The IZH-17 gun is an example of a simple and trouble-free weapon from the last century, it is still in demand among hunters.
A bit of history
For the first time, the IZH model was made at IZHMEKh in the first years after the war, and was produced until 1970. There is an opinion that IZH-17 and IZH-49 were made according to drawings brought from Germany. It was produced until the 70s, until it was replaced by other models. For all time, about half a million copies have been released.
The IZH-17 gun was very popular. Photo below.
Precursors
In 1940, a mechanical plant in Izhevsk produced a gun, which was named ZK ("Zlatoust-Kazantsev"). The weapon was single-shot and single-barreled, intended for hunting a medium-sized beast. It was suitable for both amateur hunters and for fishing. It was also produced by the Zlatoust Machine-Building Plant. This gun is considered the progenitor of all IZH, because they do not differ too much from it in their design.
Characteristics of the IZH-17 gun
The IZH-17 gun has one barrel, single-shot, with an external trigger. Loading type - mechanical. It is produced for calibers from 12 to 32. The IZH 17 16 caliber gun was also produced. Now find this model and cartridges for itquite difficult.
Barrel length and weight vary by caliber.
- The.32 caliber shotgun weighs 2.4 kg. Length - 675 mm.
- 28 gauge measures 2.5kg/675mm.
- 20th weighs 2.6kg and is also 675mm long.
- The 16 gauge model weighs 2.6 kg with a barrel length of 730mm.
Fore-end and stock of the IZH-17 gun are made of wood, in factory versions - of birch and beech. Compared to its predecessors, it has less weight, better balance, improved weapon design. Also, the wear resistance of the mechanisms is higher: the guaranteed shot of the IZH-17 gun is eight thousand shots. The optimal firing range is 50 meters. With a higher power cartridge, you can achieve a range of up to 100 meters, but this will greatly increase the return.
Single, “gift” copies of IZH-17 were also made. Such a gun was executed carefully and more qualitatively, the details were artistically finished, and the stock was made of walnut or beech wood. In addition to appearance, a single instance was distinguished by greater accuracy of battle, and the build quality predetermined its high reliability.
Barrel and mechanism
Drilling of the barrel corresponds to the "pressure cylinder" type. For the 12 gauge, the choke value is 0.25 mm, and for the 32 gauge it is 0.1 mm. This type of barrel is also called a weak choke or improved cylinder. It is not too different from the cylinder in combat qualities, however, when shooting, you can no longer use a round bullet.
The gun does not have a fuse, like the othersIZH models. The lower part of the hammer has a protrusion that prevents cocking if the barrel is not fully locked. The same mechanism works in the opposite direction: when the trigger is cocked, it is no longer possible to open the barrel. The force required for a shot is 1.5-2 kg. The role of the sear in the mechanism is performed by the trigger.
The sleeve can be used both metal and paper.
Removing the buttstock
There are times when it is necessary to detach the stock. The reasons can be different, from restoration and refinement, to replacement. Beginner hunters may experience a hitch here. First you need to remove the rear bar of the butt. To do this, you just need to unscrew the two screws. After removing the strap, a hole in the butt will become visible. Use a cylindrical wrench to unscrew the nut from the main screw, after which the stock will be removed.
Care
Like all weapons, this gun needs periodic lubrication and cleaning after firing. Since the age of any IZH-17 is more than forty years old, if stored incorrectly, various problems due to time may appear. If the gun has not been used, the mechanism may rust, and cracks may appear in the wood of the stock and forearm. Rust is usually removed with dehydrated or clean aviation kerosene. USM is soaked in kerosene for a period of at least a day, then cleaned with cotton wool. Nagar after shooting is also easily removed with kerosene. Places from which rust could not be cleaned are advised to be buried.
Causes of cracks in the stock
Wood has been and remains the most popular material for stocks, despite the fact that many new materials have appeared. Part of its popularity is due to the fact that such a buttstock is easy to modify for the anatomical features of the shooter. However, there are also disadvantages - low resistance compared to polymers.
Most often, cracks appear on the upper part of the neck of the IZH gun stock. Ahead is the upper shank of the receiver, it is with it that the appearance of cracks is associated. If the end part of the groove on the neck fits too tightly to the shank, then as a result of operation, the tree splits along the fibers. The gap may disappear as a result of natural changes in wood due to a decrease or increase in humidity. With a large shot, the cheeks of the butt neck are compacted and shortened, which also leads to the disappearance of the gap. It can also be a result of the general looseness of the wood the stock is made of. The second common cause of cracking is an under-tightened pinch screw that pulls the stock against the receiver. In this case, the “swing” of the shank is greater, which with a hundred percent probability will make the neck unusable.
How to avoid cracks
Periodic inspection of the IZH gun for the presence of a gap is guaranteed to protect the weapon from cracks in the upper part of the neck. If the shooter detects the disappearance of the gap, it is necessary to remove the stock and cut the end of the groove. For this, a semicircular chisel of the appropriate size is suitable. It is also necessaryCheck the pinch screw regularly.
Sometimes cracks do not appear on the neck, which can be caused by a defective workpiece. According to the rules, the wood fibers should go along the neck of the butt and parallel to its bottom. In other cases, you can wait for splitting.
Simplicity and reliability
Until now, shooters often choose the IZH-17 hunting rifle. The price for a beginner also plays a role: this weapon can sometimes be bought for several thousand rubles. The gun belongs to the weapon of wide application. It, like the ZK - the predecessor of all IZH, is used for hunting, both amateur and commercial. Hunters love IZH-17 for its reliability and relative lightness. From many you can hear that the gun does not fail even in bad weather conditions, it serves perfectly, exceeding the warranty shot by several times and, due to the simplicity of the device, it is easy to repair.
IZH-17 has a small return, which is important, especially for beginner hunters. In view of this, the model can be used for training, as well as for shooting on the stand, because more than a hundred shots are fired in one training session, and after a couple of dozen the return becomes significant for the shooter. The gun can also withstand the greater power of the cartridge, which allows you to increase the firing range. Until now, this model remains in service among hunters and is an excellent budget option for a beginner.
