The IZh-81 (ИЖ-81) is a Russian pump-action shotgun.
== History == In 1990s and even in year 2000 IZh-81 was the most common shotgun in private security companies in Russia. In 1997, work began on creating a semi-automatic shotgun based on the design of IZh-81. In 1998, first MP-151 shotgun was made. After tests and trials, in 1999 this shotgun was presented at the "IWA-99" arms exhibition in Nuremberg. However, only 100 MP-151 were made before its production was discontinued. In year 2000 began serial production of new pump-action shotgun MP-133 (based on IZh-81M design) and new self-loading shotgun MP-153 (based on MP-133 design) was presented in Moscow arms exhibition. And in year 2000, production of IZh-81 was discontinued. In April 2000, the price of one standard IZh-81 was between 4400 and 5400 rubles.
== Design == IZh-81 is a smoothbore shotgun. It has a beech stock and fore-end.
== Variants == IZh-81 (ИЖ-81) — standard version with 700mm barrel and fixed wooden stock, it has four round tubular magazine (12/70mm shells) IZh-81M (ИЖ-81M) — IZh-81 version (12/76mm Magnum shells) IZh-81 «Jaguar» (ИЖ-81 «Ягуар») — IZh-81 version for private security guards, it has 560mm barrel and wooden pistol grip without stock IZh-81 «Fox Terrier» (ИЖ-81 «Фокстерьер») — IZh-81 version for private security guards, it has 600mm barrel, AK-74M glass-filled polyamide folding stock and pistol grip IZh-81K (ИЖ-81К) — second model with 700mm barrel and fixed wooden stock, it has four round detachable box magazine (12/70mm shells) IZh-81KM (ИЖ-81КM) — IZh-81K version (12/76mm Magnum shells) MP-151 (Mechanical Plant-151) - semi-automatic shotgun based on IZh-81 design
== Users == Bangladesh - IZh-81K shotguns were sold to Bangladesh Police Belarus - IZh-81 and IZh-81K are allowed as civilian hunting weapon Bosnia and Herzegovina - IZh-81 is officially adopted by Bosnian police Kazakhstan - IZh-81 is officially adopted by the customs service Russian Federation - IZh-81 is allowed as civilian hunting weapon. Also, it was allowed as service weapon in private security companies until March 1, 2006
References
== Sources == Михаил Драгунов. Магазинное гладкоствольное ружьё ИЖ-81 // журнал "Мастер-ружьё", № 7/8, 1996. стр.16-26 В. Н. Трофимов. Отечественные охотничьи ружья гладкоствольные. М., ДАИРС, 2000. стр.85-93
== External links == M. R. Popenker. IZh-81 IZh-81K IZh-81KM pump action shotgun (Russia) / "Modern Firearms"