MP-27M - folk double-barreled hunting rifle No. 1 in Russia

IZhi have their own attractiveness. These are unconditionally reliable guns, with their own impressive history. The article will focus on the representative of the Izhevsk arms production - IZH 27. IZH 27 is a weapon that has firmly established itself in the ranks of hunting. Perhaps this is the most popular model ever produced by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.

In the article we will talk about the history of this gun, reveal its features, talk about the pros and cons, learn how to choose the best MP 27 and what cartridges to use.

From history - IZH 27

If we talk about side-by-side guns in general, shotguns with vertical barrels were created by athletes for ease of shooting on the bench. Gradually, they began to migrate from the stand to hunting. The peculiarity of aiming along the bar in a vertical position, rather than horizontally between two barrels, was liked by the shooters.

Development of IZH 27 began back in 1971.
It was decided to modernize the IZH 12 produced at the Izhevsk arms factory. The IZH 27 shotgun is created under the leadership of the famous gunsmith Anatoly Andreevich Klimov. Serial production of the double-barreled shotgun IZH 27
was launched in 1973.

As a result of modernization, the predecessor of the 27th, IZH 12, is undergoing changes:

• IZH 27 is equipped with a ventilated aiming rib.
• The stock and fore-end have been transformed. The shape of the stock has become more ergonomic and practical.
• The design is already equipped with an automatic fuse and interceptors.
• The barrel coupling has a tide.

To date, more than 2 million guns of this model have been produced. IZH 27 can rightfully be called a people's weapon

Design features of IZH 27

• The bores and chamber are chrome-plated - this provides effective protection against corrosion.
• The connection of the barrels with the block is carried out due to the under-barrel hooks and the hinge axis. Locking occurs using a locking bar that fits into the groove of the rear grenade hook.
• The trigger mechanism allows for a smooth release of the hammers from cocking when closing the barrels.
• The automatic fuse is equipped with trigger interceptors and locks the sear.
• The cartridges are removed from the chamber by the default extractor, in the modification with an ejector - the mechanism fires only spent cartridges.
• Stressless trigger release is possible only in a modification with a double trigger mechanism (MR-27M and MR-27EM).

MP 27

Since 2008, production of IZH 27 (MR 27)

gaining momentum. At the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, the so-called international certification is carried out and the abbreviation IZH is renamed MP - Mechanical Plant, which means mechanical plant. Guns manufactured after certification began to be released on the international market. The reliability and versatility of the MP 27 is now appreciated abroad.

Today the MP 27 double-barreled shotgun

Available in different modifications.

MP 27 with two triggers

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 M 12x76 1.0/0.5 725mm walnut 29,390 ₽

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 M 12x76 1.0/0.5 725mm walnut

Licensed product Not delivered to TC

Notify about arrival

MP 27M is a gun with an extractor that feeds the cartridge case when it is fractured. We open the block of barrels and the cartridges are fed so that they can be pulled out with your fingers.

MP 27EM - Shotgun with an ejector. A special mechanism (spring), called an ejector, simply ejects the spent cartridges.

Conclusion

The weapon is good, but manufacturers would allow fewer manufacturing defects, which are growing every year. If you have the opportunity to buy an IZH-27M with a production date before 1991, and it will be in excellent condition, buy it! Neither you nor your children, who will inherit it if you take proper care of it, will regret it.

The quality of the guns that Izhmekh produces today is, to put it mildly, unsatisfactory. Sometimes you just want to come to the factory and buy a gun from them, so that you can choose one gun out of hundreds.

MP 27 with one trigger

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 EM 1C 12x76 1.0/0.5 725mm walnut 33,921 ₽

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 EM 1C 12x76 1.0/0.5 725mm walnut

Licensed product Not delivered to TC

Notify about arrival

MP 27 M 1S - a gun with one trigger, with an extractor.

MP 27 EM 1C - a gun with an ejector and one trigger.

Ejectors, as well as one trigger, were invented by athletes, this is due to the recharge speed. Athletes especially liked the MP 27EM 1C - a classic sports shotgun.

Specifications

The caliber, chamber length, and maximum possible powder pressure are indicated on the breech coupling. If the use of steel shot is allowed, the stamp “Steel shot” appears on the barrel. The data in the table is given for serial models intended for lead shot.

The weight of a rifle with a block of barrels with Lancaster drilling reaches no more than 3.8 kg.

Stock material MP 27

Weapons are originally a kind of symbiosis of wood and metal. The combination of plastic and metal began to appear much later.

The first plastic stocks began to be produced for the needs of the army, where practicality and wear resistance were paramount. From the army, the use of plastic gradually migrated into everyday life.

Practicality is plastic, and wood is classic. The choice is yours!

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 EM 12x76 725mm plastic d/n 35,990 ₽

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 EM 12x76 725mm plastic d/n

Licensed product Not delivered to TC

Notify about arrival

Plastic makes the gun easier to maintain and more durable.
The material does not absorb moisture, does not rot and is not susceptible to fungus. The weapon can be used in harsher conditions than wood. Advantages of plastic :

• Not afraid of moisture;
• Resistant to chips and scratches;
• Easy to care for.

Flaws:

• “Cold” material, at low temperatures it is very cold on the cheek.

Sergey Pisarev - World of Hunting expert on plastic stocks:

“I stood knee-deep in water, wading.
I take a step back and slip. Just as he had a gun, he went into the water with it! While I was getting out, I saw that the gun was all covered with silt and turned yellow. And how on time! I see a duck flying... All I have to do is rinse, wipe the gun and continue shooting! *We are talking about a five-shot inertial shotgun.
Plastic is practical in any case, but the mechanisms are different. In domestic guns, wood is not graded into classes.
Usually the tree is used from the top and almost to the rhizome. The highest class of wood is used only in exclusive designs. Benefits of wood :

• Noble material gives the weapon a special charm;
• “Warm” material, retains heat from the hands and does not cool the cheek at low temperatures.

Disadvantages:

• Requires careful care;
• More fragile material, possible chips when dropped.

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 M 12x76 1.0/0.5 725mm beech 26,181 ₽

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 M 12x76 1.0/0.5 725mm beech

Licensed product Not delivered to TC

Notify about arrival

Beech

- has a light shade and a more viscous structure than walnut, less susceptible to chips and cracks. Beech stocks do not have the same texture as walnut.

IZH 27 allows you to change stocks. You can find stocks, forends and other components in the assortment of our online weapons store, World of Hunting. Also, if your stock has become unusable or you want to replace it with another, in the service ]of our stores[/anchor] you can change the stock and other components, professionally and affordably.

IMZ also produces a separate line - MP 27 Silver.

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 M 12x76 Silver fixed chokes 750mm walnut 44,357 ₽

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 M 12x76 Silver fixed chokes 750mm walnut

Licensed product Not delivered to TC

Notify about arrival

Silver plates are installed in the receiver, onto which deep engraving is applied. Here we already see a good relief pattern. Depict various hunting scenes. The walnut is always chosen dark.

The next version with impregnation Park.Oil P Park.Oil P

- The coating performs protective functions and gives a pleasant warm shade and dark color to the wood. More details - ordinary beech is impregnated with a specially developed composition. Darkening occurs, the tree becomes ennobled. The coating increases the moisture resistance of wood and its resistance to mechanical damage. This treatment prevents fading.

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 EM 12x76 725mm Park oil beech 32,800 ₽

Shotgun Baikal MP 27 EM 12x76 725mm Park oil beech

Licensed product Not delivered to TC

Notify about arrival

Comparison of popular double-barreled shotguns MP-27, Favorit and Mallard

You can talk as much as you like about the merits of this or that model of double-barreled hunting shotgun, but they can be correctly assessed only by having some experience in using several shotguns of different systems and from different manufacturers. Experience will help you decide on the goals of purchasing a gun and, as a result, focus on the necessary capabilities of the weapon. Of course, you can choose the most inexpensive gun and learn everything with it. It’s like with a small, inexpensive car: for someone who has just passed their driver’s license, it will seem fast and powerful, but for a driver who has tasted the capabilities of more powerful engines, it will not impress with its dynamics and will not please with its handling. However, a novice driver will eventually gain experience and outgrow the capabilities of his inexpensive car, and when the time comes, he will exchange it for a model that will already meet his requirements. With a gun it is more difficult and much more time-consuming. Unlike fashionable smooth-bore semi-automatic guns, the choice of a double-barreled shotgun is more deliberate - it is a classic, which, with proper care, can serve the owner for a lifetime.

Today we will look at three popular models of 12-gauge double-barreled shotguns with vertically positioned barrels (sideflints). For decades, the leader in sales in Russia has been the MP-27 (formerly IZH-27) shotgun produced by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. Two other models have been presented in Russia since 2013 - the Favorit produced by Fias & Cesa and the Mallard under the CZ-USA brand. MP-27, of course, is produced in Russia, Favorit and Mallard - in Turkey. Here and further in the photo, Favorit is on top, MP-27M is in the center, Mallard is below.

If you choose only by wallet, then the MP-27 will be the most successful. Depending on the version, the retail price of this gun varies (as of July 2015) between 17,810-20,200 rubles. We must pay tribute to the domestic manufacturer: the MP-27 has more than a dozen versions, differing in barrel length, the presence of replaceable choke constrictions, butt and forearm wood, one or two triggers, ordinary or artistic finishing, etc. The most popular version is the MP-27M with barrels 725 mm long (with fixed chokes 0.5 and 1.0, stock and fore-end - walnut) for 18,000 rubles.

Mallard is noticeably more expensive (29,995 rubles) and in 12 gauge it is presented in only one version with barrels 760 mm long, with two triggers, five interchangeable choke nozzles and light polished “wood”.

Favorit is even more expensive (33,995 rubles) and is available in two versions, differing in the trigger mechanism - with one or two triggers. Barrel length is 730 mm, replaceable choke tubes (5 pieces), matte butt and fore-end made of premium Turkish walnut (Grade II).

Getting to know any product begins with the packaging. At first, Mallard is in the lead here because of the dark blue cardboard box with the huge CZ-USA letters that span the entire height of the container. A win-win option from the outside! Inside, alas, the mediocre Turkish manufacturer is recognizable by the purple synthetic velvet covers.

The marking on the outer part of the barrel block also causes confusion: “CZ-USA. Kansas City, KS,” which suggests that this is nothing other than a product from the CZ (Czech Ceska Zbrojevka) division in the USA, located not just anywhere, but right in Kansas City itself in the state of the same name.

Turning over the block of barrels, you can see a much more modest and prosaic marking of the real manufacturer - HUGLU - along with the country of origin - made in Turkey. The last inscription is visible only when the block of barrels is separated from the block. When assembled, the gun will please the owner with markings for the North American market. Let's put aside the manufacturer's protrusion of the abbreviations CZ and USA, and try to figure out whether the double-barreled shotgun produced for the US market is good?

In contrast to the passenger car market mentioned above, in Russia it is more interesting to have an “American” due to its more powerful and larger engines and full power accessories compared to the same, but more stunted and modest, model for Europe for the same money. But the same cannot be said about weapons for the United States. The average American will not overpay an extra 10-20 or, God forbid, 50 dollars for any innovation or durability of a gun in the lowest price category. “Weapons for your money” is the main principle. I bought it, used it for the right amount of time and... threw it away or gave it to the children. The manufacturer puts the so-called “user interface” at the forefront. In relation to Mallard, this is the ease of installation and dismantling of the barrel block. Here there is no need to carefully match the barrel block with the sidewalls of the block. It seems to us that if you gallop on a horse across the prairie, then Mallard can be assembled even at a gallop. The gun also has the most convenient of the three “pedals” for releasing the barrel block release lever.

The downside of this approach is the general weakness of the locking unit. Of course, it is impossible to say that Mallard is completely weak on this node. But compared to the MP-27 and, especially, to Favorit, some decisions are surprising. Mallard has two small diameter axle shafts mounted inside the sidewalls of the block.

While the other two guns have full axles. In the MP-27 it has the same diameter, but goes through both sidewalls of the block.

On the Favorit, a larger diameter thru-axle runs through the bottom of the barrel block and interacts with counter grooves in the sidewalls of the block.

The advantage of the approach to the design of the MP-27 and Favorit locking unit will, of course, not appear immediately, but when the time comes to repair the gun after a lot of shooting. Although the MP-27 and Favorit still have visual superiority over the Mallard in terms of the service life of the locking unit. The most repairable is the MP-27 hinge, where the axis can first be rotated 180 degrees by placing a non-worn surface under the mating groove in the barrel block. For Favorit, the axle will need to be replaced. But Mallard will have to press out the axle shafts and put in their place new ones of larger (repair) diameter, matching their surface with the mating surface of the shallow grooves on the sides of the barrel block. From left to right: Favorit, MP-27, Mallard

The MP-27 and Favorit can be supplied with a trigger with one or two triggers, while the Mallard is available only with two triggers. A trigger with two triggers is convenient for intuitively choosing a barrel for a shot in hunting conditions. A trigger with one trigger allows you to fire a second shot faster. Here, as they say, it all depends on personal preferences. You can also often hear from old hunters that a trigger with two triggers is more reliable because you have your own separate trigger for each barrel. Regarding the guns discussed here, this is only partly true: only the MP-27 has separate pushers for each of the 2 triggers. Mallard and Favorit have one pusher for both triggers at once (in the photo it is black in the center inside the block), so only the MP-27 has full-fledged two triggers. Although in modern steel production, failure of the trigger pusher is more nonsense than even just an accident. It’s just that the IZH-27 was designed back in the days of the USSR (the gun has been mass-produced since 1973), when the issue of manufacturability with the possibility of using, say, several grades of steel for a block, was not idle. As well as the question of the reliability of the gun in any conditions. In addition, the locking unit is designed in such a way that there is only enough space for the pushers on the sides. As a result of locking with 2 hooks and 2 pushers on the sides, the IZH-27 (now MP-27) block turned out to be excessively cut inside. Providing the required safety margin was solved without much fuss: by increasing the external dimensions of the block. As a result, the MP-27 block looks, to put it mildly, rather large compared to Favorit and Mallard. Because of this, the gun has a butt neck that is comfortable for people with large hands. The ergonomics of the MP-27 relative to the more modern Favorit and Mallard are not up to par. The gun requires getting used to, which in hunting conditions is either fraught with mistakes or will require much more time for shooting training, which, taking into account the price of cartridges, equipment and rental of a stand, will reduce the significant difference in price with opponents from Turkey.

Favorit and Mallard are designed using modern high-strength steel grades in production, so their pads are very elegant and lightweight. This is achieved partly due to a different locking scheme, partly due to less ruggedness of the internal cavities of the block. The result is a more ergonomic stock neck, fore-end, and almost perfect balance (especially on the Favorit).

All three guns have a convenient slide-style safety located at the top of the stock neck. The safety is easy to use with your thumb. Since the Favorit in this version has one trigger, the function of switching barrels is assigned to the safety slide (to the left - the lower barrel, to the right - the upper). Despite the similarity, the algorithm for using the fuse on the MP-27 is different. When the barrel block is opened, the safety slide automatically returns to the rear position. To fire, it must be moved forward. And so on after each recharge cycle. For Mallard and Favorit, the fuse does not turn on automatically when recharging. In hunting conditions, you can get used to the automatically activated fuse of the MP-27, but on the stand it is somewhat annoying. True, if necessary, you can remove the butt and remove the slide pusher, which will make the safety operating algorithm similar to guns from Turkey.

Of all 3 guns, the Favorit is the most “turnaround”. It beats the MP-27 due to ergonomics and balance, and the Mallard due to shorter barrels.

Favorit and Mallard come with a set of 5 choke tubes: cylinder (0), 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25mm. The attachments are installed flush with the muzzle of the barrels using the included key. This significantly expands the gun's capabilities as a single weapon for various hunts. This option is also available for the MP-27, however, despite the advantages, it is not in demand by the buyer. The reason is that the choke attachment may be misaligned with the bore, which often leads to the scree being pulled away from the aiming point. It is impossible to check this in the store when choosing, and defects from the manufacturer, unfortunately, are not uncommon. Favorit and Mallard do not have this due to the use of a more modern CNC machine park.

The chambers of all three guns are 76 mm long. The barrel channels and chambers are chrome-plated, the diameter of the channels in all three models is 18.4 mm. The soldering of the barrels is uniform throughout, no glaring deviations are visible to the eye at all. The slats are also even. The widest is the MP-27. The MP-27 is also equipped with a fiber-optic front sight with a diameter of 3.5 mm. Favorit and Mallard have conventional brass “hunting” flies of small diameter, but the seat allows you to install any type of flies for different tasks. Favorit and Mallard have inch threads for replacement front sights, which allows the use of products from world-famous manufacturers of light-collecting front sights Truglo and HiViz.

The quality of the barrels is beyond doubt, although the lower chamber of the MP-27 and the upper chamber of the Mallard are quite slightly offset relative to the axis of the barrel bore. This does not affect the characteristics of the guns, but I would like to see a double-barreled gun ideal in terms of workmanship. After all, it is the solidity of the design and the quality of fitting of the parts that distinguishes a good double-barreled shotgun from semi-automatic devices with their movable bolt groups. In the photo there are tool marks on the breech end of the MP-27M barrels:

The MP-27, as a mass-produced ordinary gun, is designed in such a way that matching the “wood” to the “iron” does not become an expensive and painful procedure for production. The sides of the semi-pistol neck of the butt are made flat and protrude above the metal of the stock by approximately 1 mm. In itself, this solution simply and elegantly simplifies the technology of fitting the stock to the block and looks quite tolerable for a budget gun. However, as the weapon is used, the side protruding in a semicircle can easily chip the wood, since its fibers are perpendicular to the edge of the protrusion. This again will not in any way affect the sharpness of the combat and accuracy, but will greatly spoil the aesthetic perception of the gun. Although the latter is already somewhat spoiled by the not very elegant neck of the semi-pistol grip with a narrow and not deep knurl, but this, as described above, is a feature of pairing with a large block. The impression of the block being inserted into the wood is also spoiled by the recessed rear shank of the trigger guard, secured with a self-tapping screw with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

In Favorit, the butt is adjusted flush with the side planes of the block. The fit is very good for a regular shotgun. Small flaws, of course, can be found here too (for example, uneven gaps of 0.05-0.1 mm). However, it is worth remembering that the cheapest gun with a perfect fit into the wood (Fabarm Elos) costs four times more than the Favorit.

The fit of the Mallard stock to the block is better than that of the MP-27, but inferior to the insert of the Favorit. The impression is spoiled by the left lip on the side of the block. Moreover, on the left it is higher than on the right.

The side is noticeably more elegant than that of the MP-27, but the different heights on the right and left are somewhat annoying. A distinctive feature of the Mallard stock is the semicircular heel of the semi-pistol grip, characteristic of some models of European shotguns of the first half of the 20th century. Functionally, it does not provide any advantages, nor does it have any disadvantages - it is simply a feature of this model, designed to increase the recognition of the gun.

The blocks of all three guns are steel. The MP-27 has a blued block; Mallard and Favorit have light-colored blocks with anti-corrosion coating. The steel on the blocks of all guns is of high quality, but the MP-27 block without proper care is prone to corrosion and requires regular lubrication of the surfaces. Otherwise, even taking the MP-27 out of the safe in a city apartment and wiping the block with a rag soaked in neutral oil, you can find a red coating on the light-colored fabric. Thanks to the coating, Mallard and Favorit resist corrosion much better even in hunting conditions with high humidity.

To summarize, let’s say that in terms of the totality of parameters that affect the durability of the gun, as well as from the point of view of aesthetics, Favorit is ahead of its two rivals. However, we cannot give him all the laurels of the winner, even though we are the ones who import this gun to Russia. MP-27 beats Favorit in price. This is not an unimportant factor in the current economic crisis. Therefore, if we consider the purchase of a sideflint only from the point of view of the minimum price, then the MP-27 is beyond competition. The price to pay, however, will be the need to get used to the balance of the gun and ergonomics sacrificed for manufacturability.

Mallard could be a very good purchase if not for the price. If it were in the middle between the MP-27 and Favorit, Mallard, in terms of all its characteristics, would become a kind of “golden mean”. But with a cost approaching Favorit, it makes sense to pay extra for the latter.

The disadvantages of Favorit include some difficulty in attaching the barrel block, since the proprietary Four Locks lock, which provides the most reliable locking of the entire trinity, requires installing this block into the block at a certain angle. But this is at first, over time (according to the owners) this problem ceases to exist due to addiction. In our opinion, it will be easier to get used to installing a barrel block than to the not very successful ergonomics of the MP-27.

Therefore, if you have the means and are ready to purchase a high-quality ordinary gun that will serve you for many years, opt for Favorit - in terms of its characteristics and design options, this gun is suitable for both a beginner and a professional hunter.

How to choose a shotgun IZH 27 (MR 27)

Having already decided on the design and modification, we will proceed to the next stage - selecting a gun. What needs to be checked and how we will tell you further.

Appropriateness

The most basic parameter when choosing a gun is its adaptability. Fitting required! Just like with shoes, great analogy. You can come for one model and buy a completely different one, exactly the gun that suits you. That feeling when, having closed your eyes for a while, holding the gun at the ready, you open your eyes and see that the front sight is in the right place.

The image shows a diagram of the applicability test. Appropriateness is 50% of success in hunting.

Sighting bar and solder quality

Before purchasing, be sure to check the levelness of the aiming bar. The check is carried out visually: look at the bar towards the horizon at the level with the aiming line.

The sighting bar is checked not only for evenness, but also for the quality of the seams. To check, ring the bar with any small hammer, or the easiest way is to use the bottom of the sleeve for this. Listen to the sound: it should be smooth, without subsidence. The quality of soldering between the barrels is also checked. Carefully examine the joints, make sure there are no holes, chips or cracks.

Ejector operation

For ejector guns, check the operation of the ejector before purchasing. After firing a shot, when the gun breaks, you hear a click - this is the work of the ejector. As a result, the mechanism pushes out the spent cartridges.

Sergey Pisarev - World of Hunting expert about the ejector:

“Hunters who load their own cartridges most often turn off the ejector so as not to lose cartridges for the next reload. The MP 27 has such a function; the mechanism will only feed cartridges. This is especially true if the hunt is on a reservoir or it is a field hunt. By collecting cartridges immediately, you will eliminate accidental loss. Remember that any hunter leaves behind an open field by collecting the remaining cartridges!”

Ejectors are necessary for reload speed. If the animal allows you to fire a third or fourth shot, you can break the gun, immediately load it and continue shooting.

Review from the owner of IZH-27M (MR-27M)

• The sighting bar on the gun is ventilated; in summer, the phenomenon of mirage from the heat is less pronounced.
• The weight of the gun is generally greater than that of imported models, so the gun wobbles less, and because of this, recoil is compensated for more.
• The stock is quite thick, and thanks to this, when dropped on a weapon, it remains intact. Thin-skinned “foreigners” are more suitable for foreign “park” hunting.
• The quality of the chrome plating is terrible; after every hunt, when it’s wet, the gun becomes covered in rust before you even get home.
• The fit of wooden and metal parts to each other is, to put it mildly, weak. There are problems with the stock and the fact that it is wiped and begins to gain moisture. You can restore the stock yourself and apply water-repellent impregnation, after which the stock will look very good, and problems will no longer arise.
• The only thing there won't be any problems with is the mechanics. Everything works like clockwork, subject to minimal cleaning of the weapon after each hunt and complete cleaning of the smoothbore weapon after the end of the hunting season.
• After firing charges with an increased amount of shot, a stutter appears in the vertical plane. When you hold a gun by the butt and shake the barrels. It can be removed by simply tightening the screw in the butt. But it is written in the passport that it is necessary to tighten the fastening screw from time to time. It is still necessary to use a standard amount of gunpowder and shot.

Quality of IZH 27 (MR 27) barrels

The barrels on the MP 27 are made more universal; they are made conical. The part that is closer to the chamber is massive, which allows it to withstand sufficient load so that the barrels do not blow when fired. The trunks must be free of defects, without internal cavities, and without swelling. Pay special attention to the geometry of the trunks - they must be even. As practice shows, there are very few marriages.

As a result, you should see concentric rings: smooth, without blockages (as in the photo).

Operating principle

MP-27M is a line of double-barreled vertical shotguns with some changes in design, but with a single principle of operation. Guns are designed to fire cartridges with plastic, metal and paper cartridges, as well as bullets with a diameter 0.2–0.3 mm less than the diameter of the barrel bore. At the same time, it is prohibited to use caliber bullets made of hard materials - steel, brass.

All models require the use of lead shot. For steel shot, special modifications are produced, the barrels of which are marked “Steel shot”. The same applies to choke constrictions: those that can be used for shooting steel shot have about.

A rifle with a chamber length of 70 mm allows the use of cartridges of any kind, with the exception of those marked “Max.1050 bar”. A shotgun with a chamber length of 76 mm requires the use of such a cartridge, that is, for models tested under a pressure of 1320 bar.

For firing from Lancaster drilled barrels, cartridges such as “Gualandi”, “Brenneke”, “Sabot Slug” are recommended. Any 20 gauge cartridges loaded with shot can be used.

• Shooting is carried out sequentially: according to a standard pattern or with a change in order. If the rifle is reloaded after one shot, it is recommended to place an unfired cartridge in the chamber of the barrel that has already fired, and use the second to unload the barrel that fires second.
• A “lingering” shot is possible due to the slow firing of the primer. If the shot does not occur when you press the trigger, you should hold the rifle towards the target for another 30–40 seconds and only then reload.
• Changing the operation of choke constrictions is carried out traditionally: the nozzle is screwed into the barrel until its end ends against the protrusion in the barrel channel, while there should be a gap between the end of the barrel itself and the cylindrical fragment of the constriction. On the muzzle side, the nozzle should be flush or slightly recessed.
• The choke tightness is checked every 50–100 shots. Before shooting, it is imperative to check the visual integrity of the ring, which is formed at the junction of the narrowing and the protrusion in the channel.
• The rifle is usually loaded: turn the unlocking lever to the right until it stops, turn the barrels down. Then the cartridges are inserted into the chambers one by one and the barrels are returned to their original position. The unlocking lever is in the center in relation to the shank of the box. If this does not happen, the lever is adjusted manually.
• Before firing, the safety is switched to the “fire” position. They do this at the last moment, when the rifle is already aimed.

Cartridges for IZH 27 (MR 27)

MP 27 easily eats all shot cartridges. As for bullets, there are several nuances:

• In guns with permanent drilling, it is advisable to use a sub-caliber bullet. Both for choke and for pay.
• If these are replaceable chokes, then the caliber bullet can only be used in 0.00 mm cylinders or in a 0.25 mm cylinder.

The sub-caliber bullet is smaller than the caliber bullet and is contained in a plastic container. This feature allows the bullet to pass through the barrel without interference. At the muzzle, the plastic is compressed without harming the weapon. The greatest tension occurs at the end of the barrel, just before the choke. If the bullet is of a caliber larger than the muzzle, over time a bump will appear on the barrel, also called a pear. If used incorrectly, the barrel will sooner or later rupture.

Advantages and disadvantages of IZH 27 (MR 27)

Advantages:

• Simple, predictable;
• Omnivorous, allows you to shoot with any attachment and self-propelled gun;
• Repairable, cheap to maintain;
• Low price, huge selection of modifications.

Flaws:

• Heavy weight;
• Low quality of finishing;
• Shot quality.

Sergey Pisarev - World of Hunting expert about the IZH 27 gun:

If you are choosing your first gun, then the IZH 27 is simply an ideal option. What does it give? You don’t have to take 500 rounds of ammunition for hunting, but take two packs. The IZH 27 double-barreled shotgun allows you to adhere to the rule “One shot – one unit taken.” The second shot is usually an additional shot. The same psychological moment plays a role here when you have not 5-10 rounds of ammunition in stock, but only two. Therefore, aiming takes place more deliberately. As my father said while hunting: “You also need to give the animal a chance, if you don’t hit it twice, then it’s not your prey.”

The IZH 27 shotgun disciplines the hunter! Accustoms you to those hunting disciplines that are prescribed in the basic rules of hunting, since this is originally a classic. Undoubtedly, IZH 27 controls the consumption of ammunition, which is the most difficult thing for a novice hunter to control. It happens that with a semi-automatic weapon, a beginner burns out all his ammunition in 3-4 seconds. Therefore, the IZH 27 gun is definitely an excellent option!

TOZ 34 and IZH 27 – what to choose?

TOZ 34 is the main competitor of IZH-27. Tula guns are just as common, and there are also many of them on sale. The characteristics of TOZ 34 are almost the same. The cost is almost the same, and they are produced around the same time. These guns are almost the same. However, despite the external similarities, there are also differences, primarily purely technological. So what is better to choose - TOZ 34 or IZH 27?

To do this, let's look at the features and differences of these models.

• The main and most important thing is the trunks. TOZ barrels and their manufacture are of higher quality compared to IZH-27. The very design of the IZH barrel is such that the side rail is unreliable and comes off more easily over time, i.e. the technology itself is initially less developed.
• Secondly, there are differences in the mainsprings. In TOZ they are figured and break more often. Also, TOZ cocking levers wear out more often.
• The advantage of the TOZ gun is the forend, which is made non-removable, while on Izhevsk models the forend often cracks.
• Judging by the quality of the gun itself as a mechanism, we can say that the TOZ guns have better quality barrels, while the Izhevsk models have a better cocking and release mechanism.
• The Izhevsk double-barreled gun weighs more, and this is not in their favor: on mobile hunts, a light gun is more preferable, when you have to walk many kilometers and by the evening it seems too heavy to lift. However, the advantage of a heavy gun is that it can shoot more powerful loads, as well as less recoil due to its own weight.

Thus, the guns have approximate parity. Both have both advantages and disadvantages. None of them have an optimal set of advantages, and it is no coincidence that they are so popular among domestic hunters. You need to choose based on personal preferences, hunting style and applicability.