Do the Handi's have some new competition?

[Airsporter]

Quick range session with Rem/IZH-18. 

Winchester white box (I suspect it may be PRVI) and some brass-cased European surplus (mixed head stamps 1973 - 1991) shot fine during sight-in at 25 yds and doing some plinking.  Surplus stuff had lighter primer indentations (harder primers?) but went bang every time.  No extraction problems, but I can see where that extractor could be a problem if not fit right.  It has a spring-loaded 'post' in the extractor that engages the extractor groove on the cartridge case. 

So far so good.  With fingers crossed, I tried some Wolf steel-cased ammo.     This cheap stuff is a definite no-go in my rifle.  First shot = 'click.'  On second strike it fired, but firing pin stuck in primer making action hard to open.  Not having learned my lesson, I tried it again.  Second shot = 'click.'  Hmmm . . . may have a pattern developing here.  Again on the second strike it fired, but the primer was pierced.  End of shooting steel-cased Wolf ammo in my IZH!

I'll let you know how I make out with better optics and handloads.

[Uncle Harry]

Keep us/me posted on your range results.

I'm stripping mine down today to ship back to Remington.   

It IS a good looking rifle though. You're right about that.

I think it's gonna be a good shooter once I find the "magic" load. I'm pretty close now but I got frustrated going thru different bases/adapters/mounts for a while. I finally used Burris Z-rings with their insert kit and got it right scope-wise. Now,if they can fix the extractor problem, I'll be good to go. A follow up shot using pliers isn't the most efficient method I don't think.