Thread: Wet weekend project

Got given this little beauty last night.
Only one careful pig hunter owner, specially modified to optimise it for hunting (barrel shortened and foresight re attached with no consideration for alignment or height). Stock also shortened, so sort of sawn off at both ends.
Fortunatly Izis, are pretty much indestructable so action and barrel are fine apart from cosmetic rusting on the outside.
Always been tempted to buy a break action either rossi or baikal and now I have one.
So where to start, probably first clean off the woodwork and add the missing length to the butt then who knows.

What cal?

How long is that rifle mate?

It's a pistol!

Thank you for your inciteful comments. Answering them in sequence
Red dot and butt pad is exactly my thinking, 7.62x39, 760mm in length.
Ive just taken the barrel off, amazing how many leaves, twigs, and mud you can pack into the front end and still have it close up properly.

Make a good short walking stick?

Originally Posted by Maca49

Make a good short walking stick?

Only if I cut my legs down to match, then all my trousers would need altering as well.

Any clue what twist rate? Could bung a big arse can on it and go for the biggest flat nose cast sub it will stabilise?

Originally Posted by Tommy

Any clue what twist rate? Could bung a big arse can on it and go for the biggest flat nose cast sub it will stabilise?

151grn hp cast from shootersnz will do the trick.
they go fine through my bro in laws one. definately need a can on her as it will be a real ear basher otherwise. grab one of the air rifle bases to raise scope above suppressor and it will also help with alignment/stability.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Only if I cut my legs down to match, then all my trousers would need altering as well.

Typical rifle project, always something more.

There are a number of options, especally if you handload.

First off 762mm is minimum legal length so put on a thick recoil pad and you should be fine. It the open sights are not on correctly then take them off anyway though one idea I saw that I liked was someone had put them back on at about 45degrees to one side so they could use them with the rifle tilted.....Like those fancy AR ones.

I have also seen 7.62x39 rechambered into 303 british and it is possible (if you can find a chamber cutter) to rechamber them in 7.62x54R as both these have the same barrel diameter. The taper rimmed cases on 303 or 7.62x54R are much better suited for extraction by hand in these break open actions.

Compact low power scopes also work well on these. I have a Leupold 1-4x20 that I was going to use on one but had a different idea and went down a different rabbit hole. (Still have the scope though) If you want some ideas around scope mounting, PM me and I can email images of different ways we have set them up for customers, mostly without a great deal of expense.

The Izzie actions will handle the larger calibres easily so if you handload, you can get the 150gr to 175gr out at similar velocities to 308 without rechambering and by using a faster powder. Going by the picture, the barrel looks to be about 15 inches including the chamber so I suspect speeds of around 2300-2400 rather than 2600-2800.

It should clean up rather well with a sand and resurface. Take your time and add some chequering and you will have a nice piece. Best of all, when carrying meat out, it will fit in you bag very nicely.

Originally Posted by timattalon

I have also seen 7.62x39 rechambered into 303 british and it is possible (if you can find a chamber cutter) to rechamber them in 7.62x54R as both these have the same barrel diameter. The taper rimmed cases on 303 or 7.62x54R are much better suited for extraction by hand in these break open actions.

Why not leave it as a 7.62x39, great little calibre and well suited to a short light cheap rifle.

Rechamber to .303 or 7.62x54R it's gonna bark and kick and you're gonna want a suppressor
then it's not short light or cheap anymore.

Originally Posted by rockland

Why not leave it as a 7.62x39, great little calibre and well suited to a short light cheap rifle.

Rechamber to .303 or 7.62x54R it's gonna bark and kick and you're gonna want a suppressor
then it's not short light or cheap anymore.

Some of the bark can be addressed by a faster burning powder. Agreed that anytime you increase bullet weight and maintain velocity, recoil will increase.303 would be my pick, but the 54R will teach you what recoil really is in something that light. (similar to 30/06) My suggestion would be to use normal 7.62x39 anyway. Will do most of what these are asked to do without further work.If he wants more out of it, then its possible, but probably not needed.

Originally Posted by timattalon

Some of the bark can be addressed by a faster burning powder. Agreed that anytime you increase bullet weight and maintain velocity, recoil will increase.303 would be my pick, but the 54R will teach you what recoil really is in something that light. (similar to 30/06) My suggestion would be to use normal 7.62x39 anyway. Will do most of what these are asked to do without further work.If he wants more out of it, then its possible, but probably not needed.

It's staying as is cal wise but agree rimmed cases are better in this type of action. Shot it yesterday, at 25 yds 5 in low and left 10, ok for the last owners up close and personal approach. Today I'll try fitting a 22to picatinny rail ans a red dot to see what its capable of.

Well pulled it to bits and cleaned it up. The stock is cracked at the wrist and held by two screws, not broken so I'll leave it at present. Wood looked better once the remaining brown varnish came off. The two holes in thecomb are a clever way of carrying two spare rounds.