Izhmash Saiga-12

The famous and time-proven AK-47 assault rifle design has been customized by manufacturers around the world especially in Russia, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Hungary and Finland to deveop semi-automatic sporterized versions of AK-47.

IZHMASH Russian State Arms company, the parent company of AK-47, has used the design of its most famous model to develop various semi-automatics including Saiga, which is really a part of the family of semi-automatic shotguns and rifles. The shotgun part of this series includes guns chambered for .410, 20 and 12 gauge magnum ammunition.

Saiga-12 is a all-weather shotgun is intended for professional and sport hunting of small-and medium-size game. But the fact that Saiga-12 is popular with several Law Enforcement and Private Security units as well is a comment on its versatility.

The self-loading and smooth bored is used to deliver single shots. It reloads automatically utilizing the energy of combustion gases released from the barrel bore through a port.
For the purpose of diversifying operational capabilities the shotgun may be equipped with muzzle adapters of different chokes.

Given its pedigree, Saiga-12 looks similar to AK -47 especially in bolt cover, fire-mode selector, buttstock and pistol grip. Like AK-47, all Saiga guns wome with a long piston stroke gas drive, rotating bolt with two massive lugs, and box magazine feeding.

Saiga 12 also differs from AK-47 in key aspects. It is restricted to the semi-automatic fire only and the receiver and the bolt group were redesigned to accommodate large, rimmed shotshells. Its Gas system is fitted with gas regulator with "standard" and "magnum" settings, and this shotgun can fire either 3 inch magnum or 2 3/4 inch standard loads interchangeably. The ability of its magazines to handle shells of different lengths is a key feature of Saiga-12. In contrast, conventional pump-actions may even jam if shells of different lengths are loaded into them.

The heavy-duty ammunition also mean a severe recoil. When firing Magnum loads, the gun can generate the speed upto 8 m/sec.

The gun comes in three main sub-configurations: 'Standard' ( 580 mm long barrel, non-folding buttstock); 'Standard Folding' (580 mm long and a folding stock) and 'Short' (430 mm long, with the folding buttstock).

Saiga 12 also offers a price advantage; it is cheaper than its competing models Beretta, Franchi and others. In sum, Saiga 12 is a proven performer. It has consistently high on strength, endurance and safety.