BAIKAL DROZD AND IZH 46M PISTOLS

Air guns - Pyramyd Air Report

Friday, March 03, 2006

IZH 46 target pistol

by B.B. Pelletier

I find it hard to believe that in a year's time I did not do a posting on this pistol! But a search and examination of the index on September 30 says I didn't, so today I'm going to rectify that oversight.

The cocking/pump lever swings far forward to cock the action and pump the gun. Such a long lever reduces the effort needed to charge this powerful air pistol.

The linkage allows the fulcrum of the lever to slide to the most effective point, thus reducing the force needed to pump the gun.

One of the finest single-stroke pistols ever made!
By now you ought to know that the Russians really know how to rifle a barrel. The IZH 61 rifle is legendary, and a lot of you have bought it on my recommendation, alone. I haven't heard from anyone who was not pleased with this rifle. Well, the IZH 46 pistol is a whole other level of quality up from the model 61 rifle. It's a single-stroke pneumatic pistol that uses an innovative cocking linkage incorporating a sliding fulcrum for the pump. As a result, it is one of the easiest single-strokes to pump, yet also one of the most powerful guns. As a result, this is a pistol that won't tire you during a standard 60-shot men's match or a 40-shot women's match.

World-class features!
The 27.5cm (just a hair shy of 11") barrel is world-class. No human can shoot as well as this barrel permits, which is true of every world-class target pistol. The sights are adjustable for width in the front - to go with a choice of rear notches (the notches do not adjust). The sights adjust with click-detent wheels. The sighting plane lies low in the hand - a desirable feature. The trigger adjusts for position, pull weight (second stage only), first-stage travel and overtravel. It breaks cleanly without a hint of creep.

A few detractors...
At 40.3 oz., the 46 is several ounces heavier than any of today's world-class 10-meter pistols. The grips are smooth wood and not very adjustable. All that adjusts is the palm shelf, where the top 10-meter pistol grips also adjust for rake (forward angle), cant (sideways angle) and rotation (forcing the wrist to rotate around to the side to align the sights). These things help a shooter adjust a pistol that will lock in place when the shooter assumes the correct position. The finest pistols have a rear sight notch that adjusts infinitely through a range of widths. The best triggers also have trigger blade rotation, cant angle and the ability to dial a portion of the mandated 500-gram pull weight into the first stage. And, the dry-fire feature on the 46 is a little hokey.

Dry fire
A target pistol has to have a dry-fire feature because 2/3 to 4/5 of all shots a competitor shoots will be dry. It's part of the training to learn the trigger and to grow accustomed to the balance of the pistol. When I am competing, I can get into my stance, which never changes during the match, then pick up my pistol and fire without sighting. If you were to blindfold me, I'd still shoot a credible score because my arm knows where the pistol needs to be, and my feet keep the gun centered on the bull. That comes from many hours of practice. But the dry-fire feature on the 46 requires you to cock the action by lifting up on the breech cover, then push it closed to the locked position for every shot. Other 10-meter pistols are very light and smooth in dry-fire. The 46 fights you every step of the way. On top of that, when the trigger does break, it doesn't feel the same as when the gun shoots - which is the kiss of death for a dry-fire feature!

The dry fire feature is engaged by lifting the breech cover until the gun is cocked, then returning it to the lowered position.

The 46M is powerful!
I own a standard model 46, which may not be available any longer. The 46M that replaced it has a longer pump stroke for higher pressures that deliver about 50 to 70 f.p.s. higher velocity with target pellets. Side-by-side, you can tell the M model is a trifle harder to pump. When it's by itself, you'll never notice the difference. I would love to trade up to an M, even though my 8-year-old model 46 still functions fine. My 46 gets about 430 f.p.s. with RWS R-10 Match Pellets (light). A 46M will get 480 to 500 f.p.s. with the same pellet.

This is a super bargain!
When the IZH 46 first came to the U.S., it was imported by hobbyist businesses that knew nothing about the American airgun market. They put a price of $650 on it, making it close to the same price as FWB and Walther guns that already had established reputations and credentials at the world cup level. There was no rationale for this "strategy," which blew up in the faces of the early importers. Within 12 months, they were gone, and a second wave of vendors tried to see how cheaply they could sell them. Whatever dignity the 46 might have had was destroyed by them. Then, EAA began importing most of the IZH/Baikal line, including firearms. The market slowly straightened itself out to what we see today. The low price at which you can purchase this outstanding target pistol will someday be called "The Golden Age of Affordable Airguns" by shooters who missed out.

So, why don't I shoot a 46 in competition if I like it so much? Simple, I have a pistol I like even better. You'll pay $1,000 for the Aeron B99, the PCP equivalent of my CO2 target pistol. (Read Aeron B99 - a quality 10-meter target pistol) If I had the money, I would get an FWB P40, because it has all the features I want. They sell for around $1,400 at present, and I have wanted one like it for more than a decade. So many airguns, so little money!

78 Comments:

At March 03, 2006 8:01 AM, Joe in MD said...: The grip must be worked on for the IZH-46(M). They build them way to large intentionally so there is enough wood to remove to make it fit anyone's hand. Trouble is, it is too large for almost anyone.

It is easy to work on -- I used a wood file (the cheese grater kind works great (no pun intended)) or a Dremel. If you end up taking off too much, you can always use wood putty or filler to build up again.

To refinish, get some stain and penetrating finish (I like Minwax) from the hardware store.

Commercial replacement grips are available but will cost about $150 (and you may still want to go at them with a file).
At March 03, 2006 10:51 AM, Anonymous said...: BB, thanks for the piece on the IZH46. I wrote you earlier about my interest in this pistol and your article helps me better understand this well made and accurate pistol. I am a newbie to air guns and I wanted a pistol that was far better than my ability to shoot so that I would not have any excuse for poor marksmanship. As mentioned in an earlier note to you, when I ordered the pistol, I had read some things that suggested that the build quality was poor. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am amazed at the quality and fit and finish. I had to sand off a sharp edge on the moveable part of the grip, but apart from that, this is a wonderful pistol and several of my friends after seeing mine and taking a few shots with it are going to buy the IZH46m. Now that I am out of excuses for my marksmanship, I can only get better with practice. One point from your article that I was unclear about, is there a narrow front sight blade and a corresponding rear sight blade available for this pistol? Please keep at this Blog. I look forward to reading it daily.
PCR
At March 03, 2006 12:08 PM, B.B. Pelletier said...: PCR,

The gun used to come with a replacement front post that was thinner. The rear sight had a second notch machined on the bottom, so it could be flipped upside-down and used with the narrower front post.

Are these items no longer with the gun?

B.B.
At March 03, 2006 4:14 PM, Anonymous said...: B.B., YOUR RIGHT!!!! There is a set of sight posts and a second rear sight blade in the package that hold the extra seals. I guess I was so taken by the pistol that I never opened the little plastic wrapped package thinking it was just a set of extra seals. After trying the narrow post, I swapped it for the widest post thinking that it gave me a sight picture that I found easer to see and bring on target. Once again thanks.
PCR
At March 03, 2006 5:25 PM, Anonymous said...: BB,

Sorry, offtopic. During my travels thru cyberspace I have come accross something I wish I knew more about. I have read it is possible to use a weapon mounted laser pointer viewed thru the scope (the laser dot) to quickly and easily range targets. Do you know how, or have you even ever heared of this???

Jason
At March 03, 2006 5:36 PM, turtle said...: Hmmm. interesting off topic. sounds like it will come down to "knowing your gun". But i do have a lazer mounted on my SS. very good idea.
At March 03, 2006 6:31 PM, Anonymous said...: Turtle,

I know it will be easier to do with a Mil-dot. I don't know where you are supposed to aim the laser. It probably doesn't matter. Your right that knowing your gun one could get used to it, but I was looking for a generic formula or mathematical equation. My secret is out!

Jason
At March 04, 2006 7:56 AM, Anonymous said...: BB,

Which pellets for a 1000fps in .177cal are competition material.Please tell me all of them in order of how you like them.

Mr.FPS
At March 04, 2006 9:06 AM, B.B. Pelletier said...: Mr. FPS,

A pellet rifle that shoots 1,000 f.p.s. is not a competition gun. Therefore, comtetition pellets will only be mediocre in one.

B.B.
At March 04, 2006 9:09 AM, B.B. Pelletier said...: Jason,

If you align a laser to coincide with your point of aim at any distance, the laser will either be higher or lower at all other distances. That's because the laser looks straight and the scope looks (straight) down.

If you learn how the separation looks, it's easy to estimate distance by the amount of separation between the laser and the crosshairs.

B.B.
At March 04, 2006 11:36 AM, Anonymous said...: BB,

I meant the most accurate pellets for a 1000fps air rifle.

Mr.FPS
At March 04, 2006 6:44 PM, Anonymous said...: BB,

Thanks for the info.

Jason
At March 04, 2006 8:03 PM, Anonymous said...: Mr FPS: Check out BB's posts from: 12/06/05 & 02/20/06 & 09/08/05 & 02/02/05 & 12/07/05. Tons of great info on pellets.

Jim.
At March 05, 2006 3:19 AM, cold shooter said...: B.B.
The other day you recommended the Oehler 35P as the chronograph of choice. It appears as though the Oehler folks no longer sell chronographs! So, what is the next best chronograph for us to use for both pellets and bullets? Thanks.
At March 05, 2006 5:07 AM, Anonymous said...: heh reddot scopes don't use lasers, they use some kind of special LED. I've never personally liked the crosman or daisy electronic sights because mine have nearly always been way off target.

But milspec stuff has always been a totally diffrent story with me. Can't ever have to many holosights or aimpoints now can we?
At March 05, 2006 8:18 AM, Anonymous said...: B.B.
I have been reading with interest your comments on using the proper lubricant in various air guns. Consequently, as a newbie, I bought a cleaning kit and several types of lubricant. I have the following: Crosman Pelgunoil, Crosman Silicon Chamber Oil,(Are the two Crosman oils the same product?) and MP-5 (Metalophilic). I also purchased a small amount of Beeman Metal to Metal Moly Paste. I know what needs paste, but the question is which oil is used for which gun. I have the following guns; Sheridan (old and reliable), RWS 52, and IZH46M. The RWS 52 and IZH are both new,few months old and I do not want to dammage them, The instructions with each gun are vague at best. Any suggestions?
PCR
At March 05, 2006 10:06 AM, Anonymous said...: An L.E.D. IS a laser. Prove me wrong. And the Daisy sight you deride was based off military from fifteen years ago. Mil-spec doesn't mean a lot in this fast-paced world, not for long.
At March 05, 2006 10:27 AM, .357 said...: To the laughing anon,
I believe the subject suggested refers to laser pointers, not dot sights.
And to Jason,
Everyone I have read suggests using a mil-dot reticle for distancing. I have tried it on an aquaintences rifle and found it easy to get used to, and fairly accurate. It is better suited for short to medium ranges, going out too far creates little difference in laser and scope line of sight, and judging becomes harder. And I think using a fixed power scope is best, it's easier on the brain. Different magnification, different "range chart" for the scope/laser.
At March 05, 2006 10:45 AM, B.B. Pelletier said...: Mr. FPS,

If you can keep the velocity UNDER 900 f.p.s., the best pellets in .177 and .22 are JSB Exacts, Crosman Premiers (7.9 for .177 spring guns) and the 20.5-grain Logun Penetrator.

The Beeman Kodiak is always good in PCP rifles and in .177 springers.

B.B.
At March 05, 2006 11:14 AM, B.B. Pelletier said...: cold shooter,

Oehler is very much in business. I just saw them at the SHOT Show.

Their web site is

http://www.oehler-research.com/

B.B.
At March 05, 2006 11:19 AM, B.B. Pelletier said...: PCR,

Don't oil the RWS 52. It should be okay for many years. When it does need oil (a squeaking sound ehen cocked) use one drop of RWS Chamber oil through the air transfer port.

Use Pellgunoil on the pump heads of the Sheridans and the IZH 46.

I have no application for the MP-5. The M-2-M greas is for the mainspring of rifles, and the pistol seals. Complete disassembly is required. I wouldn't do it unless you want to get into spring guns in the big way.

B.B.
At March 05, 2006 12:50 PM, Anonymous said...: B.B. Thanks,
PCR
At March 05, 2006 4:23 PM, Anonymous said...: BB Pelletier,

I would like to buy a gamo nra special edition.Can you do a post on it?

Mr.FPS
At March 05, 2006 4:36 PM, B.B. Pelletier said...: Mr. FPS,

I reviewed the Gamo Shadow 1000 on June 24. The NRA Special Edition is a Shadow 1000 with the NRA badge on the stock and scope.

B.B.
At March 05, 2006 6:03 PM, cold shooter said...: B.B.
I wish I was wrong and you were correct, but when I go to the site I get:

"Oehler has reluctantly suspended production of handloader equipment, including the Model 35. Our current inventory of handloader systems is depleted. Production of industrial equipment and technical support for all Oehler equipment continues. You can still get warranty service and parts."

So, B.B., where do we go now?
At March 05, 2006 6:09 PM, B.B. Pelletier said...: cold shooter,

I stand corrected!

I didn't go into the site far enough to see that message, plue Dr. Oehler never said a word about it when we spoke in Feb.

I guess you go with a PACT chronograph!

B.B.
At March 05, 2006 6:16 PM, Anonymous said...: Anon,

A laser is a laser. Led stands for light emitting diode. No different than the little red power stand by lights on stereo equip. A holographic sight is one with a laser shining on a lens that does not let the laser dot pass thru the glass. It seems the prevailing mentality of some people is to trash what they don't themselves understand. Nothing new, it has been happening since the dawn of man's creation. Maybe if one was to open up, they may learn something new. As for the others, the waters only get deeper from here on out.

Jason
At March 05, 2006 6:27 PM, Anonymous said...: 357,

I have a mildot 6-24x40mm on my Gladi8or and know how to use it at 10x to range objects by comparing to a close object of known size. The method I was reffering to, looking at the lasers dot thru the scope would be way more useful to me when I night hunt. It is hard to use the mil-dot method in the dark. If you light up the quarry to long while your doing mathematics to compute range, the critter is gone. That is not what I want to happen. The laser method, flick it on, look at the distance between laser dot and crosshairs and the critter is none the wiser.

Jason
At March 05, 2006 7:15 PM, Anonymous said...: BB,

I was looking in the pellet are and found the Beeman Silver Arrow pellets.I kind of like them and they are hevier than the kodiaks.How do they compare to the kodiaks?
Are they better?
Tell me your opinion on this pellet.

CF-X guy
At March 05, 2006 7:22 PM, B.B. Pelletier said...: CF-X guy,

I have never gotten any accuracy from Silver Arrows in any caliber, so I cannot recommend them.

B.B.
At March 05, 2006 8:20 PM, .357 said...: Jason,
Not that I have the money for it either(two kids, mortgage), but have you thought of going infrared? If you mount an IR laser and have a night scope, you can range and they still don't see you. I used this setup of a former co-workers to some effect, and rat eyes glow, even when not looking at you.
B.B. explained how laser/scope ranging works, it isn't as hard as it seems.
The problem you state with time becomes a non-issue with practice during the day, but at night needs a lighted reticle if you do not use a lamp, as you need a good point of reference in the scope. As always, practice takes a significant amount of time off sight-to-shoot, even when calculating distance with a mil-dot setup. It does get easy.
Good luck hunting!
At March 05, 2006 9:33 PM, Anonymous said...: .357,

I certainly wouldn't mind having a night vision scope with a good infrared illuminator. They are pricey even for 1st gen models. Right now I use the 6-24 mildot that has an illuminated recticle and a scope mounted 6 volt lamp with an amber filter. In my expirience the animals are even less bothered by the light with the amber(really more orange) than the red filter. Thanks for the ideas!

Jason
At March 05, 2006 9:46 PM, Anonymous said...: BB,

Thank for the info on the silver arrows.
I bought at a local flea market some gamo magnum pellets for $5.00 and they are accurate.I read the question that JB posted on the jan 6 post and I want to know too.Why do this pellets have those lines on the skirt?

CF-X guy
At March 06, 2006 12:11 PM, Anonymous said...: B.B.

You make the comment earlier: "A pellet rifle that shoots 1,000 f.p.s. is not a competition gun..." Why not? Are competition guns slower or faster and why?

jw
At March 06, 2006 12:20 PM, B.B. Pelletier said...: jw,

The only world-class competition for air rifles and pistols is 10-meter target shooting. Velocities of the guns remain below 600 f.p.s.

Field target is an "ad hoc" world-level competition, in that there is no encompassing organization running things. It takes the cooperation of all the countries involved to hold a world match, so I don't consider that world-class. You may disagree with me.

And even field target velocities are held at or below 900 f.p.s. by the major competitors. The Brits have to shoot at 12 foot-pounds, which means 825 f.p.s. or less, yet they win most of the time.

That is the rationale behind my remark.

B.B.
At March 06, 2006 6:04 PM, Anonymous said...: the ummm, 1900$ Walther LG300 shoots a .177 @ 1000fps and it sure looks like a competitor to me!
At March 06, 2006 7:49 PM, B.B. Pelletier said...: Where did you see that? The Walther Dominator, an FT version of the 300 AluTek, can shoot in the low 900s with pellets too light for field target, but the 300 AluTek is a pure 10 meter target rifle and shoots less than 600 f.p.s.

B.B.
At March 12, 2006 10:21 PM, Joe B said...: BB,
Thanks for the post on the IZH-46. I think it just moved to the top of my want list.

I have a Shooting Chrony Beta Master. I like it. I have done quite a lot of testing of my CF-X, and have reported some of those numbers in previous comments. I use the indoor lighting fixture. It works very well. There is much debate on which Chrono is best, my subjective opinion is this one is a great value.

Also, looks like someone else is signing their posts with JB, guess I'll change to.....

Joe B

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