Saiga 12

[mammynun]

Thanks for all the info! That's why INGO rocks!

Removed as some people are y too self important.

 

[IndyS12]

I've had an S12 for a while now. Mine has the factory forend and a Tapco adjustable stock. It's kinda cheap feeling, but it does its job very well. Eventually, I'm going to fit a wooden furniture set to it. Seems fairly straightfoward if you take some measurements before you start cutting stuff apart.
I also need to take my gas block off and enlarge my gas ports...they're all way too undersized to make 2 3/4 shells work well. From what I've heard and seen, that job isn't too difficult, but I'll be the judge of that when I do it.
Has anyone here done the gas port fix? I've seen the saiga forums do it, but some more pics would definitely help out a lot.

 

[mammynun]

I've had an S12 for a while now. Mine has the factory forend and a Tapco adjustable stock. It's kinda cheap feeling, but it does its job very well. Eventually, I'm going to fit a wooden furniture set to it. Seems fairly straightfoward if you take some measurements before you start cutting stuff apart.
I also need to take my gas block off and enlarge my gas ports...they're all way too undersized to make 2 3/4 shells work well. From what I've heard and seen, that job isn't too difficult, but I'll be the judge of that when I do it.
Has anyone here done the gas port fix? I've seen the saiga forums do it, but some more pics would definitely help out a lot.

I'm planning on moving the trigger to where it's supposed to be, hopefully next week. I ordered the parts Friday night. Saiga-12 Parts & Accessories just released a mount that will allow a S-12 to take Arsenals version of an RPK handguard... I don't know if it will fit a "real" wooden one, but it's a place to start. Good luck wiyh yours!

ETA: I haven't had any gas system problems, but I'm only at 55 rounds so far. Gonna up that number tomorrow!

 

[vitamink]

you more or less have to press the barrel off to enlarge the holes. You can also buy weaker springs or try a different gas puck. If you can get a drill inside to make the holes bigger or add a 4th be sure to drill the correct angle otherwise your ports will act like a cheese grater and shave off wad pieces into your gas system. Make sure you have at least 3 ports showing. There were some vodka specials that came out with just 2 ports. Your hand guard looks like the one that lone star arms puts on his custom saigas. Good work. Post pics when you're done with the conversion. I had horrible trigger slap before i converted.

 

[IndyS12]

I'm planning on moving the trigger to where it's supposed to be, hopefully next week. I ordered the parts Friday night. Saiga-12 Parts & Accessories just released a mount that will allow a S-12 to take Arsenals version of an RPK handguard... I don't know if it will fit a "real" wooden one, but it's a place to start. Good luck wiyh yours!

ETA: I haven't had any gas system problems, but I'm only at 55 rounds so far. Gonna up that number tomorrow!

It could just be the ammo I'm using. I broke the gun in on 3 inch shells, then I switched over to the Wally World ammo. That stuff really sucks for just about any semi-auto shotgun. I'm a little disappointed that the Dick's Sporting Goods near my house no longer carries Federal ammo. I got one box of it and it worked damn near flawlessly. Perhaps I should search for more ammo options before I start cutting...
As for the stock, you can fit the AK style stock and pistol grip when you move the trigger group to its proper location. That's not a major concern for me, since I have big hands and I don't mind the hand stretch. The real problem is getting a wooden foregrip on it. If you get an AK 47 front grip, you need to hog it out for the barrel and gas block, then you might have to change your style of sights since the top of the handguard obscures low sitting sights like the bead style on some of them. I've seen it done before, and it looks pretty awesome.
My biggest problem is that this shotgun is making me want more semi-auto shotguns. I've been looking at Benelli M4's lately. Damn this hobby for being fun!

 

[mammynun]

you more or less have to press the barrel off to enlarge the holes. You can also buy weaker springs or try a different gas puck. If you can get a drill inside to make the holes bigger or add a 4th be sure to drill the correct angle otherwise your ports will act like a cheese grater and shave off wad pieces into your gas system. Make sure you have at least 3 ports showing. There were some vodka specials that came out with just 2 ports. Your hand guard looks like the one that lone star arms puts on his custom saigas. Good work. Post pics when you're done with the conversion. I had horrible trigger slap before i converted.

Althought I could see three holes while looking in the bbl, I took the gas plug out and confirmed that I had 3 holes with a dental pick. I also smoothed the bootom of the bolt carrier and the top of the trigger with some 220 grit sandpaper. Didn't do too much as I'm guessing the Tromix FCG's trigger will be polished. Also used a tip I picked up for smoothing up the ejector/bolt surface in a Marlin 1895; a piece of sandpaper wrapped around a popsicle stick fits nicely in the bolt/carrier of the S12 where they travel ovet the rails in the receiver. Slicks it up nicely!

My 2009 model has no slap in it's original config; what year's yours?

 

[mammynun]

Took my Saiga 12 to Henryville yesterday, 155 more rounds and my shoulder is a little sore... but it's a good sore! Not only did I have fun, after the little bit of polishing I did it will now fire low brass on gas port #1! SWEET!

When I got home both FedEx and UPS informed me that my conversion parts will be here tomorrow, so I thought I'd get started. I used info from forum.Saiga-12.com and this video series (it's quite good): YouTube - Gunsmithing the Izhmash Saiga 12 Part 1- Evil and Black .

First I took out most of the old FCG.

Then I used a punch to knock out the pins in the rear as shown in the video; I may re-use them to fill the holes, or I may tap the holes and put in screws.

Then I used the sanding wheel on a Dremel to grind off the heads of the rivets holding the TG and plate on. Yes, that's a pair of my old underwear. Smarta$$es.

I decided to paint the underside where the plate was, and I may get the whole thing duracoated at some point. I taped off and plugged the receiver and bbl, and de-greased with acetone. The paint was "Duplicolor Low Gloss Black" (part # DE1634) as recommended as a good match on saiga-12.com. It's a 500 degree "ceramic" engine paint, and it was on sale at Advance Auto Parts for $5.59. It's drying now! I hope FedEx and UPS come early tomorrow!

 

[OneBadV8]

Looking pretty good so far. It was fun converting mine when I did it.

Although after looking at your thread I decided to get a few more goodies for mine. Geez... Making me spend more money on mine.

 

[Regionnus Rattis]

I know this post has been referencing the 12, but how well does the .410 perform? Seems like you could load almost twice the shells in about the same size mag and load the mag with some .410 slugs...which sounds kinda fun to shoot. Might make for another SD option.

 

[indyk]

...

... remove

 

[mammynun]

Looking pretty good so far. It was fun converting mine when I did it.

Although after looking at your thread I decided to get a few more goodies for mine. Geez... Making me spend more money on mine.

I'm so very sorry!

I really enjoy the modification aspect, I had a blast making an Ultimak fit on my Draco. Or maybe I have a thing for Russian/ComBloc weapons? Ehh, best not to overthink it!

 

[mammynun]

Crap! Indyk has got me wondering if I screwed up!

 

[mammynun]

Calling it "done." Well, for a while!

FedEx and UPS came this morning!

Vltor stock adaptor, Magpul Moe, Tromix fire control group (Tapco G2 based), Ergo grip.

 

[OneBadV8]

Dang... that looks pretty good.

Now you need at least a 10 rnd mag or a 20 rnd drum!

 

[Bflo]

 

[shooter521]

That's pretty sick, dude. Nice job!

I found that I didn't care at all for the CTR/MOE stock on my Saiga-12; I quickly moved it over to my 9mm SBR and replaced it with a VLTOR Modstock. YMMV.

 

[Delmar]

so if you want one for novelty, by all means, but i wouldn't rely on one for home defense or sport just because once you're out of 5 shots you're done

Even if that were the case, if 5 rounds from a 12 ga doesn't nutralize a home invation threat, you were most likely slap out of luck before you started.

 

[Juggernaut]

FedEx and UPS came this morning!

Vltor stock adaptor, Magpul Moe, Tromix fire control group (Tapco G2 based), Ergo grip.

Mike at Lone Star do the handguard??? He's a Good dude!!!

 

[mammynun]

Mike at Lone Star do the handguard??? He's a Good dude!!!

Nope, it's a shameless derivative work... I saw it on Saiga-12 and thought "I can do that." Mostly... some holes aren't centered but I can live with it.

I like the way it handle with the Moe, it feels good to me but I guess firing it will be the acid test.

I haven't seen any muzzle "devices" that float my boat, but an MD-20 mag is high on my list!

 

[IndyS12]

Nice looking Saiga!