Saiga-12 Yes or no, opinions/hate welcome

[jlbraun]

Because not only are you going to fire 100 rounds, you're going to have a TABLE to set your stuff on

.

Hey, I carry a table with me in 3-gun. I even have a 3-point sling for it. Doesn't everybody do this?



Look, I have 3 10rd magazines and 2 5rd magazines for my Saiga. That's 40 rounds. If I burn through all of those and there's still a threat, it's time to either run or switch to a recoilless rifle.

 

[REOIV]

You guys seem to be missing (or purposely ignoring) the main point I was trying to make. That point is that as long as you have loaded detachable magazines handy, then, sure, they are faster and easier than loading 4 or 5 shells at a time into a tubular magazine shotgun.

BUT, once the supply of pre-loaded detachable magazines is exhausted, then the loading process is a slow PITA.

We got your point, but it doesn't seem like you're understanding what we are saying. It isn't any more of a PITA to load a Saiga mag than it is to load a tube fed shotgun. It is a single stack mag and it loads almost the same way. Place shell on top of mag push down and back repeat.

If you can load a shot gun, you can easily load a Saiga 12 mag. It isn't a PITA try it yourself.

Even with both unloaded a brand new Saiga user can keep up with a traditional shotgun user.

 

[Risasi]

I own a couple Saiga 12's. And a bunch of 5-rd mags.

Personally I still prefer a good pump action Mossberg 835, with changeable barrels. Just because I like to be difficult. And really I only use shotties for hunting and clay.

However, once one figures out how to hold the action open when inserting a new mag, and how to quickly reload a mag (Larry brought up a good point about having a proper sling for his shotgun, for handsfree reloading), I have found them to be less cumbersome and just as fast or faster to reload than a regular tube fed shotgun.

In fact I have many times used my Saigas for clay shooting AND hunting.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, this reloading thing might be relevant to cops and military or just for games, but I fail to see how reloading speed is relevant to me, a common ordinary citizen/hunter. Any defensive use I might ned of a shotgun, I can get it done with a twice pipe. Two rounds is plenty. I have a .38 on the night stand if I need it.

 

[Correia]

but I fail to see how reloading speed is relevant to me, a common ordinary citizen/hunter.

Because nobody has every survived a gunfight and said to themselves afterward "Damn it! I brought too much ammo!"

 

[MCgunner]

But, I've been assaulted twice and I didn't have a shotgun. Once, a 9mm, the other, a piddlin' .25 auto. I'm still here. I don't make a habit of walkin' into Walmart or down the street with a shotgun. The only real defensive use I have for one is in my bedroom/safe room.

If I were a cop or swat team member or such, yeah, I'd worry a lot about it.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Correia, are you the handsome bearded gent with the Saiga 12 starting at 5:09?

If so I see that you move your strong hand off the trigger and reach forward to open the closed bolt while supporting the shotgun against your shoulder with your strong arm. As you do so you use your weak hand to extract the old magazine, toss it onto the ground, and continue with your weak hand to obtain a fresh magazine which you insert while continuing to hold the bolt open with your strong hand. After that fresh magazine is inserted you release the bolt to chamber a round, fire two shots, and pause when the magazine works loose at 5:18 so you slam its bottom to seat it properly and continue firing.

It's a noteworthy technique and you are well coordinated at it. You're also much faster than I would have conjectured had I ever actually seen a Saiga 12. No wonder you look carefully at the gun while doing those manipulations: I couldn't take my eyes away either.

 

[Correia]

Robert, the mag didn't come loose, I released it with my thumb when I talked to the guy on the timer. It is a rock & lock magazine, it wouldn't have fed if it wasn't locked in.

I don't really watch the gun when I do it either. Normally I try to reload while moving, because that is better on the clock during stages. That one was just slapped together because we were out shooting, and the guy with the camera saw me shooting that, and asked me to do one for the video.

 

[m1009]

Saiga mags..

well, there are a bunch of mags for sale on GunsAmerica .com-running about $44 each I think. One ad says he's got 40 of them. I've heard that the Saiga is really good, but I've never shot one.
Am getting a USAS-12 myself, just waiting for the paperwork!

 

[TonyRumore]

If you need something with a short barrel and decent capacity, the Saiga is the only option. Those tube fed guns can only hold 2 shots when the barrel gets down to around 8". The Saiga still has 10. There is nothing to debate here.

Tony

 

[Robert Hairless]

Thanks for explaining, Correia.

 

[Ready2Defend]

I am now kicking myself for not buying one at the gun show last month! :banghead: I saw several and hesitated - he who hesitates is lost. Are you sure your all not salesman for saiga?

 

[rbernie]

Supposedly there will be another 800 coming into the country in December. Those will be allocated out to the distributors. At this point, none of us know how many we'll be getting.

OOOO, OOOOOH! I got one from Santa....

<tee hee>

 

[GeezerwithGuns]

Really neat looking gun, but it would be a detriment for me to use in my "practical / tactical" shoots where we have to do tactical reloading during the exercises where the number, type and order (buck / slug / birdshot) of rounds is variable. On some, I would have to carry three separate mags or a single mag that would have to be taken out and reloaded on the fly. I think it would be pretty slow.

 

[frankd4]

BEST Shotgun ever

It is the best ever 10 round mags as well as 20 round drums are easy to come by.

 

[Rustynuts]

The guys on the Saiga-12 forum are also working on a last round bolt hold open device along with quick bolt drop and mag release, and a straight-in magwell like an AR. There's a video of this somewhere on youtube. Once those get installed, there's no stopping the Saiga!

 

[okiewita40]

The Saiga is an awesome weapon no matter what platform you get it in either rifle or shothgun.

 

[rocinante]

another saiga owner here that loves his. Not the shotgun for EVERY activity but it is a fun gun.

 

[VirgilCaine]

On some, I would have to carry three separate mags or a single mag that would have to be taken out and reloaded on the fly. I think it would be pretty slow.

Uh, what? Why would you not have three or more magazines anyway?

Do you usually only carry one AR or AK magazine?

 

[Gunfighter123]

Saiga 12s 4 Ever !!!! I've owned a lot of shotguns in 35+ years of shooting ---- Rem. 1100s , 11-87s , Winchester 1400s , Browning auto-5s , and even a couple USAS-12s { before THEY reclassified them as a DD} -- ya gotta love the Saiga 12s --- buck , birdshot or slugs -- mine eats them all like cotton candy