Saiga 12 or 20

[pennys dad]

So I am looking to buy my first shotgun in many many years. I think I have settled in on the Saiga but I am wondering which one. So here are my thoughts currently:
I fired a 12g with 3" mag slugs a few months ago and it was no fun. So I dont want that experience so I wonder about the 20g.
But I know there are alot of off the shelf loads I can purchase for the 12g that probably would be fun.
My main purpose for this shotgun would be the have fun at tactical shoots clinics and home def.
So 20 or 12? Or make recommendations for the 12 that would make it fun.
Lastly the Saiga is what I am leaning to because it is an autoloader and has a pistol grip and uses mags. I havent gotten a chance to get to a gun show or 2 to old other shotguns yet.

[Rob454]

Personally while the Saiga looks super cool you can get a mossberg or Remington for a lot less. if you still want a saiga thats fine also. A mossberg or Remi will be easier to load given a Saiga is a fixed mag shotgun.
No matter what shotgun you want to get get a 12 ga. Simply a lot more options as far as loads than a 20 ga. You dont need 3 inch magnum shot for HD. you can easily use 2 3/4 #4 or #2 shot
if I had to pick between a 12 and a 20 ga i would take the 12 ga. You can always get a shoulder pad when you shoot it. As for HD youll be so amped up you wont even feel the recoil IMO

[hill billy]

Get the 12 with a decent shoulder pad. I think the Saiga is waaaay more fun to shoot than any of my other shotguns. The pistol grip makes it very comfortable to shoot.

[supermario]

Get the 12 with a decent shoulder pad. I think the Saiga is waaaay more fun to shoot than any of my other shotguns. The pistol grip makes it very comfortable to shoot.

+1, The Saiga is a blast to shoot with birdshot. If your just having fun at the range, you can shoot birdshot all day long. Its really not that bad. Far less than a pump thats for sure..

[BLD]

I would vote for the Saiga 12. I shot my first 3 gun match recently, and I used 3" OO buck shot in my 870 (I had a bunch of extra that I won't use at home, 2 3/4 for HD for me). With the adrenaline of shooting in competition I didn't even notice the recoil of the 3" loads. With that in mind there are a lot of 12ga loads that can be fun and low in recoil. When using a 12ga for personal protection I believe that adrenaline will help compensate for felt recoil.

[vampLer]

...12

[BVamp]

well, if you want a basic saiga-12 conversion I still have some for 777$ plus CA compliance and shipping.

I would recommend the 12 gauge over the 20, simply because you DO have the option of going to 15 pellet or 3" slug loads, and have a huge variety of ammo you can pick from.

Also, being an autoloader, the saiga12 does indeed have less kick than a single action shotgun. Those 3" cannon shells feel like 2 3/4" light slug loads would down a pump shotgun.