A number of manufacturers in Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Hungary and Finland have been offering semi-automatic sporterized versions of AK-47 for the commercial market in recent years. Russian arms makers are probably the first and exclusive developers of smooth-bored fire arms based on a popular and well-fielded system. International enthusiasts are familiar with the “Saiga-410” and "Saiga-20" semi-auto shotguns in ga. .410 and 20 manufactured and distributed by the IZHMASH JSC - the home of the Kalashnikov weapon systems. The latest development of a famous Design Bureau, which was founded in 1807, is a novel series of semiautomatic smooth-bored shotguns in gauge 12.

“Saiga-12” has been designed primarily for the Law Enforcement and Private Security units. The gun comes in three main sub-configurations: “Standard” - with the 580 mm long barrel and a non-folding buttstock, “Standard Folding” with the barrel 580 mm long and a folding stock, and “Short” with the barrel 430 mm long, with the folding buttstock derived from the AK74M. To special orders, the factory can make barrels 330 and 680 mm long.

SAIGA-12C, with folding buttstock, pistol grip and 580-mm long barrel. SAIGA-12K, with folding buttstock, pistol grip and 430-mm long barrel.

As seen from the photos, there is a significant resemblance between the “Saiga-12” and the AK rifles. Top (bolt) cover, fire-mode selector, buttstock, pistol grip are the same. Although the receiver looks very much the same, it has been considerably modified. There are less rivets on the sides - the receiver looks more civilian. When designers embarked upon the “Saiga-12” project, they discovered that the overal dimensions of receiver had to be enlarged since the dimensions of both the barrel block and the bolt were substantially larger than in all previous models. Gennadiy Nikonov, Chief project engineer, says, his team spent many an hour looking for a way how to retain original sizes of receiver. Finally, after studying numerous variants, they found a very original solution - the upper location of internal bolt carrier’s guiding rail was changed. In the “Saiga-12” shotguns the rail is located at the receiver? s bottom. The obtained free space now is enough to accomodate a very substantial chunk of the barrel extension, plus a huge bolt. As for the bolt carrier and trigger mechanism, there are several important alterations too. First, a portion of the right side of the rod which connects bolt carrier with piston is milled out at an angle to ensure trouble-free operation of the mechanism of exraction of a larger shell. To match the size of shells, the ejection opening in the right side of the top cover above receiver is also made larger. A stamped steel-sheet sliding shutter has been provided on the guiding rod of a return spring to prevent excessive penetration of dust and other unwanted foreign particles into receiver. Due to application of heavy-duty types of cartridges and for the purpose of enhancing proper locking of the top (bolt) cover to the receiver, the protruding base lug of the return mechanism, which also functions as a retainer of the top cover, has been provided with an additional knob. Thus, to remove the top cover proceed as follows: depress the knob and, holding it in such a position, push the extending locking lug inside the cover - the cover easily comes out from its recess. In contrast to the original AK assault rifle, “Saiga-12” has a gas relulator which could be placed in either position “1” or position ”2” depending on the type of ammunition - standard 70 mm, 73 mm or 76 mm Magnum shells. The weapon can be effectivly operated with any of these types of cartridges. The additional locking knob and the gas regulator have been made due to the following considerations. It has become a standard in the Russian small arms design school, that the speed of recoil of bolt carrier should be 4 m/sec. Such speed enables stabilty of reloading without the need for a gas regulator. In the “Saiga-12” shotgun due to usage of heavy-duty ammunition, the speed of recoil of the bolt carrier is substantially greater. When firing Magnum loads, the gun can generate the speed upto 8 and even 10 (!) m/sec. Under such conditions, as the designers calaculated, the durability of the gun may be decreased. With the gas regulator, the recoil speed is reduced to a safe level. Further research on the gas engine of the “Saiga-12” resulted in creating a system which functions okey with 70, 73 and 76 mm long shells without changing the position of gas regulator. So in reality the regulator is required when it comes to utilization of high velocity loads. More alterations were made in the the trigger mechanism of the ”Saiga-12” by eliminating an auto-sear. Hence, the selector functions only in two modes. The upper position marked “S” is safety and the lower position marked “F” is fire.

A considerable advantage of the construction of the “Saiga-12” universal magazines is in their versatility in regard to the size of shells. Conventional pump-actions are sensitive to the cartridges of different lengths. Different length of the shells loaded into a horizontal magazine in a “head-to-tail” manner means irregularity of feeding stroke which may lead to jamming. The “Saiga-12” vertical single column magazine enables the capability of using ammunition of the three sizes in a random combination. Capacity of black fiber-reinforced polyamide magazines is “Standard” 5 rounds or “Special” 7 rounds. For experimental purposes the factory devised and manufactured welded sheet-metal magazines which hold upto 10 rounds. Based on the Kalashnikov design principles, the “Saiga-12” has been constructed with a tremendous reserve of strength. It withstands the most brutal tests so as to ensure absolute safety for the users.

SAIGA-12, with non-folding buttstock, 580-mm long barrel. SAIGA-12, with quickly detachable pistol grip.

Table 1.

KINETIC PARAMETERS OF SAIGA-12.

As seen from the above diagram, decreasing the length of barrel by 26 %, the velocity loss is only 6.75 %, while the energy loss equals 6.25 % (shell size 12/70). Corresponding loss of values of the above parameters in the case of 12/73 mm shells equals 7.28 % and 8.0 %. Taking into account greater ergonomic comfort of the weapon with shorter barrel, its portability, plus the advantageous psychologic effect of such a configuration produced on a criminal, the “Saiga-12K” with the barrel 430 mm long certainly makes an excellent service shotgun.

One of the significant superiorities of semi-auto shotguns in comparison to pump-action weapons is the operational rate of fire. Even a shooter of an everage class, firing the “Saiga-12” can “touch” a series of five targets in a bit more than three seconds - a difficult task for any pump-action regardless of the high skill of an operator. Yet, there is one and probably the only instance when I should recommend a slide-action shotgun rather than a semi-auto weapon. It is when you are going to fire low-impulse rounds (the ones equiped with rubber shot in an anti-mob preventive cartridge, for example) - the energy parameters of these are insufficient to enable stable cycle of auto-reloading . Of course, reloading of a semi-auto shotgun in this case can be hand assisted by pulling the bolt carrier handle. In all other cases, numerous objective tests have proven that, “Saiga-12” is purely unbeatable.

Barrels of the “Saiga-12” can be made either cylindric or with the full choke of 0.1 mm.
Cylindric barrels may be optionally equiped with various muzzle devises, such as: “paradox”, half-choke or full choke. The gun works perfectly well with all brands and types of ammunition.

Table 2.

ACCURACY POTENTIAL OF THE SAIGA-12
(ambient temperature - 34° C; wind drift: 2.5 m/sec.; range: 35 m )

As far as a technique of firing slugs is concerned, cylindric barrels with an assortment of muzzle attachments are best of all. A choked barrel, however, is better if one uses cartridges loaded with ball-type and sub-caliber slugs. Cylindric slugs with or without obturation rings including Foster and Brenneke show very acceptable results if fired from cylindric barrels equiped with the “paradox” muzzle device. Last January, in Western Urals in the bitter cold of - 34° C, we carried out a research operation for the purpose of testing and evaluating the “Saiga-12K” combat auto-loading shotguns with the cylindric barrel 330 mm long, equiped with a full choke muzzle device. Why this specific configuration was selected? It is common knowledge, the shorter the barrel, the more dependable the weapon is in terms of auto-loading reliability and its accuracy of fire. In such weather oils and greases become thicker and create additional friction for the gun mechanisms. On the other hand, the energy of loads under negative temperatures is always lower due to a greater heat loss. By exposing the weapon and ammunition to extremely cold temperatures, on the one hand, and by shortening the barrel, on the other hand, we created the most adverse operational conditions. So, if the weapon withstands such tests, it will be just perfect under normal conditions. Comming back to winter tests mentioned above, firing was done both in the closed premises and in the open air. In the shooting gallery, under the temperature of - 20° C, the following parameters were checked: R100 factor, hit probability and penetration capability. In the open air tests, we concentrated on checking reliability of auto-loading and functionability of the shotgun. All shooting was done by the author of this feature. So, the information obtained during this operation comes to the readers first-hand. Outside environmental conditions were excellent for a serious test: - 34° C, good visibility, wind drift about 1.5 to 2.0 m/sec. The following results were obtained.

The “Saiga-12K” fired 5 rounds equiped with the Russian “Polev” sub-caliber lead slug. The operator was in a seated position at a bench rest. Firing groups of five shots at a distance of 50 meters, the everage compactness of hits was 220 mm.

Firing in a standing position from the shoulder without additional support at a distance of 35 meters, excellent groups were made with: (a) Buck shot 100 %; (b) shot size AAA - 71 %.

Assuming that the overal dimensions of a “breast” target are within 500 x 500 (size of the “head” is 250 x 250 mm), the above groups demonstrated by the “Saiga-12K” are more than just acceptable.

To determine penetration capability of the shotgun, the following types of targets were used: (a) a wooden cube of 500 x 500 x 300 mm; (b) steel plates attached tos wooden shield: (b1) 500 x 500 x 2.5 mm; (b2) 500 x 500 x 2.0 mm and (b3) 500 x 500 x 1.5 mm.

Brass and lead 33 g. slugs (shell size 12/70 mm) were fired at a wooden cube at the disctance of 50 meters. The brass slug made a clear-cut entrace and penetrated 270 mm. The lead 33 g. “Polev” slug made an entrance 4 mm wider than the diameter of projectile and penetrated 200 mm.

The lead 33 g. “Polev” slug fired at a 2.5 mm thick steel plate at the range of 50 m made a crater about 35 mm deep and 100 mm of diameter, but did not pierce the plate. Translating this into the words of reality, if such a shot is fired at a live target (a terrorist, for example) in a life vest, the impact may crush the chest bones and knock a body out, throwing it far back. Fired at the plate of 2.0 mm, a similar slug made a complete perforation. The remaining portion of the slug went into the wooden shield and came to a rest at the mark of 50 mm.

Firing Buck Shot at the distance of 35 meters, 50% of projectiles pierced a 1.5 mm steel plate and penetrated the wooden shield by 20 mm. Special attention was paid to how the gun will react to different types of material of shells. I loaded various combinations of paper, plastic and metal shells. Firing several 5 round magazines one after another with the utmost rate I could achieve (less than 2 seconds per magazine), the weapon never interrupted its operation when I didn? t want it to.

Generally speaking, we found the “Saiga-12” shotgun a well built, very effective and a comfortable weapon. Construction of sights makes aiming easy and accurate. The front sight consisting of a brass bead and the rear sight of an open U-notch type are attached to a serrated rib which extends from the top cover to the gas regulator. By turning the screw with a miniature flywheel the front sight can be zeroed for elevation. The rear sight is adjustable for windage zero - the original, clever construction I have never seen before.

Accuracy of operational fire as well as hit probability can be enhanced by using an optic scope which attaches to a standard AK mount located on the left side of receiver.

SAIGA-12C. Bolt carrier with bolt. Bolt carrier’s extension is milled off at an angle to allow trouble-free ejection of empty shells.

IZHMASH has the following denomination for the “Saiga-12” series:

• (a) basic “Saiga-12” features a non-folding stock and a barrel 580/680 mm long;

• (b) “Saiga-12C” has a retractable stock, pistol grip and a barrel 580/680 mm long;

• (c) “Saiga-12K” has a folding stock, pistol grip and a barrel 430 mm long.

For the European commercial market IZHMASH constructed another modification of the gun, which looks more "civilian":

- the fire-mode selector lever has been changed for a button-type safety, located at the rear of the trigger guard;

- the "pro-military" multi-rivetted receiver is made smoother;

- the gun has no pistol grip;

- the buttstock is not folding at any times.

The stock of any "Saiga-12" shotgun can be made from both plastic or wood.

It should be noted, that the “Saiga-12K” deactivates as soon as the buttstock is collapsed. Deactivation is achieved by locking both the bolt group and the trigger mechanism. The device works each time the stock is folded depressing a knob located on the left side of receiver. To unlock the mechanism - just extend the buttstock and bring the weapon to its full size! Such a feature is provided to meet the Russian National Gun Regulations.

Table 3.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE “SAIGA-12” SHOTGUNS

Note: Overall length of the “Saiga-12” and ”Saiga-12C” weapons with 680 mm long barrels equals 1,245 and 1,160 mm respectively.

STANDARD OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

All modification of “Saiga-12” have the following operational procedures.

The operator should shift the selector into the lower position marked “F” to bring the weapon into firing mode. By pulling the extending side handle of the bolt carrier all the way back, the hammer is cocked and retained by the sear. Driven back to its initial position by the return spring, the bolt strips the first round from the magazine and rams it further into chamber. Turning on its axis, the bolt comes with its two lugs into recesses in the barrel extension and locks the barrel. The weapon is ready to fire. To deliver a shot, pull the trigger. The trigger extension pushes the sear and releases the hammer. The hammer, driven by the multiple-strand steel-wire main spring pivots on its axis and hits the striker. After a shot is fired, a portion of combustion gas escapes from the barrel into gas chamber through the opening in the barrel side. The piston receives an impulse and pushes the bolt carrier towards rear untill pressure drops to a safe level. The slot on the inner side of receiver turns the bolt to the right, the bolt releasing its two locking lugs from recesses in the barrel block. The bolt carrier travels on, the empty shell is extracted and then ejected from the receiver. While the bolt group keeps on moving, the single-strand steel-wire return spring is compressed generating a return impulse. The hammer again rolls down and engages with the sear. As soon as the carrier slams the rear wall of the receiver, driven by the return spring, the bolt carrier commences its forward motion. The whole cycle is repeated. All these procedures take place in a fraction of a second.

Information from Rec Guns