Baikal IZH-53M Review

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Baikal IZH-53M
3.6 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.6 out of 5

From 5 ratings and 15 reviews

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kd5byb's Review of Baikal IZH-53M

3rd Dec 2005

Overall Rating

3.5 stars
  • Value for money
    3.5 stars
Good Points

Low price, fit and finish in line with the price, very light trigger, nice ergonomic grip.


Bad Points

Shoots very high, even with the rear sight turned to the lowest position.


General Comments

Bought the Baikal IZH-53M as my entry into the world of air pistol shooting. I shoot lots of centerfire pistols, centerfire rifles, rimfire rifles, and air rifles, and wanted a low-price air pistol to see if I would enjoy air pistols as much as I enjoy all of the above!

I picked the IZH-53M becuase of its low cost and the fact that I'm familiar with other firearms made at the Izhevsk factory. For a retail price around $50, I figured I really couldn't go all that wrong!

Fit and finish is in line with a $50 product. It's not a $1000 custom finished pistol, but the quality is above what I've seen on $30 Chinese air rifles.

The grip is very comfortable to me, but I will note that I do have big hands. The pistol points very naturally.

The sights are your pretty typical front blade, rear-notch sights, with the rear sight being adjustable for elevation and windage.

The trigger is extremely light and in fact, I jumped on my first shot out of the gun as I wasn't yet expecting a discharge. Proper trigger discipline (finger off trigger until sights on target) prevented any harm.

I have only problem with this gun - it shoots extremely high! At 5 yards, it hits about 6 inches high. At 10 yards, this doubles to almost a foot! This is with the rear sight cranked down as low as it can go.

However, when I put up a large enough target, it was clear that this pistol has great accuracy potential. On a windy day without trying hard, I was getting one inch 5-shot groups at about 7 yards.

Once I either modify the stock sights to get the pellets on target, this should be a very fun pistol to shoot.

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Members' Comments onkd5byb's Review

  • yarzak Rank: Corporal on 5th Dec 2005

    I think the IZH 53M may be good to teach/train/learn safety, style, and technique in anticipation of using an accurate match pistol like the IZH 46M. (I almost bought one some time ago.)

    A very nice inexpensive pistol I enjoy is the Marksman 2004. $45 US.

    For something more substantial you cannot go wrong with a Crosman 1377. $55 US. I replaced the grips with RB wood grips, and now it looks, feels, and shoots like a much more expensive air pistol.

    ***IZH 61 by IZH-Baikal Rifle is a tremendous deal. One of the greatest airguns you can get for fun and accuracy, especially at 10 meters/basement. This would be the quality you expected or possibly better! $85 US. I would not part with mine.

    The IZH 46M Match pistol by IZH-Baikal is truly one of the best match grade pistols ever. $270 US.

    I know some vendors like Pyramyd Air allow you returns within 30 days for a full product refund.

    Good luck, have fun and keep shooting.

  • sniper666 Rank: 2nd Lieutenant on 7th Dec 2005

    I like your review and found it would be helpful to others. I got mine as a first air gun when I was 12. It cost me £33 and i love it. The only thing is, I think you may have been a bit unlucky with the accuracy. I can nail an old credit card at about 15m, but I can understand because mine shoots ever so slightly to the left. A great beginners air pistol!!!