IZh-18

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

History
IZh-18 was designed in 1962-1963 as a successor to the IZhK, since 1964 began its serial production.

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

Since January 1979 began the production of IZh-18E-20M and IZh-18-410M variants

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.

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

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.

Unknown number of IZh-18 shotguns were sold in foreign countries.

Design
IZh-18 is a single-shot hammerless takedown shotgun.

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

Soviet shotguns had a walnut, birch or beech stock and fore-end.

Variants

 * IZh-18 (ИЖ-18)
 * IZh-18M (ИЖ-18М) - version of IZh-18, since January 1979
 * IZh-18E (ИЖ-18Е), with automatic ejector
 * IZh-18EM (ИЖ-18ЕМ) - version of IZh-18E, since early 1980s
 * IZh-18E-20M (ИЖ-18Е-20М), export variant (IZh-18E chambered in 20/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells)
 * IZh-18-410M (ИЖ-18-410М), export variant (IZh-18 chambered in .410/76 mm Magnum shotgun shells)
 * IZh-18MK (ИЖ-18МК) - version of IZh-18M, since 1988
 * IZh-18M-M (ИЖ-18М-M) - version of IZh-18M, since 1992
 * IZh-18MN (ИЖ-18МН) - since 1994, single-shot rifle

Users

 * USSR - 1600 IZh-18 shotguns were bought for zoological gardens, animal parks and wildlife sanctuaries of the Soviet Union as auxiliary firearm for employees. Also, these shotguns were allowed as civilian hunting weapon
 * 🇧🇾 Belarus - they were on the territory of BSSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon
 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
 * 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan - they were on the territory of Kazakh SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon
 * 🇱🇻 Latvia - they were on the territory of Latvian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon
 * 🇲🇩 Moldova - they were on the territory of Moldavian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon
 * Russian Federation - they were on the territory of RSFSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine - they were on the territory of Ukrainian SSR in Soviet times, now they are allowed as civilian hunting weapon
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom - unknown number of shotguns were sold as civilian hunting weapon
 * 🇺🇸 USA - European American Armory began importing IZh-18 shotguns from Russia in 1998. In January 2004, a contract was signed between the Remington Arms (Madison, North Carolina) and the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. In 2005 Remington Arms began import of IZh-18 shotguns from Russia, they were marketed and distributed by Remington Arms as Remington Spartan 100 and IZh-18MN were sold as Remington SPR 18

Museum exhibits

 * one IZh-18EM-M shotgun is in collection of Tula State Arms Museum in Tula Kremlin