points, you can begin disassembling the weapon. The sequence of disassembly (as well as assembly) is described in detail in the mentioned instructions.

Design features and models

This gun consists of a minimum set of necessary elements that allow shooting. There are no frills or auxiliary mechanisms that increase not only shooting efficiency, but also the price.

The trigger mechanism, which is neatly built into the metal box, the barrel, the rocking lever behind the trigger guard that provides locking, the safety and the extractor that removes the cartridges.

Such a simple set of mechanisms makes a good gun for hunting. Several models of this gun were created, which we will talk about now.

Weapon tuning and its price

It has already been mentioned that the rifle-type gun labeled MP-18MN is one of the cheapest domestic hunting models. Its minimum cost is about $140. The maximum cost is about $335. The price range depends mainly on the caliber of the weapon.

Apart from different calibers and interchangeable barrels, the manufacturer does not propose any other improvements for this weapon. We can say that to this day the fitting remains in its original form, so there is plenty for tuning lovers to roam around here. Moreover, the weapon, as already mentioned, has a rather sloppy appearance.

This primarily concerns the butt and other wooden parts. Scratches, cracks and chips can be found on many stocks. In addition, the stock may be poorly polished. Sanding the wooden parts of weapons is the main part of tuning this weapon. By the way, the latest MP-18MN models are available with plastic stocks, but the cost of such models is slightly higher.

History of creation

After the end of World War II, the craftsmen of the famous mechanical Izhevsk Gun Factory designed a single-barreled version of the weapon and launched a single-barrel fracture, represented by samples of IZHB and ZKB, into production. After about two decades, an updated IZH 18 hunting weapon is created on a tested basis. Structurally, the next model retains the positive characteristics inherent in previous models.

IZH 18 receives significant changes, the balance and design data of the gun are improved, and its weight is reduced. The model received an improved trigger, the fore-end and butt became more comfortable.

The design of smooth-bore weapons is simple and at the same time reliable, and enjoys well-deserved popularity in Russia and abroad.

Since 1970, IZH 18 has been produced with an ejector

Weapon analogues and owner comments

Despite the fact that the weapon in question is quite unconventional in Russia, nevertheless, there are currently many of its analogues, both foreign and domestic. Among foreign analogues, we can note the Austrian-made Steyr-Mannlicher fitting, some modifications of Rtmington, as well as the German Springfield. Russian analogues are a series of fittings produced at Izhmash: MR-43, OTs-48, OTs-48K and some others.

As for the opinions of weapon users, such opinions are for the most part quite benevolent. Users of the rifle note the multiple advantages of this weapon, which for the most part have already been discussed in this article. The main advantages are the simplicity of design and handling of weapons, reliability, and low cost of the weapon itself, as well as ammunition for it.

Why did hunters like the MP-18 shotgun?

Many models of guns can be used for hunting, but not all have good balance and grip, which is necessary for fast and accurate shooting.

In most cases, when hunting, you have to shoot offhand and without long aiming, since game often appears suddenly, and there is no time for long thoughts. The hunter must react with lightning speed.

Therefore, the gun must have good balance, grip and light weight to maximize positive shot results. The MP-18 has all these characteristics, which is why hunters speak well of it.

In addition, the price of this model is affordable even for the poorest hunter, who in the future will be able to get many trophies with such a weapon.

It is difficult for novice hunters to choose something more suitable than this model of gun, since it combines simplicity of design, a reliable mechanism with an impeccable safety lock.