2 Attachment(s)
Baikal MP-161K Review Part 1
Attachment 30941
Baikal MP-161K Part 1
As promised, fellow shooters, I am reviewing a Baikal MP-161K, as it has many features that I consider good for night time pest control.
Background
We supply night vision and thermal imagers for hunting and pest control. Before we add a new model to our line, I test the equipment for performance and functionality. Once I have approved the product, I pass on to others for their evaluation. If a product ticks all the right boxes, I commit to ordering stock.
The above process is essential for ensuring that our products are suitable for the purposes that they were designed for (as a retailer, this is also a point of law) and I also build-up a working knowledge about a product, its advantages, as well as its shortcomings. When I discuss the finer points of a product to my customers, it is from experience. We encourage our dealers to also take out equipment for the same reason. Enough said, I'll climb off my soap-box.
I like to test all new scopes on a .22LR first. This enables me to go out into the field, in the dark, and assess a scope for performance and functionality in a hunting environment. Rabbits are a big problem for many parts of New Zealand, so it is always a good place to start. Also, very convenient because I don't need to go too far to hunt them. And I love doing it.
I needed a new rifle for testing out the new Pulsar Apex Thermal Rifle Scope, which is due for release shortly. For this reason, I wanted something a little different. I had toyed with the idea of a Walther G-22 Bullpup, but was put off by some less than flattering reviews.
Introducing the .22LR Baikal MP-161K
I first handled a .22LR Baikal MP-161K last year whilst helping out our dealers, Simon and Karen of KSN Products, at the Lincoln Field Days. I had never seen one of these rifles before, and was quite impressed with the way it looked and felt. My first shotgun was a Baikal IJ-18-E, and I thought it was great, though at 16, I probably wasn't too fussy as long as it made a loud bang!
I liked the look of the Baikal MP-161K because it had:
Weaver rail
Adjustable stock
Self-loading (though I am still trying to convince myself that this is better than bolt action)
Protrusive cocking indicator
Auto hold-open after last shot
It comes with two 9 round mags
Comfortable to hold, good length of pull
Fairly light and compact
Trigger felt good, though not outstanding
Feels solid
Looks quite saucy.
So, I bought our new Baikal MP-161K from Jim at Russianz, Wanganui, who is also the Australasian distributor for Barnaul cartridges. The rifle cost me $550 incl gst, plus $10 freight. I thought this was very good. (I hope that wasn't a trade price that I just divulged)
Rifle turned up all nice, new, and oily (mmmmm, new rifle). The barrel needed threading, and whilst I was at it, I thought shorten barrel three inches, and recrown. So off the rifle went to Dave Ward, who did a really top job. Nice bloke too, and very talented. He has a huge (massive) workshop out in Dovedale, half is dedicated to engineering, and the other is woodworking, and, he has a PhD in Chemistry. The cost of shortening, threading, and crowning was $100 + gst. Another very good job.
In the meantime, I thoroughly stripped and cleaned the rifle. It arrived well coated in machine oil, and now all metal-to-metal surfaces are lubed with Molybdenum Disulfide grease, and metal surface are protected from rust with a light coating of silicon fluid. I also carefully filed the front-end of the forearm so that there was no contact with the barrel.
So this was my commitment to this rifle before firing a single shot. Hopefully it will turn in a good performance. Previous research online suggested that these rifles were accurate, but accuracy is very subjective. I need to consistently hit a 2 inch circle at 50 meters. Anything better than this is a bonus.
Incidentally, when Vietnamcam came to grab the Pulsar Thermal Imager for the Forum Hunt in Rotoroa, his comment was that this rifle is a bit plasticy. Now I have to say, that because only around 95% of this rifle is covered in plastic, I thought that this was a pretty astute observation. So, congrats, and a big hand to Cam, for winning our O.O.T.M. Award!
Anyway, I know where Cam is coming from. Like many, he likes a little wood in his life. I for one, treat my beautiful walnut stocked BRNOs and Browning rimfires, like wives and lovers, never to be parted from till death. The Baikal MP-161K, on the other-hand, is more like a latex clad mistress. Take it in a dark place and have some fun. If it doesn't perform, let it go. Enough said.
Time to fire one off
I was going to fit my 80's Parker Hale steel suppressor to this rifle, but at the last minute decided to use the short suppressor that I got from Taieri Arms a while back. These are made and sold exclusively through Taieri Arms. It came with two bodies, one for .22LR and one for .22mag/.7HMR. The internals screw into which ever is needed. It looks quite good on the MP161K, though I may change back to the Parker Hale, as this also looked good, and gave a slightly heavier frontal point-of-balance.
Which scope?
I added one of our amazing Yukon Photon XT night vision scopes as a stop-gap. I am not reviewing the Yukon Photon XT in this article, this will be published soon. Needless to say, I got a telling-off for raiding our stock of new Photons. This is the third one now that I have commandeered for evaluation purposes. I have another one fitted to my .22 BRNO Mod2 and a 1974 vintage .177 BSA Mercury air rifle, for disposing of rats and rabbits around farm dwellings. To say that I am quite impressed with this scope is an understatement. The scope on this Baikal will eventually be fitted to my .308.
So, with a box CCI subs, I venture out into the night to sight-in the Baikal MP-161K and Yukon photon XT 4.6x42 DNV scope……….
That's enough for now folks, it's Saturday, I've worked my nuts off all week, it's beer o'clock. Yipee! :P
Attachment 30942
My son, Alex, holding the MP-161k. At 6ft, we are about the size, and we find the length-of-pull is perfect for us.
