Javelin
September 23, 2008, 12:54 AM
So I started this aloooong time ago... Like February I believe. I must admit that it was a Christmas present from my wife and its just the gift that keeps on giving (or costing as she puts it....:evil:) It all started after some of the comments on the thread when I first got my Saiga back from Tromix Corp I decided to start a little project in search for a neat little short-barrel-shotgun (never know when a good little shotty could come in handy). http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=332880
After paying uncle sam and another set of mods from Tromix Corp I got it back... and then finally had a chance to take it to the range to see how it would do. With the 11" barrel it was designed to the same length specs as an M4 so no major CQB practicing would be required other than load-reload/reduce stoppage drills. Here is a pic of it with a standard 16" M4.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3969/saiga12001hr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7736/septemberimport006dl2.jpg
OK Dave.... and now for the range report. I first started with some #2 Remington steel full power loads. It ate them like it was hungry... very hungry. It did grab one shell on that first mag so I gave it one for having a brand new spring working a little too quickly. I did not CLP the breech before shooting so after the first mag I decided I had better to ensure function (maybe I was being a little too kind as it is an AK at heart). It ate the rest of the box with no issues. Tromix Corp did a really good job with the gas ports to allow the gun to cycle properly with an 11" barrel [Thanks Tony!].
Then I loaded a few rounds of Federal 00 buck and they worked like a charm. The Kalashnokov action really inhales the energy. The kick with full power 00 buck is likened to that of a winchester pump 20 gauge shooting standard ammo. I am not a big person (190lbs) and I can easily feed a mag of 9 rounds almost as fast as I can pull the trigger while maintaining positive sight control (I did this several times). I would have shot more but I drained a few boxes of shells ....fast! Overall I shot Remington Steel shot, Federal, and a hodgepodge of Winchester ammo (even let some folks have at it for a few rounds.. cause I am that nice of a guy :D).
Overall it is a great gun and will be one of the most entertaining of my collection. I would recommend building a custom Saiga-12 for anyone that wants something very different or really needs a new black gun that shoots the venerable 12 gauge ammo selection. I will have to get into reloading shotgun or this thing might eat a hole in my wallet.. :uhoh:
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4240/saiga12013zq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4673/saiga12005zv7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/waffen/violent-smiley-050.gif Thanks for reading!
After paying uncle sam and another set of mods from Tromix Corp I got it back... and then finally had a chance to take it to the range to see how it would do. With the 11" barrel it was designed to the same length specs as an M4 so no major CQB practicing would be required other than load-reload/reduce stoppage drills. Here is a pic of it with a standard 16" M4.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3969/saiga12001hr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7736/septemberimport006dl2.jpg
OK Dave.... and now for the range report. I first started with some #2 Remington steel full power loads. It ate them like it was hungry... very hungry. It did grab one shell on that first mag so I gave it one for having a brand new spring working a little too quickly. I did not CLP the breech before shooting so after the first mag I decided I had better to ensure function (maybe I was being a little too kind as it is an AK at heart). It ate the rest of the box with no issues. Tromix Corp did a really good job with the gas ports to allow the gun to cycle properly with an 11" barrel [Thanks Tony!].
Then I loaded a few rounds of Federal 00 buck and they worked like a charm. The Kalashnokov action really inhales the energy. The kick with full power 00 buck is likened to that of a winchester pump 20 gauge shooting standard ammo. I am not a big person (190lbs) and I can easily feed a mag of 9 rounds almost as fast as I can pull the trigger while maintaining positive sight control (I did this several times). I would have shot more but I drained a few boxes of shells ....fast! Overall I shot Remington Steel shot, Federal, and a hodgepodge of Winchester ammo (even let some folks have at it for a few rounds.. cause I am that nice of a guy :D).
Overall it is a great gun and will be one of the most entertaining of my collection. I would recommend building a custom Saiga-12 for anyone that wants something very different or really needs a new black gun that shoots the venerable 12 gauge ammo selection. I will have to get into reloading shotgun or this thing might eat a hole in my wallet.. :uhoh:
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4240/saiga12013zq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4673/saiga12005zv7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/waffen/violent-smiley-050.gif Thanks for reading!