During the Great Patriotic War, a large number of hunting rifles were withdrawn from the population for the needs of the army. Most of them were destroyed. In the post-war period, the country needed “fur” currency and meat of game animals. The question of a shortage of hunting weapons was especially acute. The authorities went to meet the needs of people. To ensure the welfare of her people, she resumed the mass production of various models of shotguns, among which the hunting gun IZH-26 became especially popular.
Overview of products manufactured in Izhevsk
Izhevsk is famous for its arms factory. Among the models produced by him guns:
- IL-43. The design of the mechanisms of these guns was assembled from the remaining pre-war reserve of parts. The model was equipped with brandtubes made of insufficient quality steel. The IZH-43 system is highly reliable.
- IL-54. It is a double-barreled shotgun with triple locking. The design lacks an additional safety cocking trigger.
- IL-57. The model was produced since 1957. The product has horizontally paired trunks. The design is identical to IZH-54. These models differ in the size of the parts. IZH-57 is equipped with a thin and streamlined bolt box and an aiming plate protruding from the sides of the receiver tubes.
- IL-58. It is made since 1958. It replaced the hunting model IZH-57.
- IL-26. The gun was manufactured from 1969 to 1975. Designed for ammunition of the 12th caliber, in which smoky and smokeless gunpowder is used. The model is effective in various types of hunting and is used both by amateur beginners and professionals. Designed gun model IZH-54. These models differ in the locking unit. This function in the IL-54 is performed by the Greener bolt. In the new lightweight model, the bolt is replaced by a locking plate, driven by the head of the locking lever.
- IL-26E. The model of a hunting rifle has found its consumer both in the domestic and foreign markets. 200 thousand units were sold abroad. Unlike IZH-26, the IZH-26E gun is equipped with a special ejector mechanism that facilitates operation, is an independent model, and not an improved variation of IZH-54.
How was the shotgun tested?
Active resumption of production of fishing rifles began with the onset of peaceful life. One of the relatively cheap models, which was important for the post-war period, whose designs were distinguished by reliability and manufacturability, was the IZH-26 double-barreled hunting rifle.
After assembly of the structure, mandatory production testing took place. In the process of testing the IL-26 gun was tested using enhanced charges of smokeless powder, capable of developing 900 kg / 1 cm2 in the channel with the block of the disassembled model. and 850 kg / 1 cm sq. collected.
The performance characteristics
- Caliber - 12 mm.
- The length of the two trunks is 73 cm.
- The length of the chamber is 7 cm.
- The mass of a double-barrel shotgun is 3.3 kg.
- Hunting rifle IZH-26 is equipped with chrome barrel channels and chamber.
- The right bore with a muzzle narrowing of 0.5 mm (called “payday”) with a hit rate of 55%.
- The left trunk, whose muzzle narrowing is 0.1 cm, was called “full chock”. Its combat accuracy is 65%.
Drilling trunk channels
Following the example of the already completed IZH-54 system, the Izhevsk factory masters changed the channel diameter in IZH-26. The gun is equipped with barrels with a diameter of not 18.5 mm, as was the case with IZH-54, but 18.2 mm. This size is considered acceptable for paper liners. When using metal sleeves, a mismatch of dimensions is observed. The IZH-26 smoothbore gun is notable for its good combat when using ammunition in a paper or plastic shell. The use of metal sleeves entails a reduction in the accuracy of hits to 20%. In this case, there is an increase in recoil during firing. IZH-26 - a gun (photo is presented below), unlike its counterpart IZH-54, which has an elegant shape and finish.
Coating
To cover the trunks, a very stable varnish is used, which is also called “rusty” in everyday life. An iridescent “colored cup” pattern is applied to the weapon block, thanks to which the product acquires a very beautiful appearance. The lack of coverage is considered to be its poor stability. This cannot be fixed even if hard bakelite varnish is applied on top of the “colored drip”. During operation, the varnish coating of the gun is quickly erased on clothes.
Material
In the production of IZH-26 barrel channels and blocks, low-carbon steel 15 is used. This brand is easy to machine mechanically. After work, it is subjected to heat treatment. According to its technical characteristics, grade 15 is inferior to the instrumental 50PA, which is used in the production of IZH-54 rifles and does not need heat treatment.
To perform this procedure, an iron box filled with coal was used. A gun was placed in this container. The upper layers of the metal were saturated with carbon. In production, this process was called “cementation”. After the steel blocks were heated, the craftsmen took them out of the iron box and dipped them in water. An important point during cementation was considered to be the exclusion of contact of a hot product with oxygen. The hardening procedure entailed a slight deformation of the pads. After heat treatment of products, the barrel blocks of hunting rifles IZH-26 were fitted to the finished blocks.
What is a lumber?
One of the problem points that gunsmiths very often encounter is considered to be trunks fitting to pads. Among lovers of hunting shotguns, this procedure is also called “lumber”. With the advent of a model such as IL-26, fitting has become easier. This is due to the fact that the design of this gun instead of the Greener bolt has a locking bar, which, according to user reviews, is easier to work with. But the "lumber" of guns equipped with a Greener bolt provides a double-shotgun with a greater resource.
Barrel device
The trunks undergo heat treatment and are connected to each other using a sleeve. To do this, they must be pre-pressed, after which they are locked in the breech with a pin. The rest of the trunks is locked with the help of strips: upper and lower. The upper bar is also used as a means for aiming. It is a trapezoidal product, consisting of two parts, between which, using soldering, a hinge post is used, used to fasten the fore-end on IZH-26. The gun (photo below) is equipped with two screws necessary for clinging the belt sling.
To make a bed, walnut or beech is used. The bed may have a straight or pistol shape.
The trigger mechanism is mortise. For its installation in IZH-26 on the receiver and the base (mask), special grooves are provided. With the help of a shank formed as a result of a mask attached to the bottom of the receiver, a box is attached to the double-barrel.
What are firebrands?
The IL-26 system has a return function. This is carried out using a special limiter, which is under pressure from the lower feather of the combat leaf spring. The inertial striker and the return spring, unlike the Enson system, are not one. These spare parts for the IZH-26 rifle are installed separately from the side of the receiver shield. Their fixation is carried out using special screw-in chrome-plated plugs, or firebrand tubes. This design makes it possible, if necessary, to easily disassemble the IZH-26 gun. User reviews about the use of weapons are positive: when the striker breaks down, the need to completely disassemble the design of the double-barreled barrel (which had to be done when repairing the Enson system guns) disappeared. To replace the striker, you just need to unscrew the necessary fire tube.
These chrome products perform two functions:
- They are an decoration on the pads in the double-barreled shotguns of the models IZH-26 and IZH-54.
- Prevent possible burning of metal near the holes of the strikers.
How is a cocking and descent in a hunting shotgun?
The cocking is carried out using special pointers located on top of the receiver. In this process, platoon and trigger levers take part. With the help of the first, as a result of opening the trunks, the hammers cock, and then abut against special nests, which are located in the hinged part of the forearm. The front trigger is under the influence of a spring, which prevents fingers from being injured about the second trigger during recoil. Such a device is typical for high-class guns. The standard Enson system provides for locking only hooks with an automatic fuse. Trigger locks and levers are provided in IZH-26. The characteristic of the gun contains another important quality: in the system of this model there is a smooth descent. It is carried out with fully open trunks.
To remove the triggers from the sear, it is necessary to use the thumb of the right hand to pull the safety button to the front position, and with the front finger to press the release hooks. After that, the trunks are closed. Such a procedure is undesirable to carry out when the chamber is charged, as this may entail the launch of an unexpected shot.
When is a weapon disassembled?
If necessary, carry out repair, cleaning or lubrication of the gun, inspection, as well as during transportation, the IZH-26 is disassembled into two parts:
- trunk and forend;
- receiver and bed.
In order to disassemble a weapon for cleaning, you must:
- Pull the forend lock. As a result of this manipulation, the forend will be disconnected.
- Turn the locking lever all the way to the right. After that, the trunks are separated from the receiver.
- Turn the screw of the safety bracket counterclockwise.
- Release screws that secure the USM base.
- Using a screwdriver, pry off the cock springs. After that, the receiver by light swaying up and down to remove from the bed. This gives access to all gun mechanisms that can now be lubricated and cleaned.
Further disassembly consists of the following steps:
- The fuses are removed from the receiver after their locking screws have been loosened. It is important not to lose them.
- When removing the triggers, make sure that they do not fly out under the action of the springs. To do this, the hammers should be removed together with the guards.
- The fuse button must be removed after the retaining pin is knocked out of it.
Ejector model of the IZH-54 double-barreled shotgun
In 1969, using the base of the IZH-54 system, the enterprise began manufacturing a new ejection-free model of the IZH-26 E.
This double-barreled shotgun was designed as an independent weapon with an ejector mechanism. The device of the gun IZH-26 E is the same as in IZH-26.
How to turn off the ejector mechanism?
In the hunting rifle IZH-26E, there are frequent cases of weakening of leaf springs of ejector hammers (hammers). To prevent this, the springs must be periodically released. To do this, you can use a nail or wire of the desired diameter, with which the forend is disconnected. The ejector mechanism is turned off by turning the trigger. Before attaching the fore-end, it is recommended to cock the ejector hammers. Otherwise, fastening it will be difficult or entail damage to the mechanism of the shotgun.
The hammer cocking procedure consists of two stages:
- A nail is inserted into the hole at the top of the trigger.
- Using a nail as a lever, you must cock the trigger. This work should be done gradually: first one cock is pulled, and then the second.
A soft click will indicate that the platoon is complete. The trigger itself relative to the front of the forend should be slightly inclined.
Options
The presence of fuses and ejectors in the double-barreled barrel both during the Soviet Union and today is not in demand among domestic consumers. Hunting rifles IZH-26 E were intended primarily for export. Simultaneously with the production of this model, its new unified version IZH-26 - 1C was created. This gun after comparative testing with similar imported weapons gave good results. Despite all the advantages of IZH-26-1C, the shotgun was not included in the production series. Experts attribute this to the fact that the model appeared cheaper and lighter on the arms market - IZH-58M. She uses the 12th caliber and has the same power as the IZH-26 gun.
