Baikal 153

[sefus]

A buddy has turned me on to the Baikal line of semi auto shotguns and Im looking for some insight from those who know. I've been kind of thinking of a Saiga 12 but these Baikals seem to be a better all purpose shotgun with the reliable action, screw on chokes and eating every shell you can find. I'd mostly be using it for skeet, bird hunting, and longer range target playing. I like the Saigas because I know their actions and I like the platform but dont know their effective ranges (yes I hit the Saiga 12 forums). So any thoughts or personal reviews? Thanks!


-Sefus

 

[MCgunner]

I believe it is now known as the Remington Spartan M453, same gun, new importer. I've heard many great reviews of this gun from actual owners and a few complaints. I think it'd make a FANTASTIC waterfowl gun. They're getting quite popular in the marshes around here as a rugged, affordable SA waterfowler capable of firing 3.5". I've heard it's sort of heavy for a skeet gun, but heck, people shoot pumps informally on skeet. I'm not a skeet shooter, just a hunter.

 

[sefus]

I'm just kind of a recreationalist when it comes to shotgunning so thats why the all around aspecs of something like the 153 are apealing. The smooth bore on my 1300 just sucks past 20 feet and a new barrel for it would be as much as a new gun so I figure why not have a few different shotguns to choose from, lol.

-Sefus

 

[Oldnamvet]

Smooth bore on your 1300 sucks past 20 FEET??
I don't understand what you meant. At that range the pattern is very small and dense = deadly.

 

[ArmedBear]

Probably means "cylinder bore" and "20 yards."

And by "bird hunting" what do you mean?

 

[cota]

I use a Baikal MP153. at the moment as my main waterfowl gun. It is a suprising gun for the money has fired over 2500 3.5 inch reloads and as yet shows no sighns of wearing out at all.
The blue on the barrel is now looking sad with blood spots and rust, but 3 years and hard use in our six month long waterfow seasons here i guess i cant expect any more from what is to all intents and purpose a neglected shotgun.
It gets cleaned when the fit takes me (rare) If i had my time with this gun from new again paint the barrel that is about its only fault from my angle.

 

[New_geezer]

Here's a link to the "I Love Baikal/Spartan" forum shotgunworld.com

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=83

Mostly Baikal/Spartan owners post there and there are many fans of this gun.

Run a search or ask away, those guys have seen or heard of everything you might have questions about.

 

[ArmedBear]

It's a viable trap gun, since it's overweight.

It's a viable goose gun, since it's overweight and shoots 3.5" magnums, and it's not something you'd mind dropping in the plough mud.

Otherwise, it's the very definition of "clunker". How DO they make an aluminum receiver, plastic stock gun weigh so much?

The one I've had experience with takes chunks of the ejection port out when you shoot it. Nice soft aluminum.

For skeet? I wouldn't. For quail or other fast-moving flushing birds? No thanks. Missed too many birds with a big gun; bought a little used 20 Gauge O/U, for the same price range. Filled a few bags with birds since.

But it would be a better choice than the Kalashnikov for wingshooting.

Seen the Mossberg 930? Same price range as the 453, but a pound lighter, nicely balanced and a lot sleeker and prettier, especially the walnut version -- again, in the same price range, US-made. Shoots 2 3/4" and 3" shells. I'd get that instead. But I don't have any need for 3.5" shells. (If you don't already KNOW what you need them for, probably neither do you, at least not bad enough to lug around a heavy gun.)

And no, I'm not a shotgun snob. I've never spent more than $600 on a shotgun, and $600 was for a trap single! I do buy used guns, though. $500 will get you some nice ones; $250-350 sometimes.

As far as people loving their guns, hell, I have a strong affinity for my old Ithaca M66 lever-single 20 Gauge. Doesn't mean I'd tell anyone to seek one out as a skeet gun.

 

[MCgunner]

I use a Baikal MP153. at the moment as my main waterfowl gun. It is a suprising gun for the money has fired over 2500 3.5 inch reloads and as yet shows no sighns of wearing out at all.
The blue on the barrel is now looking sad with blood spots and rust, but 3 years and hard use in our six month long waterfow seasons here i guess i cant expect any more from what is to all intents and purpose a neglected shotgun.
It gets cleaned when the fit takes me (rare) If i had my time with this gun from new again paint the barrel that is about its only fault from my angle.

Wow, I wanna hunt ducks in Britain. Six month season? Green with envy.

 

[cota]

I have had no issues with chips on the port lips with my Baikal MP153, it is here taken this week.

that wall is the sea wall.

As i said if it had given issue i would not own it. That is plain and simple.
I rate it build three times its cost in my view.
It is a no nonsense reliable tool to do a job, As for weight yes its no lightweight but it is a magnum and is built to last i see no evidence to show anything on this gun is sub standard.
the stock chokes are not earth shatering with steel above 1600FPS but no worse than guns at three times the cost and more.
It balaces and handles well for me and i have no plans to sell it soon.

 

[MCgunner]

As for weight yes its no lightweight but it is a magnum and is built to last i see no evidence to show anything on this gun is sub standard.

Would anyone really want a lightweight 3.5" magnum even in a gas gun???? Actually, the weight is why I like it, soaks up heavy loads. Ducks, when they're coming in, aren't flushing quail. They give you time to set up on 'em. You need a steady swinging gun, not a quick pointing one. Teal can be an exception to the rule, but mostly it's true. And, on geese, that thing would be outstanding.

No, it's no skeet gun, but I bet it's a helluva waterfowler. I kinda think I wanna look at the Mossy 935, though, if and when I decide to get a autoloading waterfowler. I shoot left handed and like the tang safety and I would like to get one in camo finish, sheds the rust a little better or at least it has in my old M500 Mossberg. Salt marshes are HELL on a nice shotgun.

 

[cota]

My next gun is a mossy 935 the new flyway model. i like the idea of the 935, but even if i do get one i wont sell the baikal MP153. it has given a lot of enjoyment to me, far more than i expected when i got it. I purchased it one november to get me to the end of the season in the february. then get a extrema .. I never bothered buying the extrema. and i wont now.
I rate the MP153 it is not an extrema but it is not as much money either and is just as reliable. Well mine has been put it that way.

 

[ArmedBear]

Would anyone really want a lightweight 3.5" magnum even in a gas gun???? Actually, the weight is why I like it, soaks up heavy loads. Ducks, when they're coming in, aren't flushing quail. They give you time to set up on 'em. You need a steady swinging gun, not a quick pointing one. Teal can be an exception to the rule, but mostly it's true. And, on geese, that thing would be outstanding.

Correct on all counts.

If I did salt marsh waterfowl hunting, I'd probably get one, regardless of any issues I saw. Cheap and heavy are both desirable, and you'll probably rust it out before you wear it out, anyway.

OP said birds and skeet, though.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, ducks are birds. Yeah, I'd chose a lighter gun for quail and such. Actually, doubles and O/Us are great for flushing birds. I don't hunt quail, never had a dog. Would love to, though, and someday I may take a trip to shoot pheasant, always wanted to do that. I'll take my doubles on those trips. One of these years I'm going to head for South Dakota and do some of that pheasant hunting I've seen on TV, before I'm too old to walk. Looks like too much fun.

 

[cota]

Armed bear you are spot on with the rust.. The barrel on my gun never acctualy went in the blue tank A big Russian shot putter just ran past the tank very fast and some slashed on it a little.
Finish it is let down on the blue, the internal bore and general production finish are good,. Like i said earlier paint it from day one .. you will end up having to if you run it in the salt any amount in the end any way, so prevention is better than cure i believe.
On the rust issue an assides, Browning / Mirokus are not a good gun for beating the salt they could rust for England in my experience. the older Mirokus are probably worse than modern ones but that may just be they are not as old yet time will tell.
If you use a jap built Browning/ Miroku in the salt oil it thick before you go out and dont just prop it in the box when you get back in or it will be a bright gun before you can say jack flash.