saiga 12 velocity select mode?

[possummanplus3]

Okay, I've got to ask a stupid question, but on the Saiga 12 shotgun, what is the dual position of gas-cylinder stopper? It says use position 1 for 12/76 shells and position 2 for all others. I'm not familiar with this. Thanks for your help!

 

[Geneseo1911]

Possum-
The plug varies the amount of gas allowed into the piston. If you have it on setting "2" and shoot a heavy load ("high brass", buckshot or slugs), too much gas is allowed in, slamming the bolt carrier into the back of the receiver. Setting it to "1" restricts the passage for these heavy loads. When shooting light loads, setting "2" allows the maximum amount of gas into the system to ensure reliable cycling. For more info, go to www.forum.saiga-12.com They have a sticky on this very subject.

 

[possummanplus3]

Thankyou Geneseo1911. So for HD loads 00 buckshot I want it on 1. If I shoot say #8 loads for practice switch it to 2?

 

[Geneseo1911]

That's correct. The way I remember it is that the gun is designed for heavy loads, ie defensive rounds, so #1 is its normal setting, and #2 is a secondary setting for practice or clay games.

I highly recommend the forum I linked to above; that's where all the Saiga info on the net is located. There are a handful of owners here, but hundreds there. You'll also find the inside line for mags & parts (there are several business members), as well as conversion info if you want to make it a traditional pistol grip AK.

 

[rcmodel]

The thing to do is to leave it on #1 all the time, regardless of heavy or light, buckshot or birdshot.

Only if it won't cycle the load would you ever need to change it to #2.

rc

 

[lipadj46]

The farther in the plug is screwed in the more the gas vents are blocked off and the less gas that can enter the cylinder to cycle the bolt. The best way of setting your plug is to screw it all the way in and then back it out one click at a time until the shotgun functions reliably.

 

[possummanplus3]

hi lipadj46, I guess I'm confused because when it's screwed in all the way then when backing it out the first notch to come up is the #2 which is suppose to allow more gas to cycle bolt. If I back it out more to notch #1 isn't that allowing more? I appologize for sounding ignorant.

 

[lipadj46]

OK no prob let me try to describe how the gas plug works you may want to look at the shotgun yourself and make sure you "get it" also so it is not an unknown:

- There are gas vents (2, 3 or 4 depending on the year it was made) in the barrel that allow gas to pass from the barrel to the gass cylinder to push the "puck" back to cycle the bolt.

- The adjustable gas plug partially blocks off these holes when screwed in a certain amount of times. Unsually you screw it in all the way and back it off to the first "click"

- So if you think about it when the gas plug is screwed all the way in (I am talking screwed in tight past the last click) that is where you will have the most gas vent blocked and therefore the least amount (if any) gas being allowed to flow

- Now if you back that to the first "click" that is your first lowest gas setting whatever number it ends up being (2 I believe, my Saiga is in the shop).

- Now the next click will send you to 1 and more of the gas vents will be uncovered and therefore more gas is is let through.

- Now you can unscrew it back to 2 and that will unblock even more of the vents depending on their configuration (the pattern in which they were drilled)

- You can obviously do this maybe even a couple more clicks depending on the patern of the holes. Obviously the 2 hole models will have less length as opposed to the 4 holes models where the pattern is longer so maybe unscrewing another click may give you a little more gas.

If you have not figured it out already these shotguns are all a little different so you need to experiment a little to get the best out of them. it is important that you completely understand how everything functions in order to tweak everything.

So like I was saying above to find the lowest gas setting you screw the plug in all the way, back off to the first click, fire, if it does not cycle unscrew to the next click, fire, if it does not cycle unscrew to the next click and so on and so forth until it cycles reliably. There will only be a certain range in which adjusting the gas plug will make a difference as discussed above.

 

[Geneseo1911]

You guys both need to pull the gas plug out and look at it. It's beveled on one side so that when it is on setting "2", the gas ports are completely uncovered, and the gas is directed towards the face of the piston.

The factory plug is on the right, and the "Gunfixr's improved gas plug" is on the left.

 

[possummanplus3]

taking look at plug

You know, I finally did take the plug out and looked at it. It does seem pretty obvious that on #2 setting the beveled side of plug is directly over gas port on barrel, allowing more gas through. I think what was throwing me off was when screwed in all the way then backing it out the first notch to come up was the #2. My thinking was that unscrewing it to the next notch #1 would allow more opening of vent, but actually it has to do more with where the bevel is in relation to the vent

 

[mgregg85]

Would the "76" from the 12/76 refer to the millimeter length of the shell itself?

 

[Geneseo1911]

Would the "76" from the 12/76 refer to the millimeter length of the shell itself?

Yes. Sorry I glossed over that part of the original question. 12/76 is the metric designation for 12 ga 3" shells. 12/70 denotes 2 3/4". The gun's manual is a bit misleading, though, as some 2 3/4" shells are powerful enough to damage the rear trunion if left on setting "2".

 

[SN13]

Gene. I wouldn't say "Damage". It takes a lot to "Damage" the Saiga rear trunnion. If you're running 2 3/4" #8 and then swap a single 2 3/4" slug or buck in, it's not going to break a part. BUT if you shoot 200rds of 3" Nitro loads on gas setting 2, you'll feel the clank of the bolt carrier hitting the rear trunnion's metal. It will eventually dent and possible cause issues. I've put thousands of rounds through my S12 and Always go by #1 for 3" #2 for 2 3/4". If you follow that you'll be OK. Now if you can get 2 3/4" to cycle on #1, just leave it there.

And +1,000 to Gunfixr's gas plug. It is a huge upgrade for reliability and functionality. Worth every penny.