Saiga 12 Ga.

[NEW TO THE GAME]

As I have stated before, I am new to guns, so please correct me if I am wrong. I will start hunting this deer hunting season in South TX. Will probably only take my new Maverick 88. On this new ranch there are whitetails, hog, quail, dove, white wing, etc. So we will frequenting this place alot over the different seasons. I like the idea of the Saiga Auto shotguns, but I've been reading alot of threads that say that the Saiga's are no good for hunting. From what I read they shoot bird shot, buck shot, and slugs just fine. Why wouldn't they be good for hunting? Is it just because of the short barrel size? I thought they'd be perfect for hunting.

 

[W.E.G.]

The SAIGA will be fine for recreational hunting.

Its not a flat-shooting deer gun, or an ideal bird-gun, but you already knew that.

Most game animals shot by a 12 gauge can't tell the difference between SAIGA and Browning.

 

[Ranger30-06]

If you get one of the Saiga 12's with a choked barrel, I can't see why you couldn't hunt with them.

The one big issue with them though is that they are horribly unbalanced (all the weight is in the receiver area) so they do not swing well at all. They are also a lot heavier than most other hunting shotguns, which is great for the shoulder but not so great for the walking portion. If your willing to cope with this, then great! If not, your lugging around a heavy chunk of gun.

 

[6x6pinz]

I have been using a Saiga (mostly 410) for many years now. I started using my S12 for waterfowl a couple years ago and while it is not my first choice it almost always finds itself in the truck during the course of the seasons. I am not a wanna be olympic shooter so it works fine for me and several of my buddies. Again the animals don't seem to give us a hard time for not using a 1K+ shotgun when they fall.

 

[Jotobo]

I too looked at these but could not find any info as to how well they worked for hunting deer.

 

[PT92]

Generally speaking for game, I think the longer barrel is best. That being said, it's entirely doable using a <28" barrel but I would strongly advise range time with slugs to see how she handles.

-Cheers

 

[6x6pinz]

I don't do slugs with mine but one of my buddies does. He was surprised how well it performed. The accuracy was right on par with his other shotguns shooting slugs. The only issue he had was the detachable magazine. He hunts the pigs in TX at night and found fumbling with the mags difficult compared to the tube fed.

 

[Rail Driver]

I've got a poly-choke on my S12, and it'll do about anything I need it to. *Edit to add, there's just something about that giant ~14" magazine hanging down stuffed with 12 rds of 00buckshot just makes you feel safe.

 

[Strykervet]

Well, based on the answers, you can get long barrels and chokes, that pretty much does it as long as it is accurate and handles like you wish. But for my money or similar money, for a gas operated shotgun, I'd go with the Remington or Mossberg. One more suited to barrel swaps and being a jack of all trades.

I've got my eyes on a Benelli, but I want it for 3gun. I understand the inertia operated shotguns are superior to the gas operated ones in general, but I don't know from experience. Beretta is another maker of inertia shotguns.

That Maverick 88 should do just fine for general hunting until you find the one you really want; it is basically just a simple Mossberg 500 --a fine shotgun itself-- if memory serves. There are better hunting shotguns out there than the Saiga, that is for sure. Don't get that for hunting, get that for blasting, 20 round drum, folding stock, reflex sight and all.

 

[leadcounsel]

The concept of the Saiga semi-auto seems to me to be the benefit of the higher capacity of ammo.

A rifled barrel Mossy or Remi seems like a better choice.

The additional expense on the Saigo over a traditional pump seems wasted.

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

The Saiga's are a fun toy, but I can't really see any use for hunting with them or shooting clay pidgeons because the sights are so darn high off of the barrel. Thats whats kept me from getting one...that and I'm a jobless highschooler

With only 19 inch barrels, whats the advantage to hunting with them? If I was going to hunt deer or other animals with a shotgun, I'd prefer to use a longer, rifled barrel.

 

[NEW TO THE GAME]

Thanks guys it was just a curiosity of mine, but who knows what the future might hold for me. BTW, 6X6PINZ, u mentioned u use the .410 mostly? How well does it perform on bird game? What type of ammo r u using?

 

[6x6pinz]

@NEW TO THE GAME. .. . the 410 works great on smaller birds (dove, quail...) I run the full choke and use wolf performance 3" #6 shot. I had a dove hunt not long ago that lasted just 8 minutes (ten birds, 12 shots). This was an exceptional day but still set the bar pretty high for me.


@Cal-gun Fan.... need to do a little more research on the Saiga. Shotguns come in more barrel lengths then just 19. Mine for example is 24" version and there is also a 22" version. Some have sights on a rail and some run just a front bead with a small rear V notch. Then of course there is the custom world where sight options are limitless. I have 6 mags that only hold 2 rounds for waterfowl and migratory hunting. My standard 5 rounders have a small plug to drop them to 4 rounds. I also have a poly choke system on my S12 so I have more options for chokes as well. Not the best hunting shotgun but I have taken more game with it than most will with their mainstream shotguns.

 

[Fastcast]

I also have a poly choke system on my S12 so I have more options for chokes as well. Not the best hunting shotgun but I have taken more game with it than most will with their mainstream shotguns.

That's a pretty broad statement.

I only say that because I've yet to see one Saiga afield. Every dedicated deer hunter I know is still using a bow and traditional shotgun. I'm located in the Heartland of deer country so it's big-time here, even though rifles aren't allowed.

Any dedicated waterfowler or upland hunter couldn't even fathom the idea of a Saiga equaling greater success so why bother.

You must have several freezers full of meat!

 

[6x6pinz]

I guess one should stipulate what game I use a shotgun for. Big game (as they call it here is AZ is anything the size of a javelina and larger) I don't bother with a shotgun. I use either bow, pistol or rifle for them. We do a lot of small game, bird and waterfowl hunting with shotguns. To that end I still take a large amount of my game with the Saiga line of shotguns. This time of year the freezer is starting to get full along with some of my friends who don't hunt but really like wild game and bird. Our small game season runs all year but the heat is just too brutal to get out much during the summer months. No, our rabbits don't have to be taken after the frost, they are good all year. September starts the seasons for the rest of the game animals and at that time I am pretty much in the field 3 to 4 days a week. As I type this I am waiting for one of my hunting buddies to show up so we can get out and spook up some quail and rabbit. Weather in the high 70's should be a very productive day. Yes we will both be using Saiga 12's.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Saigas have front post / rear notch combat sights do they not?

That, combined with the ability to take a standard AK side saddle optic rail, would seem to make them an ideal slug gun.

For a minimal fee, you could have any Saiga barrel threaded for chokes - and then fitted with an adjustable polly choke. Combined with a 'Cobra' red dot site, that would be a killer deer / turkey combination gun.

 

[Fastcast]

6x6pinz, best of luck on your hunt and stay safe!

 

[6x6pinz]

The saiga comes in several configurations from the factory. Mine has a front bead and a v notch rear. Yes they have the ability to put optics on, though I have never felt the need for my use. The saiga barrels are all threaded, that I am aware of unless they have been modified. Poly choke makes a unit, which I have on both my 12 and 20 gauge version. The poly choke screws right onto the original threads.

I don't understand the mentality that the saiga can not be used for hunting. Just because a person is not good with it does not mean everyone else is can not. An example would be the AR15. While I can shoot one and the 223/556 round would be a good deer round and some profess using it for hunting I have never seen one in the field. This does not mean they are not out there and being used with great success.

I do take some flack from some of the hunters here for using a magazine fed shotgun for waterfowl. They complain about the time it takes to reload but I have never seen them be required to reload their tub feds in a hurry. Then there are the double barrel guys who only get two shots. It is the old "herd" mentality. If everyone is doing it then it must be right. If I followed the crowd I would own a jeep rather than my Pinzgauers.

 

[MCgunner]

For hunting with one gun, get a rifled 12 gauge barrel with a cantelever scope mount for that Maverick and put a good optic on it, 1.5-4 or some such, make sure it has a big light gathering objective. Play around at the range with some sabots and find one that's accurate and sight in with it. Switch the barrel out for a 28" vent ribbed barrel with screw in chokes for bird hunting. You will have a FAR more versatile HUNTING gun than any Saiga and it won't cost you so much, especially since you already have a perfect platform for said use, far better platform than a Saiga unless you have zombies on that ranch.

Me, I hunt deer with RIFLES or handguns, have multiple, lately am into black powder. My center fire rifles are capable of less than 1 MOA, important for those sendero shots out at 400 yards, though I've only taken a handful past 300 and most have been inside 100, so shotguns WILL work properly set up in, in South Texas for deer hunting. I just prefer rifles or handguns. I hunt geese with a 10 gauge, ducks with a 12 gauge, doves and quail with a 20 gauge. You see, every game bird I hunt is deserving of its own perfect shotgun for the job. Don't tell my wife any different, either, DANGIT!

 

[bejay]

unless your restricted to shotgun only, would probably just buy a rifle for deer and hogs and use the mav88 for small game.

 

[MCgunner]

Texas is a rifle state. I agree.

 

[Grayrock]

8 minutes (ten birds, 12 shots).

Wow.

 

[WardenWolf]

Saigas are fine for hunting, though I recommend buying and installing the skeleton stock. It dramatically improves the handling and eliminates the "ear slap" you get when rapidly shouldering with the original stock. They're fine shotguns. Good weight, low recoil, and if you give them a new gas piston they'll eat nearly anything.

 

[6x6pinz]

Ended up chasing ducks instead, these ducks did not seem to mind that we were using Saigas. Late start today but we only missed our limit by 2 birds, still a little early in the season here in the desert. Had to get home so we missed the evening flight but had to leave some for next time.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Nice bag. While Saigas may not be traditional, they do work in the right hands....