Domestic industrialists for hunting fur animals have long used carbines chambered for 5.6LR and rifles of all known calibers. The intricate hunting for furs forced the hunters to sometimes carry two guns in the taiga at the same time - a shotgun and a small gun, which was completely impractical. This problem has been tried many times. In fact, weapons should be not only comfortable, but also inexpensive: the cost is always important for people. That is why single-barreled shotguns offered at an affordable price became the basis for experiments in the USSR. Before the advent of the Izh-56 "Squirrel" combined gun, there were other mechanisms, but it is this one that is considered a real present for hunters.
Features
The Izh-56 sample has the following characteristics - it is a "break", in which detachable barrels are located vertically, which contributes to the most optimal shooting of bullets. The locking here is single, lever, carried out by a bolt hook: a recess is located in the underbarrel hook, into which it enters. Considering the small return of the calibers used, we can say that this scheme is justified. Shotgun weightranged from 2.9 (without optics) to 3.15 (with optics) kg.
When opening the Belka hunting rifle, you must press the lever located behind the trigger guard. In order for the rifle to close easily, you also need to press the locking lever. Its USM is identical to the Izh-K and Izh-17 versions, equipped with one trigger and a single external trigger that provides firing from both barrels. When choosing a barrel, you need to switch the trigger with a push-button selector.
Agree, the Belka fishing gun is great! If its switch is in the rear position, the shot is fired from the lower barrel, in the forward position - from the upper barrel. Under the selector, respectively, the letters "H" and "B" are read. For each barrel separately, two impact protrusions are made in front of the trigger.
The “Squirrel” (gun) does not have a special safety catch: it is equipped with a safety cocking of the trigger, on which the trigger rises after the end - it is impossible to release it from this position. If you use an optical sight, it will be comfortable for you to cock the dog, because its spoke is bent to the right. Trigger pull - 2.0-3.5 kg.
By the way, the “Squirrel” combination gun cannot open when the trigger is cocked. Also, when the product is unlocked, it is not possible to cock the trigger.
The barrels of the rifle are connected by three couplings: muzzle, breech and aiming. The small-caliber rifled barrel has a joint that is made by pinning and using a press fit. It is equipped with six right-hand grooves with a pitch of 400 mm. On theThe shotgun barrel has a sliding fit and a chrome bore.
Extractors are placed in the breech clutch. On its upper part, a dovetail is milled, which is necessary for installing the optics bracket. The standard 2.5x PVS-1 sight can be easily removed. It is usually installed at the factory.
It should be noted that this sight is not effective, although it is quite reliable. The removable forearm is equipped with a latch and side cheeks that cover the interbarrel space in the breech of the trunks. The butt of the Belka-3 gun is amazing: it is made in the best English traditions. For the manufacture of the forearm and stocks of this model, birch has always been used. The swivel is on the buttstock and the shotgun barrel (in the area of the stepped modification of the barrel outlines).
The open sight of this hunting rifle has been moved to the aiming clutch, since the automatic switching of the rear sight position in height has been eliminated. He received a folding additional rear sight, designed for firing from a rifled barrel up to fifty meters. By moving the sight to the clutch, the sighting line has decreased (from 725 to 500 mm).
The third version of the "Squirrel", having some shortcomings, nevertheless turned out to be a very successful hunting rifle that fully meets the requirements of industrial hunting. This product has been completed for more than forty years, but its structure and performance are not obsolete today.
"Squirrel" in the hands of a hunter
What else is Belka famous for? The gun has a smooth barrel, which had to be equipped with a “pressure cylinder” drill. But constant cleanings eradicated conical drilling: now it is even cylindrical. A slight narrowing was felt at an interval of 1/5 of the length of the barrel, starting from the muzzle, in addition, it looked like a smooth and long cone (about 10-12 cm). At the muzzle, the barrel diameter was 13.5 mm. Taking into account the diameter of Izhevsk barrels of 28 caliber (13.8 mm), we can talk about a weak choke narrowing.
A completely non-standard “dovetail” of the optics bracket has a surface with a specific knurling that eliminates glare and facilitates arbitrary aiming of weapons. The base of the fly was made in a similar way. Barrel drilled for excellent uniform shot.
The rear sights of the product at 25 and 50 m are adjusted and centered at the factory. There were no large horizontal STP anomalies, and vertical deviations had some drawbacks.
Masterpiece
Many people like Belka. The gun is a real masterpiece of engineering. This design is very well thought out and executed. This absolutely finished product is a pleasure to hold in your hands! Its outlines are graceful, the system is polished with amazing quality.
Here you can only admire the processing of metal surfaces of weapon elements! But today, with such high-quality metal processing, IZHMEH produces only custom-made samples. "Squirrel" - serial gun.
Transformations and features
The Izh “Squirrel” shotgun was modified by engineers of the 50s: its weight was significantly reduced and it weighs no more than three kilograms! "Extra"the metal has been eliminated in many places: the smooth barrel has a stepped contour, holes are drilled in the underbarrel hook, the details of the sighting devices look like toys. At the same time, there is a feeling of absolute reliability of the weapon.
Hunting guns of this model, despite their purpose and design, always affect a person to a certain extent. This nuance is expressed both by associative-subjective and objective factors. For example, for any shooter and weapon lover, the Belka is a common interesting design. In fact, it is considered obsolete, having a huge number of flaws and an unsightly appearance. Some hunters consider this product a youthful dream. They even perceive the shortcomings of the system from a different perspective, because the dream should not have flaws. Of course, almost everything is forgiven for a beloved gun, like a long-awaited baby.
Handy gun
Hunters perceive the "Belka" as a revolving, seated, light, but not an ideal gun. Because of the sleeved barrels, they unconsciously compare it with the old "Winchesters". Features of the system, the appearance of the product, any detail of the design - everything resembles this twin, designed for fishing.
Loading
In order to charge the "Squirrel", you do not need to make special efforts. The algorithm here is as follows: we press the lever from below with our right hand, with our left hand we slightly press from above on the middle part of the trunks - the carbine is open. We put the cartridges in, press the lever again, smoothly close the gun, cock the trigger -the device is charged.
From which barrel the shot will be fired depends on the position of the switch, that is, the fire selector. The scheme of action and the location of the switch are such that the subconscious perceives it as a fuse. And you need to get used to this nuance. Of course, you definitely need to get used to the gun, which is equipped with an optical sight. It is here that the convenience of the trigger spoke, specially bent to the right, is revealed.
Firing process
Shooting from the "Squirrel" at targets revealed one curious logic. Small targets the size of a matchbox can only be confidently hit from a small rear sight at a distance of 25 meters. At 50 meters, the target fits completely into the slot of the sight.
If you take a general approach to shooting from a rifled barrel, you should take into account that shots at small targets like hazel grouse or squirrels are real at a distance of up to 30 meters. This does not require an optic. At distances up to 50-60 meters, you already need to use optics or another sight, for example, a collimator.
That is why the owner of such a rifle will always face the problem of sighting devices. Perhaps a solution using optics on an easily removable bracket is the best option.
If the gun is used only for "fur" hunting, the sight can never be removed. When hunting for a fur-bearing animal, in fact, they don’t fire offhand, even from a shotgun barrel. If running hunting is supposed, you will have to wear optics separately. After all, it is here that offhand shooting is a very common occurrence. A reasonable maximum for a rifled barrel is a distance of 70-75 meters. And for smooth - up to 40 meters. Real distances are 25-30 meters.
Productive Shooting
During the shooting, the flaws of the Squirrel's shot trigger appear, too rough, without any "pull". This nuance negatively affects the accuracy of shooting. By the way, loading weapons and removing spent cartridges is very easy here. However, only the small size of the “small” cartridge presents some inconvenience, the manipulation of which, especially in winter frosts, can be difficult.
When opening fire from a rifled barrel, you almost don't feel the recoil. And the shot from the shotgun seems to be quite tangible.
The accuracy of firing from a rifled barrel is quite good here, given the hard descent. Of course, bullets from different manufacturers show different results. It turns out that the Squirrel must be sighted for a specific type of ammunition.
In general, the Belka 28-gauge shotgun shoots effectively if the method of equipment and the type of bullets are selected. As a result, at a distance of 30-40 meters, you can successfully hunt both medium and small animals.
Cost
Today, our society has realized the value of objects of the past, so the purchase of old rare weapons in excellent condition is a good investment. Many hunters like the Belka gun. Its price is 600 dollars. From some owners, the product can be bought for 45 thousandrubles.
Izh-56-3 "Squirrel" is an extraordinary gun with pronounced design features. In general, "Squirrels", "frolovki" and other exotics are in the niche of special weapons, which today are not suitable for most popular types of hunting. But many shooters are looking for their "Squirrel" not to get food or make a living in fur trade …
Izh-27
Let's study another interesting device. Izh-27 is a Soviet double-barreled hunting rifle designed for amateur and commercial hunting. It was developed under the guidance of A. A. Klimov and has been mass-produced since 1973.
Izh-27 - a deep update of the Izh-12 gun. The shape of the forearm and stock was modernized, a ventilated aiming bar was introduced and the contours of the box were changed at the points of its attachment to the stock.
The gun has been produced since September 2008 under the name MP-27.
Today, more than 1.5 million Izh-27 rifles of various models have been manufactured - this rifle is the most common in Russia.
Description
Trunks Izh-27 detachable, placed in a vertical plane. They are interconnected by soldering on the side rails and pressed into the sleeve. The forearm and stock are made of wood. Depending on the model, the stock can be semi-pistol or straight. The butt of the gun is equipped with a rubber shock absorber, some versions are equipped with a plastic recoil pad.
How much does this gun Izh cost? Its price varies from 280 to 450 dollars.
Which caliber is best?
So westudied samples of the gun Izh. Let's now decide which caliber is better. First of all, you need to find out which bird or beast you will go for. For hunting, for example, on duck flights, the weapon must be with a long-range and sharp fight. Therefore, it is better to use a larger caliber here. If fishing is carried out with a pointing dog on grouse broods (short shooting), a smaller caliber weapon is quite suitable.
In general, the larger the caliber, the higher the mass of the gun. So, when hunting foxes, hares and game birds, 16-gauge guns are quite suitable.
If the shooter is fond of hunting with huskies for capercaillie, black grouse and squirrel, and also goes with a decoy for hazel grouse, you must choose guns of the 20th, 28th or 32nd caliber.
12-gauge shotguns are commonly used for shooting, flying and wild boar.
In fact, there are no exact recommendations for choosing a gun depending on the caliber. It must be remembered that a rifle of a significant caliber can also be fired at short distances using special "short-range" cartridges.
Have you ever used a 16-gauge gun to hunt a hare? Try it, the result will be great!
It is known that sometimes it is not possible to raise a swamp chicken “on the wing” at all: instead of flying, it runs away along the leaves of aquatic vegetation. It is very convenient in this case to creep up to her crawling and hastily shoot until the target is hidden in the grass.
The best option is Izh-27 - it's faster to make a shot than fromdouble-barreled guns, it is impossible, and in this case it is required too often: the firing distance can be up to 30 meters, the target is too small. Usually they use cartridges "Nitrogen" with a shot of 7, 5, "Pozis" with 7, "Record" with a shot of 8 and 9.
16 gauge is considered the best choice for most Russian hunts.
