Saiga 12 review, clay pidgeons? Oh yes!

[brighamr]

I got my used S12 today. It cost $499 with shipping and transfer included.

Went out to the range (my backyard), and decided to try it with some clays. Most people I've talked to say its the worst possible gun for shooting clays, I found it surprizingly different.

Keeping in mind this was my first time with this gun, I'm using a China-mart thrower and 2-3/4 birdshot cheapy shells. long story short, I hit 27 out of 30 clays. (15 of which were thrown as nested pairs). I have shot perfect rounds before, but I was trying to do some fancy vest tricks and I'm not perfect with tricks.

not too shabby for the "worst possible gun for shooting clays" :D

If you can find one of these guns, buy it. no matter what your purpose is, you will enjoy it!

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks for posting this. I doubt it's the best possible clays tool but sounds like it's a barrel of fun to shoot.

And that's no small thing....

[mossberg]

He said it was the worst possible. If I'm not mistaken.

[1KPerDay]

No... Most people I've talked to say its the worst possible gun for shooting clays, I found it surprizingly different.

[Avenger29]

Many people think you need a fancy shotgun made in Italy with useless scrollwork on the side of the reciever for it to be used for trap.

Truth is, it's much less the gun and more the shooter who factors in the equation of doing well.

[TNT.45]

Saiga's are great for just about everything you could want from a shotgun. I use mine for skeet and trap as well as small game hunting.

Center fire systems has them for $399 but they are back ordered right now.

[elmerfudd]

My buddy and I shot some clays last month with his Saiga12. I had an old Savage side x side with me. The Saiga functioned flawlessly, but the Savage did a better job on the clays.

I'm sure that with some practice however you could get pretty darn good with the Saiga.

[Shear_stress]

Yup, the Saiga's perfectly serviceable at the trap range. Not the ideal tool for the job, but it'll work.

[Gatordad699]

I would love to buy one. Does anyone know of a place that actually has them (12ga) in stock.

[Daemon688]

Funny thing. One of my friends is a duck hunter and while up at his cabin we decided to shoot some clays. Not being a hunter at all I was expecting to get destroyed. In one little competition we went through 10 clays and only one was able to squeak by me. My friend? Well.....he wasn't happy let's just say that. Oh and yes, he was very proud to show off his fancy engraved Italian shotgun earlier in the day :neener:

[Packman]

Many people think you need a fancy shotgun made in Italy with useless scrollwork on the side of the reciever for it to be used for trap.

Truth is, it's much less the gun and more the shooter who factors in the equation of doing well.

Very true. I've never shot an O/U. You oughta see the dirty looks I get for outshooting rich guys with a 30 year old 870 pump. They generally get real mad and complain to the rangemaster that my 3 dram Wal-mart cheapo ammo is too loud.

:-D

[jdc1244]

Interesting, I was watching a video this afternoon about the Saiga shotguns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3zV1Y-ijiU

I hit 27 out of 30 clays.

Seems to work just fine. This also seems to be the answer to my shotgun dilemma, having an AK already. A semi-auto shotgun on the reliable and easy to maintain AK platform sounds exciting; I’m sold. :)

(I believe the video also confirms the correct pronunciation of ‘Saiga.’);)

[brighamr]

Gatordad - they're really hard to find right now. I got mine by posting a WTB ad over at the saiga forums (forum.saiga-12.com). If you want to just buy one quickly, you can get them on gunbroker, but the auctions get up to $600+ for a stock one. AtlanticFirearms has the converted versions in stock for about $1200+

Or you can wait a month or two and get them for $400-$500. I just plain couldn't wait :)

On a side note, the 10 round mags are extremely hard to find (I've been looking for a good month with WTB ads at several places).

Another accessory I plan on buying (specifically for longer range clays) is the Poly choke II. Those go for around $90 and I hear they make a world of difference on anything farther out than 25 yards.

[chris in va]

Since we're on the subject...

I'm guessing the 19" model doesn't have chokes. How about the longer one, 22-24"?

It's a shame our trap/skeet range has barrel length restrictions. Their minimum is 26". Seems they had too many commando and LEO types trying out their folding stock Persuaders and sweeping the people next to them.

However...I found this neat thrower that doesn't require cocking in the traditional sense. When I get the $$ it'll be on my short list.

http://www.gunaccessories.com/Trius/default.asp

[brighamr]

The 19" and 24" models come with threaded barrels (New ones anyway, old ones are a crap shoot). you can purchase chokes for either model, but since they are imported make sure to follow 922 to the letter. The PolyChoke II, from what I hear appears to be the best out there and is american made.

As for the trius, you can get a completely automated thrower brand new for $299 (Do All Aerial Assault). That's where my next "gun money splurge" is going :D

[Vaarok]

I bought my Saiga in 2003 for $239, and it's my barn pigeon gun. Anyone who says you can't shoot things out of the air with a Saiga is sadly mistaken, as swarms of vermin can attest.

And while I know it doesn't promote marksmanship, you can always just lay down a flak wall if you just want the target dead right now.

[Robert Hairless]

The only problem I've encountered when using the Saiga-12 to shoot trap is the other club members who shout something like "Stop! Put down that AK-47!" After that conversation starter, every single one of them asks to try it.

[bl4ckd0g]

I have a polychote II on my converted Saiga 12, and it makes a world of difference for adjusting shot pattern.

It also had a well designed muzzle break which tames even the nastiest of smoothbore slugs and Estate hot & heavy goose loads.

Before conversion, I would be guaranteed to welt my firing should with a few inches of red bruises after one or two cases of high-brass loads. With the Poly Choke on, I feel like the trick clay shooters in the Benelli commercial.

I'm not a high volume club shooter, so that's just my $.02.