SAIGA 12 RELIABILITY ISSUES?

[gemini1]

I just read in another forum on some issues about the Saiga 12.
Can the Saiga 12 owners chime in on reliability issues? is there any truth to the gas port not being in specs on some units/lots?

TIA

[djleisure]

I just read in another forum on some issues about the Saiga 12.
Can the Saiga 12 owners chime in on reliability issues? is there any truth to the gas port not being in specs on some units/lots?

TIA

Yeah, there is a LOT of truth to that. They are generally referred to as "Vodka Specials" and the ports are either non-existant, there aren't enough of them, or they don't go all the way through to the barrel. How do I know? Well, I got one of them. The nice thing is they have a very good warranty policy on them (or at least they did - I got mine a couple years ago.) I didn't have to pay a thing to ship it - shipped it to Caddiz gunworks (in Florida, I think) and got it shipped back to me a week later - good as better than new!

They may have taken care of that problem lately, but I don't know one way or the other.

[fusion213]

I have read that some of them aren't in spec.
When I first got mine. It wouldn't eject the walmart 100 pack shells properly. After shooting 100 shells, it runs great. My saiga reliably shoots the walmart target loads, buckshot, and slugs all on setting 1(i think that's the least amount of gas allowed through).

[Sam .223]

some work well and others don't, i was lucky and got one that shoots whatever i put through it.

[BamBam-31]

Ditto DJ. That's why I bought my converted S-12 directly from Cadiz Gun Works during their Labor Day sale ($777 shipped). No "Vodka specials" from them, as they're the ones that take care of all the warranty work in the US. I'm sure they run a 100 pt. inspection on all their rifles first before working on them and shipping them out.

[stix213]

My Saiga 12 ended up being one of the bad 2 port versions. 2 port were only supposed to go to Russian military and use high brass ammo only, 3 and 4 port are for US civilian market. Even though I purchased it in 2010, it had a manufacturing date of 2008 that I didn't realize until I ran into the issue (this was a known issue with 2008 era guns, but I didn't think I needed to look for it being 20 f'ing 10). I could have sent it in for warranty, but who the hell wants to go through the hassle of shipping a gun?

So I added a 3rd much larger gas port using a drill press (gave me an excuse to buy one, always wanted one, they are AWESOME) and the thing runs pretty good now. I also swapped out the plug knob thing to that cool 3 position one you can adjust without a tool (forget the name of it off the top of my head).

The other reliability issues I have are the aftermarket mags run like complete crap, almost without exception. When testing your gun make sure you use the stock 5 rounder, as those run flawless. There are instructions for fixing the various crap 10 rounders on saiga-12.com, but its really crappy that that is even necessary. The best 10 rounder I have found out of the 3 brands I have tested is the 10 round drum from promag, which is actually their 12 rounder capped at 10. Its been about 95% reliable compared to the 5 rounder, maybe even better than that. The Surefire and AGP 10 round box mags I have bought both fail to feed at least twice every 10 rounds. Really inexcusable especially with how expensive they are (especially when my Surefire Saiga 7.62x39 mags are flawless - 4,000 rounds and still that rifle has never had a single malfunction for any reason).

[Bagelthief]

How do you open it up to check the ports?

[vintagedude88]

How do you open it up to check the ports?

You open up the gas plug and look straight into it towards the barrel. You should have at least three holes. Some are three larger holes and some are four smaller but three is the minimum.

You can always get your bolt and carrier profiled for a slicker operation. Mine cycles anything from slugs to #9 birdshot on setting #1.

[luckystrike]

a few need tuning, and some just plain wont cycle birdshot.

[supermario]

+1, i had the same issue, sent it to Cadiz and now my Saiga kicks *****. I been shooting it for a couple years now without a single hiccup since receiving it back from Cadiz. If i were you, dont let those issues scare you away, becus I have two other Saiga 12's and they have functioned 100% right out of the box. Dont let anybody tell you Saiga 12's are not reliable, they are and if they are not, its becus of a factory error (vodka special) and thats it. If you happened to get one like that,, send it to Cadiz and you will have it back within a month and running excellent. I LOVE SAIGA 12'S and I dont think any other semi auto shotgun is as simple and reliable as the Saiga. I can pop off 10rounds in about 2.5 seconds. No lie

Yeah, there is a LOT of truth to that. They are generally referred to as "Vodka Specials" and the ports are either non-existant, there aren't enough of them, or they don't go all the way through to the barrel. How do I know? Well, I got one of them. The nice thing is they have a very good warranty policy on them (or at least they did - I got mine a couple years ago.) I didn't have to pay a thing to ship it - shipped it to Caddiz gunworks (in Florida, I think) and got it shipped back to me a week later - good as better than new!

They may have taken care of that problem lately, but I don't know one way or the other.

[gemini1]

Thanks for your input guys.

[BroncoBob]

I've not experienced any issues with mine. Must be one of the lucky ones

[joemama]

the spring fell off of the BHO on mine the second time I took it to the range. Now I have to do the conversion to fix it. Not a deal breaker but you would think something like that wouldn't happen after 50 rounds through it.

[BamBam-31]

I've had pretty good luck with the AGP mags. Surefire, not so much. I did incorrectly assemble two of my AGP mags, however. (There's a vid of the small mods you have to do to them to ensure proper feeding prior to assembly. All of which I completely overlooked, of course. ) Really love my S-12, just for pure evil factor if nothing else.

[STR8HEATED]

bought mine from dds ranch. wouldnt cycle birdshot on 2...shot like 300 rounds of slugs and 00 buck...those cycled fine. i think these guns just need a liitle modifying at times. sold my s12 now looking at the ksg"s.