Saiga-12 20-round Drum arrived. *pics* Yay!

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Javelin

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Well after almost a year....it finally arrived this week. The MDArms 20-round drum for the Saiga-12! Might I add that Mike did an exceptional job with it. The fit and finish is outstanding. The drum snaps in with ferocity and you can't even think about budging it as its perfectly aligned in the magwell(probably the most solid mag seating I have ever experienced).

I'll be taking it to the range this weekend just to test it out (and alot just for **** and giggles). The darn Tromix Saiga-12 with 11" barrel shoots faster than you can possibly pull the trigger. And with the 20-round drum it is not inhibited by low round count and would be handy in a HD situation (or for next Zombie invasion...haha).

Here are some pics. Enjoy!





 
Cute. Let us know how it shoots. Thanks....
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Thanks for the vote of confidence Dave. I was not expecting much and was happily surprised.. and lately that has not happend too often. I will post a range report. I need to find out if the bigger main spring has been installed or if I need to wait for it to arrive so that might damper using 00 buck until then. Wife says it looks like something out of a cartoon... so I guess it has her approval.


Though I did get in trouble for putting it on the counter... :)
 
You're very welcome. Javelin.

Saigas are kinda New School, Kalashnikov shotguns do not appear much in old sporting literature like Parkers do.

But, I've had a grudging respect for the system since 1970.

Input from folks like Correia tells me they are of merit.

I'd like to try one out, just for fun.
 
I've never liked the look of Saigas much, but that thing is dead sexy. I second the youtube notion.
 
Dave, I'm happy with mine so far. Only about 500 rounds out the muzzle though. I only use the factory 5 round magazines. Tried one of those 10 rounders once. Didn't like it, just felt off. I'll keep working on it! BA/UU/R, right?

It started smoothing out nicely after the 200 round mark, before that it was a little "hitchy" while cycling. So far not one single malfunction of any kind. I've got it set on the lowest gas setting, and it cycles everything from wallyworld value pack #8's to 3" 12 pellet 00.

I know Correia put on the high side of 6,000 through his with no trouble before he rebuilt it during the conversion proccess. Even then the only part he only replaced that showed appreciable wear was the aluminum puck in the gas system.

Javelin- Sorry about the hijack. But at least I posted some useful info on durability, eh?
 
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Looks very cool. But you definitely need to take that vertical forward P-grip, and attach it to the left side rail, making it a horizontal forward P-grip. I don't see how you're going to be able to grab the one underneath with the drum in the way. You forearm will be jutted into hard, making a severe bent-wrist setup necessary, won't it? Assuming even possible.
 
nice drum, but I don't see the Saiga-12 under any of that--oh! There it is. Couldn't find it for a second.:p
 
Thanks, Ben. I hear Kalishnikov rifles are not noted for longevity with high round counts, but shotguns may be stressed less. I'm not enough of an engineer to know for sure.

Still, I'd like to run a few fast COFs with one side by side with an 870 to compare and contrast.
 
Looks very cool. But you definitely need to take that vertical forward P-grip, and attach it to the left side rail, making it a horizontal forward P-grip. I don't see how you're going to be able to grab the one underneath with the drum in the way. You forearm will be jutted into hard, making a severe bent-wrist setup necessary, won't it? Assuming even possible.
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I was thinking that too when pre-ordering the drum. I was hoping it was not going to impede movement or agility and I do not believe it did as it gives a little space between the forearm and the drum so you won't bump it too much (had it been an inch or so bigger it would not have worked so well).

The Saiga-12 is a bit "chunky" vs. a standard 16" AR. But the SBS shotty is pretty short... and in a way feels compact (and substantial in weight) as you are only staring at the short barrel. Here are some pics I just took that might help put it into perspective as it is very nimble for being a 20-rounder 12 gauge.

All in all when your barrel is so short there is not much rail to hold onto but you take what you can get in terms of a vertical grip and make good use of it.





 
Thanks, Ben. I hear Kalishnikov rifles are not noted for longevity with high round counts, but shotguns may be stressed less. I'm not enough of an engineer to know for sure.

Still, I'd like to run a few fast COFs with one side by side with an 870 to compare and contrast.
Click to expand...

The 870 is a sweet shotgun and definitely always going to be the yard stick when comparing reliability and functionality. Some nice younger folks had one on the range the first weekend I took my Saiga out and I let them take a chance at my Saiga and they did likewise. It was interesting to see the difference in the way that full power LE rounds felt on the shoulder by firing each. The Saiga's action really inhales the recoil so much that I am comfortable enough to not worry about fulling seating the buttstock in my shoulder before rapid firing. Might be the combination of weight + muzzle break + automatic action. The only thing that is the same as any other 12 gauge is the sound and concussion when shooting (and it is extremely intense to anyone standing near you due to the reward venting muzzle break).

I do not believe you will be able to beat the reliability of the 870 Express but when moving to automatics I think the AK-style action has its merits and hopefully will prove to be solid in a 12-gauge firearm. If you go the Tromix route they will go through the entire gun replace the gas piston with the Tromix one, re-align and open the gas ports, etc when they convert it so its kind of cheating and maybe not necessary but you only live once so why not?

:)
 
That is an awesome shotgun you have there I have two words for you "I want" What did it cost you for that setup?
 
I'm guessing $1,000+ easy not including the drum at today's prices, and that may just cover the parts. Depends on how much work was DIY if any, if the gun was fully refinished, etc, etc. Not sure how much people are charging these days to properly shorten these, plus add $200 for tax stamp. You can't just chop the barrel off, as the gas port system may need reworked to cycle right.
 
I'm guessing $1,000+ easy not including the drum at today's prices, and that may just cover the parts. Depends on how much work was DIY if any, if the gun was fully refinished, etc, etc. Not sure how much people are charging these days to properly shorten these, plus add $200 for tax stamp. You can't just chop the barrel off, as the gas port system may need reworked to cycle right.
Click to expand...

Fully loaded with 20 shells it has a substantial weight to it. I don't have a scale atm but picking it up I would say it is approaching 13lbs fully loaded & equiped as the mag and shells definitely adds some weight to the gun which makes me glad that I had it cut to be balanced so the weight is not on one side or the other of the verticle grip.

As far as how much it cost.... I had Tony at Tromix Corp convert the gun, re-finish, add halo rails, new trigger, SBS barrel, open/replace gas ports/piston, etc. It takes a certain touch and much work to the gas ports to get these shotguns to reliably cycle on an 11" barrel and Tromix Corp did an exceptional job. It did have a price tag but I think I got a bargain because I finally have it. For me it was the time it takes from start to finish (18 months total but only about a year of real wait time to have it converted, tax stamp to clear, finish the conversion, etc) that was the most painful.

But its finished and I am tickled on how it turned out... 20 round drum mag included!

:)
 
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