Baikal IZH-46M Review

Overall Rating

It's returnable
Excellent trigger pull

Sights
Grips

I just received my Baikal IZH-46M Air Pistol and took it to the range to put it through it's paces. The first shot from the bench hit 6" left and an inch high -
After adjusting the rear sights as far as they would go, it was still hitting 2 1/2" to the left but was OK height-wise. I moved the adjustable front sight as far as it would go without sticking out of the side of the sight-base and was still hitting 1/2" to the left. In my opinion, the quality checks done on this air pistol are virtually non-existant. In comparison, I recieved a new Daisy 747 a week ago and had it hitting perfectly in 5 shots. It initially hit 2" to the left and an inch low. The big difference is the sights were mounted somewhere near correctly to begin with. My recommendation is "Save $120.00 and buy a second Daisy 747 or save-up another $1100.00 and buy a quality match pistol because this one isn't worth the $274.00 they're asking for it. To be honest, I wouldn't pay $20.00 for one. After seeing what the ruskies consider quality I won't be buying anything else made there either.

Members' Comments oncolli2's Review

• Hookslinger on 22nd Oct 2003

  Very poor review of an excellent match pistol. This is probably the best buy currently available on a quality airgun. If it were built to these specs in the US, UK, or germany it would cost $1000. The IZH 46M is extremely well made and capable of lighting matches at 10 meters. I question this reviewer's airgun experience and motive.

• jbec1 on 3rd Nov 2003

  I agree, the reviewer is completly unjust in his opinion. In my opinion if you can't hit the broad side of a barn with a sling shot how the hell can you expect to do it with an air pistol.

• kd6wd on 28th Nov 2003

  This review does not reflect the IzH-46M. No if ands or buts. I had an active competitor over this past week and he was shooting .2 c-t-c groups one after another at 10 meters. He fondly kept patting the gun saying "This is sweet". His final comment was "I wish I could be this consistent in competition". I had originally purchased this pistol as an economical target pistol. This pistol belongs in a cushioned felt lined case. So far everyone who has fired it has commented on the fabulous trigger.

• airsick on 30th Nov 2003

  This fellow must have bought a Friday afternoon lemon. My IZZY with a 4X scope outshoots my FWB 124 with a 12X scope at 25 yards. I love mine.

• Mike Furlo on 10th Dec 2003

  This is the best airgun pistol for the money---period.

• ricdoug on 23rd Mar 2004

  Sounds like your Baikal slipped through Q.C. . Probably a bad barrel. Since you could not bring the sights to strike in the black, it was a bad shooting experience. My IZH-46M was a straight shooter out of the box. Hard hitter, straight shooter and and "glass rod break" trigger. I've shot more expensive pistols with less accuracy!

• Mad Dog on 9th Aug 2004

  It bothers me when people write reviews on products that are defective, and also when they decide that an entire country exports poor quality products. I have never even had the opportunity to try the pistol in question, and I can tell that there is a problem. It may be as simple as the product being damaged while being shipped, or maybe slipped though the cracks of quality control. Either way, reviews like this are needless and premature and in my opinion should be screened out.

• ricdoug on 10th Aug 2004

  You must have got a bad one. Unfortunately, you will not find many that agree with your review. Return it where you got it and get another one. Try shooting 5 shots from the one you have and see how it groups. Love mine. Most do. Ric

• jcs on 23rd Aug 2004

  I have to also disagree on your comment. Its unfortunate you had to give this particular weapon a 1. The daisy is a toy, how can you compare that to the 46m. I think you should have had someone in the range shoot it for you in case you had to wrong site picture. I agree that the 1500 dollar air pistols must be awesome, but I have to disagree buying one initially is a good idea. If you are frustrated with the $270 air pistol I would hate to see what would happen if you spent $1500 dollar and you were still shooting 1" high and 2" to the right. I would recommend this pistol to those interesting in precision shooting and then after a year or so if still seriously interesting in the sport, invest $900 on a Pardini $1100 or $1520 on a FWS.

• n0m3b on 9th Dec 2004

  get a Tech Force SS2 Olympic Competition Air Pistol from Compasseco, Inc. out of the box 2" high 1/2" rt ,a few clicks of adjustment and 10 rnds=one hole @ 15 meters. I will also be trying the izh when funds allow. As for daisy, I had 2 model 102 that punched 10 rnds=one hole @ 15 meters and would really like another one.

• Coganator on 16th Apr 2006

  The guy must be blind or something. This gun's extremely accurate and great to handle - an absolute bargain @ $270. And saying Russians can't make guns just shows how thick you are.

• caxtell on 3rd Jun 2009

  Here we go again with the snap judgements...
  
  This reviewer did not take the time to inspect and get to know his IZH 46M before "chewing" on it out of ignorant frustration: If he had taken a closer look at the rear sight blade he would have seen that it can be coursely centered by loosening the two screws that attach it to the sight mechanism. This would have taken up the "slop" he was experiencing. The windage adjustment could then have been used to "fine tune" it and bring the POI to where it belonged. The Russians DID do a good job of thinking this gun through--chalk the reviewer's experience up to "operator error."
  
  Must be a teenager...