IZH-39 shotgun: hunter reviews, description, characteristics

• November 21, 2018
• Weapons and ammunition
• Natali Michaelis

Today, hunting in Russia is not only one of the most interesting ways to spend time, but also a fairly promising commercial activity. However, for the success of the event, you need to acquire a good weapon, for example, a double-barreled shotgun. Judging by the reviews of hunters, the IZH-39 is one of the most controversial models of smooth-bore weapons for hunting. Some owners praise it for its excellent technical characteristics, while others complain about serious shortcomings. In our article we will find out all the pros and cons of this unit, and also understand the features of the smoothbore gun.

Description

IZH-39 is a hammer-operated sporting shotgun with vertically positioned 12-gauge barrels. Designed for shooting on a round or trench stand. The trigger mechanism has only one selective trigger. The barrel is made of high quality weapon steel. To change the sequence of shots, you must use a special lever located on the receiver. Compression of the mainsprings and cocking of the hammer is carried out using a special hinge and pusher, which are triggered when the barrels are opened. Soft walnut wood was used to make the fore-end and stock. Production of IZH-39 lasted from 1975 to 1979 exclusively for sporting purposes.

Design and principle of operation

The barrels of the IZH 39 shotgun are arranged vertically, detachable, the connection is made by a breech coupling and interbarrel strips. A wide, ventilated sight improves aiming and barrel cooling. Single locking of the barrels is performed with a locking bar on the barrel hook. The barrels of the IZH 39 shotgun are held in the open position by special latches, which automatically release the levers at the moment of closing. The trigger is located on a separate base of the block, the trigger is of a return type, and is made separately from the strikers. The fight is provided by cylindrical spiral springs. At the moment the barrels are opened, the hammers are cocked into the firing position with simultaneous compression of the mainsprings due to hinges, cockers and rods. The non-automatic type safety lock closes the sear only after cocking the hammers. If the trigger is pulled, the safety button works in idle mode, the sear flags are not locked.

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To increase operational safety and prevent accidental shots when the trigger is removed from the firing position, the trigger was equipped with a trigger interceptor. The trigger mechanism and safety feature are conveniently designed to facilitate cleaning, inspection and repair. The gun has an ejector mechanism that automatically ejects only the spent cartridge case during opening. The whole cartridge, if the barrels are opened, slides out smoothly. The mechanism parts are located in the barrel coupling, block and hinge. If necessary, it is possible to turn off the ejector, for which it is necessary to rotate the disconnector with the splined part along the gun axis. There is one trigger, which is responsible for alternating shots from both barrels in a sequence convenient for the hunter. After the first press, a shot is fired with the lower barrel, after which it is the turn of the upper one. To fire in the reverse order, you need to press the trigger forward until you hear a characteristic click. If it is necessary to return to the primary shooting sequence, the locking lever is moved to the right as far as it will go and jerked to its original position.

Shotgun IZH 39 designed by A. A. Klimov

History of creation

In 1975, the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant began creating a new type of weapon, the IZH-39, which was supposed to surpass the old IZH-25 in all respects. This need is explained by the fact that at the plant there was a massive replacement of old guns with new ones - the IZH-12 was replaced by the newest IZH-27, and in 1979 the development of the IZH-39E began, which surpassed most previous models in technical characteristics.

To develop a new sporting shotgun, it was necessary to use all the knowledge and experience accumulated over many years of painstaking work on the weapon. Significant changes were made to the design of the IZH-25, which were aimed at improving its operational characteristics, as well as ergonomics.

Differences from the old model

Initially, the IZH-25 shotgun had a single stock, intended for shooting at trench stands at a shooting range, which created some difficulties if the owner decided to use it on the street at round targets. Modern models of IZH-39 and IZH-39E have different shapes for trench and round shooting, which take into account all the specifics of this event.

The handguard of the gun has also undergone a big change. The combination of old production technologies with a new and modern design makes the weapon more maneuverable and usable, which allows shooting offhand. IZH-39 and IZH-39E were made with a wider aiming rib (14 millimeters instead of 7) and a plastic colored front sight, which improved conditions for quick aiming.

Significant changes were made to the design of the barrel locking unit in the receiver. For this purpose, a special support liner was installed in the middle lintel. With the help of this insert, the articulation of the barrels with the frame was significantly improved, which was especially noticeable during shooting. The likelihood that the gun would sooner or later become loose was reduced to almost a minimum, which significantly increased the technical life of the weapon.

Modifications

The IZHMEH arms factory produced the IZH-54 double-barreled shotgun quite a long time ago, so it is not surprising that over more than half a century the model has acquired a solid list of modifications. Unfortunately, many of the samples were produced in single-piece versions and today can only be purchased secondhand from the current owners. The serial versions were only two double-barreled guns: IZH-54 and IZH-58. You can find them today in almost any gun store. The modifications have the following prefixes in their names:

1. "Sh" - obese. Most of the currently existing models are designated as IZH-54-Sh1 or IZH-54-Sh2. Such weapons are distinguished by their exclusive design and also have more impressive combat accuracy (up to 75%) due to the high-quality alignment of the barrels. The forend and stock of the double-barreled shotgun are made of high-quality hazel, which is painted red, and the main metal module is chemically coated. An excellent weapon for a collector and connoisseur of beauty.
2. "16K" - 16 gauge. This IZH-54 was produced in a very small batch, so it is almost impossible to find such a model on the open market. The gun was positioned as universal (suitable for hunting animals and birds), but during production something went wrong and the double-barreled gun began to be significantly inferior to its analogues in terms of combat characteristics. However, the IZH-54-16K is highly prized by collectors for its rarity, as well as its unique carved metal design.
3. "Sport" - sports. Another very rare modification, which has an enlarged barrel and lower shot power. The trigger of the IZH-54 “Sport” model is even softer, so the weapon began to be actively used by professional athletes for training and participation in competitions. Unfortunately, after several decades of active use, there are not many complete guns of this type left in the world.

Sports modification of IZH-54
And these are just those modifications that are considered the most unique and rare. There are also many samples with an enlarged or shortened barrel, a plastic butt instead of a wooden one, and even an installed sighting bar. IZHMEH continues to support the production of IZH-54 and IZH-58 to this day, so it is not surprising that the weapon continues to receive various improvements.

Execution options

The smoothbore gun for clay pigeon shooting is manufactured in four main copies: IZH-39K, IZH-39T, IZH-39EK, IZH-39ET. All of these options are designed for shooting at a trench and round stand, however, the latter two are distinguished by the presence of an ejector mechanism that ejects spent cartridges from the gun (this is indicated by the letter “E” in the name).

According to the weapons passport, each of the design options is used for shooting at a specific stand:

• for a trench stand - IZH-39E-05, IZH-39-05, IZH-39-03, IZH-39E-01, IZH-39-01;
• for a round stand – IZH-39E-04, IZH-39E-02, IZH-39E, IZH-39.

Although officially the weapon is intended for clay pigeon shooting, hunters from Russia actively use it to conduct their hunts. Although not all owners of vertical guns agree with this. In order to understand how logical (or not) such actions are, you need to look at the technical characteristics of the IZH-39, as well as learn about the pros and cons of the weapon.

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Instructions for use and design.

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Specifications

To understand the pros and cons of this unit, you must first look at its technical characteristics, which can be found in the weapons passport. This document must come with the weapon when purchased in a store. Looking at the paper, you will find approximately the following information about the IZH-39 gun:

• caliber - 12 millimeters;
• cartridge – 12 x 70 millimeters;
• barrel length – 670-755 millimeters;
• gun length - 1090-1190 millimeters;
• weight in a discharged state - 3.35-3.65 kilograms;
• number of trunks – two;
• the location of the trunks is vertical;
• barrel type – smoothbore;
• reload type – non-automatic;
• type of weapon – shotgun;
• purpose – sports shooting;
• country of origin - USSR;
• city ​​- Izhevsk;
• designer - A. A. Klimov.

Based on such characteristics, one can form some ideas about this weapon. Firstly, it is intended specifically for clay pigeon shooting, so its use for hunting is initially questionable. Secondly, the vertical position of the barrels can become a strong hindrance when shooting outdoors, since strong wind exposes one of the main disadvantages of the gun - windage. And thirdly, the non-automatic reloading mode does not allow for the most efficient fishing. For example, for duck hunting it would be much more effective to buy a self-loading hunting smoothbore Saiga carbine, which holds up to 11 (10+1) rounds. However, we will return to the relevance of using the IZH-39 sport gun during hunting.

History and evolution

Production of the legendary IZH-54 began in the post-war years. At that time (in 1949), the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant switched to the production of hunting weapons, and soon the first model was born, which became the prototype of the future double-barreled shotgun - IZH-49 - an almost exact copy of the German Sauer-8 model. The new double-barreled shotgun did not make a big splash and did not make a breakthrough, but it did an equally important thing - it was able to interrupt the endless production of military weapons.

IZH-49 - predecessor of IZH-54

The actual development of IZH-54 began in 1954. Then the engineers were faced with a very important task - to modify the new IZH-49 in such a way that the design remained similar to the original, and the appearance of the weapon and its technical characteristics increased noticeably. The well-known engineer L.I. Pugachev took up the implementation of the project, openly declaring that German guns are not as good as everyone thinks. As a result of his work, the engineer modernized not only the main combat parts, but also made some adjustments to the design.

The new IZH-54 was released from the assembly line in the same year and immediately won the love and attention of hunting enthusiasts. First of all, buyers appreciated the fact that similar models simply had not been produced before. The gun had enviable technical characteristics that domestic weapons had never known before. All this allowed the IZH-54 to be successfully sold without any modifications for 3 years. Then the first improved models began to appear, introducing even more improvements to the original.

The legendary Soviet double-barreled shotgun IZH-54

The first official modification of the IZH-54 was the IZH-57 smoothbore shotgun, which differed from the original only in caliber (12 was replaced by 16). Pugachev also decided to make some changes in the barrel locking design, namely, to remove the Griner bolt from the scheme, replacing it with a new mechanism in the form of a trigger. Despite the fact that the idea seemed very profitable, the new model was sold only 20 thousand copies. Therefore, IZHMASH continued to experiment, releasing modifications with minor improvements.

The IZH-54 received a subsequent improvement in the form of the IZH-26, a fundamentally new gun, which was copied from the 1954 model. Because of this feature, many owners to this day call the model a “modification,” although in fact it is not one. However, due to the desire of engineers to save on production, the weapon did not turn out to be half as attractive as the prototype. So, the IZH-26 was soon taken out of production and replaced with the brand new IZH-58 - the last official modification of the legendary double-barreled shotgun.

Smoothbore shotgun IZH-58m

Advantages

Based on hunters' reviews of the IZH-39, we can judge some of the positive features of this gun as the main weapon for commercial hunting. This information was taken from various thematic forums where owners share their opinions with colleagues.

So, the advantages of the IZH-39 gun:

• size – almost ideal for any shooter’s build;
• large weight - allows you to reduce recoil closer to semi-automatic devices than to shotguns;
• long barrels – affects the accuracy of shooting from long distances;
• wide aiming bar – ensures quick aiming;
• comfortable “Monte Carlo” stock – improves the overall ergonomics of the weapon;
• installed rubber butt pad – softens the blow to the shoulder after a shot;
• beautiful appearance - there is no shame in presenting the gun as a souvenir;
• durable and powerful parts – increase the durability of the weapon;
• relatively inexpensive ammunition – additional cost savings;
• low cost of the gun - the price varies only from 10 to 15 thousand rubles.

Also, most professional hunters note the high killing power of weapons, which is achieved through the use of 12 gauge. Shot fired from such a cartridge maintains accuracy of fire from 60% to 70% at a distance of 50 meters, which is more than enough for hunting birds and fur-bearing game.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of users by majority vote include the following:

• the solid weight of the IZH-39 gun, which minimizes the recoil force, as if you were shooting from a semi-automatic machine;
• long barrels (75 cm), coated with high-quality chrome, the longest chokes of the IZH-39 shotgun, starting to taper from the middle;
• wide aiming bar;
• the Monte Carlo stock is a comfortable element, fits into the shoulder like a glove;
• butt plate made of rubber material;
• powerful penetration of capsules;
• the wooden elements of the IZH-39 and IZH-39E guns are made of walnut, special impregnation has improved the stability of the wood;
• all parts are of good quality;
• Although the chokes are large, the accuracy of shooting and the uniformity of the scree are maintained even in cases where large shot is used; with such a weapon you can feel absolutely safe not only when shooting bullets and buckshot, but also with all numbers of shot.

The following disadvantages are noted as negative:

• The aiming bar has an uneven width, possibly a manufacturing defect that can be easily removed with a grinder;
• occasionally they talk about the misalignment of the chamber of the lower barrel, but this does not affect the speed and accuracy of fire of IZH weapons;
• there are complaints about the large size of the plastic front sight; some shooters replace it with a small analogue made of brass alloy;
• There have been cases where the ejector in the lower barrel does not always work.

As a recommendation when purchasing, you should check the alignment of the chambers and the straightness of the sight. Overall, the gun performed well in hunting and trench shooting.

Flaws

Now it’s time to talk about the shortcomings of weapons, the list of which was compiled based on feedback from hunters. The IZH-39 was originally designed for shooting at clay pigeons, so most negative comments about this weapon will be directly or indirectly related to this fact.

So, the following disadvantages of weapons stand out:

• the standard front sight is too large, which in most cases covers the silhouette of game located at a great distance;
• problems with the ejector of the lower barrel, due to which the cartridge sometimes does not fly out, and you have to pull out the cartridges manually;
• double-barreled shotguns are not the most suitable option for hunting game birds or large animals;
• the presence of burrs on the barrels, which is why it is necessary to carry out grinding processing immediately after purchase.

If you close your eyes to all the above-mentioned little things, then this weapon is quite suitable for hunting small and medium-sized animals, as well as for sport shooting. Taking into account the low cost and excellent technical characteristics, the IZH-39 double-barreled shotgun becomes one of the best options for a person who wants not only to learn shooting, but also to engage in hunting.

Maintenance

To increase the life of any firearm, it must be regularly lubricated with gun oil and cleaned of carbon deposits. However, to ensure the necessary care, you will first need to partially disassemble the weapon. This is quite simple to do - you just need to follow a certain algorithm.

1. We make sure that the weapon is completely unloaded.
2. We put the IZH-39 on safety.
3. Separate the receiver from the butt.
4. Unscrew the screws from the trigger spring and remove the mechanism.
5. Remove the trigger from the sear and the fuse parts.
6. We separate the larva from the interceptor.

After this, it is necessary to thoroughly lubricate all mechanisms that are exposed to powder. For this purpose, special gun oil is used, which can be purchased at any hunting store. Also, do not forget to clean the muzzle channel with a cleaning rod. This must be done extremely carefully so as not to damage its shell.

Reassembling the weapon is carried out in the reverse order after all repair and lubrication work has been carried out. It is recommended that complete disassembly of the IZH-39 be carried out only by experienced owners and with extreme caution, since even the slightest damage to one of the parts can lead to disruption of the entire mechanism.

Disassembly and assembly

To ensure the necessary maintenance (cleaning, lubrication, inspection), the gun is disassembled into three parts: barrels, forend with a hinge, and a block with a stock.

More detailed disassembly should only be done if absolutely necessary.

When disassembling and assembling the gun, you must strictly adhere to this passport.

To disassemble the gun, you need to separate the fore-end and barrels.

Unscrew the screws and remove the butt plate. Unscrew the screw securing the trigger guard to the stock and, by rotating the guard counterclockwise, separate it from the cylinder.

To separate the stock from the block, you need to unscrew the clamping screw passing through the butt to the butt plate, lightly hit the block against a wooden object to slightly loosen the connection between the stock and the block, and then carefully remove the stock. After separating the stock, the mechanisms become accessible for inspection, cleaning and lubrication.

Further disassembly must begin with the separation of the mainsprings. To do this, you need to cock the hammers, insert pieces of wire or nails with a diameter of 1-1.5 mm into the hole on each mainspring rod (the hole on the rod when the hammers are cocked is aligned with the recess on the jumper connecting the shanks of the block and the cylinder), release the hammers and remove mainspring rods with springs.

Unscrew the release spring screw and remove the spring.

Having knocked out the corresponding axles using a drift, remove the triggers and sears, remove the fuse parts, for which you need to knock out the pin supporting the spring.

Separate the cylinder with the trigger, the driver, the interceptor, the locking plate delay, the inertial disconnector, having first unscrewed the lower screw of the cylinder and the rear tail rotor, and remove the jumper.

The cylinder must be separated by light blows of a hammer on a brass or copper rod inserted into the hole for the trigger guard, while the cylinder must be moved back.

To disassemble the locking mechanism, you must first remove the strikers and unscrew the screw connecting the locking lever to the axle. Using a hammer or a copper or brass rod, knock down the axis of the locking lever with the return spring and remove the locking bar.

Further disassembly of the gun's mechanisms is simple and does not require special explanation. You just need to keep in mind that when disassembling you should not mix up the parts on the right and left sides.

Reassembling the gun is done in the reverse order.

The connection between the stock and the block must be strong, without the slightest movement. To ensure correct seating of the stock, it is recommended that after tightening the clamping screw, lightly tap the screwdriver handle on the side surfaces of the stock head to bring them down to the corresponding surfaces of the block and then tighten the screw until it stops.

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Tuning

Weapon modification is carried out using various parts and accessories in order to give the weapon a more beautiful appearance and improve its technical characteristics. For example, you can use different choke tubes that regulate the spread of shot at long distances, or replace the standard stock on the IZH-39 with a new model that better absorbs recoil.

Various accessories and sights improve the performance of the gun. For example, you can install a collimator sight to make it convenient to conduct targeted shooting at short and medium distances. A night vision device, thermal imager or under-barrel flashlight allows you to hunt at night and in the twilight.

To give the weapon a more vintage look, you can replace the standard stock and stock with a sample made of expensive wood. So the IZH-39 will become not only a good weapon, but also a good decoration for your home. Or you can give a double-barreled shotgun as an anniversary gift to a friend.

Don't forget about the opportunity to paint your faithful assistant a different color. To do this, you first need to replace all wooden parts with plastic ones, and then select the appropriate paint. For example, a black sample will look not only menacing, but also modern. And if you paint the gun in army camouflage, this will significantly improve the camouflage of the hunter using this unit.

Appearance

Despite the fact that in the production of the IZH-54 the manufacturer paid the main attention to the quality and reliability of the gun, the appearance of the model also turned out to be very refined. To decorate a hunting double-barreled shotgun, stamped images of birds and animals were used, which were applied to metal parts in the form of engraving. In addition, all the necessary information on performance characteristics was also carved on the barrel.

Several specialist craftsmen were involved in the design of the piece copies. The weapons of the premium versions looked not only elegant, but also very rich, not inferior in this regard to collectible samples of some Remington. Instead of the much-loved hazel, the stock of the piece models was made of bog oak or beech. This slightly increased the weight of the weapon, but it took on an even more expensive appearance.

IZH-54 piece gun with engraving

Also, some IZH-54 models were produced in gift versions. The engraving of such guns looked even deeper and of higher quality, and its notching was carried out using silver or gold. Of course, in camping conditions such a souvenir did not justify itself, but as a decoration in the living room it looked very beautiful. The gift weapon was supplied in a special metal case, which was locked with a combination lock.

However, the biggest pride related to the appearance of the gun is its wooden butt. Samples made of walnut or beech do not dry out or crack even under improper storage conditions. The wood adheres to the metal very tightly due to a good fit of dimensions, so that even when purchasing the cheapest gun, the owner receives a model that looks like a collector's weapon.

Walnut stock and fore-end for IZH-54
IZH-54 is the choice of those who value reliability and beauty. The weapon has high technical characteristics and is excellent for novice shooters. The only drawback is the meager number of official modifications, but the gun can be improved at home.

Hunter reviews

IZH-39 is one of the most striking examples of the fact that one should not argue about tastes. Almost 40 years after the production of this weapon, debate about the relevance of its use during hunting has not subsided. Most of the angry comments are related to the IZH-39 front sight, which is prohibitively wide for aiming at small game. For example, if a hare or fox is at a distance of 50 meters from the hunter, then the silhouette of the game will simply not be visible behind such a sighting device. And I want to shoot! After this, negative wishes are poured into the double-barreled shotgun, but their authors often forget that the weapon was not originally intended for hunting. Also, for some reason, everyone forgets about the possibility of installing an optical or collimator sight, which not only improves visibility while aiming, but also significantly increases accuracy.

The presence of several muzzle devices (choke and choke) in the kit allows you to adjust the spread of shot at long distances. Initially, this option was intended for use in shooting ranges, so in the operating instructions you will even find information about how a particular choke tube affects the accuracy of fire on a target of a certain diameter and from a certain distance. This greatly simplifies the shooting process, which is also written about in hunters’ reviews.

IZH-39 is a wonderful weapon for shooting in shooting ranges. However, if you want not only to learn how to shoot accurately, but also to experience the beauty of hunting, then you should definitely think about buying this double-barreled shotgun. Of course, there are domestic analogs that are more suitable for hunting, however, as a rule, such guns are a little more expensive, as is the ammunition for them. But cartridges for the IZH-39 shotgun are relatively inexpensive.