Saiga-12

Saiga-12
US civilian aftermarket modified "Saiga-12K" shotgun
Type	Shotgun
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Izhmash
Designed	1990s
Manufacturer	Izhmash
Produced	since 1997
Variants	Saiga-12 Saiga-12S Saiga-12K Saiga-12S EXP-01 Saiga-12K-030 Saiga-12K-040 Taktika
Specifications
Weight	3.6 kg (7.9 lb) (Saiga-12, Saiga-12S) 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) (Saiga-12K, Saiga-12S EXP-01)
Length	1,145 mm (45.1 in) (Saiga-12) 1,060 mm (41.7 in) stock extended / 820 mm (32.3 in) stock folded (Saiga-12S) 910 mm (35.8 in) stock extended / 670 mm (26.4 in) stock folded (Saiga-12K, Saiga-12S EXP-01)
Barrel length	580 mm (22.8 in) (Saiga-12, Saiga-12S) 430 mm (16.9 in) (Saiga-12K, Saiga-12S EXP-01)
Height	190 mm (7.5 in)
Caliber	12-gauge, 20-gauge, .410
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Feed system	2, 5, 8, and 10-round detachable box magazine, 12, 20 or 30-round detachable drum

The Saiga-12 (/ˈsaɪɡəˈtwɛlv/) is a 12-gauge shotgun available in a wide range of configurations, patterned after the Kalashnikov series of assault rifles and named for the Saiga antelope. Like the Kalashnikov rifle variants, it is a rotating bolt, gas-operated gun that feeds from a box magazine. All Saiga-12 configurations are recognizable as Kalashnikov-pattern guns by the large lever-safety on the right side of the receiver, the optic mounting rail on the left side of the receiver and the large top-mounted dust cover held in place by the rear of the recoil spring assembly.

The Saiga-12 is manufactured by the arms division of Izhmash, in Russia. It was previously imported into the US by European American Armories, although their agreement expired in 2005 and Izhmash then began exporting through the Russian-American Armory Company. The current export import partner is Wolf Performance Arms. Izhmash also manufactures Saiga 20s and Saiga 410s in 20-gauge and .410 bore, as well as the Saiga semi-automatic hunting rifles in a number of centerfire calibers.

The Saiga-12 incorporates several features absent on the AK-47 and similar firearms.

Since shotgun shells are nearly twice as wide as 7.62×39mm cartridge, the extraction port in the side of the dust cover had to be increased in size. However, since the bolt had to remain the same length to fit inside the AK-47 sized receiver, the rear section of the bolt is covered by a sliding metal flap that rides on the recoil spring. This allows the gun to be sealed against dirt when the bolt is forward, but the compression of the recoil spring during firing moves the flap rearward to clear the extracted shells.