Recently, among fans of hunting rifles, interest in ordinary non-collection domestic models made in the sixties and seventies has increased. One of the most popular representatives of this product is the IZH 59 "Sputnik" shotgun.
The history of the creation of weapons
IZH 59 "Sputnik" was produced under the leadership of chief designer A. Klimov from 1959 to 1962. During this period, more than twenty thousand units were collected. This gun has gained wide popularity among hunters and received the title of "folk". This is due to the fact that IZH 59 "Sputnik" is the first double-barreled hunting rifle available to the general consumer, equipped with smooth barrels placed in a vertical plane one above the other.
Many gunsmiths know the concept of "bokflint". It is used to refer to various hunting rifles with a similar vertical placement of the barrels. IZH 59 "Sputnik" opened a whole line of "verticals" created by Soviet gunsmiths. As a result of their design work, attentionConsumers were presented with such very popular bench shotguns as IZH 12, 27, 25 and 39. When creating these models, the base of the main gun IZH 59 "Sputnik" was used.
What is the product?
This model is a double-barreled hunting shotgun containing vertical folding barrels. They are fastened with two couplings. In the design of this model, gunsmiths do not provide for the presence of connecting (inter-barrel) straps. In the production of channels and chambers, a chromium plating procedure is used. A special latch is used to attach the detachable forearm. The extraction of spent cartridge cases from two barrels is carried out using special ejectors. They are located in the coupling in special side grooves.
Aiming is carried out using a special aiming bar. It is soldered to the upper barrel of the IZH 59 Sputnik gun. The characteristics that this weapon received indicate a 50 percent accuracy of its lower barrel. The accuracy provided by its upper barrel during firing is not less than 60%. A wide wedge is used to lock the gun. It clings to a special spring-loaded articulated hook that contains the breech sleeve of the barrels.
The stock is made from beech or walnut wood. The shape of the bed is straight or pistol.
The stock on the back has a plastic or rubber shock absorber. Covering the side surfaces of the trunkscarried out with the help of special wooden linings. As evidenced by the numerous reviews of the owners, sport hunting and sport shooting are the areas for which the IZH 59 Sputnik is ideal. The photo below shows the design features of this hunting weapon.
How are barrel pads arranged?
The breech of the receiver is located in the receiver, in which a special cutout is provided for this purpose. They are also equipped with two windows for the front and rear grenade hooks. From the inside of the wall of the receiver blocks are equipped with inclined grooves for the pusher. There are two holes on the pads for the strikers. The shank is the end of the back of the receiver. A sear and fuse system are located on the shank.
TTX
Features & Specifications:
- According to the type IZH 59 "Sputnik" is a firearm.
- By designation, this model belongs to the hunting group.
- The weapon is equipped with smoothbore type barrels.
- The number of barrels for one gun is 2 pieces.
- The trunks are located in a vertical plane.
- In the manufacture of barrels, craftsmen use standard drilling: pay - lower barrel, full choke - upper.
- Combat power is not provided automatically.
- The length of the barrel is 75 cm.
- Weight - 3.5 kg.
- The weapon is designed to use ammunition of the twelfthcaliber.
- Chuck size is 12/70.
- Manufacturer - Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (USSR).
Trigger device
USM these guns is placed in the pads. For the mechanism, separate grounds are provided, which are also called "masks". USM is equipped with cylindrical helical mainsprings, as well as return triggers, which are located separately from the striker. With the help of hinges and cocking levers, the cocking of the hammers is carried out in IZH 59 "Sputnik". Owner reviews indicate that the trigger mechanism of this gun is simple. If necessary, it is easy to disassemble and assemble. It is not necessary to use special tools to perform these jobs.
How is the weapon disassembled?
In order to disassemble the gun, you must do the following:
- Disconnect handguard.
- Turn the locking lever all the way to the right.
A shotgun can be considered disassembled if the receiver unit in it is separated from the receiver and stock.
Types of USM
Trigger mechanisms in this model represent three different systems:
- Two trigger design. Each of them is designed to work with one of the two barrels.
- Two trigger system. Each of them can sequentially act on two barrels.
- Design containing one trigger, designed to work with two barrels. This type of USM is characterized by any sequence of connecting the trigger to the trunks. Its use was made possible thanks to the use of a special switch. This mechanism is considered an invention of Russian gunsmiths, since it was constructively implemented in Russia.
A characteristic feature for all three trigger mechanisms is the ability to perform a smooth descent of the triggers.
How is the fuse in the gun IZH 59 "Sputnik"?
Feedback from owners about the design of fuses in this hunting weapon is positive. With the help of an automatic fuse during the cocking of the hammers, the sear is locked. Thus, the sear remains closed only when the trigger is cocked. If it is lowered, the safety button is in idle mode: with its flag, it does not sear. Its closure is carried out thanks to the automatic safety mode immediately after opening the barrels and cocking the triggers in IZH 59 Sputnik. Feedback from the owners of these guns indicates that the safety system copes with its task successfully:
- When the barrels are not closed, the possibility of unplanned shooting is completely excluded.
- Due to the special design of the fuses, the owner has the opportunity to produce an unimpacted release of the trigger, which is on the cocked. To do this, open the trunks completely and move the safety button forward. Then you should press the triggers. Only after performing these actions, the trunksclose.
Ammunition
To equip cartridges for this gun, both smoky and smokeless powder are applicable. "Shirts" sleeves are made of paper or metal. The gun is designed to use 12-gauge ammunition only.
Distinctive design feature
These guns do not have connecting straps. The connection between the trunks is performed by two couplings. In order to eliminate excessive stress that occurs during firing, the developers of this gun have a sliding fit in the muzzle for the lower barrel. As a result, according to many owners, any change in the powder charge leads to a change in the angle of departure of the bullet. Therefore, the use of reinforced charges is undesirable for firing from IZH 59 Sputnik. Owner reviews indicate that when firing with reinforced ammunition, the gun barrels vibrate noticeably, as a result of which the weapon begins to “baptize”: a bullet fired from the upper barrel lies below its target, and from the lower one, on the contrary, higher. According to the reviews of the owners of this gun, the distance between the barrels is very large: if you take this weapon in your hand by the barrels and squeeze, they will touch each other.
This feature, characteristic of IZH 59 "Sputnik", was taken into account by the developers in the process of creating new hunting and sporting models of guns. As a result of the improvements, it was decided to solder the trunks together. In the future, a similar solution was used to create the IZH 12 gun. According to the owners, IZH 59 "Sputnik"was created in the years when hunting honored the ethics of shooting: any increase in powder charge or strong rolling of cartridges was unacceptable. According to hunting weapons experts, it was for skilled shooters, and not for those who like to shoot ammunition reinforced by 50 g of shot, that the IZH 59 "Sputnik" gun was created.
Foreign analogue of the Soviet side flint
"Merkel" is one of the expensive and very sophisticated models of "vertical" that has gained wide popularity in Germany. This gun has become a fetish for generations of German hunters, and the possession of this weapon was a matter of special pride.
High applicability, excellent balance and ease of control of the shotgun made this German side flint one of the most popular among sports and hunting models in the gun markets in Germany. Exactly the same popularity among connoisseurs of smoothbore guns in the Soviet Union enjoys the IZH 59 "Sputnik". An analogue of the Russian model consists of three parts: a receiver, a block of barrels and a forearm. According to the reviews of the owners of the German Merkels, the attachment of the forearm to the barrels in these guns is quite strong. The shotguns are equipped with very strong locking parts.
Strengths and weaknesses of German and Russian side flints
Judging by the numerous positive reviews of the owners of "vertical shotguns", the advantages of shotguns with vertically placed barrels are:
- Improved visibility while firing.
- High "survivability" of guns.
- Comfort to use (vertical barrel models are comfortable to grip).
- The absence of a connecting strap between the barrels ensures the light weight of the gun. Due to this, it has increased maneuverability and is easy to operate.
- The design features of the fuse allow the owner of this gun to perform shockless triggers mounted on the cocked.
The disadvantages of IZH 59 Sputnik, like most side flints, include:
- In different barrels, the triggers hit the primers with different strengths. According to some owners, frequent misfires are characteristic of lower barrels.
- Intense operation can lead to loosening of stocks. The owners of these guns note that the butts “prick” along the cutout in the upper and lower parts. This is due to the fact that over time, the coupling screw on the butt weakens. Also, loosening can be caused by a weak insertion of metal into wood. Owners recommend checking and tightening these pinch screws periodically.
Conclusion
The appearance of such an original and practical product as IZH 59 "Sputnik" has become a revolution in hunting and sports shooting. Today, new smoothbore guns are being produced with barrels placed in a horizontal plane. In creating modern side flints, designers take into account and correct all the shortcomings of previous models.
