The refit also included the fitting of seat armour (as used in the Lagg3).
It would be nice to see the Hurr IIb with the 2 x Shvak and 2 x 12.7. The refit was carried out in Moscow against freshly delivered aircraft. Although they were not always new aircraft, they would be a mix of de commissioned and production surplus (that the RAF now replaced with later models). However they were delivered in boxes and had to be partially re assembled.
Igor Kaberov's memoirs (Russian naval pilot 41 to 43) do not fondly remember the Hurricane. He transitioned to it in from a Yak1 and then onto a late Lagg3 (both he claims with VK105PF engines). He considered both the Russian air craft superior in speed and handling with the Yak the "lightest" and most responsive of them all. However he viewed the Hurricane as vastly superior in firepower and very stable with good resistance to enemy fire. He also commented on the vastly superior radio.
As far as I remember Kaberov's book he flew I-16 (summer 1941), LaGG-3 (end of 1941), Yak-1 (early 1942), Hurricane (mid 1942), LaGG-3 (early 1943), La-5 (mid 1943).
He did not like Hurricanes due to lack of speed, very poor diving abilities, and limited vertical performance, but appreciated the armament 2 x 20mm and 2 x 12,7 mm guns and good radio/instrumental equipment.
Another interesting book was written by A.Kozhevnikov. Their squad received Hurricanes in mid 1942. After I-16 the first impression of Hurricane was:
"This plane has a big inertia and quite heavy on stick and controls... but it is maneuverable."
Kozhevnikov scored 4 victories flying Hurricane (Me-109, MC.200, 2 x Ju-88). In mid 1943 their squad was reequipped to Yak-7b. He considered Yak-7b much better plane than Hurricane.