* AK-12: 12-gauge semi-auto on the AK pattern.

Just an idea I'm kicking around. Because of range and other limitations, it might get 2-3 boxes (25-round) through it in a month, if that, but it has to work for that long. A YouTube video I watched of a JT-something-or-other (I forget the exact name) didn't look very promising, often failing to eject the last round. It also has to function with medium-velocity/reduced recoil buckshot.

I'm not sure about the S-12 clones. I haven't shot one, nor have I looked into whether they are reliable or not, sorry, can't help you there.

But I am interested in what others have to say. I have an original Saiga 12, and it has never malfunctioned with well over a couple thousand rounds of all kinds of shotgun shells through it. Many friends have shot it, and want to get something similar, but real S-12 prices are sky high as they aren't importing them anymore. So, I would like to hear real world experiences as well from any forum members.

Look at AR-12 shotguns. Typhoon makes an AR type semi auto shotgun. Same controls as an AR. Magazine fed. My buddy has one--very reliable. One mag had to be returned to the dealer because of reliability issues.

Back when I used to follow the mods for a Saiga 12 reliable feeding was usually the topic of discussion.
It was found that the Saiga 12 (AK based shotguns) did not like cheap target hulls because they would deform when being cycled. A change to better quality ammo usually fixed the feeding problems along with not keeping the shells loaded and stored in the magazines.

Hard to beat the smile factor when you shoot a well tuned, modified Saiga while dumping a 12 round magazine.

quote:

Originally posted by bigpond73:
Many friends have shot it, and want to get something similar, but real S-12 prices are sky high as they aren't importing them anymore.

Saiga 12s are still fairly commonly available on the secondary market. While they're no longer $500 like they were in the early 2010s, you can find them in great shape for $800-$1000 which I wouldn't necessarily consider to be "sky high".

If you're planning to use it for serious purposes or even serious competition, I'd bite the bullet and get a genuine Russian Saiga-12 on the used market.

I haven't heard much of anything good about the various current production foreign-made (Turkish/Chinese/etc.) AR/AK-style shotgun models. They're cheap, but generally not reliable, with limited parts and aftermarket support.

There are also US-made Saiga-12 clones from Kalashnikov USA available around $1k, but I don't know anything about them

^^^

Ah, thanks Rogue. I haven't looked at prices lately, but years ago when they stopped being imported, I remember sky high, like $1500-1800. I'm sure the demand wasn't there, and prices have dropped accordingly. $800-1000 does seem reasonable for an original S-12 these days.