M14 Forum

Originally Posted by stuto

I had a Saiga 12 but ended up trading it for another gun that I ended trading for a Norico M-14. I would like another but it’s not at the top of my gun list.

The Saiga is the lightest recoiling shotgun I have ever fired with buckshot and slugs. Less felt recoil than Benelli's M4 and 10 times less than an 870. Mine was already converted to pistol grip and it came with a 5 round Russian mag and I bought a 10 round America mag and 20 round drum.

The mags are the biggest problem. All the American mags are of poor quality and expensive but at the same time much cheaper than the Russina. There are many stories of 10 round America mags failing. The 20 round drum is too big and uncomfortable. The drums were over $200 now they are down to $100. Loading is slow. You have to pull the bolt back with one hand and hold it then hit a button on the other side to hold the bolt open, only then can you insert a new mag. I think there is an after market bplt hold open add on but its going to cost $$$. I guess a lot of practice would help but it would be faster to load any other shotgun. The good 5 and 8 round Russian mags are very expensive and the 8's are hard to find.

Mine had about a 100 round break in period and after that it ate everything I feed it from birdshot to buckshot. They are cool guns but they are not cheap and to me the mags are a big issue.