Baikal combination gun

[Stan in SC]

I have been thinking for some time about owning one firearm which conceiveably could be used for all types of hunting A "ONE" gun if you will.
In line with this thinking I have done a lot of research and read a heck of a lot of user reviews on various models.
I had to be mindful of usefulness and of course budget considerations and came to the conclusion that a Russian made Baikal combination model MP-94 would fill the bill.The configuration of shotgun over rifle seems good.I decided on a 12 gauge over .308 and placed the order with the local gun shop on Tuesday.The gun was in distributor stock and should be here probably Friday.
I am still figuring what scope I will use.Since most of my deer hunting is in thick woods here in South Carolina I will probably use a medium power variable such as a 1-5X.
I will post more here after I receive the gun.


Stan in SC

[.45colt]

Like waiting to open a Gift on Christmas....Oooo Baby..Range Report. .

[3leggedturtle]

Hope your happy with it. Always liked how they felt when handling them in the stores. You couldn't ask for 2 better rounds.

[hfcable]

i have several: 12/223 ; 12/308 ; and 12/7.62 x 39....... all in all i think they make pretty cool all around and survival guns. they even offer them with 30/06, 6.5x55, snd even the old 7.62 x 54R russian round, which would be nice as well.

good luck, you will enjoy it.

[3leggedturtle]

i have several: 12/223 ; 12/308 ; and 12/7.62 x 39....... all in all i think they make pretty cool all around and survival guns. they even offer them with 30/06, 6.5x55, snd even the old 7.62 x 54R russian round, which would be nice as well.

good luck, you will enjoy it.

If I had known that when I was in Fairbanks last June, would've rode down to Anchorage with some ammo.

[hfcable]

i have several: 12/223 ; 12/308 ; and 12/7.62 x 39....... all in all i think they make pretty cool all around and survival guns. they even offer them with 30/06, 6.5x55, snd even the old 7.62 x 54R russian round, which would be nice as well.

good luck, you will enjoy it.

If I had known that when I was in Fairbanks last June, would've rode down to Anchorage with some ammo.

would be fun!

[Blaine]

If you could only have one, you picked a good "one".....

[MrMurphy]

Germans use drillings for much the same reason, their estate owners/land managers don't necessarily know what they're going to run into that needs culling, so they'll have a shotgun and rifle at the same time. Usually twin 12s or 16s over a serious rifle round (8mm Mauser, 9.3mm, etc).

[olyinaz]

Same thing by Winchester: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =333971329

I've always wanted one by Blaser: http://www.blaser-usa.com/index.php?id=277&L=1

Or get the three shooter: http://www.blaser-usa.com/index.php?id=54&L=1

A bit more money perhaps!

[Nath]

For a few years I carried a Savage 24 in 12/22hornet. Handy bit of kit!

N.

[Panzercat]

Same thing by Winchester: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =333971329

I've always wanted one by Blaser: http://www.blaser-usa.com/index.php?id=277&L=1

Or get the three shooter: http://www.blaser-usa.com/index.php?id=54&L=1

A bit more money perhaps!

Oh hell yes.
I don't even need to look at the price to know it's way out of my budget, but hell. yes.

[Stan in SC]

I picked up the gun today. It really looks good. Fit and finish are very good. The action is tight tight. This is normal according to the reviews and it will loosen up nicely with use. Wood is dark just like I like it and the checkering is very good.
It has sling swivels front and rear.
Overall I am very pleased with the gun and will shoot it in the next few days.

Stan in SC

[hfcable]

I picked up the gun today. It really looks good. Fit and finish are very good. The action is tight tight. This is normal according to the reviews and it will loosen up nicely with use. Wood is dark just like I like it and the checkering is very good.
It has sling swivels front and rear.
Overall I am very pleased with the gun and will shoot it in the next few days.

Stan in SC

here was a quote from a happy owner with the same combo you have:

" I have a Baikal IZH-94 O/U in 12 gauge/.308 Win & it is a good looking & solidly built gun & comes in at considerably less than $1000.

The .308 Winchester barrel in my IZH-94 gives me 3/4" groups with the 180 grain Nosler spitzer Federal High Energy ammo.......that's better accuracy than some of my bolt action rifles !!!!

The Baikal is a high quality gun that people who have never even held one in their hands like to verbally denigrate like they do the Rossi firearms "

and here is a nice article discussing these guns, twist rates, accuracy,etc.:

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/baikal.html

[stinson]

I have one in 12/7X57R, a bit of a handloading proposition, although Graf probably imports cartridges for it. Haven't used it much, but it shoots OK. It's blocky, and heavy, and built like a tank. I think that's the Russian way. Seems like I only have to look at it to make it rust, though - really need to keep on top of it. It's a reasonable survival gun, and, of course, can be broken down and stowed in the back of a plane. You're not going to find a less expensive combo gun, and if its rather coarse construction is not a concern, a pretty good value. Don't know how factory/distributor service is, and hope not to have to find out.

[hightime]

Good looking and practical, but When I go to break them, it fails to open with the effort I would expect. What's up with that? I do have a 12 ga. shotgun of theirs. It's not too hard open.

Owen

[Old Ironsights]

I've looked at those Bakails. If I had money/were in t buying mode I'd get one in 12/7.62x54R... because 54R is still comparatively cheap, and I can get adapters to shoot more 7.62 rimless cartridges through it than I can to get the 54R to work in a .308 chamber.

My biggest issue with them is asthetics. I just don't care for the "seperated barrel" look.

But I'd still buy one in the calibers mentioned. It would be a great partner to my 16x16/9.3x72R drilling (low pressure antique).

Ditto for the Savage .410/.22.

(I'm actually kind of a nut for Combo guns. I dream of making a 16x16/.45 Muzzlestuffer using "underhammer tech" for the .45 rifle barrel...)

[wolfdog]

I have one in 12/6.5x55. I have been very happy with it. It works great hunting in the Fl swamps, and since we have a fall turkey season that is concurrent with deer season you can be ready for anything.
only problem is finding a scope mount that works well as the dovetail on mine is 11 mm.

[awp101]

they even offer them with 30/06, 6.5x55

I had my grubby mitts on a 12/6.5 in a shop 3-4 years ago and this describes it perfectly:

It's blocky, and heavy, and built like a tank. I think that's the Russian way.

Yeah, it was rough as a cob (finished about like a Yugo AK) and very stiff to open but it's one I should have grabbed since I like the 6.5, don't mind the 12ga (I'm fast becoming a 16ga homer ) and Russian firearms don't bother me. At the price point, I know what I am getting and they generally run with a minimum of maintenance.

I have one in 12/7X57R, a bit of a handloading proposition, although Graf probably imports cartridges for it.

Oooooh, I'd like a 7x57R someday! As much as I like the 7x57, the R would fit nicely in the safe!

[Stan in SC]

wolfdog,
I failed to mention that the scope mounting rail is 11MM.Too small for regular rings but luckily I had a brand new set in my "possibles" box.

Stan in SC

[junkbug]

I have one in 12gauge over 30-06. Bought it fairly inexpensively about 3 years ago. The 30-06 barrel is suprisingly accurate.

I mounted an older fixed Weaver 3x on the metric sight rail using good old American Weaver 22 rimfire Dovetail mounts. 11mm is slightly larger than 3/8" but the mounts have enough play to fit over the rail and clamp on tightly.

It is an awkward, ugly combination with that scope on. I have a Williams 22 rimfire peep sight (one of the inexpensive ones) that I am going to try on it next. First I will load about 100 proven 30-06 loads, fire a few test groups with the scope on, then try it with the peep sight on instead.

By the way, with the scope mounted with the Weaver tip off rings, I have fired several dozen Remington slug loads, and the mounts are still tight, and in zero.

Good luck.

[hfcable]

I have one in 12gauge over 30-06. Bought it fairly inexpensively about 3 years ago. The 30-06 barrel is suprisingly accurate.

I mounted an older fixed Weaver 3x on the metric sight rail using good old American Weaver 22 rimfire Dovetail mounts. 11mm is slightly larger than 3/8" but the mounts have enough play to fit over the rail and clamp on tightly.

It is an awkward, ugly combination with that scope on. I have a Williams 22 rimfire peep sight (one of the inexpensive ones) that I am going to try on it next. First I will load about 100 proven 30-06 loads, fire a few test groups with the scope on, then try it with the peep sight on instead.

By the way, with the scope mounted with the Weaver tip off rings, I have fired several dozen Remington slug loads, and the mounts are still tight, and in zero.

Good luck.

good info.....that is going to be my approach to scope mounting. and good to hear that the mounts stay tight with heavy shotgun loads.

[Bruce Scott]

My biggest issue with them is asthetics. I just don't care for the "seperated barrel" look.

Me too but there is another version with joined barrels:
http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/baikal_izh_mp-94/

[Old Ironsights]

Nice. I like that one much better.

20/.223 vs 20/.22WMR would be my pick, but I definitely like the Rifle over Smooth combo better...

[Panzercat]

Alright, you've convince me.
It was either a bolt action or something like this as my next rifle purchase, so I'm going to have to roll with this in 12g/30-06... And then I'm going get spendy with sub-caliber inserts for the giggles just to make it 'the ultimate do-everything rifle'

And that joined barrel assembly just looks... unnessisarily heavy :p

[Stan in SC]

I already have a .410 insert for the 12 gauge barrel.
Still looking to trade some .243 and 30-06 dies for .308 dies.(See the classifieds here)
Stan in SC

[Stan in SC]

I have a scope on order but today was too good a day not to go to the gun club and shoot the new combo gun.
As I said before the iron sights are pretty rudimentary.Despite that I did pretty well with the gun.I found windage was right on the money but elevation was kinda iffy since the sights were so lacking.I did get a nice grouping with the .308 and wonder of wonders I was able to dead center a bowling pin at 100 yards with a 12 gauge Breneke slug.
I feel that when I get the 1.5-4.5 scope mounted that accuracy will be most acceptable.
I am most pleased with the gun.
Range report after scope received and mounted will most assuredly follow.

Stan in SC

[Stan in SC]

I got the scope in and mounted and today I managed to get over to the gun club and sight it in.It took me about eight shots to get it 2" inches high at 100 yards which is where I like to sight my hunting rifles with scopes.
The accuracy was very very acceptable for any rifle and especially for this skinny barrel.
I got 2" or so groups at 100 yards and my 150 grain handloads exactly matched point of impact of the factory 150 grain rounds.Several rounds of handloads made figure eights with the point of impact of the factory rounds.
I give the gun a solid nine on a 1 to 10 scale.(I don't think I have ever had but one gun which I gave a ten.)
The gun precisely fills the intended purpose of "one gun".I am quite satisfied with it.

Stan in SC

[hfcable]

great job! what factory rounds and what handloads were you using?

[Panzercat]

I made a comment about not being overly fond of the joined barrel, but I can't help but to think it probably does a decent job of heat distribution and possibly harmonics...

[Stan in SC]

hfcable,
I used Remington Core lokt 150 grain rounds and the handloads were 150 grain ballistic tip blems from Midway(no manufacturer id) and the powder charge was 45 grains of IMR4895.It should chrony around 2800FPS.

Stan in SC

[hfcable]

thanks, i will try that!