Baikal spr310

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milemaker13

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Purchased a baikal spr310 in 12ga on a bit of a whim yesterday. I had a $100 visa gift card so I went to LGS to see if they still had a rem 512 rimfire I saw several months ago. They didn't.
As i was perusing a few other used rimfires and chasing my toddler around I noticed 3 O/U shotguns on the wall.
My wife had recently been turned onto clays using an old Beretta double so I thought to myself -"Self, it'd be mighty self-less of yourself to get one of those for your beloved wife".
The baikal wore a $399 price tag so I put the gift card down on that one.

Reading more about it today it sounds like it should be a pretty good gun, at least to start with... and although I don't think i got a smokin' hot deal I am happy to support my LGS. Besides, I think my kid took the difference out in suckers, lol.
Anyone have experience with the spr310?
 
My son used that very same shotgun for trap in school. In the beginning the gun was very stiff and I mean stiff to open. We cut a few coils off the ejectors on it and it made it tolerable. There is a slotted screw on each side that is exposed when you open it. Those screws will turn the gun to extractors or ejectors depending on which way you turn it. I think it was only a 1/4 turn to make the change. I chose extractors for my son to use during trap. The gun has some sharp edges and the overall finish is not up to a Beretta or Browning, but functionally it never quit. Send me an email address and then I can send you the PDF manual and other stuff I still have from those days with that shotgun. Enjoy your new toy! I wish I could find a 20 ga used one for myself.
 
It's a solidly build shotgun, without being something special - with proper care it should give you years of service. Actually, it has a rather strong action - something pretty rare when it comes to cheap double barrels.

Bad things first:
The single trigger mechanism can double the shots when new, especially with magnum cartridges - to be on the safe side remove the stock to gain access to the mechanism, clean it really well (and I do mean "really") and lubricate. Quite often it is leaving the factory dry, full of metal shavings and sawdust.
Check the stock screw for proper torque after every other shooting session when new, as it can loosen itself from the wood being cut too soon when still with high water content. It's not a bad idea at all to bead the stock to the action as the fit is somewhat sloppy and that can crack the stock from recoil. I'm not saying it will, but only that stock cracking on Baikal shotguns does happen from time to time.
Don't mess with the ejectors! On-Off, that's it. If there is a problem with the ejector mechanism leave it to the gunsmith.
It has a somewhat awkward firing selector - to change the firing sequence you push the trigger forward. You can do it only once - to reverse the firing sequence you must break the action open and close it again. Good thing is that it's a mechanical selector so you can store your shotgun with hammers at rest if you so desire.
Check how the choke tubes align in the bores - once I had a shotgun with crooked choke chamber on the lower barrel that manifested itself on the first shot, turning the choke inside-out. Luckily for the shooter the barrels were fine - no bursting or bulges as he used a shot charge, not a slug as he originally intended...
Check for rust when still new at the barrel rib and joints - Russians don't bother to clean the soldering flux real well.
The action can be quite stiff and the triggers heavy, but that can be corrected (at a cost, by your friendly gunsmith), or you can just wait for the break in period to be over...


The good parts:
Good firing mechanism - sturdy and safe when in proper order. Has good hammer interceptors and reliable safety.
Has a forward locking lugs (recoil lugs) and the corresponding locking surface in the receiver is actually a separate detail mounted with a dovetail cut. So, if the shotgun goes off the face from years of shooting you can replace the locking surface and adjust it to make contact with the lugs again. Actually it's not a bad idea to check the contact when new and adjust if needed - proper contact is a must if you want a long lasting shotgun.
It has chrome plated barrels so the cleaning routine is rather easy and trouble free - Baikal makes a first class chrome plaiting.

All in all, it's a rather good shotgun for the money - enjoy shooting it!
 
Is strong like People’s Soviet Socialist Tractor!

And handles like one.
 
I have a SPR310 in 20ga. I love the thing. I had to cut off 3/4" of stock as I have short arms.Reground the original pad to fit. The pad is pretty good that comes from the factory. It now mounts perfect with a light jacket up to a heavy hunting coat. Never had an issue with it. Have shot some trap and hunted with it. It is a bit stiff at 1st but after about a case of shells through it the stiffness smooths out. I got mine new about 6-7 years ago. I was told by the store owner said they were from a warehouse that contained guns from Kmart when they quit selling guns. I paid $299 with 2 chokes. I found 2 more chokes for it and use mostly skeet and modified. BTW Remchoke does not fit these. Scatter gun snobs will put them down but the truth is owners find few issues with them in real life use. No more problems than any other shotguns this side of $2k. They are a great bargain. ENJOY! Oh and the cast in the stock is very good for right handed shooters. Few shotguns have this designed into them. Lefties may have issues finding one with proper stock cast.
 
Speaking of adjusting the length of pull... how is that measured? My wife is smaller than me and the Beretta we shot was possibly a little long for her...
 
Milkmaster said:
I didn't ask about it! I wasn't the person who started the thread! I was trying to share my experience with a shotgun he asked about. What's the problem with doing that?
Click to expand...

Sorry I got milkmaster and milemaker13 mixed up. My bad. Glad we both like the same shotgun. Could be a little lighter but the weight doesn't bother me in mounting or swing and it does take up a bit of recoil making my 20ga nice and easy to shoot except with magnum loads.
 
darkcloud said:
Sorry I got milkmaster and milemaker13 mixed up. My bad. Glad we both like the same shotgun. Could be a little lighter but the weight doesn't bother me in mounting or swing and it does take up a bit of recoil making my 20ga nice and easy to shoot except with magnum loads.
Click to expand...

No problem. I wish I could find a 20ga SPR310 for myself. I found one last year but they wanted $800 for it. I don't need it THAT bad. I think we paid $400 for the 12 ga when it was new. WOW this young man in this picture from back then is now a lieutenant in the Marine Corp. Time flies...
spartan.JPG
 
She seems to think it is too big over all for her. Barrels too long, too heavy, stock too long. I explained about being able to shorten the stock some but I'm not sure i can make it short enough. What about youth sized shotguns? I may look into that and compare size specs.

Try to do something nice... maybe I should've kept looking at cheap .22s that evening.
 
So we finally got out to break some clays. We brought the mav88 12 ga, this baikal 12ga and a borrowed youth size mossberg 20ga. (pump).

The 88 was too big and unworkable for her, the youth was ok size but too short barrel and also unworkable (pumps seem to be the trouble spot there). No luck with that either.
But the Baikal , although too big and heavy, was her favorite (of this trip mind you). She got alot of hits with it (as did I!).
In the end we both liked the baikal best. I even cleared a double with one shot! That was the last throw of the day. ;)
Then we spent some time at the pistol range before heading home. Shes really good with her 1911.
All in all a terrific day at the range!
 
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