Baikal IZH-53M Review

Overall Rating

Amazing fun/price value, robust construction, elemental styling, reasonable accuracy

Large size will be uncomfiortable for shooters with small hands. Mediocre sights.

Sooner or later, most air gun enthusiasts are going to own a quivver. Some of the weapons in their quivvers will be serious, others playful. I submit that the Baikal IZH53M is one of the world's true bargains when it comes to an objective fun/price analysis.

I purchased my Baikal IZH53M with some trepidation...and only after I deliberately set aside some prejudice. You either understand this sentence or you do not. Suffice it to say I am glad I took delivery of my IZH53M from Pyramydair, a reputable online reseller. What I received for my $45 (US) was a large, black, almost evil-looking air pistol. This is a weapon that attracts attention...perhaps due to it's Klingon-like austerity.

"What's that?"
"It's Baikal IZH53M."
"What's that?"
"Trust me, it's wicked."
"Cool!"

Besides looking downright BAD (in the good sense of the word), the IZH53M delivers metal-on-metal reliability, respectable accuracy, and fun. To paraphrase Pete Townshend: "I call that a bargain, the best I've ever had."

To control this weapon, you'll need average to large-sized hands. The IZH53M is about 16" long and the grip is downright big. But if the shoe fits, I believe you might enjoy wearing it!

The IZH53M is not a work of art...unless you consider it from a neo-Bauhaus perspective. Rather, the IZH53M is unabashedly a machine and its form follows its function. In spite of its almost-ponderous size, the IZH53M is balanced and handles well. The barrel breaks with modest force, good-quality pellets (e.g. RWS Superdome) are easily and snugly seated in the breech, the action snaps shuts with an authoritative metal-on-metal "click", the trigger is firm but progressive, the discharge is predictable, and an acceptable group is easily possible with a bit of practice.

Is the IZH53M a target pistol? Not quite. With proper technique, you can get a tight group, but it won't take you to the Olympics. Is it a plinker? Yes, but it's more. You can use the IZH53M to shatter bottles with the best of them, but there's enough accuracy to serve you on the range. Bottom line: the IZH53M does a lttle bit of everything reasonably well...at a compelling price point that will allow almost anyone to play.

What would make the IZH53M better? A laser sight. With a little bit of work, of course, one can be added for about $40 (US).

What became of my prejudice? The Baikal IZH53M is good enough that I'm starting to wonder what the Baikal IZH46M air pistol and the Baikal IZHMP532 target rifle are all about. This curiosity, of course, is what quivvers are made of.

Members' Comments onkbeach's Review

• yarzak on 5th Feb 2006

  You have convinced me to give the IZH-53 a try. I love the iZH-61 rifle and I think that you would also. It is extraordinarily accurate. Youth gun blah..blah.. I am fifty something and am considering getting another one.

• WoodyKoa on 2nd Feb 2008

  Don't hesitate, get the '46! While the '53 is a great plinker, the '46 is altogether a different pistol. My '46 is a true target-punch out the 10 ring-gun. Muliti-way adjustable trigger and sights, anatomical grips (which you'll want to shape to your own hand), single stroke pneumatic with almost zero recoil. She's as big as the 53, but in a different way. Typical Russian construction: simple, robust, lots of metal with a few machining marks. I've got a review of mine here that you can read.