Use of Saiga-12 by LEO?

[19-3Ben]

I was just reading the Wikipedia page about the Saiga 12 (and banging my head against a wall for not having gotten one years ago when they were legal here in CT, and cheap!) and noticed that at the bottom of the page under "users" it lists United States: law enforcement agencies.

I have seen LEOs use plenty of Remington 870s and Mossberg 500s, even some of the better equipped agencies with Benellis in their various flavors. Heck, these days they all seem to be switching to M4's rather than shotguns anyway. But I've never ever seen or heard of any law enforcement agency using a Saiga 12, although it would probably be a darn good shotgun for a patrol car.
Of course, in typical Wiki fashion, the source for their info is a) in another language, and b) no longer a valid link.

Can anyone confirm any LE agency in the US using Saiga? It just seems very very unlikely to me.

 

[rbernie]

It's probable that a number of LE agencies bought one or two for evaluation. That is how many companies manage to finagle that kind of wording into their press releases.

I have heard of no LE agency that issues the Saiga-12.

 

[Jenrick]

The airport PD here in Austin had them, they gave them up when all the various PD's (airport, parks, etc) consolidated with us a the municipal PD. I know of a few other agencies that have used them, but off the top of my head I can't think of anyone off the top of my head that has them as general patrol issue currently.

We currently issue and use the 870 exclusively, but we frequently get requests to authorize semi-autos of various sorts. I personally wouldn't have an issue with a Saiga provided it ran well with our issued ammunition, and patterned acceptably. I can honestly say they in my experience they run better then a lot of the other semi-autos we see, and the manual of arms for the Sagia is pretty simple.

-Jenrick

 

[19-3Ben]

Thanks for the good info, guys!

I can honestly say they in my experience they run better then a lot of the other semi-autos we see, and the manual of arms for the Sagia is pretty simple.

Exactly the reason I thought it actually might make sense as a police issue gun. I had just never heard of it, nor seen any agency issuing them. I can't imagine them issuing a Russian gun.

 

[PapaG]

What little experience I had with them, a couple friends got 'em, was not at all positive. I'd rather trust my life to a good tuned 870.

 

[rbernie]

I've heard that the single biggest deterrent to use of any semiauto for LEO work is the difficulty in getting a semiauto to run the less-than-lethal ammo. I have no LEO experience, but that kinda makes sense.

 

[Jenrick]

Less than lethal ammo should be run in it's own shotgun. It's highly advised to NEVER mix lethal and less then lethal ammo in a given shotgun, even if you fully load it an unload it between different ammunition. There is always a risk of getting the wrong shell at the wrong moment. As such we have dedicated less then lethal shotguns, which are 870's.

I'm a big fan of the shotgun, and have no issues with the 870 over a semi-auto. I personally prefer the 500/590 series for the tang mounted safety, and a few other reasons. I don't have any issues with a semi-auto either thought if it runs, patterns, and the officer knows how to run it (reloads and slug changeovers).

-Jenrick

 

[LeonCarr]

I have seen a few of them in small rural departments with a "If you can qualify with it, you can carry it" firearms policy.

One guy I know that has one has used it for high risk warrant service on a few occasions and the bad guys see it and just surrender. When bad guys see it and lay it down without a shot having to be fired it has a place.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[dancitizen]

A while back a relative who is a LEO mentioned a department that had an unconverted Saiga 410. They were using it for pest control for some specific local problem, I don't recall the critter they were shooting.

I have seen an article a couple years back where a Saiga 12 was used for door breaching.

I have a well tuned Saiga 12, and am a very strong enthusiast of the weapon. But for LE work the good old 870 seems more suitable (IMHO).