IZh-KhR-31

Baikal (Izhevsk Mechanical Plant) · Pistol · Discontinued · 1968

Also known as: ИЖ-ХР-31, IZH-KhR-31, Izh-HR-31

Overview

The IZh-KhR-31 is a Soviet .22 Long Rifle single-shot free pistol built for the ISSF 50 metre free pistol event. Designed in 1968 by Efim Khaidurov together with armorer V. A. Razorenov on the basis of the earlier KhR-64 rapid-fire pistol, it was produced at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (Baikal) as the arbitrary (free pistol) counterpart to the standard-class IZh-KhR-30. It features a set trigger, an anatomical orthopedic grip and micrometer-adjustable target sights, and its design later served as the basis for the KhR-79 competition pistol used at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Specifications

Action TypeFalling Block
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSet Trigger
Magazine Capacity1 rounds
Muzzle Velocity330 m/s (1083 fps)
Muzzle Energy141 J (104 ft·lbf)
Effective Range50 m (55 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Service history

Operators

Production

Production years: 1968-1970s

Serial production at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant; superseded by the IZh-34/IZh-35 target pistols

Origin

Country of origin: Russia

Designer: Efim Khaidurov

Notes

Chambered for the standard 5.6mm rimfire (.22 LR) cartridge. Together with the standard-class IZh-KhR-30 it was eventually replaced in Izhevsk production by the IZh-34/IZh-35 target pistols.

Background

The IZh-KhR-31 was one of a family of target pistols designed by Efim Khaidurov, a Soviet marksman-turned-engineer who won a European rapid-fire championship and then built the guns his teammates shot with; its lineage traces to his KhR-64 pistol created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.