IZh-43

The IZh-43 (ИЖ-43) is a Soviet and Russian double-barreled shotgun.

== History == The IZh-43 was designed in the early 1980s, and in October 1985, the first prototypes were presented at the hunting weapons exhibition in Irkutsk. Production of the IZh-43 began in 1986. In 1986, the IZh-43M shotgun was awarded the gold medal at the Leipzig Trade Fair. From July 1987 until February 1990, the price of a standard IZh-43 was 175 rubles. A custom IZh-43 shotgun, featuring engravings, a walnut stock, and a walnut fore-end, was priced at up to 385 rubles. In 1988, the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant began mass production of both the IZh-43 and IZh-43E. In January 2004, a contract was signed between Remington Arms and the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. Russian firearms were bought by Remington and sold in the USA, with the IZh-43 being marketed as the Remington Spartan 220 and the IZh-43-1S as the Remington Spartan 210. In September 2008, all firearms produced by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant were rebranded, and the IZh-43 was renamed the MP-43 (Mechanical Plant-43).

== Design == The IZh-43 is a side-by-side smoothbore shotgun, with barrels that feature chokes at the muzzle end. It has a stock and fore-end made of walnut, birch, or beech wood. Although custom aftermarket variants are known, it features chrome-plated bores made of AR50 steel.

== Variants == IZh-43 (ИЖ-43) - The first model is a hammerless shotgun, with a design based on the IZh-58MA model. [3] IZh-43E (ИЖ-43Е) - The second model is a version of the standard IZh-43 with an ejector. IZh-43M (ИЖ-43М) - The third model with a two-trigger layout. IZh-43EM (ИЖ-43ЕМ) The fourth model, equipped with selective automatic ejectors for spent shells. It has hammer-forged barrels. IZh-43-1S (ИЖ-43-1С) The fifth model, equipped with a single selective trigger. IZh-43E1SM (ИЖ-43Е1СМ) The sixth model, featuring automatic ejectors, a single selective trigger, and a universal trigger mechanism. IZh-43KN (ИЖ-43КН) The seventh model, featuring external operational hammers that must be manually cocked before firing.

== Users == USSR Belarus - It is allowed as a civilian hunting weapon. Kazakhstan - It is allowed as a civilian hunting weapon. Moldova -It is allowed as a civilian hunting weapon. Russian Federation - It is allowed as a civilian hunting weapon.

References

== Sources == Ижевское оружие. Том 1. Ижевские ружья / Н. Л. Изметинский, Л. Е. Михайлов. - Ижевск, издательство Удмуртского университета, 1995. - 247 стр. : ил. Assembly and disassembly of the Baikal Bounty Hunter // "American GunSmith" volume XIV Number 8, August 1999 page 3 [IZh-43]