IZh-27

The IZh-27 is a double-barreled shotgun.

IZh-27 (MP-27)
IZH-27 16 Gauge
Type	Double-barreled shotgun[1]
Place of origin	USSR
Service history
In service	1969–present
Production history
Designer	A. A. Klimov[2]
Designed	1969–1970[3]
Manufacturer	Izhevsk Mechanical Plant[2]
Produced	since 1972[4]
No. built	2,000,000[5]
Specifications
Mass	3.2–3.4 kg[6]
Length	1095–1195mm
Barrel length	720–730mm[6]
Caliber	12, 16, 20 and 32 gauge[2][6]
Action	Break-action[6]
Sights	iron sights

History

IZh-27 was designed in the early 1970s as a successor to the IZh-12.^[3] The first standard serial shotguns were made in 1972^[4] and mass production began in 1973.^[7]

In 1985, IZh-27 and TOZ-34 were the most common hunting shotguns in the Soviet Union.^[8] Also, a number of these shotguns were sold in foreign countries.^[9][10]

In the 1990s, the production of the IZh-27MM variant (IZh-27M chambered in 12/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells) began.^[11]

In September 2008, IZh-27 was renamed into MP-27 (Mechanical Plant – 27). Over 1.5 million IZh-27 shotguns were made.^[12]

Design

IZh-27 is an over and under hammerless shotgun, with one barrel above the other.^[7][13][6]

The chrome-plated barrels are made from heat-treated 50RA steel (сталь 50PA)^[7][13]

It has a walnut or beech stock and fore-end.^[6] Some shotguns were equipped with rubber recoil pad.^[7][13]

Variants

• IZh-27 (ИЖ-27)^[7][6]

• IZh-27-1S (ИЖ-27-1С) with a single selective trigger^[6]

• IZh-27E (ИЖ-27Е), with automatic ejectors^[6] – since 1973^[7]

• IZh-27E-1S (ИЖ-27Е-1С), with automatic ejectors and a single selective trigger^[6] – in 1976 it was awarded the golden medal of the Brno Exhibition^[14] and in spring 1977 it received the State quality mark of the USSR.^[15]

• IZh-27ST (ИЖ-27СТ), with 760mm barrels^[16] 3.3 – 3.4 kg^[13]
• IZh-27SK (ИЖ-27СK), with 660mm barrels^[16] 3.2 – 3.3 kg^[13]
• IZh-27M (ИЖ-27М)^[17] In September 2008, it was renamed into MP-27M^[12]
• IZh-27MM (ИЖ-27МM)^[11]

Users

• Soviet Union - was allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[7][13][2]
• Belarus – is allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[18]
• Bulgaria^[19]
• Kazakhstan – is allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[20]
• Moldova – is allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[21]
• Russian Federation – is allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[11]
• USA – European American Armory began importing IZh-27 shotguns from Russia in 1999.^[1] In January 2004, a contract was signed between Remington Arms (Madison, North Carolina) and the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.^[22] In 2005 Remington Arms began importing IZh-27 shotguns from Russia, marketed and distributed as the Remington Spartan 310.^[23][24] Remington ceased importing the shotgun in 2009.