Some time ago I posted a video of Michael shooting one of his Saiga-12 shotguns. He got in touch with me and explained that since then he has become a passionate Saiga-12 nut and now sells custom Saiga-12's.
Michael, who work as a designer / jeweler / metal smith, bought his first Saiga-12 when ammunition was becoming scare and he wanted a shotgun so that he could use the relatively cheap and available 12 gauge ammunition. One thing led to another and customizing these guns became a passion of his.
Modifications include ...
Enhanced action with honed, mirror finished bolt, bolt carrier, carrier rails, and feed ramp.
Four or five vent, polished and ported enhanced gas system with mirror finished, builder modified gas plug.
Those Jeweling skills come in handy. Beautiful!
Custom modified, sculpted and vented fore end with integrated Command Arms 2" picatinny rail.
Modified Tapco G2 trigger control group with honed and sculpted mirror finished contact surfaces on hammer.
Tapco Galil style folding stock tapped and mounted with extra heavy duty torque bolts.
Tapco M249 style Saw grip with builder designed custom heavy duty receiver mount.
Flawless cycling with all types of 2 3/4" and 3" 12 gauge ammo.
Durable, high heat ceramic enamel finish.
Concept for a SBS (Short Barreled Shotgun)
He does not have a website but he can be emailed at mm_rogers [] yahoo [] com (replace [] with correct character) or contacted on the phone (505-263-8822).
Arsenal Inc are now selling a heavily modified AK-74-styled version of the Saiga .410 gauge shotgun.
Arsenal SGL41
Standard Saiga .410
Many of the components have been removed and replaced with AK-74 parts. These include:
* hand guards
* gas block and gas tube
* front and rear sights
* buttstock
* pistol grip
* muzzle brake
* Bayonet lug
Some of these modification require changes to the receiver itself. IZHMASH, who manufacture the Saiga and the official AK rifles, went out of their way to ensure that a pistol grip could not be easily fitted (so it could be exported as a sporting arm). Arsenal have also added their own two stage trigger group.
The retail price is $889. This is a premium over the standard Saiga, but you are getting a lot more.
Pictured with folding stock and picatinny rail.
Jay emailed me an old CDNN catalog from 2001. It is hard to believe the prices listed were the norm only 8 years ago. Click to expand images.
Good luck finding a used Mateba for under $1200
Saiga 12: $600+ today if you can find it in stock.
Thank to Jay for the history lesson.
Travis of Magpul put together a very cool AK/Saiga. Click to expand the photos:
Two charging handles. Handles from Bushmaster ACR/Masada
-It is a Saiga cut to 12″ and threaded 1/2 28 right in front of the Russian threads and SBRed with a AAC M42000
-The charging system is something I came up with about 2 years ago before all the other ones you see out there. As you can see from the left side the dust cover is not as open. Yes those are ACR charging handles that I cut and welded on to the carrier.
They do reciprocate which it seems some people have a problem with… why I haven’t a clue… its an AK?!
-Extended custom trigger finger Mag release and Safety
-Ace MIAD grip adapter
-CTR with cheek riser.
-Ultimak scout and lower rail (I welded the locking tabs in for a tighter fit.)
-Aimpoint T-1
-I drilled and tapped the Pig nose adaptor for a sling stud for the MS2 Sling.
-As for the Ranger plates I just took PMAG plates and mashed them on and modified the tab to fit. they will stay on even you don’t mod the tab.
Since this is a one of a kind AK we have deemed it the MAG-K
Very nice. Travis made this clear it is a once off project not a production rifle.
From AR15.com via. Kaiservontexas’ Musings
MD Arms have just started shipping their new 20 round drum magazines for the Siaga 12 shotgun. They cost $215 (+ $3 handling fee).
It look like they have only made enough to satisfy pre-orders and are now taking pre-orders for the second batch.
Tromix Custom with Md-20 mag
… now obsolete 
This photo has been floating around
the internet for a while.
Continue Reading »
CenterFire Systems sell a Bullpup stock kit for AKs:
The AK-47 Bullpup Stock has an overall length of 27″ and weighs 7 lbs. when installed on a rifle
Chibajoe at saiga-12.com installed it on his 20 gauge Saiga Shotgun.
Click to expand.
Very cool.
Answer…
1) AK pattern rifles and shotguns made at Izhevsk
2) The ugliest antelope alive
The Russians are not know for producing beautiful firearms, but you would have thought they would have chosen a nicer looking animal than the Saiga for which to brand sporting firearms!
From Wikipedia
The Saiga (Saiga tatarica) is an antelope which originally inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe zone from the foothils of the Carpathians and Caucasus into Dzungaria and Mongolia. Today they are found only in a few areas in Kalmykia (Russia), Kazakhstan, and western Mongolia.
The Saiga typically stands 0.6-0.8 meters at the shoulder and weighs between 36 and 63 kg. Their lifespan ranges from 6 to 10 years. Males are bigger than females and are the only sex to carry horns. The horns have some value as Chinese traditional medicine and for that reason Saiga are now endangered by poaching. The Saiga is recognizable by an extremely unusual, over-sized, and flexible, nose structure. The nose is supposed to warm up the air in winter and filters out the dust in summer.
mike123456 posted high-res photos of his beautiful custom Tromix Saiga-12 shotguns. I love the drum magazine!
(Click to enlarge)
More photos here.
Hi, welcome to my gun blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearms related. If you are into AR-15 and AK rifles, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting arms there will be something here for you. I hope you enjoy it.