r/canadaguns • u/Dwok-15 • 26d ago

Buy recommendations Baikal IJ-12

I just ordered a Baikal IJ-12 to start trap at my local range, and not many reviews are available, what are your guys thoughts on it? Shiny bores,no cracks, improved mod/ full. Payed 370$

I did not want to spend too much before knowing if I like trap.

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u/SlowDebate3165 26d ago

Aw dude, I love mine. I’ve only target shot with it so far, but I’m planning to take it into the field come hunting season for upland birds (maybe).

I did a bunch of research on Baikals before and after buying mine because I was interested in why so little came up on Google compared to how common they seem to be.

They’re made in Izhevsk, Russia, at the same industrial complex/factory lineage that produced a lot of the old Soviet small arms, including AK's. Obviously totally different guns, but it gives them that same very utilitarian reputation and feel. Not fancy, not refined, but built like farm equipment and hard to kill.

These shotguns are fucking all over Eastern Europe and Russia. They’re one of those guns that people actually use, not just collect. Farmers, hunters, clubs, old guys, young guys, everyone seems to have had one or known someone with one. They’re so ubiquitous that they’re basically part of the hunting culture over there.

No unnecessary polish, no marketing gimmick, just a solid Russian workhorse shotgun that does exactly what it’s supposed to do.

The one you have (or the iJ-27 its hard to tell as they are very similar) is actually the first unlock in Bult: Hunting Simulator https://imgur.com/a/vXhBFQY
(best game currently for bird/waterfowl hunting btw)

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u/Dwok-15 25d ago

Thank you for all the info

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u/Horilka 25d ago

Baikal was a trade brand for hunting guns and shotguns made by several factories, two most known were in Tula (TOZ) and Izhevsk (IJ).