USSG (Baikal) MP220 Coach Gun

wlkalong · September 8, 2012, 03:24 PM

Does anyone have experience with this coach gun? I am thinking about purchasing it for CAS and as a back up HD gun. Remington used to import the same gun, called it the Spartan. The MP220 is the hammerless version, 20 inch barrel, in 12 ga.

Any help would be appreciated.

Shotgun693 · September 9, 2012, 10:05 AM

Mine, 12 ga, shoots great but is really stiff. I've been shooting it for over a year and it's as stiff now as when brand new. I do often store in broke open but so far it hasn't helped.

Jbar4Ranch · September 9, 2012, 07:38 PM

One of the biggest things to do to make the Baikal more suitable for CAS is reshaping the cocking levers so it stays open far enough to shuck the empties and toss a couple fresh ones in. The firing pins on most, or all, of these come to full cock before the action is fully open. As the action is opened all the way, the firing pin springs are "overcocked" and spring pressure tends to push the opened action slightly closed again until it reaches equilibrium with the cocked firing pins.
The white line indicates approximately where metal needs to be removed to accomplish this. Go slow and function check often as you go. There is a CAS shooter by the name of Papa Dave who sells modified cocking levers for the Baikal if you'd rather go that route - they may or may not work; see 2nd post HERE for more info.

The auto safety can also be easily modified so it doesn't automatically engage when the shotgun is opened, but can still be engaged manually if desired.

wlkalong · September 12, 2012, 09:58 AM

Thanks- I will save this picture. I expect to pick the gun up in the next couple of days. I have not been able to find any negatives from the few reviews I was able to find, except it may need to be slicked up. Otherwise, from what I have read, they are very heavy duty guns, that can take a lot of abuse. I am very excited to get it and possibly take my dremel out.

Noz · September 12, 2012, 02:47 PM

My main match gun. Has many hours of labor in it. Smooth it. Shoot it and then smooth it again until you are sick of the damn thing. About then it will start working real good for you. Papa Dav's cocking levers are a great place to start.

Built like a tank, don't expect to wear it out in my lifetime.

Jbar4Ranch · September 12, 2012, 08:56 PM

They're good shotguns and were priced quite nicely... before Remington, anyway.
When Remington started selling them, one of the local shops put the older/original Baikals on closeout @ $229.99... 'course that was eight years ago, but at that price, I wish I had bought a couple of 'em.

Crunchy Frog · September 12, 2012, 09:01 PM

Lots of cowboy shooters use them. Every new one I have handled was stiff out of the box. I've handled Baikals that people have done themselves; better than stock for sure. I've also handled guns that were slicked up by cowboy gunsmiths.

If I just wanted one to knock around with I might work on it myself.

If I wanted a match gun I'd pay a professional to fix it up.

It's all theoretical for me, I shoot a '97.

wlkalong · September 15, 2012, 01:06 PM

I picked it up on Thursday. Seems very heavy duty, with pretty good fit and finish. The break action is very stiff, have to use my knee. Aside from working the action over and over, is there a way to speed the process up?

September 8, 2012, 03:24 PM	#1
wlkalong Member Join Date: July 19, 2009 Posts: 34	USSG (Baikal) MP220 Coach Gun Does anyone have experience with this coach gun? I am thinking about purchasing it for CAS and as a back up HD gun. Remington used to import the same gun, called it the Spartan. The MP220 is the hammerless version, 20 inch barrel, in 12 ga. Any help would be appreciated.

September 9, 2012, 07:38 PM	#3
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	One of the biggest things to do to make the Baikal more suitable for CAS is reshaping the cocking levers so it stays open far enough to shuck the empties and toss a couple fresh ones in. The firing pins on most, or all, of these come to full cock before the action is fully open. As the action is opened all the way, the firing pin springs are "overcocked" and spring pressure tends to push the opened action slightly closed again until it reaches equilibrium with the cocked firing pins. The white line indicates approximately where metal needs to be removed to accomplish this. Go slow and function check often as you go. There is a CAS shooter by the name of Papa Dave who sells modified cocking levers for the Baikal if you'd rather go that route - they may or may not work; see 2nd post HERE for more info. The auto safety can also be easily modified so it doesn't automatically engage when the shotgun is opened, but can still be engaged manually if desired. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

September 12, 2012, 08:56 PM	#6
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	They're good shotguns and were priced quite nicely... before Remington, anyway. When Remington started selling them, one of the local shops put the older/original Baikals on closeout @ $229.99... 'course that was eight years ago, but at that price, I wish I had bought a couple of 'em. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

September 9, 2012, 10:05 AM	#2
Shotgun693 Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2011 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 959	Mine, 12 ga, shoots great but is really stiff. I've been shooting it for over a year and it's as stiff now as when brand new. I do often store in broke open but so far it hasn't helped.

September 12, 2012, 09:58 AM	#4
wlkalong Member Join Date: July 19, 2009 Posts: 34	Thanks- I will save this picture. I expect to pick the gun up in the next couple of days. I have not been able to find any negatives from the few reviews I was able to find, except it may need to be slicked up. Otherwise, from what I have read, they are very heavy duty guns, that can take a lot of abuse. I am very excited to get it and possibly take my dremel out.

September 12, 2012, 02:47 PM	#5
Noz Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Posts: 643	My main match gun. Has many hours of labor in it. Smooth it. Shoot it and then smooth it again until you are sick of the damn thing. About then it will start working real good for you. Papa Dav's cocking levers are a great place to start. Built like a tank, don't expect to wear it out in my lifetime.

September 12, 2012, 09:01 PM	#7
Crunchy Frog Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 591	Lots of cowboy shooters use them. Every new one I have handled was stiff out of the box. I've handled Baikals that people have done themselves; better than stock for sure. I've also handled guns that were slicked up by cowboy gunsmiths. If I just wanted one to knock around with I might work on it myself. If I wanted a match gun I'd pay a professional to fix it up. It's all theoretical for me, I shoot a '97.

September 15, 2012, 01:06 PM	#8
wlkalong Member Join Date: July 19, 2009 Posts: 34	I picked it up on Thursday. Seems very heavy duty, with pretty good fit and finish. The break action is very stiff, have to use my knee. Aside from working the action over and over, is there a way to speed the process up?