TargetTalk

Any other pistols 'feel' (weight/balance/qrip angle) like the IZH/KSP. I love the way it feels but I'm tired of the reliability issues. Unfortunately I don't have much to compare, for instance I've never handled a GSP or AW93 or SP20. Just looking for a place to start.

Thanks,

John

the Walther KSP200 and the Feinwerkbau AW93 are based off the IZH-35 design.

I guess the Hammerli 208 is not far off, even a FAS 602.
AW93 is close, if a bit weird.
The KSP is an IZH35 with a different badge and a coat of paint.

Scorpio wrote:the Walther KSP200 and the Feinwerkbau AW93 are based off the IZH-35 design.

That is incorrect.

http://www.targettalk.org/viewtopic.php ... w93+russia

Scorpio wrote:... and the Feinwerkbau AW93 are based off the IZH-35 design.

Nope - this is a myth (in part perpetuated by an error in a posting which Peter Brunelli compiled together to create a "scrapbook" on his excellent website about theIZH35 at http://izh.petebrunelli.com).

In terms of the actual mechanics, there are very few similarities between the IZH35/IJ35/KSP200/Frankonia Favorit (take your pick - they are all essentially the same pistol) AND the AW93. To an untrained eye the two pistols look quite similar to each other in an exploded-diagram format. It is only when you field-strip the two pistols side-by-side that you can really get an idea of just how different they are. The AW93 is actually based on Haidurov's HR82 or HR86, but as far as I know these never actually went into commercial production (well - as commercial as you could get in the former USSR...) and they were essentially hand-made in limited numbers. FWB slightly altered the design to make it more suitable for factory production. There is an excellent image of the HR86 in the middle of this page and the similarity to the AW93 is striking.
http://uz-shooting.h1.ru/KhaidurovArms/index.php?page=4

That aside, the recoil in the AW93 is softer and slower compared to the IZH35. The IZH35 recoils quicker and also has a slightly lower bore-line than the AW93 and so is more suited for Rapid Fire. However, as long as RF is not your game, the AW93 is pretty close to the IZH35 in terms of grip angle, balance and so on (certainly more so than a GSP or a SP20) and would be my first pick. Reliability is excellent too. A Hammerli 208 or 215 is probably a bit closer to the IZH35 but these are no longer in production.

Thanks for everyone's input!

J

Fortitudo Dei wrote:

There is an excellent image of the HR86 in the middle of this page and the similarity to the AW93 is striking.

HR-86 (XP-86) - http://uz-shooting.h1.ru/KhaidurovArms/index.php?page=4


AW 93 - http://www.geocities.com/drclem/IZH.html


AW 93 - http://www.rpgfirearms.com.au/HI%20RES/FWB%20AW%20.jpg - (Larger more detailed Image at Link)

While we're on the subject of unavailable Soviet era pistols, does anybody know where a KhR-30 might be had in or for import to the US?