Anyone have a Saiga 12 AK style shotgun? Like it?

[TDIfan]

I want to add a shotgun to my growing collection. I have handled one, but never shot it. Buddy of mine has 2 but with his traveling for work, he hasn't even shot them yet! Very simple design, easy teardown. 12 round mags available too.

Any one have experience with one? Likes or dislikes with it?


Atlantic has them on special now for $619 with free shipping. Coolest looking shotgun I ever saw, next to the 2 full auto ones the russian guy had on you tube.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct536.aspx

[Asmodeus6]

Yeah. I just need the money. This is has been a "bucket list" item for a few years now, that crawled all the way to the top of fast track. I'm trying to hustle off stuff I don't need right now to get my hands on one of these.

[FNG19]

I've owned one for a few years and really, really enjoy it. I don't shoot it all that often, but every time I do, it's a ton of fun. It's also a real conversation piece at the range. There's also a niche market that serves the S12 community with upgrades, 922r conversion, cosmetic and functional upgrades, etc.

Please be aware that, as these are imported sporting guns, there are some laws you need to be aware of covering what you can and can't change while still being legal (see aforementioned "922r conversion"). While PAFOA has some great local expertise about this shotgun and the conversion, for the distilled wisdom and expertise on the topic, check out the saiga-12.com forums.

About the 12 round mag: I own two, and find them too large to be really useful. Sure, they're fun for playing at the range, but the size makes them a little unwieldy. The 12 rounders are probably 18" long. That's a whole lot of bulk hanging off the bottom. I'm glad I have mine, but I'm also interested in getting a smaller mag or two -- maybe 8 rounds? Just a thought.

[Asmodeus6]

The 12 rounders are probably 18" long. That's a whole lot of bulk hanging off the bottom.

This is why I haven't bought a S12 'yet'. The bulk of the mags, especially the higher capacity ones is a little goofy. As 'uncool' as a tube fed shotgun is, there is something to be said for it's clean lines and simplicity.

[TDIfan]

I was wondering how long the extended magazines were. I could see it looking goofy with a leg like that hanging off the bottom! Drum would be sweet though. Not even interested in "conversions", or the headache that would bring. My buddy and I stripped his down one night, So simple to clean, and very few parts. Just the two piece bolt, spring, piston, and dust cover, from what I remember.

The only shotgun I ever fired was a pistol grip mossberg 500, ton of fun but my hands hurt like an SOB after a couple of boxes. Those dishes didn't stand a chance!

Just have to see if my dealer will do the transfer and what the cost for that would be. Other than that, I'm going for it. Atlantic's sales change quite often so I should order soon.

[Al-Mumit]

I have one I've converted to bullpup (off topic: been dragging my feet getting the review posted). The huge mags can be a huge PITA, the 20rd drums are MASSIVE and very heavy. I much prefer the 12rd stocks or, even better, the 12rd drum.

That being said its one helluva fun firearm and I don't think i'd trade it for anything... except maybe that 2 tube 15rd keltec beast

[Asmodeus6]

^ Undrag those feet please. I need to see that. And if I'm gonna get a review about it I like it when its from a PAFOA member.

[gfanikf]

I want to add a shotgun to my growing collection. I have handled one, but never shot it. Buddy of mine has 2 but with his traveling for work, he hasn't even shot them yet! Very simple design, easy teardown. 12 round mags available too.

Any one have experience with one? Likes or dislikes with it?


Atlantic has them on special now for $619 with free shipping. Coolest looking shotgun I ever saw, next to the 2 full auto ones the russian guy had on you tube.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct536.aspx

Is actually an American. I thought it was from a Russian Video Gaming site for the longest time. lol Such a great YouTube channel. I loved him going in the APC to McDonalds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FPSRussia

Kyle "FPSRussia" Myers (born May 5, 1986) is an American internet personality known for his Youtube videos in which he impersonates a Russian dubbed by him "Dimitri" and fires various firearms. As of October 2011, he has the 15th most subscribed YouTube channel. As of September 17 2011, he has more than 250 million views on his videos. He is quoted by people as he ends all his videos with "and as always, have nice day."
Kyle created his first YouTube channel "klm5986" on the 18th of May 2006 and uploaded his first video which was of the Video Game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on the 3rd of July 2009. He started his "FPSRussia" channel on the 19th of April 2010. He became known for "using real weapons to debunk video game myths" and often showed viewers what weapons featured in video games, particularly Call of Duty, were actually like to use and how they differed from the way they are presented in video games.[1] He has stated that he got his idea for "FPSRussia" from his Russian boss - when he worked as a car salesman.
At first Kyle was able to produce his videos without much investment, since he already had a large collection of firearms, and a large amount of ammunition. Now he is able to use more interesting and expensive firearms in his videos, since they are loaned to him by vendors, and in exchange, Kyle links their websites in the description of his videos.
Kyle also appears in the weekly and long-standing podcast Painkiller Already, alongside other popular YouTube gamers, WoodysGamertag [2] and WingsofRedemption, in which he frequently prank calls (often in the persona of FPSRussia) people found on Craigslist selling obscure items or to businesses such as Walmart and Microsoft.
In July 2011, FPSRussia collaborated with Epic Meal Time, a popular "food porn" Youtube channel "with more subscribers than Justin Bieber", to create a video involving cooking food with firearms.[3] He made another appearance on the show in the "Meat Shield" episode.[4] He was called by the Belgian branch of French radio channel RTL "the firearms expert of Youtube."[5]
Kyle grew up on a farm in Georgia, United States of America and grew up around firearms and was taught to shoot at a young age by his father. He has, in the past, participated in competitive target shooting.

Oh I've read (on the Something Awful Forums) that if you use anything more than a 5 clip round, you've illegally converted it (because of the overall types of certain parts in the weapon and a larger clip puts it over the limit,) is that true?

[FNG19]

Oh I've read (on the Something Awful Forums) that if you use anything more than a 5 clip round, you've illegally converted it (because of the overall types of certain parts in the weapon and a larger clip puts it over the limit,) is that true?

No. In my layman's understanding of the issue, what makes it illegal is:

1) Using a magazine of capacity and make other than which it was imported with, thus taking it out of "sporting configuration", and then,

2) Having too many foreign parts on the gun, since it's no longer in "sporting configuration".

If you want to use US mags, do the conversion. You can do it yourself if you're handy, but if you're not (like me), you can have a gunsmith do the work. If you choose the right parts to replace, it doesn't even have to be expensive. Make sure your total foreign part count is under the limit (10 non-US parts, IIRC) and that you understand which parts count and which parts don't. If you do that, you should be ok.

[scoutjoe]

Naw they are miserable....I mean I'm only getting close to 10k through my first one...... no idea about the other ones

Always get looks/attention/what is that at the range. Then I let them shoot it....then they want mine.

If the bigger capacity mags are a problem stay with the factory 5 size? I can outcycle Surefire 12s so I don't like them at 12 rnd capacity. They can be cut down to 10, 8 , 6 ,4 2 if you want to. Most reliable mags are my Russian 8s, not super bulky, feed anything, work every time and are tough enough to drive nails with.


As for the smacking one of those big mags into a gun, the idea is that since you've altered its imported form from a "sporter" with 5 rnds to an evil baby killing machine of an imported semi auto shotgun with more than 5 rounds......you then have to change enough parts to make the gun "American" as opposed to "imported". Some people rely on the magazine for compliance but IMHO that's like asking a crack addict to hold your drugs for safe keeping.