GUN SNOBS

[Peter Emberley]

I need to vent, so here goes....

 

I have been told time and time again that all semi autos under $1000 are garbage.

 

 

If you are considering a new gun purchase, do some research online talk to people that own guns not people who sell guns.

I have been told by gun retailers that Baikal Semi Autos are garbage and it is impossible to get parts. Well I did some real research, read hundreds of reviews and 99 percent were positive. I bought one last year and love it. Paid 600 + tax, fires 3.5" shells no problems what so ever.

 This gun is made in Russia. Check the video of the Bailkal MP 153. I remember buying a baikal single shot at C tire 24 years ago and its still perfect.

 

As for parts, it took me all of 5 minutes to find a dealer that has everything available.baikal-mp153.jpg

mp153.gif

 

MP 153

Description Price Buy
1 Choke Tube 18.95
2 Barrel N/A
3 Receiver N/A
4 Gas Cylinder Nut 14.00
5 Valve Spring 6.00
6 Valve 5.50
7 Forend Cap 14.00
14 Magazine Spring Retainer 4.00
15 Magazine Spring 6.00
16 Magazine Follower 4.00
17 Magazine Tube 24.95
18 Internal Seal 8.50
19 External Seal 8.50
20 Piston/Action Bar Sleeve 33.00
21 Recoil Spring 10.50
22 Forend Support 8.50
23 Action Bar Assembly 66.50
24 Pin 3.50
25 Bolt Cocking Handle Detent Ball 3.50
26 Spring 3.50
27 Plunger 3.50
28 Bushing 3.50
29 Bolt Cocking Handle 12.00
30 Bolt 45.00
31 L-Extractor 13.65
32 L-Extractor Spring 3.50
33 L-Extractor Plunger 3.50
34 R-Extractor Plunger 3.50
35 R-Extractor Spring 3.50
36 R-Extractor 13.65
37 Firing Pin Retaining Pin 3.50
38 Firing Pin Retractor Spring Washer 3.50
39 Firing Pin Retractor Spring 4.00
40 Firing Pin 10.00
41 Locking Block 18.95
42 Trigger Housing 39.95
43 Safety 5.00
44 Safety Plunger 3.50
45 Safety Spring 3.50
46 Pin 3.50
Description Price Buy
47 Trigger 10.00
48 Trigger Plunger 3.50
49 Trigger Spring 3.50
50 Pivot 3.50
51 Sear 8.00
52 Trigger Bar 4.00
53 Sear Spring 3.50
54 Trigger Bar Pivot 3.50
55 Hammer 8.00
56 Hammer Pivot 3.50
57 Carrier Latch 22.80
58 Carrier Latch Dog 8.00
59 Carrier Latch Dog Pivot 3.50
60 Hammer Plunger 4.50
61 Main Spring 4.50
62 Carrier Latch Dog Plunger 4.00
63 Carrier Latch Spring 3.50
64 Disconnector 10.00
65 Disconnector Bushing 3.50
66 Pin Tube 4.00
67 Trigger Housing Retaining Pin 5.00
68 Carrier Stop Catch 8.95
69 Carrier Stop Catch Spring 3.50
70 Shell Stop 9.00
71 Shell Stop Spring 3.50
72 Shell Stop Pivot 4.50
73 Bolt Release Button 4.50
74 Bolt Release Button Spring 3.50
75 Forend 54.80
76 Cap Retaining Pin Bushing 4.50
77 Cap Retaining Pin Spring 3.50
78 Cap Retaining Pin 3.50
79 Buttstock 87.50
80 Buttplate 5.50
81 Buttplate Woodscrew 3.50
82 Buttstock Screw 6.00
83 Buttstock Washer 3.50
84 Syn. stock & forend combo 59.95

 

Don't take anyone's word, do the research.

 

 

[Christopher Paddock]

I'm more of a pump guy myself (cheaper guns, cooler sound, less prone to jams - I have a Winchester 1300 and a Mossberg 500), so my knowledge on semis is limited, but I know a guy who owns a Mossberg 930 12 ga semi-auto, and he absolutely LOVES it. Cabelas Canada sells them for $469 ($489 for the 935, which is the same gun with 3.5" shell capability). There seems to be some good feedback on these guns on the Shotgunworld.com forums as well (a pretty good source of info on all things shotgun-related). I've also heard some generally good reviews of the H&R Excell Auto 5 ($429 at Cabelas), as well as the Weatherby SA-08 ($499).

[Rich Reeves]

Hey Walter,

thanks for the info. I am right handed but my master eye is left (go figure). I have always used right handed guns so I guess a semi is really no different than a pump action for shell extraction. It would be nice not having the shells fly in front of your face, but I don't think it will make a difference. I guess it's really not worth the $$ when you think about it.

Cheers!

[Walter Meadus]

Hey Rich,
Let me tell ya, getting the left hand semi is going to cost at least $1400+tx. that was the cheapest I could find and that was a Remmington. However you don't need a left in semi. I use the regular righty shot and have no issues. I was told that it might be awkward for me with the emplty shells ejecting in my sight line. Well I don't even see them. I don't find loading to be a big issue either. Same yourself some money and just get the righty. By the was the only other lefty I ever found was a Bennelli Super Black Eagle at $2000+tx

[Rich Reeves]

Good write-up Peter. I am interested in a semi but to pay $1600.00 to $2600.00 is a little to costly for me (and most people I would think). Do you know what stores sell them on the Island? I also shoot left and will have to pay extra I would think, really doesn't seem fair. The camo model looks great...
http://www.lebaron.ca/fall%202010%20pages/stevens_baikal.pdf

[Peter Emberley]

I was told by a gun retailer that the reviews posted on the web are "coppied and pasted, reviews someone else wrote" and that they didn'y have a clue. He must have researched that answer, how profound.

Going back to the Baikal I purchased, I was told "it is impossible to get parts". I said, what if you could get parts? Well then I was told, "it's only used for upland bird hunting in the US". Try that here with our cold climate and it will freeze and bla bla bla bla. What a bunch of bull. Well at this point I had to leave the store. I could not listen to it any more.

It may be hard to believe, but not everyone can afford to drop $ 2500 on a Benelli semi. (I don't plan on making a living with a shotgun). For me hunting is a sport and past time to share with my son.

Walter after reading your post, it makes me mad. It seems that no one cares about you as a customer, all they want, is to fleece you as much as possible.

By the way what will they say if you buy a top of the line shotgun and you have a problem? if you ask that question, their answer is , it don't happen. Believe me, it does.

[Walter Meadus]

Interesting Peter. When I went looking for a semi auto last year I was told the same things as you. From more then one place I might add. I mentioned a number of brands that sold seni autos for around $600 and the response to all was "junk". So in the end I paid $900 for a Remmington 11-97 NRA addition. Now I have fired at least 200+ rounds out of it since I bought it last summer and I only have one complaint and that is it dosen't cycle 2 3/4. It will jam about every 6th or 7th round. When I went online recently and investigated myself I found that the model I bought came out 5yrs ago and my serial number is low. So that gun was probably sitting in that shop for at least 4yrs. I also went on to find out that the reviews on the 11-87 are about 50/50 at best. What doesit all mean? Do your research, ask questions, don't be afraid to get another opinion and don't believe everything you here. I will say this for everyone that I dealt with; when it came to Mosberg, Stoeger and other "cheaper" manufacturers, they said that they would buy, pump action, single barrel or double from them but not the semi autos. I was even told to stay away from the remmington 11-87 3.5inch because it isn't made in the states. I did pay more and I guess people could say that I was shafted but then again I'm used to being shafted because well......I am a lefty!