Saiga-12 - WikiHQ

The Saiga-12 () is a shotgun manufacturered by the Russian company Kalashnikov Concern. It is either a semi-automatic shotgun on default, or an automatic shotgun when converted, is patterned on the Kalashnikov series of assault rifles, and available in a wide range of configurations. It is named after the Saiga antelope native to Russia.

Design

Like the Kalashnikov rifle variants, it is a rotating bolt, long-stroke gas piston operated firearm that feeds from a detachable box magazine.

All Saiga-12 configurations are recognizable as Kalashnikov-pattern guns by the large lever-safety on the right side of the receiver, the optic mounting rail on the left side of the receiver and the large top-mounted dust cover held in place by the rear of the recoil spring assembly.

Developers position this model as a "universal" firearm, equally suited for self-defense, practical shooting, recreational shooting, and short-range hunting. Its military origin and versatility influence its strengths and weaknesses.

The shotgun's automation system is highly refined, ensuring reliable operation even with rubber buckshot rounds, which are problematic for most semi-autos.

The firearm is well-adapted for mounting various optical sights and is the first in the "Saiga" series to come with factory Picatinny rails.

Additionally, it includes a specially designed muzzle device that allows the use of "breaching" ammunition (for breaking door locks, hinges, etc.) while also functioning as an effective flash suppressor.

It is compatible with the full range of muzzle attachments for the 12-gauge "Saiga" series. However, its compactness comes at the cost of reduced effective range, with accuracy dropping significantly beyond 40 meters even with a choke attachment. In contrast, the longer-barreled hunting "Saiga" maintains a minimum accuracy of 60% at this range.

This design seems to address deficiencies that the Saiga 12 had in function.

The traditional AK "rock and lock" magazine system and the difficulties associated with magazine has been replaced by a vertical insertion system that allow the magazine to be inserted with only one hand.

The hinged dustcover with picatinny rail makes mounting optics simpler, and is closer to the bore axis, making sighting of optics easier.

The gas-block rail system allows for the addition of combat lights and vertical fore grips. The last round bolt hold open gives the user instant feedback that the firearm is empty and allows for a quicker magazine change.

Modifications to the basic Kalashnikov pattern

thumb|left|Receiver (with aftermarket recoil buffer)

The Saiga-12 incorporates several features absent on the Kalashnikov and its derivatives.

Since shotgun shells are nearly twice as wide as 7.62×39mm cartridge, the extraction port in the side of the dust cover had to be increased in size. However, since the bolt had to remain the same length to fit inside the AK-47 sized receiver, the rear section of the bolt is covered by a sliding metal flap that rides on the recoil spring. This allows the gun to be sealed against dirt when the bolt is forward, but the compression of the recoil spring during firing moves the flap rearward to clear the extracted shells.

This is because firing 3" shells with high power loads such as slugs and buckshot generates so much force that the receiver will be damaged if the full power of the gas system is employed without some sort of recoil buffer. The problem is that making the gun durable with such high power loads would make it more likely to experience a cycle failure with the less powerful 2-3/4" shells and likely not to cycle at all when used with low-powered less lethal ammunition. This would essentially render it a straight-pull mechanism.

{| class="wikitable"

!Variant

!Configuration

!Setup

!References

|Saiga-12 ver. 75

| rowspan="7" |Shotgun

|Quick-detachable wooden hunting stock and fore-end, interchangeable muzzle attachments, 580 mm barrel, adjustable sighting rail

|Saiga-12K-040

|Modification of the "Saiga-12K" featuring a wooden ergonomic grip and a folding stock from the SVD-S sniper rifle

|Saiga-12 ver. 261

|Equipped with a magazine well, a stock with a rotating cheek rest similar to the SVD, plastic fore-end, plastic hunting stock. Features interchangeable muzzle attachments. The receiver has a rail for mounting an optical sight.

|Saiga-12C ver. 10

|Equipped with a folding "assault rifle-style" stock and a 580 mm barrel. Capable of firing with the stock folded.

|Saiga-12K ver. 10

|Equipped with a folding "assault rifle-style" stock and a 430 mm barrel. Cannot fire with the stock folded.

|Saiga-12 ver. 278

|Equipped with a "magazine well" type receiver, a plastic stock similar to the AK, and a pistol grip. Equipped with interchangeable muzzle attachments.

|Saiga-12 ver. 340

|Equipped with an improved gas system for low-impulse ammunition, a "magazine well" type receiver, a reactive muzzle brake designed by V.V. Ilyin, and the ability to release the magazine without removing the hand from the grip.

|Saiga-12K ver. 043

| rowspan="5" |Carbine (Ks-18.5)

|Equipped with a magazine well, an adjustable sighting rail, a folding "assault rifle-style" stock, and a plastic fore-end. The carbine has a safety mechanism that allows firing only with the stock extended.

|Saiga-12K ver. 030

| rowspan="3" |Modified per Russian law to include a stock-lock safety mechanism (except for the EXP variant). It differs from the standard "Saiga-12K" by its "magazine well" receiver, a hinged top cover with an integrated Picatinny rail, a folding "assault rifle-style" stock (plastic or metal similar to the SVD-S), and a plastic fore-end similar to the AK.

| rowspan="3" |

|Saiga-12C ver. 031

|Saiga-12EXP-01 ver. 030

|Saiga-12K ver. 033

|Shortened version of the Saiga-12K ver. 030, featuring a 330 mm barrel. Released for sale in 2016

Recently, a newly configured version of the Saiga 12 was introduced. Called the Saiga Taktika mod 040, it features an extended magazine well, last round bolt hold open (recently produced very rarely and replaced with manual bolt hold), hinged dust cover with Picatinny rail for mounting optics, picatinny rail gas block, and a newly designed 8 round box magazine (which is not interchangeable with other Saiga 12 models).

In late September 2014, the IZ109T was released in the USA. This model featured a shortened barrel with a permanently attached brake. The barrel length was including the brake. The IZ109T also had military style features including a rear pistol grip and 6 position stock. Various modifications were made to the trigger group, bolt, and bolt carrier that allowed loaded magazine insertion without locking the bolt back. The IZ109T also featured a fully parkerized military finish.

Legal status

Saiga firearms are meant for civilian domestic sale in Russia, and export to international markets.

Russia

In Russia, this shotgun can be relatively simply obtained, requiring only a "smoothbore-gun license" (which is relatively easy to obtain, compared to a "rifle license" that requires a five-year period of owning a smoothbore gun and a hunting permit).

The civilian version of the 12K for the Russian domestic market features a specially designed safety, preventing operation with stock folded (due to Russian gun laws, it is illegal to own a firearm with a barrel length of less than and capable of firing while being less than long).

Users

: Used By Central Security Forces Special Operations Police.
: Used by RAID and GIPN.
: Saiga-12C used by the National Anti Narcotics Agency (BNN)
: Used by police forces.
: Saiga-12 used by private security companies; 18.5 KS-K carbine adopted by Ministry of Internal Affairs; since 2023 Saiga-12 shotguns were used in Armed forces (as auxiliary weapon against low-flying UAVs)
: In 2009 Saiga-12K Tactical carbine was adopted by Ukrainian Navy
: Some police SWAT teams and military units such as the Deployable Specialized Forces in the Coast Guard.

References

Sources

18,5 мм карабин специальный с коробчатым магазином 18,5КС-К. Руководство по эксплуатации 18,5КС-К РЭ - 2008 г.

External links

Izhmash – official page
Saiga-12.com – more information
Legion USA Inc. – Official Importer of Saiga 12 Shotguns and Rifles