Thread: Baikal single shot rebarrel - Anyone done this?

I have a Baikal Izh-18MH in .223 that I never use, and am thinking about re-barreling it using a .458 blank that I bought off our very own barrel maker homebrew.357.

Does anyone have any experience re-barreling these rifles? are the barrels simply threaded into the barrel adaptor? or are they very Russianed in there (ie heat pressed/pinned)? I would like to salvage the 223 barrel if possible, so chopping it and boring out the barrel adaptor isnt on the table.

I know these rifles come in .308 and other high pressure cartridges, is there any difference between the barrel adaptors on a .223 and the larger cartridges? any issue with stout 45/70 loads for example?

Not sure which cartridge I would use, maybe 45/70 but maybe not. The idea is to suppress the rifle and shoot 400 - 500gr subs from it, and 45/70 case capacity can be an issue for that from what I have read. Any suggestions?

I should mention that I have a well equipped machine shop in my garage.

interesting.....there is much easier way to do this... will flick you a PM.

@Scout is a Baikal rifle expert

Usually , if you want to do an accurate job, you need a few gunsmithing tools like a proper chamber reamer and it's pilots and gauges. Indicating rods ...etc. The requirements is a bit more than just " chucking it" in the lathe.

There was a wildcat named the 45 silhouette, which was a 45-70 shortened so that it would have a smaller chamber volume which would be perfect for your application.
https://www.cartridgecollector.net/45-silhouette

You could also create your own wildcat by using 500 s&w cases and necking them down to 458, with a bit of shoulder.

IIRC Gunworks is the team for info, there is a couple floating around in different calibers

https://sskfirearms.lehighdefense.co...grade-2die-set

It can be done :-)

by same token you can use the std 45/70..... the hornady cases are tiny bit shorter,plenty of slower load data out there.... black powder goes slow too LOL.
ADI load data site has a single action section,pure gold mine for obscure type loadings. interesting bit for me is the trail boss loads have HIGHER pressure than smokeless.....plenty of subsonic options.

That barrel is chambered for 45-70 I think, should be good to go. I use 3031 powder and load up my Sharps with 40gr and a hollow base bullet.

Well I have a lot of Baikal Single shots & bought two shotgun barrels to do the same as you & 45/70, .50 cal barrels off same maker for that job but not done yet, I don't think the rifle barrels will be threaded into a mono block some how ?

If you want to change out the .223 Rem barrel I don't know why you would want to save it as it isn't like its a very useful barrel for any other job ?

I was going to rechamber mine to .220 Swift as it has a semi rim & my 7.62X39 to .303 Brit but again moved on.

The 45/70 is a way superior killing subsonic round than any thing smaller & if the 500gr stabilize in your rifle that is better than 400gr, I can only imagine the .50 cal being better again & as I just got one I will find out soon .

I have shot Deer, Donkey, Horses to Buffalo with the subsonic 45/70 with the smack of the bullet the loudest part of the shot .

From a bit of looking around and reading, I think either standard 45/70 or a cut down version like a few here have suggested will be the go, I'm leaning towards cutting the case down. It's interesting that trailboss is not a good choice.

I can handle all the barrel fitting, chambering, headspacing and so forth,
what I'm really interested in is how the barrel attaches on these rifles, if anyone has any photos or links of one of them disassembled I'd appreciate it.

I will drop gunworks a line and see if they can give me some advise.

did you recieve my PM???

I looked at this a while back with a Gunsmith. He said instead of replacing the barrel, it is better and less difficult to simply copy it and build the whole piece separately. This way you can then still use the 223 if the need arises.....

Originally Posted by timattalon

I looked at this a while back with a Gunsmith. He said instead of replacing the barrel, it is better and less difficult to simply copy it and build the whole piece separately. This way you can then still use the 223 if the need arises.....

Id be bloody suspicious of that "Gunsmith" rebarreling a mono block of some type is way easier & just as good as making one from scratch, only down side is not using/having the original barrel, hence why I bought some shotgun barrels .

I have done this before with a H&R when I made a 500NE 3 1/4in, but I had the lug attached on that job, it was very slightly off center from not using the mono block.

I think just use the full 45/70 case & you can go full power later if you want, with a suppressor fitted recoil won't be a great deal .

or you turn outside of 45/70 barrel down to slip straight into .12ga and pop empty shells out with small rod dropped down barrel,Ive also seen it done with insert glued into place and the ejector altered to pop the rim of 45/70...there was one for sale on trademe about a year ago that had this done....I personally like the option to remove insert and still have shotgun...

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

or you turn outside of 45/70 barrel down to slip straight into .12ga and pop empty shells out with small rod dropped down barrel,Ive also seen it done with insert glued into place and the ejector altered to pop the rim of 45/70...there was one for sale on trademe about a year ago that had this done....I personally like the option to remove insert and still have shotgun...

That sounds like a muzzle loader from the 1800s with extra steps.