Blaser B95/97 or Biakal IZH-94

[sae8425]

Comments on this forum have finally convinced me to upgrade from my Savage 24 .30-30/12 ga.

However, I don't want to give up screw in chokes for the 12 ga.

Blaser told me yesterday that they can provide screw in chokes in the B95/97 combination rife shotguns.

Otherwise, the Biakal IZH-94 is the only combination gun with screw in chokes that I know of.

I guess that there should be no comparison between the Blaser and the Biakal.

But you never really know about these things. Anyone had experience with both/either of these?

I could get the Blaser in the .30R (.308 diameter bullets) or .30-06.

From the ballistics info that I've seen, a .30R would give a .300 Win Mag a pretty good run for it's money.

But ammo availability (unless I wanted to handload) here in North America I gather isn't that great for the .30R Blaser.

Obviously the .30-06 could be loaded from 55 gr up to 220 gr (but a .30-06 isn't in the .300 Win Mag league).

But I bet it doesn't kick like one either!!

Could the .30R Blaser be loaded with 55 gr 'accelerator' type loads for varmint hunting?

So; what say the forum members? Blaser, Biakal, or something else?

Remember, I MUST have screw in chokes in any new combination gun.

Many thanks for the advice and comments.

Best regards,

Steve

[anweis]

Aesthetics and form aside, from a practical point of view, the only thing that i find wrong with the Baikals is the long, mushy, gritty, heavy, trigger pull.
If i found a gunsmith who was willing to polish and adjust the trigger to a nice 3 pounds, i would have purchased a Baikal a long time ago.  

[dougk]

Given the Biakals can not be regulated you really dont know what your going to get.  So go with a Valmet and have a gunsmith add the screw in chokes or go with the Blaser

[sae8425]

dougk,

Are the Biakal's really non-adjustable?
I thought that there was a different diameter bush that could be changed to make aiming adjustments?
Or don't I understand this issue correctly?
And, can screw in chokes be added to any of the Valmet's (and the later non-Finnish variants)?
Is this a job that almost any gunsmith can do, or a more specialized undertaking?
Many thanks,
Steve

[dougk]

the elevation on the Baikal is adjustable by tinkering with the "wedge".  Windage is not adjustable.

my 12/.223 was off 6 inches high and 6 inches to the right at 50 yards.  After sending it in for adjustment, I sent it back as it came back 6 inches high and 6 inches to the right.

I have seen the Valmet with screw in chokes.  I believe it was done by a gunsmith in PA.

[pastorp]

How expensive are the Blasers? They are quite a jump up in price from the savage 24. I think I would buy a Valmet or savage 2400 and have Mike Orlean add the chokes.  

Regards,

[OB One]

Given the Biakals can not be regulated you really dont know what your going to get.  So go with a Valmet and have a gunsmith add the screw in chokes or go with the Blaser

Doug; The Baikals can be regulated.  There is what appears to be a screw adjustment. It is not an adjustment.  It holds a bushing that is determined by the difference between the aim point and the point of impact at a certain range.  For instance my IZH-94 12/30-06 it right on at 50 yards.  The 30-06 makes cloverleafs at a 100 yards.  I really like mine except it's so heavy and a terrible trigger pull.

[dougk]

OB One
you are correct the Baikal's can be adjusted for elevation by changing out the bushing.  However, the windage can not be adjusted.

Did you buy that Baikal from me as it sounds just like mine....    The reason I sold my Baikal was the Spartan 12/.223 was so far off it could not be used and EAA was not able to regulate it, but they were very good and refunded my purchase price.
.

[OB One]

OB One
Did you buy that Baikal from me as it sounds just like mine....    The reason I sold my Baikal was the Spartan 12/.223 was so far off it could not be used and EAA was not able to regulate it, but they were very good and refunded my purchase price.

No Doug;  i bought my Baikal 12/30-06 when they were first brought to the states.  Saw one that EAA had for sale at a gun show.  Could have been 20 years ago or so.  I just don't remember exactly.  I also bought a baikal 12/223 a couple of years ago and promptly sold it.  The regulation on that one was so far off in elevation and windage, it was beyond correction.  After sort of zeroing in the 223 barrel.  Factory ammo printed at least a 4 inch MOA at a 100 yards.  It was terrible.  I'm presently looking for a Baikal 22LR or 22 mag over a 20ga if they make one.  Do they?

[dougk]

I believe they made an IZH-94 in .22lr/410ga.

[saltydog]

The two are not comparable. The Blaser is a finely crafted firearm while the Baikal is a rough attempt at one. I would not recommend a Blaser 30R as there is not any ammo readily available in the US. The combo rifle / shotgun is made for hunting game (boar, deer, coyote) not birds which is why it does not come with standard chokes - Blaser makes a shotgun for bird hunting. If you are hunting large game consider the 9,3 X 74R. The shotgun barrel is designed for Brenneke shells - http://www.brenneke-munition.de/cms/ko.html.