| EAA Model IZH35M .22 LR Target Pistol | |
Page Two
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SPECS
EEA MODEL IZH35M .22 LR TARGET PISTOL |
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The IZH35M has
two safeties. One is a large lever on the left side of the rear sight. In the
up position, the pistol is ready to fire; in its down position, the trigger
bar is disconnected. There is also a grip safety on the rear of the grip beneath
the rear sight. This grip safety blocks the sear and must be pressed before
the pistol will fire. I quickly found out that one must grip the IZH35M exactly
the same from shot to shot or that grip safety will not be disengaged. There
is also a cocking indicator in front of the rear sight with a red dot on it.
When the pistol is cocked, this indicator sticks up slightly.
Unlike most autoloading
pistols the magazines in this one do not hold the bolt open after the last shot
is fired. When one does want the bolt held open, there is a lever on the right
side of the gun just above the trigger guard. If this lever is pressed down
while the bolt is to the rear, it will be locked open.
The rear sight
is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Moving a screw in the right of
the rear sight clockwise will move the sight blade to the right. A clockwise
turn on another screw on the top of the sight will move the rear blade up. A
counterclockwise turn gives a reverse adjustment. The IZH35M also comes supplied
with a scope mount, and the gun is drilled and tapped for its installation.
This was not used in my test shooting. The pistol is supplied with a steel cleaning
rod, screwdriver, and a small metal oilcan.
As befits a serious
target pistol, the IZH35M has an adjustable trigger. A screw in the trigger
itself adjusts it forwards and backwards so that it is positioned properly for
an individual’s finger. Screws in the trigger’s base set overtravel
adjustment and weight of pull.
As the IZH35M came from the box, the trigger was set to a three-pound pull. I did not adjust it further. I found it interesting that the pistol used a two-stage trigger, as is common on military-type firearms. Slack had to be taken up before the “real” trigger pull started.
How
The IZH35M Performs
I
quickly discovered at the range that the IZH35M’s large square-front sight
at 50 feet corresponded perfectly with the square aiming points of an EZ2C (Professional
Printing, 33 E. State St., Media, PA 19063) No.9 target so all group shooting
was done at that distance from a solid sandbag rest. Since this shooting would
not be done offhand, I detached the grip’s right bottom ledge.
Five loads were
used. I had three types of .22 LR target ammunition: Federal Match, Lapua Multi-Match,
and Remington Target. I also had some CCI standard-velocity and Winchester high-velocity
hollowpoints. Each load was fired for three group averages, and the results
ranged from very good to downright amazingly good! The three-group average with
the Lapua .22 LR load was a tiny .66 inch. The largest average came with the
Remington Target load at 1.30 inches; a single flyer in one group caused it
to be that large. In fact, that single group was the only one of the entire
15 groups fired to go over 1.50 inches. The IZH35M is a pistol for serious target
shooting.
Despite an unconventional appearance, the IZH35M is a quality gun at a modest price. My only gripe would be that the Russians don’t polish their steel parts too well before they are blued. But that affects the gun’s shooting ability not a bit. If ever I were to engage in bullseye target shooting again, I would be drawn to this pistol like a magnet.
Page One - About the IZH35M, Velocity & Accuracy Chart, Function
This article was originally published in Shooting Times Handgun Buyer's Guide 2001.
