Experience shooting the new Akdal MKA 1919?

[Capybara]

Not sure if anyone here has checked this out yet?
http://www.defensereview.com/raac-a...ower-for-martial-combat-or-competition-video/

http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_akdal_mka_1919_p1.php

Seems like a very viable contender to the Saiga and much lower prices to get one up, running and reliable. Tony Rumore of Tromix has been posting all over the web how impressed he is with it.

Was wondering if anyone has shot one or owns one?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Looks like a neat shotgun that runs about $100 more than the Saiga.

So it is cheaper to get up and running and reliable than a Saiga?

I was watching the Firebird Precision video and got a kick out of the guy's description of the Firebird Precision modifications.

http://www.firebirdprecision.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30&Itemid=39

He said,

If you will notice, we have a full quad rail handguard system that allows you to mount any of your goodies you might want...

I don't know how the guy can say that with a straight face. It obviously does NOT have a full quad rail handguard system. The bottom rail is a smooth "rail" and obviously won't accept typical rail mounted goodies. The left rail is occupied along its length except for the furthest forward last couple of inches by a charging handle. Anything mounted on those last two inches that protrudes rearward beyond the short rail will be in conflict with the charging handle. So you don't have a full quad rail handguard system. What you have is a full 2 rail system with a nearly useless short third rail.

 

[BearGriz]

I have lots of experience drooling over it on the Internet. One of these days I hope to have some personal experience with one.

 

[Liberty1776]

oh my gawrsh! Now I gotta have one!

 

[Sky]

I have one and so far it has certainly been a conversation piece.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=608036 is my review and impression of the weapon.

 

[ZCORR Jay]

I've been eyeballing these for a couple of months now and just recently saw one at the shop down the road... which means I'm really thinking about it now. That was a great write up of your first impression Sky. Still on the fence since so much of it is polymer but I'm leaning more towards buying it every day.

 

[Sky]

I've been eyeballing these for a couple of months now and just recently saw one at the shop down the road... which means I'm really thinking about it now. That was a great write up of your first impression Sky. Still on the fence since so much of it is polymer but I'm leaning more towards buying it every day.

Thanks for the read and compliment. I have shot the biggest baddest slugs and "00" I could find through the MKA and have been pleased with the recoil; considering my little Mossberg 88 kicks so hard and hurts so bad with slugs and "00" it has not been shot since the MKA came along. I would probably have to have new fillings if I shot the Mossy much.

 

[WardenWolf]

Looks pretty sweet. With my Saiga 12, I just replaced the gas puck and put a Poly-Choke on it. Its recoil is mild. I shot 40 rounds of #00 buck in a single short range session, and didn't have even the slightest bit of soreness or mark on my shoulder. I'm sure the MKA would cost a lot more than what I paid for my Saiga, though; I got mine for $525.

 

[Girodin]

I'm sure the MKA would cost a lot more than what I paid for my Saiga, though; I got mine for $525.

It also comes with a lot more features and if you mod a $525 saiga to have said features you will be well over the price of the 1919. With the MKA you get a true straight insertion mag well, a picatiny top rail, a last round bolt hold open, and internal choke tubes. If one is talking stock guns, and the use of only five round magazines, the 1919 seems like a pretty clear winner even if the price is a couple hundred dollars more.

The big names in Saiga's, Tromix et al, have commented very favorably on the 1919 when comparing it to the S12. There are also a number of parts out already for these guns. The one thing holding them back is the lack of widely available higher capacity magazines. I'd have to check but I believe there are enough other 922r parts that one can get the gun compliant.

I had always wanted to shorten one of my S12s and have an SBS but I feel that the 1919 may be the way to go now. I haven't picked one of these up because I have a fairly built up S12 and simply don't really need one. However, after the after market has a little more support for these guns I likely will pick one up.

 

[Skribs]

This got me wondering - is there an American-made box-fed tactical shotgun?

 

[WardenWolf]

Well, for the picatinny top rail I just slide on one of my AK optics rails. Straight magazine insertion is kind of overrated, truth be told, and a Poly-Choke is honestly superior to choke tubes. No arguing with the LRBHO, though. I put roughly $150 in upgrades into my gun after buying it, and I'm happy with it for the price I paid.

That all said, if I had the cash, the 1919 is cool. I'm not 100% comfortable with it being based on the AR-15 action, though. I'm not sure how easy the gas system is to clean. That was one of the main reasons for choosing the Saiga 12: sustainability. It was easy to take apart and fully clean.

 

[Girodin]

Well, for the picatinny top rail I just slide on one of my AK optics rails.

That's actually not really the same for two reasons. First, is the fact that side rails (perhaps with a very few exceptions) will put an optic too high to have a proper cheek weld and as such then require some form of cheek riser.

Straight magazine insertion is kind of overrated,

I disagree with your conclusion. They are faster and less prone to bobbling a reload. This is even more true when one is talking about the S12 platform and loading on a closed bolt.

I'm not 100% comfortable with it being based on the AR-15 action,

Ummmm, it actually is not based on the AR 15 action at all really. The gun looks like an AR and some of the controls are the same. It does not have an AR action or gas system.

truth be told, and a Poly-Choke is honestly superior to choke tubes.

A) You still need to buy a poly choke so tack $90 on to your price. The 1919 comes with choke tubes.

B) Superior depends on the criteria used to evaluate it. How do you figure it is "superior"? I've never seen people claim that the poly choke patterns better.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

It also comes with a lot more features and if you mod a $525 saiga to have said features you will be well over the price of the 1919. With the MKA you get a true straight insertion mag well, a picatiny top rail, a last round bolt hold open, and internal choke tubes. If one is talking stock guns, and the use of only five round magazines, the 1919 seems like a pretty clear winner even if the price is a couple hundred dollars more.

The big names in Saiga's, Tromix et al, have commented very favorably on the 1919 when comparing it to the S12. There are also a number of parts out already for these guns. The one thing holding them back is the lack of widely available higher capacity magazines. I'd have to check but I believe there are enough other 922r parts that one can get the gun compliant.

I had always wanted to shorten one of my S12s and have an SBS but I feel that the 1919 may be the way to go now. I haven't picked one of these up because I have a fairly built up S12 and simply don't really need one. However, after the after market has a little more support for these guns I likely will pick one up.

Sounds like a AR vs. AK argument there.

Ummmm, it actually is not based on the AR 15 action at all really. The gun looks like an AR and some of the controls are the same. It does not have an AR action or gas system.

I read before that it was based off of the Remington 1100 action.

 

[Justin]

I had a chance to put about 40 rounds through a friend's Firebird Precision Akdal 1919.

It was a fast-shooting shotgun, and the ten round magazines are built like a brick outhouse.

The only thing I didn't like was the recoil was quite sharp. Certainly moreso than my Benelli M2.

A couple of times, the gun failed to pick up a round from the magazine, but I suspect that is because the gun was practically brand new and still going through break-in.

 

[Sky]

I had a chance to put about 40 rounds through a friend's Firebird Precision Akdal 1919.

It was a fast-shooting shotgun, and the ten round magazines are built like a brick outhouse.

The mags, because of the way shot shells are made, are harder for me to load. I agree the mags are solid. I have some solid steel Golden Bear for the saiga 410 that really load in a mag with no problem. Would like to find the same casings for the 12g but so far nothing.

 

[Girodin]

Sounds like a AR vs. AK argument there.

Not really. The 1919 is like an AR in looks and some of its controls. One loads a mag in to a saiga in a very similar manner to an AK rifle but the way the top round hits the bolt (and perhaps the size of the mags themselves) makes it different. To the extent that the 1919 has the same controls as an AR, that particular part of the debate might be similar. However, the AR v. AK debate has much more to it than that.

Also the comparison of the 1919 to the saiga involves many things that are not really applicable to the rifles or at least don't shake out the same way.

Moreover all the things I've mentioned are things that the after market has developed specifically for shortcomings of the S12. The platforms naturally will draw comparisons though.

Don't get me wrong I like my S12 and am not getting rid of it, nor do I yet own a 1919. However, the 1919 out of the box offers much more than the S12. Also a $700 1919 is going to offer much more than most $700 S12s.

 

[WardenWolf]

One thing I did with my S12 was put the skeleton stock on it. I already had it from my Saiga .223 before I converted it. The cheek piece, in the turned down to the side position, works perfectly for indexing on the iron sights. Turn it up, and you're set for optics.



As for the Poly-Choke, the patterns are fine. What I meant by being superior was your ability to change it on the fly, simply by twisting it.

The Saiga differs from a standard AK in a number of ways. The gas system is two-part, not single part, in order to accomodate the lower pressure of shotgun shells and also keep fouling from going too far back. The bolt head is also non-rotating. The rear of the bolt rotates and locks up like a normal AK bolt, but the bolt head itself does not rotate within the receiver.

The 1919 does offer more than a Saiga out of the box. I just think that, once all is said and done, the Saiga is probably a better investment. It just strikes me as being more durable and versatile.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Not really. The 1919 is like an AR in looks and some of its controls. One loads a mag in to a saiga in a very similar manner to an AK rifle but the way the top round hits the bolt (and perhaps the size of the mags themselves) makes it different. To the extent that the 1919 has the same controls as an AR, that particular part of the debate might be similar. However, the AR v. AK debate has much more to it than that.

A lot of the argument involved controls, that's all.