Hi guys, a small snippet of info as I know it.
Australia, by way of Alex Taransky's (multi Olympian Rapidfire shooter of the 60's and 70's) Russian influence, did actually receive a handful of these firearms earlier this year, two in 2011 also.
Photo bucket pictures attached will show the modifications compared with the famous and widely distributed IZH35M.
Most obvious are inbuilt slide lock that doubles as a feed ramp compensator dampening the feed into the breech.
A dry fire mechanism is a valuable inclusion for anybody serious about ISSF training.
The dual spring with the second spring using the lower cover as a counterweight to minimize recoil, this feature to suggest the least is fantastic.
Whilst I would never suggest this firearm to be as still as the "HR" developed by Efim Haidurov it is not bad and I bet someone challenged enough could shoot off a shot with an empty brass case balanced on the top cover not upsetting it thru a shot.
The inbuilt counterweight system in the top cover and an external system to the lower cover for those that like to tinker, why additional weight would be required interests me.
The front sight has been extended back some 20mm to accommodate the rear sight block reposition now allowing for all trigger adjustments to be done externally.
The bullet feed ramp angle has had a very slight improvement with the only obvious way to notice difference being to load and unload a case to note minimal marking on the bullet head compared with previous models.
The factory grips I note get some flack, the Russians produce a block somewhat to simulate a RH large grip to suit a left eyed shooter, any modification from there is required by the end user, smart really if you think about it for these high end firearms.
Countless times on here I note the reference to costs and RRP, well let me be a little cheeky to suggest good luck getting any as these are hand made to the prepaid order in the month of December only, this occurs whilst the Izhevsky factory is closed for the deep cold Russian winter. Australia has hefty importation costs and taxes related to Firearms so any suggested cost would not be accurate for many readers on here.
I am fortunate enough to currently own two of these magnificent firearms, I gave a little over two thousand Australian dollars for each so they do not come cheap as has been the expectation from Russia but I can easily justify them compared with AW93, Pardini, Hamerlli etc
My two I have extended up the rear sight blade to give good clearance from the top cover, in fact 11mm up from the locating lug, additionally then to rake the front blade back to conform to sight radius requirements.
Hope this is of some help to a few with questions about these magnificent firearms of my choice.
http://s232.photobucket.com/user/finati ... al%20mp438