Baikal IZh-58
Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (Baikal) · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1958
Also known as: IZh-58, IJ-58, Baikal IJ-58, MР-58
Overview
The Baikal IZh-58 is a Soviet side-by-side double-barreled break-action shotgun developed at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. Designed by L. I. Pugachev in 1958, it pairs a hammerless boxlock action with two horizontally arranged smoothbore barrels and double triggers, and became one of the most widely produced hunting shotguns of the Soviet era.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3200 g (112.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1150 mm (45.28") |
| Barrel Length | 725 mm (28.54") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2560 J (1888 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12GA, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Open 2 Round
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Automatic Tang Safety
- Features: Side By Side Barrels, Boxlock Action, Double Trigger, Extractor, Fixed Chokes
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,360,000 · Production years: 1958-1991
More than 1.36 million IZh-58 shotguns produced across all four standard variants.
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: L. I. Pugachev
Discontinued: 1991
Notes
Produced in 12, 16 and 20 gauge across four standard variants; many barrels use 70 mm chambers with fixed half and full chokes. Marketed in export markets under the Baikal brand as the IJ-58.
Background
A staple of Soviet sporting and subsistence hunting, the IZh-58 was prized for its simple, robust boxlock design and affordability, putting a reliable double gun in the hands of rural hunters across the USSR.