The best 12-gauge repeating shotguns (part 1)

The best breaking hunting rifles

Shotgun MP-27M

(cal. 12x76, walnut, 725 mm barrels, replaceable chokes) Our rating of the best guns for hunting opens with the work of the Izhevsk masters MP-27M.
A double-barreled shotgun is usually purchased for a long time, and here a choice arises: overpay for reliability or choose a model with easily accessible spare parts. Considering that now even Turkish breakthrough guns are slowly but surely approaching the border of the budget class, and guns like the Ata Arms SP have actually gone into the “middle class”, the Izhevsk sideflint does not lose popularity: back in the days of the Soviet Union, when it was called Izh- 27, he became the record holder for the number of models produced - more than one and a half million. There are many modifications of the gun available - from budget versions in plastic to one-piece guns with rich decorative trim, approaching in price the well-known abbreviation BBB. There is a choice in calibers, trigger options, and barrel lengths. Recently, you can inexpensively turn a gun into an “almost combined” one within the framework of a “smoothbore” license by purchasing an insert barrel for the caliber. 366 - although it is called “under-rifled”, it showed itself well during the hunt. Well, let’s finish the list of assets with a well-studied (no wonder - the model is exactly 45 years old) construction.

True, traditionally for Izhevsk, mass-produced guns require attention when purchasing: there is a risk of encountering pulled barrels and crooked slats, and the difference in muzzle thickness is officially recognized by the factory as not being included in the list of defects.
Wood has been the same for almost half a century and has already been habitually called a “stick” and a “paddle” - it doesn’t fit well on generic guns, but ergonomically... Okay, let’s not talk about the bad stuff, fortunately the amount of “meat” on the stock allows you to adjust the gun “to your needs.” " Main advantages
:

• One of the most affordable side flints with a good margin of safety and available spare parts
• A large number of execution options

Minuses
:

• Mediocre ergonomics for most shooters
• Average build quality (“refinement with a file” after purchase for Russian weapons, alas, the norm)

Shotgun CZ Mallard

(cal. 12x76, barrels 760 mm, replaceable chokes)
The CZ brand (Česká zbrojovka) has been well known in our country since Soviet times, but nostalgia in this case can result in disappointment: like most modern budget guns for hunting, CZ Mallard is produced in Turkey, and on the reverse side of the engraving “CZ-USA” you can find “Huglu, Made in Turkey”. Of course, recently the quality of Turkish weapons has increased significantly, but despising the Turks on weapons forums has become as obligatory as the Chinese on car forums.

In terms of build quality and fit, the gun is undoubtedly noticeably superior to Izhevsk gross guns. The fact is that the Turkish arms industry makes money on guns, and does not produce them as an “add-on” to the main profile, as has been our custom for a long time. Therefore, optimization of production, a modern machine park for Turkish gunsmiths are not empty words, and the CZ Mallard is pleasant to hold in your hands: the gun itself has a good weight distribution, the interchangeable chokes are installed conscientiously, and the mechanics work on most guns as expected without the obligatory purchase of a set of needle files. The “most” clause, alas, is inevitable – in the budget class, weapons should always be chosen with close attention.

I am pleased with the manufacturer’s attention to customer reviews: if initially the wood of the gun was covered with a soft and easily scratched varnish, now Mallard Gen.2 has already appeared in stores - their wood is impregnated with oil (which, in general, is typical for higher-class guns), and double-barreled shotguns got rid of the old problem radically.

Main advantages
:

• Decent build quality and fit of parts
• Good weight distribution even with long barrels
• Five interchangeable Mobilchoke chokes

Minuses
:

• Possible problems with repairs and finding spare parts

MP-153 "Baikal"

This is the brainchild of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, which also enjoys enviable popularity among domestic fishermen. "Baikal" is considered one of the best hunting rifles in the segment of Russian-made self-loading weapons.

The MP-153 has been produced since 2000 only for 12 gauge and has a 4-round magazine. During this period, the weapon acquired several modifications, where the critical difference is the length of the barrel and the cartridge feeding mechanism - classic or gas outlet.

“Baikal” is slowly replacing the aforementioned MC 21-12, but the latter still holds its position due to lower returns and more affordable cost.

The best slug hunting rifles

Shotgun TK-598

Some difficulty arose even with the name of this category: since formally weapons chambered for .366TKM and 9.6/53 Lancaster cartridges are legally considered smoothbore in our country, these are undoubtedly guns, even if they are not such in essence.
Well, the definition of “undercut”, which has long been strengthened among the people, still sounds frivolous for definition - therefore, despite the presence of a factory shot cartridge in the “three hundred and sixty-sixth”, and in the 9.6/53 - a buckshot cartridge, this weapon is still unambiguous “sharpened” specifically for bullet shooting, and that is what we will call this category today, at the same time making a reference to the famous book of grandfather Buturlin. The “Tekhkrimovsky” carbine TK-598, produced with barrels 520 or 600 mm long and chambered for 9.6/53 Lancaster, is nothing more than the legendary “Mauser” K98, albeit with an intermediary in the person of the Serbian “Zastava” - namely the Serbian produced rifle chambered for. 30-06 is being re-barreled and modified for a new cartridge. And, even though the “original” has a military past (having gone through two world wars, however!), it is among hunters that the “Mauser” remains the most alive: this design remains one of the most popular in hunting rifles from different manufacturers. And the paradoxical feature of the “under-rifled” 9.6/53 cartridge is that it not only does not require five years of service due to its “smooth-bore” status, but it is also cheaper than comparable “purely rifled” cartridges in terms of power, while providing good accuracy at those distances where in most regions of Russia the carbine would be used for hunting. Therefore, more and more weapons chambered for this cartridge are chosen not by “waiters” who have not yet accumulated five years of experience in purchasing rifled weapons, but by serious hunters who get their hands on a very interesting version of a gun for hunting large animals.

Rework for the new cartridge limited the capacity of the integral magazine to 3 rounds, plus one in the chamber. The TK-598 barrel is suspended, forged, with a chrome-plated bore and machined with decent accuracy - add to this a trigger trigger and a comfortable walnut stock, and we actually get a rifle capable of accurately hitting an animal at distances of up to 250-300 meters.

The recoil of the 9.6/53 cartridge is decent - so the standard muzzle brake on the TK-598 is by no means superfluous. With it, the magazine doesn’t seem small: after just four shots without ear protection in the forest, you begin to understand that active headphones are a great invention: the carbine hits the sides with noticeable sound, so that the echo from the trees returns to the shooter even more quickly.

The TK-598 requires surprisingly little “piling”: you may have to tinker a little with the magazine insert and cut in the dowel (on early carbines there were cracks in the stock, which were solved by the manufacturer by replacing the stock under warranty - and the “warranty” one already had a dowel).
Main advantages
:

• Efficiency up to 300 meters comparable to classic rifle cartridges of 9.3-9.6 mm calibers, at a lower cartridge price
• Ergonomics
• Schneller trigger
• Overall high quality (“Mauser” is hard to spoil)

Minuses
:

• Some “dampness” of the first samples (which, however, is the “sin” of all weapon manufacturers)

Shotgun VPO-223

The base model for the VPO-223 (which, despite the name, was made, naturally, not chambered for the .223 cartridge, but for the same 9.5/53 Lancaster as the TK-598) was another carbine from Vyatskiye Polyany - VPO- 111.
Since it was developed for the 7.62x54R cartridge, on the basis of which the 9.6/53 cartridge was made, the scope of adaptation was minimal - only replacing the barrel with a new one with Lancaster drilling, obtained by rotational forging and with a length of 600 mm having a certified accuracy of 50 mm at 100 meters – that is, just under 2 MOA. The result is not sniper-quality, but taking into account the energy of the cartridge, it covers hunting needs. The ergonomics of the carbine are traditional for bolt guns: a bent bolt handle, a side two-position safety that does not interfere with the optics on low brackets. There is no third position, in which the bolt is unlocked but the trigger is not active - that is, the weapon will have to be unloaded with the safety removed. Fortunately, the magazine is detachable, and for this you do not have to run the bolt back and forth all four times: you just need to empty the chamber by disconnecting the magazine. The bolt, with its three lugs and plunger ejector, clearly refers to the Remington 700 (although the VPO-223 is not a complete structural copy): another design proven over decades. The trigger, by the way, is also similar to Remington’s in kinematics (the sear “off-the-cuff” between the firing pin and the trigger, goes down when the upper arm of the trigger moves forward), but it also has design differences. That didn’t stop the craftsmen from coming up with a clone of Remington’s Jewel, by the way.

True, you will have to tinker with the carbine: although the VPO-223 refers to Remington, it is far from being one; typical problems are already well described in the 60-page profile topic on guns.ru - first of all, it is a rather weak mainspring, which often changed to reinforced.
Main advantages
:

• Good combination of price and quality
• Good accuracy, especially when loading cartridges yourself
• Good ergonomics

Minuses
:

• Lack of third fuse position for safe discharge
• The trigger and shutter may require peeling - albeit moderate

Shotgun VPO-208L

The 9.6/53 cartridge with its four-plus kilojoules of muzzle energy is not always a good option for hunting: for the same yearling boar it is clearly excessive.
Well, then let’s look at the .366TKM cartridge, which is less powerful with a comparable caliber, created on the good old 7.62x39 cartridge case. Well, the first example of a weapon adapted for this cartridge was the no less good old SKS, which “changed from an army uniform into a hunting suit” back in the Soviet years. The VPO-208 with a Lancaster barrel still remains one of the most affordable weapon options for .366TKM, and, importantly, has classic hunting ergonomics, unlike the Kalashoids that dominate this caliber. The carbine is not a “remake”; the originals were taken by the factory from army warehouses and re-barreled for a new cartridge. Accordingly, for some this is “real Soviet quality” to the maximum, for others it is a reason in the store to carefully look for repair marks from art workshops dating back to Soviet times.

Be that as it may, the “output” turned out to be a quite convenient and effective hunting rifle, affordable.
Of course, a Simonov carbine “fenced” in a standard caliber (not to mention the price of a 7.62x39 cartridge) will be even cheaper - but with the notorious five years of experience and other features of owning a rifled weapon. So, while owners with “Kalashoids” under .366 pose in camouflage against the backdrop of hard-won targets with sub-minute accuracy (among owners, “sub-minute under-shooting” has long become a local meme), the VPO-208 has long been featured in photo reports from hunts. Main advantages
:

• Affordable price
• Quite a hunting ergonomics

Minuses
:

• When purchasing, it is advisable to select according to the condition of the “native” iron
• Inconvenience of installing sighting devices, inherited from the “donor”

Distinctive features of the product

On sale you can find shotguns in calibers 16, 20, 32 and small 410, but the most popular remains the classic version - 12. This is what the manufacturer focuses on. IL has a clear advantage over its competitors: with almost the same quality component, the price is noticeably lower than that of other brands.

IZH-27 was loved by many primarily due to its reliability and extremely simple maintenance. The gun can be taken through all the circles of hunting hell, and after cleaning it will still work just as effectively and flawlessly. The manufacturer promises up to 12 thousand shots, but in fact the strength threshold is around 15 thousand. Not every weapon can boast of such indicators. As for the shortcomings, during the entire existence of the series the manufacturer got rid of them.

The best breaking high-end hunting rifles

Beretta 486 Parallelo shotgun

(cal. 12x76, barrels 710 mm, English stock)
An excellent combination of absolutely classic style with modern technology involuntarily asks you to change your pouches to a leather bag, and your camouflage cap to a hat with a feather. While maintaining the traditional quality of finishing and maintaining style, Beretta simultaneously offers us a cold-forged block of barrels, soldered using Triblock technology, which ensures high joint rigidity, an easily removable trigger with upgraded V-shaped springs, and a special safety design eliminates shots during falls and in “non-standard” positions - for example, if you get caught on the trigger when carrying a gun while chasing over your shoulder. The chokes are replaceable, Optimachoke HP standard, capable of working with large-number steel shot without risk. For Russia, fortunately, lead is more relevant, but an extra margin of safety won’t hurt, right?

The Italians' hunting rifle turned out to be undoubtedly worthy, and at the same time not quite terrifying in price, like the top models from the same Beretta, which have already crossed the million-ruble mark.
So, adding a little to the rating from connoisseurs of the classic style, we will confidently give it first place. Main advantages
:

• Excellent build quality and finish
• Resource
• Design and ergonomics

Minuses
:

• Price

Shotgun Sauer Apollon

(cal. 12x76, barrels 760 mm)
Perhaps the Sauer brand in our country will be known longer and better than many, and captured Sauers, especially with “eagles” (stamps placed on guns from 1933 to 1945) are the dream of many collectors . The modern side flint perfectly continues the old traditions of the company - truly German solidity and reliability, which is worth only with the proprietary four-point locking system. The gun's steel weight is 3.45 kg, largely due to the solid box. At the same time, the balance of the gun is set at the correct point, although, of course, for running hunting it makes sense to look at an easier option. And there it is – Sauer Artemis, the “female” version of Apollon.

The USM is single-trigger, with the ability to select the order of shots.
It is possible to adjust the trigger force from 1.8 to 2.2 kg, the mechanism itself works flawlessly. Main advantages
:

• Adjustable trigger
• Rigid barrel locking system

Minuses
:

• Quite cheap wood on par with Turkish rifles

Hunting smoothbore shotgun FABARM ELOS C

The Italian arms company FABARM was created in 1900 and was a small family company that produced pistols. During the Second World War, the company launched a convoy producing small arms for the Italian army. After the war, a ban was imposed on the production of military weapons and FABARM began to produce hunting smoothbore weapons of fairly high quality. The FABARM ELOS C hunting rifle is popular both in Europe and in Russia.

Description and characteristics of the double-barreled vertical FABARM ELOS C

Hunting vertical FABARM ELOS C of the classic turning type, with a barrel locking mechanism of the original design. There is a sighting bar with ventilation. Externally, the FABARM ELOS C double-barreled shotgun looks much more expensive than it actually is. Caliber 12, chamber 76 mm, weight 3.3 kg, there is a shock absorber on the butt. FABARM ELOS C has several modifications: with an ejector or extractor, the caliber can be 16th, 20th and 28th.

Advantages and disadvantages of the FABARM ELOS C smoothbore shotgun

The FABARM ELOS C double-barreled over-shooter is quite reliable, practical, durable with proper care, has a compact and sharp fire, is available in several modifications to suit every taste, and has the best price-quality ratio. Disadvantages: relatively heavy.

Brief summary of the hunting vertical FABARM ELOS C

The FABARM ELOS C hunting rifle is a high-quality and practical weapon, perfect for beginners and novice hunters, low cost with high quality. The starting price starts from 45,000 rubles.

The best pump-action shotguns for hunting

Remington 870 WINGMASTER shotgun

(cal. 12x76, barrel 710 mm)
While in Russia pump-action shotguns are not particularly popular for hunting (their absence in Soviet times affects the first civilian “pump”, Izh-81, appeared in stores only in 1994), for USA is actually a classic. Well, the classic of the classics is, undoubtedly, the 870 Remington, produced in many modifications since 1951 (more than 11 million guns have already left the factory).

Among them were purely hunting rifles, including those equipped with “purely American” 12-gauge rifled barrels (“deer gun”), and police “shortened” rifles, familiar to everyone from militants. Well, since we are talking primarily about hunting use, we will focus on the Wingmaster version with a long shot barrel and a four-round magazine.

There is no point in describing the design of this gun - it is a simple and reliable mechanic that has been proven over 67 years, and even the recent reduction in the cost of production has not greatly affected the resource, and the tuning industry for Remington has worked to get rid of “childhood ailments.” In Russia, craftsmen produce a lot of “nice things” of quality that is not inferior to the American aftermarket, but at much more reasonable prices.

You should not expect an exquisite finish or filigree fit from the “rem” - it was, is and will be a real working gun, old-fashioned weighty thanks to the steel receiver, and this was in the days of light alloys.
That's why they love him, actually. Main advantages
:

• Simplicity and reliability, proven by everyone - from hunters to the Marine Corps
• Availability and variety of tuning

Minuses
:

• The quality of components and assembly has dropped noticeably recently
• Solid mass
• “Black” barrel (the channel is not chrome-plated)

Shotgun Bekas-12M (VPO-202-09)

(cal. 12x76, 3 barrels (bullet cylinder and paradox 535 mm), shotgun 750 mm)
A real all-rounder from Vyatskie Polyany has long earned a reputation as the best domestic pump-action shotgun, and the configuration with three barrels is also useful for self-defense (short “cylinder”), and for hunting large game (bullet “paradox”), and will not fail on the feather after installing a shot barrel. And for all this, according to the price list, they are asking only 31 thousand - even with markups from third-party stores, the price by today’s standards is very interesting.

The weight of the gun is quite tolerable, which, knowing that “Hammer” follows the main principle of Boris Razor, is even unexpected. The structure itself is durable and does not suffer from pronounced “sores” - everything that may need to be bent and filed has long been described on specialized forums. The barrels are cold forged, and the quality is noticeably superior to those from Izhevsk. The handguard is convenient for short-armed shooters; at this point, many “pumps” are punctured - their handguards are moved further forward, so here, too, “Bekas” gets its plus to the rating.

For fans of tactical tuning, this hunting rifle will not be the best choice - not only is there virtually no tuning for the Bekas, but even extending the magazine will require filing down the standard one with a hacksaw.

Main advantages
:

• Complete with barrels “for all occasions”
• Durability and reliability

Minuses
:

• The plant does not offer options with the classic “bullet cylinder + shot barrel” set - either a shot barrel and a “paradox”, or three barrels
• Average quality of fit - often, for example, it is necessary to modify the rubbing forend

IZH(MR)-27

This is the most popular and, judging by reviews from owners and experts, the best hunting rifle that the domestic manufacturer can offer. IZH-27 has been produced by the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant since 1973. And since that time, the weapon has won the appreciation of hunters due to its reliability, ease of maintenance and efficiency.

They became interested in the gun abroad, which is why the name MP-27 (Mechanical Plant) is more often found on the shelves, rather than IZH. To date, more than one and a half million products have been produced, not counting amateur and custom modifications.

The best hunting semi-automatics

Benelli Raffaello Сrio Сomfort shotgun

(cal. 12x76, barrel 760 mm)
When talking about inertial semi-automatics, it is impossible not to mention Benelli - although this reloading scheme itself appeared at the beginning of the 20th century at the Swedish Sjogren, it was Benelli, several decades later, who brought the idea of ​​​​an inertial mechanism to the modern “polished” state. And, although inertial reloading with an adjustable gas outlet is difficult to match in “omnivorousness”, Italian inertial reloaders show good versatility, “digesting” both heavy magnums on goose hunting and sporting charges on the stand.

“Crio” in the name refers to another proprietary technology of the Italians - cryogenic processing of the barrel blank and replaceable chokes. A curious feature of such barrels is the use not of a soldered sighting bar, but the installation of a replaceable carbon fiber one, which, among other things, allows reducing the weight of the gun and providing predictable vibrations of the barrel when fired, and therefore ensuring a good bullet fight without the need for replaceable “bullet” barrels.

To quickly control the availability of cartridges in the magazine, a Window System is provided - in other words, a longitudinal groove in the forend and magazine.
The design couldn’t be simpler and at the same time effective, but you shouldn’t test the reliability of the gun by swimming in the mud: there will be delays when shooting. Main advantages
:

• Comfortable recoil
• Good fight with shot and bullet
• Excellent “omnivorousness” for an inertial gun

Minuses
:

• A carbon fiber strip seems to many to be less reliable than a brazed steel one

Shotgun ATA Neo 12

(cal. 12x76, walnut, barrel 710 mm)
Considering that prices for “Italians” nowadays are already off the charts, “over a hundred”, and cheaper models turn out to be made in Turkey - why not look towards the “purebred Turks”, which, having started with competition to domestic factories in the budget segment, are now confidently registered in the average segment?

Neo 12 is an inertia semi-automatic from Ata Arms, a brand that has become known in Russia relatively recently, but has proven itself to be the best (and at the same time, hehe, produces guns for Marocchi).
The gun is one of the lightest in its class, but at the same time it has a comfortable recoil. Of course, there is already a feeling of intelligibility with cartridges - for example, the cheap “Record”, which the same gas-operated “Hatsan” with a similar barrel length digests without problems, can give a large number of delays on the Ata Neo 12. However, it is not necessary to spend more money on cartridges: it is enough to choose a “roller” that works reliably in a particular gun, since the barrel is good, and you can achieve a decent fight with either shot or a bullet. Main advantages
:

• Weight is only 3 kilograms, and at the same time comfortable recoil
• Well-tuned automation

Minuses
:

• Average wood quality

Shotgun Hatsan H112

A real anti-crisis offer (and at the same time a good kick from the Turkish manufacturer to Izhevsk residents): self-loading is cheaper than 20 thousand at retail (that is, a new one costs the same as the same Izhevsk MP-155 from hand), and at the same time does not give the impression of being cut down with an ax.
The basis of this model is the Escort, which is very familiar in our country in general and personally to the author in particular, or rather, even several - for example, the forend and chrome-plated steel magazine tube here are not from Escort PS (perhaps the most popular “hunting variant” in our country) family), but from the “tactical” Hatsan MP-A. There are several key differences from Escort PS. The first is in a gas engine: instead of a piston with “auto-adjustment”, in which the moment when gases begin to bleed from the gas chamber depends on the pressure, a simpler one is used here, with a stationary compression ring. This is a slight disadvantage to “omnivorousness,” but the gun “eats” hunting loads normally – you shouldn’t get carried away with a magnum on any gun. The second is in the trigger mechanism: to release the slide stop and unlock the tray, it is not the Fast load key on the tray itself that is used (which allows you to load the gun with either one hand, since the tray is released by pressing the cartridge against it), but a button is installed on the right side of the receiver boxes - you will have to forcefully hold it with your second hand in order to unlock the tray when equipping the magazine. Actually, this design, as it is, is taken from the Fabarm semi-automatic machines, on the basis of which the “Escorts” were designed, there is nothing new about it.

The third difference is the absence of a cartridge cutter in the H112, which will not allow you to quickly replace the cartridge in the chamber. Fourth, in the magazine tube, which in its “as is” state will not allow installing an extension (the end of the tube is rolled, while on the Escort PS it is enough to remove the spacer washer) - but is the extension really necessary for hunting?

In general, the author, having owned, among other things, an Escort PS, cannot help but note that the PS is still built better than the H112, but the difference is not so great - but the very “tasty” price has already secured the H112 many buyers , and reviews of this hunting rifle are generally good.
Main advantages
:

• The most affordable price on the market
• The design as a whole is well known, there are no new “bottlenecks” in it
• Standard rail for under-barrel flashlight on the fore-end

Minuses
:

• Peeling may still be required, which is not surprising for a cheap gun

Product Features

As for modifications, you can find weapons on sale with different rails for almost any optics, magazines for 4, 8, and 10 rounds, as well as several barrel length options. The fly in the ointment here is the decent weight, but it is offset by the ergonomics of the product.

Also, the clear advantages of the Saiga include a high muzzle energy indicator along with the initial bullet speed, as well as a high rate of fire of the weapon. Many hunters purchase the model as a universal hunting tool.

Best Assault Shotguns for Hunting

Carbine Vepr-12

(version VPO-205-03, barrel 305 mm)
Perhaps, only in this market segment do Russian gunsmiths have no serious competition and are not expected to - having combined the proven and reliable “Kalashnikov” design with smooth-bore calibers, Izhevsk designers in their time, as they say, created a trend. Well, the Vyatka-Polyansky “Hammer”, taking as a base not an AK, like the Izhevsk people with their “Saiga”, but a RPK, created the “Vepr” - the most reliable and high-quality assembled domestic “Kalashoid”, loved by both “self-defense fighters” and IPSC shooters .

The “pig” (as it is popularly called) is produced in several configurations - from the “shortened” 205-03 with a barrel as much as 305 mm long, which when fired due to the roar and muzzle flash resembles a pocket howitzer, to a monstrous “anti-aircraft gun” with a barrel 680 mm, to which is also added the considerable length of the receiver. Especially for IPSC shooters, a sports version of the Vepr-12 SP is produced with “factory tuning” - a telescopic butt, an effective DTK and other modifications.

“Veprey” has both, and not a very pleasant one.
We have already mentioned that the principles of Boris Razor at Hammer are honored and respected. That is why even the shortest-barreled “pig” weighs more than 4 kilograms with an empty magazine. Main advantages
:

• Good in principle, and even excellent quality for Russia
• An abundance of varied tuning
• Durability and reliability

Minuses
:

• Solid weight
• There is no standard “Kalashnikov” side rail, instead there is a Picatinny rail on the loose receiver cover
• Problems with reloading on small loads for short-barreled models

Saiga-12K carbine

(cal. 12x76, version 030 with a plastic butt)
Created as an exclusively hunting weapon (hence the name - a carbine was created back in the 1970s for shooting saigas), "Saiga" is moving more and more confidently into the niche of "tactical weapons": a choice of semi-automatic weapons for hunters is now huge, and “Kalashoids”, whatever one may say, have very specific ergonomics, and the target audience of buyers has made the word “saiga breeder” almost a dirty word among hunters.

The current Saigas are even structurally superior to their progenitor, the AK, in some ways - for example, they have a bolt delay that speeds up the reloading of the weapon.
However, alas, the traditional attitude of Izhevsk residents towards civilian products is taking its toll: any search engine for the request “saiga modification” will return a kilometer-long list of operations that cannot be performed on many guns, and even need to be done. In terms of quality, the Izhevsk “Kalashoids” are noticeably inferior to the Vyatka-Polyansky ones, and in favor of the “Saiga” is only a more affordable price and a number of design features that facilitate tuning - nevertheless, having an AK-like receiver at the base, the list of compatible body kit elements is larger, than the "Vepry" with a RPK barrel. Main advantages
:

• A rich list of previously produced and current configurations in calibers from .410 to 12
• Affordable tuning, whether for IPSC needs or “for fun”
• “Chewed” instructions for “peeling” over many years

Minuses
:

• Assembly flaws that are traditional for Izhevsk, making “finishing with a file” almost a folk custom of “saiga breeders”
• To put it mildly, very controversial ergonomics of “hunting versions”

"Saiga-12"

The weapon has been produced since 1997 at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, where the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle was taken as the basis for the model. "Saiga" is very popular among domestic hunters, and especially among professional fishermen.

The model has a maximally simplified design compared to the original; it is unpretentious and easy to maintain. Kalashnikov assault rifles have always been famous for their reliability and the same qualities were transferred to the Saiga. It feels equally good in rain and slush, as well as in severe frosts with heavy snowfalls.

What to look for when choosing a gun?

There are a lot of instructions on how to choose a good gun for hunting on the Internet, and we won’t repeat all the nuances for the hundredth time.
The main thing is to remember that there is no fundamental difference between smooth barrels: with a correctly selected cartridge, your grandfather’s “bucket” will be no less productive than the latest Benelli. Therefore, first of all, pay attention to the convenience of the fast tab, leashes: it is how convenient the fast tab is that determines the effectiveness of shooting. The choice of design is a matter of personal preference, but it is worth considering the features. For example, if you plan to use a gun for both shot and bullet shooting, then the “vertical” will be preferable to the “horizontal” - bringing the barrels together in a vertical plane allows you to set only the vertical correction when shooting, while with the “horizontal”, where the trunks are “baptized” horizontally, it will inevitably be necessary to give different sideways corrections for both trunks. Well, a “pump” or a semi-automatic, where there is only one barrel (and many guns come with a special barrel for bullet shooting), are the most convenient and versatile in this regard.

At the same time, the prevailing opinion that a semi-automatic is less reliable than a double-barreled shotgun can be safely considered a prejudice: a good gun with proven cartridges will always work, be it a breaker or a gas-operated five-shot gun. However, keep in mind that with the same barrel length, break shotguns are shorter, quicker to turn, and the barrel is easy to check and, if necessary, clean - this is why double-barreled shotguns do not lose popularity when hunting, because it is rare when you have to fire more than two shots in a row, but you have accidentally scooped up snow with the barrel to many.

"Vepr-12 Hammer"

This semi-automatic smooth-bore weapon is produced in the Kirov region. One of the best hunting rifles has been produced since 2003 and has acquired a huge army of fans. The basis for the “Vepr” was the Kalashnikov machine gun, so the weight of the weapon is quite decent – ​​almost 4 kg.

It is also worth noting that the model has a lot of modifications that differ from each other in barrel length, muzzle attachments, types of butts, as well as design. “Vepr” has found its application not only in the fishing field, but is also often used in various shooting competitions.

The model is produced only for 12 gauge and, judging by the reviews of the owners, it is devoid of any critical shortcomings. The only fly in the ointment is the weight of the weapon, but everything else works properly and as the manufacturer intended.

Finding the Perfect Long Range Rifle

As you can see, a reliable, versatile and accurate rifle is one that has the most suitable barrel profile, design, stock and caliber. You must ensure that the pistol you select has the correct specifications based on the specified factors.

Our reviews have discussed in detail ten of the most versatile, accurate, and reliable long-range rifles you can buy. Therefore, we hope that the information in this article will help you compare products and choose the one that is most inventive...

We think we've given you a pretty comprehensive list. Do you think we missed something? If so, let us know in the comments..

CZ Mallard caliber 12x76 from Ceska zbrojovka

This rifle is a Czech-made rifle with 760mm barrels and interchangeable chokes. According to experts, the fit and build quality of the CZ Mallard are somewhat better than those from Izhevsk. Therefore, when purchasing this model, you do not have to additionally purchase a set of needle files. With a good weight distribution and high-quality choke constrictions, the weapon lies pleasantly in the hands.

Undoubtedly, the CZ Mallard looks very attractive on display, but the weapon will soon lose its presentation. The fact is that the gun is coated with too soft a varnish, on which scratches appear quite quickly. They are inevitable, even if you handle your weapon very carefully. It is noteworthy that this model has a rather rigid trigger, and therefore those who want to adjust the trigger mechanism will still have to use needle files.

If suddenly this rifle unit fails, the owner may experience difficulties. The reason is that finding spare parts for the CZ Mallard is problematic. Among the best smoothbore shotguns, this rifle unit is in eighth position. You can buy a gun for 34 thousand rubles.

Storm shotgun Saiga-12K

The model is intended exclusively for hunting. The first carbines appeared in the 70s of the last century, but despite this, they still have their admirers to this day.

True, the current saigas have been modernized and are superior to their ancestor. And yet, each hunter makes individual modifications to the carbine.

The price of storm weapons is 40,490 rubles. The existing design features greatly facilitate tuning.

Pros of Saiga:

• The richest list of equipment;
• Availability of any tuning;
• Detailed instructions.

Negative points of Saiga-12K:

• Assembly flaws that require finishing with a file;
• Controversial ergonomics.

  
  Saiga 12K version 030

Bullet carbine VPO-208L

The most affordable weapon option with classic hunting ergonomics, having a Lancaster barrel, costs no more than 40,500 rubles. When creating the model, the plant used sources from an army warehouse.

The carbine turned out to be effective and quite convenient, and also with good accuracy. The instantly beloved model appears more and more often in hunting photo reports.

The semi-pistol walnut stock is checkered for greater comfort. There is a manual safety lever and a sector sight.

Advantages of VPO-208L:

• Hunting ergonomics;
• Affordable price.

Disadvantages of VPO-208L:

• Inconvenient sight installation.