IZH 53M Russian .177 pistol
Today we examine and shoot the IZH-53M This is at least the second version of the pistol. The original had a funky match-type grip. It's not much to assume that the original grip wasn't left hand friendly so it was changed to this design.,
I'm on my second 53M. Never should have sold the first one, which had the dedicated RH target grip. I would LOVE to find another one of those. It's a decent interpretation of the venerable Diana 5. They do have a tendency to shoot high, but you can fix that by cutting grooves into the rear plastic endcap, and hanging the rear sight off the back end, letting you lower it enough. Fit and finish is Russian agricultural, but I am convinced IZH has only one standard for barrel-making, and it's the same one they use for the 46M. Every IZH gun I've ever owned was remarkably accurate, although some of them required more technique than others. My ownership list includes IJ22, 38C, 512M, 513M, 514K, 2 IZH 60's, and 4 IZH 61's. All that's left right now is a steel breech 61, and the aforementioned 53M. They ain't pretty, but they can out-shoot just about anything.
I'm on my second 53M. Never should have sold the first one, which had the dedicated RH target grip. I would LOVE to find another one of those. It's a decent interpretation of the venerable Diana 5. They do have a tendency to shoot high, but you can fix that by cutting grooves into the rear plastic endcap, and hanging the rear sight off the back end, letting you lower it enough. Fit and finish is Russian agricultural, but I am convinced IZH has only one standard for barrel-making, and it's the same one they use for the 46M. Every IZH gun I've ever owned was remarkably accurate, although some of them required more technique than others. My ownership list includes IJ22, 38C, 512M, 513M, 514K, 2 IZH 60's, and 4 IZH 61's. All that's left right now is a steel breech 61, and the aforementioned 53M. They ain't pretty, but they can out-shoot just about anything.
The barrels are made at the same factory as the rifle barrels. So I've heard. Mine is the second version. It reminds me of my diana 5.
well that 53m has the top mounted rear sight and the spring in the front sight for what reason i have no idea, it doesn't have a set screw to hold it if you compressed it
the newer pistol have the bad rear sight that is part of the rear cap and they have a bad rep
i bought one of this a few years ago and completely redid the guts, front top hat, rear spring guide thin stainless washers on both ends, new seals
and i put a m3 x 6mm grub screw in the trigger spring to take up the slack and now it is a much improved pistol and is as good or better then a Diana 5
if i could find another old model i would buy it but i paid 57 bucks for the first one
they have potential
mike
