Baikal 161 Manul

The History of Baikal

During the Second World War, the Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod or Izhmekh Mechanical Plant manufactured a vast number of Tokarev 1933 pistols, Nagant 1895 revolvers, Degtyaryov and Simonov anti-tank rifles, as well as various other military armaments, such as rocket launchers.

The history of the Baikal brand starts in the early 1960s when Izhmekh began supplying hunting shotguns for export under the trademark "Baikal." The brand name, which later became synonymous with civilian firearms and other gear produced by IZHMEKH, was created by Leonard Vasev and featured a memorable logo that is still well-recognized around the world today. One of the first models they began exporting under that trademark was the double-barrel shotgun IZh-54.

In the year 1963, Raznoexport, a Soviet government export organization, was granted the rights to use the iconic name and logo associated with the brand. The Baikal name was applied to all Soviet firearms and ammunition exported by Raznoexport from that point on. The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant was once again allowed to use the brand name and logo after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In the 1970s, the company began with the production of PSM and IZh-35 pistols. Baikal became famous for their MP series like the MP-18, MP-135, MP-43 and various other models such as Baikal 121 Lis, 145 Los etc.

In 2004, Remington Arms Company signed a contract to buy Baikal firearms and began selling them in the USA. This allowed the brand to expand its reach and gain more popularity in North America, selling the imported models under various names such as Remington Spartan 100 which stood for IZh-18 or Remington Spartan 210 which was a different name for the IZh-43-1S. However, in 2023, the plant and company Baikal Arms still operate in Russia and are currently under the ownership of Kalashnikov Concern.

Baikal 161 Manul Rifle Review

The Baikal 161 Manul is a self-loading, semi-automatic small-caliber carbine that is developed from the MP-161K. It is known for its reliable blow-back operation and comes preinstalled with mechanical sights. The front sight is height-adjustable, and the rear sight is adjustable for windage. The top of the receiver is equipped with a lightweight Picatinny rail for scope mounting purposes, allowing for even greater accuracy.

The safety mechanism of the Baikal 161 Manul comes in the form of a small circular knob within the trigger guard, allowing the shooter to engage or disengage it using their trigger finger while keeping their firing grip on the rifle.

The rifle comes with a detachable box magazine that can hold up to 9 rounds. The barrel is free-floated and threaded at the end, making it easy to attach suppressors or other accessories. The trigger mechanism is equipped with a cocking indicator and the walnut stock features an ergonomic Thumbhole grip. Manual 161 is designed to be easy to maintain and clean, ensuring that it remains in top condition.

Figure 1: Baikal 161 Manul, chambered for .22 LR (Source: https://kalashnikov.market/product/32022/baikal-161-manul-.22-lr-500-mm-orex)

Baikal Manul 161 Calibers

The rifle is chambered of the following calibers:

• .22 LR

Baikal 161 Manul comes with a Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver which is suitable for installing scope mounts.

Figure 2: The receiver of Baikal 162 Manul, chambered for .22 LR (Source: https://kalashnikov.market/product/32022/baikal-161-manul-.22-lr-500-mm-orex)

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Baikal Manul 161

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Baikal 161 Manul

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Baikal 161 Manul are the following:

• All rifles with a Picatinny rail for mounting purposes

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Baikal 161 Manul

For two-piece mounts to be interchangeable, the mounting surfaces of the rifle must match in every dimension except the action length which can vary. Rifles that have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Baikal 161 Manul are the following:

• All rifles with a Picatinny rail for mounting purposes

Best Scope Mounts for Baikal 161 Manul

Fixed Scope Mounts for Baikal 161 Manul

We recommend these 30 mm Light Contessa rings for your Baikal 161 Manul  rifle if you are looking for a quality fixed scope mounting solution. These rings ensure sturdiness and reliability, while they also come at a relatively affordable price. They are made of high-quality aluminum and come with a 10-year warranty.

Order Contessa Light Picatinny Rings

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Baikal 161 Manul

This EAW one-piece mount earned our top recommendation for a detachable repeatable scope mount for Baikal 161 Manul. It is reliable and extremely versatile and is thus a great choice for your rifle. It is manufactured in Germany, made of steel, and comes with a 30-year warranty.

Check out EAW 30 mm Roll Off Mount

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu