Saiga 12 gauge shotgun

They're actually somewhat common, they sell a lot of aftermarket stuff for them. People like to get Saiga receivers(the rifle ones) and convert them to AK's. I might pick one up later in life, they're pretty neat. I think an FN SLP is in order first, though :cool:
 
They are excellent firearms. I have owned 2 Saiga's. One in .308 and one in 7.62X39. The Saiga 12 are the same receiver only chambered in 12 ga. They do become very addictive. There are lots of aftermarket parts for them and you an convert them to a "real" AK if you want.
 
I have one and it never fails to put a smile on my face. It runs great with everything I have stuffed in the mag, and it's a lot of fun to shoot. It's a 12ga Kalashnikov, who couldn't love that?:)

The only problem I have had was a magazine issue. The early AGP 10rd mags may have been a bit fragile, and I shot a ton of 3" shells through them. Eventually I broke a few. AGP sent me some 2nd generation mag bodies and all has been fine since then, although I only use them with 2.75" shells now.

And if your range has a lot of cobwebs and dust, it makes a great cleaning tool. Light off a few of the Federal 3" 1.25oz slugs and all that stuff will fall to the ground for easy cleanup.:D
 
I had one on loan for an extended T&E session. It was not that suited for trap or Wobble, but it excelled at more practical exercises.

The last thing I did with it was in a shooting pit. I kept a 3 lb coffee can jumping with slugs out to about 40 yards. Lots of fun.

It handled all loads as long as I kept them at least 1 oz,3 1/4 dram without having to adjust the gas system.

Performance was flawless over maybe 400 rounds, mixed shot, buck and slugs.

Handled OK, though I prefer my 870s for when the threat level needs reduction.

This one was bone stock. The big prob was the trigger. Heavy,creepy and nasty, it needs major improvement. I'm told the conversion to a separate PG like the AK fixes this. This moves the trigger group to a straight line setup and greatly tweaks the poundage, feel and crispness.

Smaller prob was the sights, Again aftermarket stuff is the fix.

I like the Saiga.....
 
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You can do all kinds of fun things with a Saiga 12.



Mine works fine- the sights are mediocre, and that hurts for clay games (although you should see the looks I get when I use this thing for skeet :D). It doesn't run 100% (a fair amount of shells get caught against the top of the chamber), but then again, I haven't run heavy loads through mine, and I hear that helps.

They're definitely fun, but if you need reliability, there are other more traditional designs that are better.
 
Looked cool until I held one... cheaply constructed like an AK...im sure it does its job very well...but not my thing
 
cheaply constructed like an AK...
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It's made by Izmash, the same folks making real-deal AKs in Russia. The receiver is the exact same, the trigger group is very closely related (if you do the PG conversion like mine, the trigger group is the exact same as a semiauto AK).

It's no Beretta, Browning, or Perazzi. Heck, it isn't even a Krieghoff. :p (Sarcasm turned up to 11 there, K-gun guys...)

But then, it doesn't NEED to be beautiful or have bank vault rigidity.
 
Saiga Rage

Saigas are all the rage in 3 gun shoots. There are outfits that will convert them to handle very similar to AR's. One of these days, I may end up getting one, but I'll make do with my Benelli for now.
 
I traded mine for a Smith model 17 last gunshow.

It was a fun curiosity piece, but the reloads were awkward and it didn't bring anything to the table that I couldn't already do as well with an 870.

If I had unlimited funds... I'd have an NFA one. really cool looking.
 
I have one that my late son had modified by Tromix. They are the experts in Saiga 12 modifications for "combat" shooting. Gun has been 100% reliable and has very soft recoil. My son often had fun running of a 10 round mag while holding it pistol style in one hand (after the range was closed). Will shoot as fast as you can pull the trigger. Very little muzzle climb. No, it's not for skeet, trap or such. It's an "assult" shotgun based on the AK47. My version has been modified with a folding stock, pistol grip forend, better trigger group and general cleanup. Perfect for home defense. Check out Tromix website for some neat video to see why they call it Tromix Lead Dispensing Systems
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Jimbo, nice shotgun, my condolences on the loss of your son.

And you may need to look at your house- gravity appears to not work normally and you seem to have carpeted a wall to compensate. :D
 
Saiga 12 ga Shotguns

I've put about 800 rounds through mine without a single malfunction of any kind regardless of what ammo was used, with, as Jimbo-Indy said, very soft recoil. I like it. Where else are you going to find a very reliable semi-auto 12 ga for $300-$400?

Brad
 
Has anyone hunted birds with one of these shotguns? Would it be pratical?
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Haven't hunted with mine, but I've shot skeet with it. It would be functional, but maybe not practical. You would need some properly sized magazines (2 shot ones are available). You'd also be dealing with a complete lack of choke (unless you add a polychoke), barrel on the short side, and a ridiculously short sight radius for the size of the gun.

It would be like hunting birds with a riot shotgun- workable, but far from ideal (assuming you plugged the magazine so it was legal).
 
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