Saiga 12 questions

[BullpupBen]

I intend to buy a Saiga 12 some time soon. Mostly just for fun and to have a good SHTF weapon.

Thing is I'd also like to be able to hit clays and do skeet/trap shooting with it, do you guys think this will be a problem? It seems like the sights on it are very poor.

Do you know if chokes like the polychoke (http://www.gilbertsguns.com/Shotguns/Saiga/Saiga+12+Gauge+Poly+Choke+II) will fit model IZ-109? I read that only IZ-108 has a threaded barrel.

does anyone know the legality of these in CT?

And last but not least, any idea when the price will go down again?

 

[john1911]

My IZ-109 is threaded.

And last but not least, any idea when the price will go down again?

Not any time soon. Every Saiga that hits this shore is sold in a very short time. Lots of people on waiting list and backordered. Saigas are selling on the auction sites for $700+. The days of $300 Saiga 12 gauges are over.

 

[kingjoey]

We're working on US-made Saiga barrels right now and are considering making some that will accept Remington chokes.

 

[FEG]

I have busted clays with a Saiga 12 many times. It belongs to a friend of mine, and he had never shot clays before. I drove to his place with a brown grocery sack full of 12 ga. rejects: loads that didn't pattern as they should, powder migration, old Activ shells that had been in the garage for decades, etc. With a Trius thrower, he was able to learn how to shoot clays with a Saiga and that bag of misfits shells.

We did everything we could to make that Saiga jam, and it just kept chugging along. The Kalashnikov action means that even very light loads (like the metric loads for competition) will reliably cycle.

Would I drive across the state to compete with a Saiga? Heck no. Would someone actually be able to shoot skeet or trap with one? Yes, with one caveat. You couldn't use it at events or forums that require you to carry the gun broken open.

Poor sights are not a hindrance in upland hunting or clays, IMHO. I don't really use them myself. The Saiga I have shot actually had pretty decent adjustable sights, but they were more for HD.

 

[Girodin]

I've had two IZ09s both had threaded barrels.

There ae better skeet and trap guns but you can hit clays with a Saiga. I wont lie the look on peoples face when they see a 12 guage Kalashnikov shot gun with a big old magazine coming out of the bottom is one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning one for me, and reason enough to use it for shooting clays.

I need to get a drum now, which I imagine will only make peoples reactions that much better.

 

[SuperNaut]

I do know that Poly-Choke has new model(s?) designed for Saiga 12 threaded barrels. Here is the link. I'm buying one as soon as I can. As far as the price going down, I wouldn't hold my breath. The news is out on the Saiga 12's and the demand is only going to rise.

 

[chris in va]

The big clays range an hour from me doesn't allow shotguns with barrels less than 26" now. Guess they had too many sweeps. I know of at least two pullers that got shot by a careless shooter.

 

[brighamr]

I intend to buy a Saiga 12 some time soon. Mostly just for fun and to have a good SHTF weapon. (you made a good choice)

Thing is I'd also like to be able to hit clays and do skeet/trap shooting with it, do you guys think this will be a problem? It seems like the sights on it are very poor. The sites are actually not bad. I recently placed 3rd in a 3gun match using my S12. You will want a PolychokeII for 30+yards though. For backyard clay shooting, I don't even use a choke. however for competition (long, fast targets) a choke helps a LOT

Do you know if chokes like the polychoke (http://www.gilbertsguns.com/Shotguns...+Poly+Choke+II) will fit model IZ-109? I read that only IZ-108 has a threaded barrel. Actually it depends when the gun was imported. The newer imports have threaded barrels. Mine was a stock IZ-109 when i bought it (imported circa 2006), and it was threaded. The Poly Choke II was designed for the stock threads on the IZ-109/108 and fits fine. The older EAA S12s are a crap shoot for stock threads AFAIK

does anyone know the legality of these in CT? No idea about this one

And last but not least, any idea when the price will go down again? It wont. Just like ammo, I forsee S12's only increasing due to limited supply and large demand.


Another thing to keep in mind. You can't use the 10 round mags or drums unless you play around 922. Easiest way to comply is to convert "sporting" into "homeland defense" configuration. I recently typed a long post regarding this conversion in this very forum. Long story short, it's easy and well worth it.

Another note: every time I show up at a competition with the S12, about 5 other guys want to buy one.... large demand. I recommend posting a WTB in forums, or getting on the wait list at centerfire

 

[BullpupBen]

So I guess the IZ-109 model will be just fine then.

Too bad about the price, only other thing i need to know now is the legality in my anti-gun state.

I will be going to college in Virginia next year where the laws are nicer, but I dunno how I would explain this beast when I leave it with the campus police