For a long time, domestic industrialists for hunting fur animals have been using carbines under the 5.6LR cartridge and rifles of all known calibers. The intricate hunt for furs forced hunters sometimes to carry in the taiga at the same time two shotguns - a shotgun and a "small fry", which was completely impractical. They tried to solve this problem many times. In fact, weapons should be not only comfortable, but also inexpensive: cost is always important for people. That is why single-barrels, offered at an affordable price, became the basis for experiments in the USSR. Before the appearance of the Izh-56 “Squirrel” combined gun, other mechanisms existed, but it is precisely it that is considered a real present for hunters.
Characteristics
The Izh-56 specimen has the following characteristics - it is a “fracture”, in which the detachable barrels are located vertically, which contributes to the most optimal shooting with bullets. Locking is single, lever, carried out by the shutter hook: in the under-barrel hook there is a recess in which it enters. If we take into account the small return on the calibers used, we can say that this scheme is justified. The mass of the gun ranged from 2.9 (without optics) to 3.15 (with optics) kg.
When opening the Squirrel 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 trigger is identical to the versions of Izh-K and Izh-17, equipped with one trigger and the only external trigger, providing firing from both trunks. When choosing a barrel, you need to switch the trigger with a push button selector.
Agree, the Squirrel fishing rifle 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 in the front of the trigger are two shock ledges.
The Squirrel (rifle) does not have a special fuse: it is equipped with a safety cocking of the trigger, which pulls the trigger after the end of the hook - it is impossible to lower it from this position. If an optical sight is used, it will be comfortable for you to cock the dog, because its spoke is bent to the right. Downhill effort - 2.0-3.5 kg.
By the way, the Squirrel combined rifle cannot be opened when cocked. Also, with an unlocked product, it is not possible to cock the trigger.
Rifle trunks are connected by three couplings: muzzle, breech and sight. Small-caliber rifled barrel has a connection, which is made by pinning and using a press fit. It is equipped with six right-handed rifling with a pitch of 400 mm. A “sliding” landing was made on the shot barrel, its channel is chrome-plated.
Extractors are located in the breech sleeve. On its upper part, a dovetail is milled, which is necessary for installing an optics bracket. Regular sight 2.5-fold PVS-1 is easily removed. As a rule, it is installed at the factory.
It should be noted that this sight is not effective, although it is quite reliable. The removable forend is equipped with a latch and side cheeks, which cover the inter-barrel space in the breech of the trunks. The butt of the Squirrel-3 rifle is amazing: it is made in the best English traditions. For the manufacture of forends and stocks of this model, a birch has always been used. Antabok is located on the butt and shotgun barrel (in the area of stepwise modification of the shape of the trunk).
The open sight of this hunting rifle was transferred to the sighting clutch, since the automatic switching of the position of the rear sight in height was eliminated. He received a folding additional pillar, designed for firing from a rifled barrel up to fifty meters. Due to the movement of the sight on the clutch, the sighting line decreased (from 725 to 500 mm).
The third version of the Squirrel, which has some drawbacks, still turned out to be a very successful hunting rifle that fully complies with the requirements of industrial hunting. The manufacture of this product was completed more than forty years ago, but its structure and working properties are not outdated today.
"Squirrel" in the hands of a hunter
What else is famous for "Squirrel"? The gun has a smooth barrel, which should have been equipped with a “cylinder with pressure” drill. But constant cleaning eradicated the conical drill: now it is straight cylindrical. A slight narrowing was felt in the interval 1/5 of the length of the trunk, starting from the muzzle, in addition, it looked like a smooth and long cone (about 10-12 cm). At the muzzle end, the barrel diameter was 13.5 mm. Taking into account the diameter of Izhevsk trunks 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. Similarly, the base of the fly was made. A barrel with a cylindrical drill gives an excellent uniform sheaf of shot.
The entire product at 25 and 50 m are shot and barren at the factory. No large horizontal anomalies of the STP were noted, and vertical deviations had some drawbacks.
Masterpiece
Many people like Squirrel. The gun is a real masterpiece of engineering. This design is very well designed and executed. This completely finished product is nice to hold in your hands! Its outlines are graceful, the system is polished with amazing quality.
Here you can admire only the processing of metal surfaces of weapons elements! But today, with such high-quality metal processing, IZHMEH only produces custom-made samples. "Squirrel" is a serial gun.
Transformations and Features
Shotgun Izh "Squirrel" modified by engineers of the 50s: it has significantly reduced mass and it weighs no more than three kilograms! “Excess” metal is eliminated in many places: a smooth barrel has a stepped contour, holes are drilled in the under-barrel hook, details of sights look like toys. At the same time, there is a feeling of absolute reliability of the weapon.
Guns for hunting this model, despite its purpose and design, always act on a person to a certain extent. This nuance is expressed by both associative-subjective and objective factors. For example, for any shooter and gun lover, the Squirrel is a usual interesting design. In fact, it is considered obsolete, having a huge number of shortcomings and a plain appearance. Some hunters consider this product a youthful dream. They even perceive the flaws of the system from a different perspective, for the dream should not have flaws. Of course, almost everything is forgiven to your beloved gun, as a long-awaited baby.
Pistol gun
Hunters "Squirrel" perceived as a spread, posadnoe, light, but not perfect gun. Because of the muffed trunks, they unconsciously compare it with the old "Winchesters." System features, product appearance, any construction detail - 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: press the lever with the right hand from below, press slightly on the middle part of the trunks with the left hand - the carbine is open. We put in cartridges, press on the lever again, gently close the gun, cock the trigger - the device is charged.
From which barrel a shot will be fired, depends on the position of the switch, that is, the fire selector. The action scheme and location of the switch are such that the subconscious mind perceives it as a fuse. And this nuance must be adapted. 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 needle of the trigger, specially bent to the right, is revealed.
Shooting process
Shooting from the Squirrel at the targets revealed one interesting logic. Small targets the size of a matchbox can surely be hit only with a small rear sight at a range of 25 meters. At 50 meters, the target is fully placed in the slot of the sight.
If we take a general approach to shooting from a rifled barrel, it is supposed to take into account that shots at small targets like hazel grouse or squirrels are real at ranges up to 30 meters. In this case, optics are not required. At distances up to 50-60 meters it is already necessary 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 “furry” hunting, the scope can never be removed. When hunting for a fur-bearing animal, in fact, they do not scorch offhand, even from a shot barrel. If sea hunting is supposed, it is necessary to carry optics separately. After all, this is where offhand shooting is a very common occurrence. A reasonable maximum for a rifled barrel is considered to be a distance of 70-75 meters. And for smooth - up to 40 meters. Real distances are 25-30 meters.
Effective shooting
During the shooting, flaws of the Squirrel shot, too coarse, without any “pull”, appear. This nuance negatively affects firing accuracy. By the way, loading weapons and retrieving spent cartridges is very easy. However, only the small size of the “small” cartridge, some of which may be difficult to manipulate, especially during winter frosts, presents some inconvenience.
When you open fire from a rifled barrel, you hardly feel any return. And the shot from the shot barrel seems already quite tangible.
The accuracy of the shot from the rifled barrel is very good, given the hard descent. Of course, bullets from different manufacturers show different results. It turns out that the Squirrel sighting needs to be carried out for a specific type of ammunition.
In general, a Squirrel 28-caliber rifle effectively shoots if the method of equipment and the type of bullets are selected. As a result, at a range 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 acquisition of old rare weapons in excellent condition is a good investment. Many hunters like the Squirrel gun. Its price is 600 dollars. Some owners can buy the product for 45 thousand rubles.
Izh-56-3 "Squirrel" is an extraordinary shotgun with pronounced design features. In general, "Squirrels", "Frolovka" and other exotic are in the niche of special weapons, which today is not suitable for most popular types of hunting. But many shooters are not looking for their "Squirrel" in order to get food or earn a living by fur trade …
Izh-27
We’ll explore 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 mass-produced since 1973.
Izh-27 - a deep update of the Izh-12 gun. He had upgraded the shape of the fore-end and stock, introduced the ventilated sighting bar and changed the contours of the box at the points of its attachment to the bed.
The gun has been produced since September 2008 under the name MP-27.
Today, more than 1.5 million Izh-27 guns of various models are manufactured - this rifle is the most common in Russia.
Description
Izh-27 barrels are detachable, placed in a vertical plane. They are interconnected by soldering on the side strips and pressed into the sleeve. The forend and butt are made of wood. Depending on the model, the bed can be semi-pistol or straight. The gun stock is equipped with a rubber shock absorber, in some versions it is equipped with a plastic butt pad.
How much is such a gun Izh? Its price varies from 280 to 450 dollars.
