IZh-18

The IZh-18 (ИЖ-18) is a single-shot, break-action shotgun.^[1]

IZh-18
Type	single-shot shotgun[1]
Place of origin	USSR
Service history
In service	1964 - Present
Production history
Manufacturer	Izhevsk Mechanical Plant[2][3]
Produced	since 1964[4]
Specifications
Mass	2.4 - 2.7 kg[2]
Barrel length	675 or 730mm[5][2]
Caliber	12, 16, 20, 28 and 32 gauge[5] later .410 bore[2] and .366 TKM[6]
Action	Break-action[5]
Rate of fire	variable
Sights	iron sights[4]

History

IZh-18 was designed in 1962-1963 as a successor to the IZhK,^[7] since 1964 began its serial production.^[5][4]

In November 1964, the price of one standard IZh-18 was 28 rubles.^[5]

Since January 1979^[8] began the production of IZh-18E-20M and IZh-18-410M variants^[2][4]

In May 1981, the price of one standard IZh-18 was 22 rubles and 50 kopecks, the price of one standard IZh-18E was 37 rubles and 50 kopecks.^[9]

In 1985, the IZh-18EM shotgun was awarded the golden medal of the International Fair Plovdiv.^[10]

Since March 2018 ZAO "Техкрим" began to produce a detachable 520mm barrel ТК600 for IZh-18 shotguns. With TK600 barrel this gun can shoot .366 TKM cartridges.^[6]

Unknown number of IZh-18 shotguns were sold in foreign countries.^[3]

Design

IZh-18 is a single-shot hammerless takedown shotgun.^[5][4]

The barrel is chrome-plated and has choke at the muzzle end.^[4] The detachable barrel is made from 50A steel (сталь 50A).^[9]

Soviet shotguns had a walnut, birch or beech stock and fore-end.^[11][4]

Variants

• IZh-18 (ИЖ-18)^[5][9][12]
• IZh-18M (ИЖ-18М) - version of IZh-18, since January 1979^{[8][3][4][12]}
• IZh-18E (ИЖ-18Е), with automatic ejector^[9][2][13]
• IZh-18EM (ИЖ-18ЕМ) - version of IZh-18E, since early 1980s^[3][4][12]
• IZh-18E-20M (ИЖ-18Е-20М), export variant (IZh-18E chambered in 20/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells)^{[8][4][2][12]}
• IZh-18-410M (ИЖ-18-410М), export variant (IZh-18 chambered in .410/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells)^[8][2][12]
• IZh-18MK (ИЖ-18МК) - version of IZh-18M, since 1988^[14]
• IZh-18M-M (ИЖ-18М-M) - version of IZh-18M, since 1992
• IZh-18MN (ИЖ-18МН) - since 1994, single-shot rifle^[15]

Users

•  Soviet Union - 1600 IZh-18 shotguns were bought for zoological gardens, animal parks and wildlife sanctuaries of the Soviet Union as auxiliary firearm for employees.^[3] Also, these shotguns were allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[5][2][4]
•  Belarus - they were on the territory of BSSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[16]
•  Bulgaria^[17]
•  Czech Republic^[18]
•  Kazakhstan - they were on the territory of Kazakh SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[19]
•  Latvia - they were on the territory of Latvian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[20]
•  Moldova - they were on the territory of Moldavian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[21]
•  Russian Federation - they were on the territory of RSFSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[15]
•  Ukraine - they were on the territory of Ukrainian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon^[22][23]
•  United Kingdom - unknown number of shotguns were sold as civilian hunting weapon^[24]
•  USA - European American Armory began importing IZh-18 shotguns from Russia in 1998.^[1] In January 2004, a contract was signed between the Remington Arms (Madison, North Carolina) and the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.^[25] In 2005 Remington Arms began import of IZh-18 shotguns from Russia, they were marketed and distributed by Remington Arms as Remington Spartan 100^[25] and IZh-18MN were sold as Remington SPR 18^[25]

Museum exhibits

• one IZh-18EM-M shotgun is in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in Tula Kremlin^[26]