IZH-46M with Innova VIP

[gerry]

A first look at how this comes out. The kit arrived and it took about an hour to install. The hardest part is getting the cylinder loose, then tightened properly. They mention mild heat, but the biggest item is finding a steel rod the right size to fit into the front holes for leverage, with a good enough fit that you don't mess up the holes.

There were two mild surprises, which I later confirmed with Innova. In order to support multiple pumps a bar must be removed from the IZH-46M, but doing so means it will no longer automatically cock when you pump it, and each time it must be manually cocked first.

Second, I sorta assumed a single pump would be the same as before, but that's not the case, which does make sense from the change in capacity. Looking at the numbers the Innova chart shows a single pump to have a lower velocity than a standard gun. But, at that level some pistols will not even expel the pellet at all (mine didn't). Two pumps, however, seem to give just about the same velocity as one pump with the original. I don't have a chrono, but the point of aim remained the same.

At four pumps you can hear a real difference, and see much less drop. Eight pumps is getting much louder and a little higher.

The quality looks good, it arrived quickly and the instructions were very clear and easy to follow. The changes mean a bit more work when shooting in 10m competition, but should make it more usable at 30 yards and beyond. And, the changes are reversible if needed.