The Baikal IZH 27 is a shotgun manufactured in Russia. It comes in a couple of models, both regular and sporting. Barrel length is either 26 or 28 inches, has three choke tubes, is 20 gauge and has a three inch chamber. Most models come with a very nice carrying case.
I like to include video reviews of guns wherever possible, but I couldn’t find one in English for this particular model. So, you’ll have to make do with this Russian review. Enjoy the change of pace!
The IZH27 Sporting is a very popular over there in Europe, but is also available in the US, and is a reasonably good option. Some say that the quality is lower than equivalents, like the Remington or the Fausti, but there are others that swear by Baikal guns – largely because Russian guns are made for the cold Eastern European weather, and are therefore built to last!
The IZH-27 is a really excellent option for skeet and trap, and also for sporting clays.
Purchase price for these rifles is approximately $400 off the shelf or over the internet, and you should be able to find it at most reputable suppliers. A second hand model, if you can find one, should set you back considerably less.
Note: The IZH 27 is sometimes also known as the Baikal IJ 27, especially in Europe. Why the different name? I’m not sure – probably difficulties with translating the designation from the original cyrillic (the Russian alphabet) into English letters.
While researching this article, I came across a quirky little story that I thought I’d share. Apparently the IJ-27-E, which was the first model imported into the United States, was only imported because a company called the Control Data Corporation decided to swap an entire warehouse full of computer bits that they couldn’t get rid of for an entire warehouse of Soviet (this was back in 1976) Baikal shotguns. Not sure who got the better of the deal, but as far as I know, both CDC and the Soviet Union went out of business. And the Baikal IZH 27 remains a popular and well respected gun!
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