Izhmash biathlon-7-2-KO, essential accuracy / precision?

[tgt_usa]

How inherently accurate / precise are these Izhmash biathlon-7-2-KO rifles?

Asking in order to pick an appropriate 'scope for mine. Trying to get a scope >=20x mounted on my currently favorite rifle has been quite frustrating:

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forum....php?t=1210775


With a pretty much open budget, gunsmiths don't return my calls.
} -;


Today, with my son, moving around rifles in the safe, I came across an Izhmash biathlon-7-2-KO, already railed for a scope and new in the box. Bought in '11 or '12 for a plan that never came to fruition. By '21 I'd pretty well forgotten it was in there: I'd see the Cyrillic script on the box and conclude it was the carton for the CM-2 I'd used to work my son up on rifle in preparation for a safari. Had to move it today and told him: "This box isn't empty". Inside is a Izhmash biathlon-7-2-KO. Tried the trigger ... oh! my word! How much 'scope does it deserve?

TIA

[tgt_usa]

Today mounted a 4-16x50 scope on it and was shooting some very small groups at 100yds; this with the first load tried and 'way too wired on caffeine. Some tweaking of the scope; no caffeine; and trying a few other loads and I expect to be very impressed with this rifle.

[Topstrap44]

All of ours shoot as good as our better rimfires, they are worthy of as good a scope as you want to put on them. No, they aren't built for Benchrest but at our longrange rimfire matches they hold their own and for any type of timed/precision match they can't be beat.

They may have sold cheap back in the day but I'd pick mine as one of my favorite guns to shoot.

I have friends with Summits and there is no comparison, I just saw a Steyr today for the first time and even though they are similar to the Izhmash they aren't even in the same ballpark to the smoothness of the 7-2.

The scope rail that comes on them is a short version, an extended rail was available which makes positioning the scope better for eye relief and cheek placement But my buddy got the last available one and he didn't plan on making more.

Topstrap

[tgt_usa]

Originally Posted by Topstrap44

All of ours shoot as good as our better rimfires, they are worthy of as good a scope as you want to put on them. No, they aren't built for Benchrest but at our longrange rimfire matches they hold their own and for any type of timed/precision match they can't be beat.

They may have sold cheap back in the day but I'd pick mine as one of my favorite guns to shoot.

I have friends with Summits and there is no comparison, I just saw a Steyr today for the first time and even though they are similar to the Izhmash they aren't even in the same ballpark to the smoothness of the 7-2.

The scope rail that comes on them is a short version, an extended rail was available which makes positioning the scope better for eye relief and cheek placement But my buddy got the last available one and he didn't plan on making more.

Topstrap

My main objective is one-shot, one-kill on small game at <=100yds. The quick, straight-throw action does have a great feel. Had never shot it before yesterday. And it’ll take a little work in order not to break my cheek-weld operating the action; but I believe it’ll be much easier to learn than that was with a conventional bolt handle.

First time out I was hitting or barely missing a 5/8” paster PoA at 100yds. This using good ammunition, Eley “Sport”; but even so I don’t expect to find a .22’s favorite ammo 1st try. And ‘way too much caffeine ... hadn’t expected to be shooting the rifle yet yesterday: ‘scoping it just went faster than expected.

Thanks for the reply.

[Gobber]

Concur with Topstrap44’s observation on the other attempts to copy the 7-2’s toggle bolt. I too have handled an original Summit, the Steyr variant as well as the new Volquartsen version of the Summit. None of them come close to the smooth action of a broken in 7-2. As with any receiver, if you have a new 7-2, the action will improve significantly as it wears in.

I went a different route with mine as a suppressor host. As for the cheek weld, not wanting to pay for and then have to adapt a biathlon stock to the 7-2’s curved trigger, I just fabricated my own from carbon fiber. This gave me the fit I wanted in the grip, butt and cheek. It’s still pretty much a prototype so it ain’t pretty, but it fits me and my desires.


Does pretty good at 100 yds and both the stock and action are tough as nails.


As for a scope mount, highly recommend getting a full length picatinny rail for it. Makes proper scope mounting so much easier. A good smith should be able to radius a section of rail and add any MOA you might want. Just make sure they add the receiver stud holes for a good lockup. PM me if you want info on a good smith in the northern VA area.

If you’re going to scope it, another handy mod is to mill a slot on the bottom of the receiver that allows the bolt pin to be removed from the bottom. Makes cleaning much easier as you don’t have to remove the scope each time you pull the bolt.


Another nice item is an improved toggle handle shaped to engage trigger finger and thumb easier. Check with some of the Biathlon shops for an old 7-4 handle and you might get lucky. I think I got one of the last ones from Larsen a few years ago, but hopefully they got more in stock. A few on the forum here have made their own that look really nice.

Sorry to be all over the map but it’s always nice when someone realizes how much of a gem these rifles can be.