MR-18M-M – single-barreled, single-shot shotgun for all types of hunting

MP-18M-M is a lightweight, trouble-free single-barreled shotgun. A worthy successor to the line of single-barreled rifles from the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, produced in various modifications

It is no secret that the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant produces the lion's share of hunting and civilian weapons in Russia. Single-barreled, double-barreled, pump-action, self-loading and non-automatic shotguns (for example, MP-161K, MP-142K, MP-143, “Express”, MP-43KN, MP-133, MP-233, MP-18MN, “Sever”, MR -155 K) are in constant demand among consumers.

MP-18M-M is a single-barrel, single-shot model, a classic hunting rifle, the most affordable.

Review of the MP-18M-M shotgun

The basic version of the hunting rifle is the IZH-18 model. It has been produced since 1964, but has undergone many modifications and transformations. MR-18M-M is one of the lines created on its basis.

This single-shot smoothbore shotgun has a simple design and low weight. However, it cannot be considered an option from the “as long as it shoots” category. The model is of the sniper type and is designed specifically for the case when a hunter prefers to kill game with one shot rather than pour fire into the sector. As a result, the model often turns from a hunting model into a kind of simulator for honing shooting skills.

Several different models are available - sports, junior, standard. The Izhevsk plant also offers models with both a stable choke and interchangeable choke tubes, which expands the range of application of the rifle.

A brief overview of the MP-18M-M is given in this video:

Advantages and disadvantages

The gun is designed for various types of hunting - this allows for a wide selection of calibers, as well as for sports and self-defense. The simple design and reliability make the rifle extremely unpretentious and reliable.

The undoubted advantages of the model include the following qualities.

• High accuracy - this indicator somewhat depends on the skill of the shooter. However, in varminting competitions, the best shooters achieved a running distance of no more than a quarter of an arc minute from a distance of 350 m. The average is, of course, lower, but still impressive.
• The barrels are made from the highest quality steel. The wall thickness at the muzzle is 2.5 mm. The barrel, depending on the caliber, can withstand powder gas pressure from 65 to 90 MPa. The muzzle channel and chamber are chrome-plated, which contributes to high accuracy.
• The weight of the models is minimal - from 2.9 to 3.3 kg. The junior model is specially designed for shooters who do not have great physical strength - teenagers and women.
• The trigger is installed in the receiver, which makes the design simpler, but also more reliable. The barrel is locked using a swinging lever.
• To prevent an accidental shot, the gun is equipped with a non-automatic safety and a special protrusion on the trigger, which prevents the trigger from contacting the firing pin unless the trigger is pressed.
• The MP-18M-M is available in different calibers, with a constant choke and with replaceable linings.
• The gun is distinguished by high grip and excellent balancing.
• The advantages can and should include the affordable cost of the models of the line with the high quality of the gun itself

The following qualities of the product can be considered as disadvantages.

• Production models do not have the ability to mount optics or a collimator. The front sight included in the kit is ordinary and does not glow in the dark, which is inconvenient for night hunting.
• Rifles for some calibers are produced only individually.

Photo of the MP-18M-M shotgun

Purpose

The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant offers shotguns in calibers from 12 to 45-70 Govt - the latter, of course, is not mass-produced. Such a wide selection allows you to use the gun for hunting almost any game:

• catching small and medium-sized animals, including fur-bearing animals;
• hunting large animals - wolves, wild boars;
• bird hunting;
• Varminting is high-precision shooting at very long distances. The rifle's excellent combat accuracy ensures excellent results.

For sports shooting, the plant produces a special model that differs in design features. However, any version of this line is suitable for developing accurate shooting skills.

Varieties

• The MP-18M-M serial rifle is produced in calibers .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .243 Win, 7.62*39, 7.62*51 (308 Win), 7.62*54 R, .30-06 Spring .
• The piece model can be designed for calibers 5.6*39 R, 7.62*53 R, 9*53 R, 9.3*74 R, .270 Win, 45-70 Govt.

In addition, the line includes several modifications.

• MR-18M-M is the basic model, the most affordable. Available with both a permanent barrel and interchangeable choke tubes. The gun may include an aiming bar. The butt and fore-end of the rifle are made of wood - walnut, beech. A wide selection of calibers allows you to use the gun for both hunting and precision shooting.
• MP-18M-EM - equipped with an ejector, a device for automatically ejecting cartridges. If desired, the ejector can be turned off by turning a special lever while hunting. The ejector is activated automatically the next time the barrel is opened.
• MR-18MK-M is a hammer-fired version of the gun. The trigger is performed with release and safety cocking.
• MR-18M-M “Junior” - the model is primarily distinguished by its low weight. The handguard and stock are reduced in size and adapted to the anatomy of the target group of users – women and teenagers. The butt is equipped with a shock absorber. Available in small calibers.
• MR-18EM-M – “Sporting” – a model for sports shooting. It is distinguished by higher ergonomics - a Monte Carlo type stock, holes in the barrel - they compensate for the toss of the rifle when firing. The sights have been improved - the sighting bar is wider with two front sights: a front colored one and a rear spherical one. The rifle is equipped with an ejector. Barrels and choke tubes are of the highest quality.

The gun itself can be made in different ways: ordinary, that is, with a regular finish, and “Classic” – with engraving or carving.

Rifles with barrels of different lengths are available in each caliber.

Weapon of the right hunter

The convenient location of the locking lever and safety button has a positive effect on safety when handling weapons.
The first hunt, joining the hunting society, and the first hunted duck are associated with this gun. Sorry for the cliche comparison, but it's like first love. Experienced hunters said that it is with such a gun that you need to learn to hunt.

The gun was much cheaper than serial domestic double-barreled shotguns, not to mention five-shot or imported weapons. At that time, I associated the words of the mentors with the price. I thought that while I was young, I would hunt with a cheap single-barreled rifle, and if hunting really interested me, I would buy a good over-and-under.

Many years later, I understood why most of my peers started hunting with single-barreled IZH-18 rifles. Firstly, this is perhaps the simplest and at the same time very reliable gun. Secondly, the lack of decoration and a simple stock allow you to concentrate only on hunting without fear of damaging the weapon. And having only one barrel teaches you to improve your shooting skills.

Knowing that you only have one shot, you’ll think ten times about how and when to shoot. Many have witnessed hunts when young and especially reckless shooters, after the first unsuccessful shot, thoughtlessly emptied the magazines of their five-rounders in pursuit of a flying flock of ducks.

The single-shot single-barreled hunting rifle IZH-18 has been produced since 1964 at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. This gun not only absorbed the best design solutions of its predecessors: IZH-5, ZK, IZHK, IZH-17, ZKB, IZHB, but also pleased with the introduction of new developments. The reliability of the trigger mechanism has increased, the safety when handling weapons has increased, and the weight of the gun has decreased.

Strength characteristics allowed the manufacturer to position the IZH-18 as a weapon with a long period of intensive use. The guaranteed firing range of the gun is at least 8 thousand shots, in contrast to 6 thousand for previous models.

Initially, IZH-18 was produced in all calibers widely used in the USSR: 12, 16, 20, 28, 32. The rifle chambers were drilled to accommodate a 70 mm long cartridge case. In the 32 caliber they were drilled for a brass sleeve, and in others for a paper sleeve.

IZH-18 quickly and easily disassembles into three main parts: a block with a butt, a barrel and a forend. To do this, simply separate the forend by moving its latch, press the release lever located behind the trigger guard, and separate the barrel from the block. The barrel is connected to the block by a hinge and is held by an under-barrel hook and the end part of the forend. The barrel is locked in the block by fixing the V-shaped recess of the under-barrel hook with the wedge-shaped front part of the locking lever.

In my opinion, the system that ensures safety when handling a gun is impeccable. The Eighteenth has a lock that makes it impossible to fire if the gun is not completely closed.

The weapon is equipped with a push-button safety located behind the trigger, which blocks the trigger with the sear when turned on. The gun has a cocking indicator located on top of the block. It is clearly visible, and in the dark it can be distinguished by touch. In case of failure from cocking, when the gun is dropped or from a strong blow to the block, the trigger will automatically engage the safety cock.

The design of the gun provides for a smooth trigger release. To do this, with the gun cocked, you must press the locking lever all the way, then press the trigger and smoothly release the locking lever.

The Izha trigger mechanism is simple and reliable. The trigger is internal, made separately from the firing pin. The hammer is cocked when the locking lever is pressed. If you need to cock the hammer, you don’t have to break the gun - just press the locking lever until you hear a characteristic click. After the shot, the hammer releases and the firing pin returns to its original position.

Sights IZH-18 consist of a protrusion block and a cylindrical front sight. The stock of the gun is made of birch or beech and has a pistol neck, or less often a straight neck.

In order to improve the characteristics of the weapon during the production process, the base model IZH-18 was subjected to various changes. Since 1970, the gun was produced not only with an extractor, but also with an ejector under the marking IZH-18E.

The ejector mode switching lever is located in the window at the bottom of the block, which allows you to turn it off if necessary. To do this, you need to move the lever to the rear position. The next time the gun is broken, the ejector turns on automatically. Since 1983, after modernization, which affected the mechanism for attaching the barrel and receiver, the letter “M” was added to the name of the weapon. The IZH-18M and IZH-18EM shotguns received reinforced fore-ends and stock necks.

Subsequently, an automatic fuse (IZH-18MA) and a dual-mode ejector, capable of being turned off not only in a single mode, but also in a permanent mode (IZH-18MAE), were added to the weapon. Surprisingly, initially the IZH-18 “non-hammer” was even manufactured in a modification with an external trigger position under the marking IZH-18MK.

Special types of shotguns IZH-18EM-M “Sporting” were produced not only for hunting, but also for clay pigeon shooting. Manufacturers also took care of young hunters and women: the lightweight IZH-18M-M “Junior” 20-gauge had a shorter barrel, less weight and a rubber butt pad-shock absorber on the butt. The gun, marked IZH-18MAX, was manufactured for export.

The list of calibers also expanded, and guns for the .410 caliber appeared. Since 1992, the production of shotguns with chambers 76.2 mm long and chambered for Magnum cartridges began. One cannot help but recall the period when the quality of guns produced sharply declined.

In pursuit of low cost, the cocking indicator began to be made of plastic, and the safety bracket was cast from a low-melting and weak metal. In order to simplify the design or in an attempt to make it more technologically advanced, the fire tube was removed, and the firing pin was fixed with a transverse key. The trigger became narrow and uncomfortable.

But in the history of IZH-18 there is a page that fills me with pride for our country. We are talking about a rifled version of the IZH-18. His background is as follows. The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant previously produced barrels for the Austrian sports rifle Steyr-Manlicher. Most likely, in order to expand the line of “eighteenths”, it was decided to release a rifled version - a strange hybrid of a cheap single-barreled gun and a very high-quality rifled barrel.

The gun was developed by a team of designers led by Valery Zagrebin at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant in 1994. I think the developers themselves were surprised when Baikal (under this name the IZH-18MN gun was exported) ended up in the Kipplaufbuchsen class of prestigious single-shot rifles for sport hunting.

Similar weapons in the West were produced individually, according to individual orders, and their cost was tens of thousands of dollars. The IZH-18MN Baikal, which appeared on the market, immediately became a serious competitor to its classmates due to its minimal cost. True, the quality of the decorative finish of our fitting did not stand up to criticism.

In the West, such weapons were decorated by famous engravers and artists; the choice of wood for the butt was approached as if they were creating a work of art. However, the price-quality ratio still forced many Western shooters to choose our rifle. The strength and reliability of the weapon's design and the ballistic characteristics of the rifled barrel gave rise to virtually no complaints.

Of course, the weapon required improvement, and specialized companies that emerged gladly began to fulfill the whims of clients, dressing the IZH-18MN in high-quality and expensive wood, covering the butt and block with carvings, engraving and inlay, making the operation of the trigger mechanism “softer.” And still, even after modification, our fitting was at the lower limit of the price category in the Kipplaufbuchsen class.

How does the IZH-18MN differ from the regular IZH-18? The weapon block is reinforced, the metal is subjected to additional heat treatment. A stylish barrel with sixteen edges, twisted along the length by half a turn, is secured in a breech coupling. There are grooves on it for installing an optical sight bracket.

The barrel has an open, adjustable sight. The trigger mechanism is left almost unchanged, except for the reduction in the diameter of the front part of the firing pin and the hole for it in the block shield. The rifled IZH was tested for various cartridges: 7.62×39, 7.62x54R, 7.62×51 (.308 Win.), 7.62×63 (.30-06 Spr.), 8×57 IRS, 7 ,62x53R (Fin.), 7x57R, 7x65R, 9.3x74R, 5.6x50R, 22WMR, 9.3x74R. Most of the calibers were made to please the Western market and were manufactured only for export. In Russia, Baikal is most often found chambered for 7.62x51 (.308 Win.), .223 Rem, and less often - for 7.62x54R.

The weapon often comes complete with a replaceable smoothbore barrel, which turns the barrel into a compact multi-purpose hunting weapon. A few seconds are enough to change from a rifled barrel to a smooth one and vice versa. This allows a hunter with only one Izh-18MN to have a range of weapons to perform a variety of tasks.

The hunting culture in modern Russia is far from perfect. Often the choice of weapon is associated with multi-charge and increased firepower. Many hunters are guided by the principle “not with the first shot, but with the fifth shot I’ll get the animal.” It is for this reason that it is considered prestigious to have multiple chargers.

Perhaps it’s worth turning your attention once again to the Izh-18 gun. Perhaps it is this weapon that can revive the centuries-old traditions of hunting, when it was not so much the hunted animal that was valued, but an accurate—royal—shot.

Andrey Pasyuta March 8, 2013 at 00:00

Specifications

The rifles are designed to fire cartridges and lead shot. Models that can use steel shot are marked accordingly: the barrel is stamped “steel shot” and replacement chokes for steel shot are marked “STEEL”. The table shows the characteristics of choke constrictions for lead shot.

The listed parameters are marked on the barrel hook in the breech. If the model involves changing the choke, then the designation “Var” appears in the breech. The constriction value is indicated on the choke itself.

Hunting rifle MP-18M-M 12/76.710mm, plastic

Modifications

IZH-18E with an ejector mechanism.

The IZH-18E shotgun is equipped with an ejector mechanism with an external one-time operation switch.

The ejector is turned off when the button located on the extractor sear 28 is turned to its extreme position. After opening the gun with the ejector mechanism turned off, it is automatically included in the operation of the gun.

Model IZH-18E shotguns of 12 and 16 calibers can be equipped with a rubber butt pad.

IZH-18M without an ejector mechanism.

IZH-18EM with an ejector mechanism.

They are produced on the basis of IZH-18 and IZH-18E. The connection between the barrel and the receiver has been improved, the neck of the butt and fore-end have been slightly thickened.

IZH-18M-M

The difference with the IZH-18M is very small, indicated by arrows in the photo.

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Design

All modifications of the MP-18M-M line consist of two structural parts - a box with a butt and a detachable barrel with a forend.

• The barrel locking mechanism is simple and reliable - a swinging lever. The rifle opens when the lever is moved up. The lever is held open by a delay. The latter automatically releases the lever when the barrel closes.
• The connection between the barrel and the forend has been improved - a lever-type latch. This method eliminates thermal deformation during shooting.
• The trigger is mounted in the receiver. The trigger is of the return type, the firing pin is made separately and is spring-loaded. When the locking lever is moved up and the barrel is opened, the hammer is cocked. At the same time, the cocking indicator extends.
• Protection against accidental shooting is provided by a safety protrusion on the trigger and a non-automatic safety. To turn it on, you need to move the fuse to the right, to turn it off - to the left. In this case, a red mark becomes visible on the left side of the part.

MR-18M-M provides the possibility of a smooth descent. To do this, turn off the safety, turn the locking lever up and, holding it, pull the trigger. Then lower the locking lever.

• The stock is made of high-quality wood - walnut, beech, birch. The wood is impregnated with special oil. The butt plate, depending on the version, is made of plastic or rubber. In budget models, the butt is made of plastic.

Shooting from the MP-18M-M gun is shown in this video:

Disassembling and assembling the gun

To separate the stock from the box and further disassemble, you need to remove the butt plate and unscrew the screw connecting the stock to the block.

When disassembling the trigger mechanism, it is necessary to remove the pusher with the mainspring.

To do this, cock the trigger (6), compress the mainspring (8) and insert a nail or a piece of wire with a diameter of 1-1.5 mm into the hole that appears in the pusher (7).

After releasing the trigger, separate the pusher with the spring.

The firing pin (4) is separated from the box (15) after unscrewing the fire tube (16) with a special screwdriver.

Further disassembly is simple and does not require much explanation.

The gun is assembled in the reverse order of disassembly.

The connection between the stock and the box must be strong, without the slightest movement. Due to the possible further drying of the wood of the stock, the tension screw during shooting, especially at the beginning of operation, must be periodically tightened so that the stock does not rock.

Operating principle

The MP-18M-M is designed to fire smoky and smokeless powder and cartridges with metal, paper and plastic casings. All products can be used for shooting lead shot. Steel shot is allowed only in special models that are marked accordingly.

• The MP-18M-M with a chamber length of 76 mm can be loaded with any cartridges with a length not exceeding 76 mm, including cartridges designed for barrels that can withstand a pressure of 1320 bar.
• A shotgun with a chamber length of 70 mm can be loaded with any cartridges no longer than 70 mm, except for cartridges marked “1050 ​​bar”. The length of the cartridge refers to the length of the cartridge case before the twist.
• The diameter of the bullet used for shooting should be 0.2–0.3 mm less than the diameter of the choke. Caliber bullets made of steel or brass are prohibited.

Only by observing all the described requirements can the rifle be provided with a truly long service life.

The weapon is delivered to the buyer in disassembled form. Before assembly, all parts must be cleaned of grease and lubricated with gun oil. When closing the barrel, there may be a lack of movement of the locking lever. In this case, the lever must be adjusted manually, otherwise there may be misfires when shooting.

There is always the possibility of a prolonged shot - the primer fires slowly, so if the shot does not occur immediately after pressing the trigger, you should wait 30-40 seconds without lowering the gun. If the shot still does not occur, the rifle must be unloaded.

• MR-18M-M provides the ability to install different choke constrictions. To take advantage of this benefit, the attachments must be secured correctly. The muzzle narrowing is screwed until it is retracted into the protrusion on the barrel bore. In this case, a gap remains between the end of the barrel and the cylindrical fragment of the narrowing. Relative to the cut of the barrel, the muzzle constriction should be either flush or slightly recessed.
• When inspecting the barrel bore, the ring should be visible at the junction of the end of the constriction and the protrusion. Its incompleteness indicates damage to the narrowing and the impossibility of its use.
• The tightness of the constriction should be checked every 50–100 shots.

Disassembly

For maintenance of the MP-18M-M, partial disassembly is performed. It is also carried out when it is necessary to transport or store a gun for a long time.

1. Pull and hold the latch located centrally on the lower parts of the forend.
2. Turn the forend in the direction from the barrel and separate it. No effort is made to separate.
3. Move the locking lever up to the limit.
4. The barrel is rotated down until it is disconnected from the receiver.
5. The forend is attached to the barrel during storage or transportation. To do this, after the described manipulations, lower the shutter lever: press the locking lever delay, then press the trigger and smoothly lower the locking lever. At the same time, the trigger is released from the cocking position.

If necessary, repairs, severe contamination, the rifle is completely disassembled. To do this, in addition to those described, perform the following operations.

1. Unscrew the screws indicated in the diagram and remove the back of the head.
2. By lightly hitting the box against a wooden object, the connection between the box and the butt is loosened and the butt is removed.
3. If necessary, you can disassemble the trigger mechanism and ejector. It is recommended that complete disassembly be carried out only in a weapons workshop.

Advantages and disadvantages

IZH 18 and all its modifications are perfectly balanced, making aiming quite fast. A reliable trigger mechanism is housed in a box. The guaranteed survivability of the IZH 18 gun is from eight thousand shots. If you use the weapon correctly, this figure doubles.

As follows from the reviews of hunters, the IZH 18 behaves excellently in all weather conditions; no breakdowns or failures have been identified. Particularly praised are 12- or 20-gauge single-barreled guns, which have the added benefit of interchangeable choke tubes and chambers that are 7.6 cm long.

The IZH 18 shotgun is lightweight and easy to handle; ammunition for it is readily available, which is very important today. To load cartridges, it is recommended to use brass cartridges with “Central Shot” primers.

Another advantage is the reasonable price, depending on the modification.

Owner reviews

The low price and wide selection of calibers are by no means the only advantage noted by the owners of the MP-18M-M, although this is an important factor.

Many people point out the extremely precise fit of the gun’s parts; the rifle is perceived as a monolith. However, such reviews alternate with descriptions of insufficient quality of products, poor processing of the stock, and so on. So, apparently, the quality of weapons of different years of production differs significantly.

Accuracy of fire is the main advantage of the MP-18M-M. The model is ideal for practicing precision combat skills.

Analogs

• The direct predecessor of all the screws of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant is IZH-17. The rifle has already been discontinued, but professional hunters still enjoy it.
• Among the foreign ones in a similar price category we can name the Turkish rifle HATSAN OPTIMA SB-P12 KAL. 12/76.

The MP-18M-M is a very light, unpretentious and extremely accurate single-barreled shotgun. The rifle is produced in a variety of calibers and is widely used in almost all types of hunting.

A review of the use of the MP-18M-M shotgun is given in the video below:

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