Saiga-12

Saiga-12
US civilian aftermarket modified "Saiga-12K" shotgun
Type	Automatic shotgun
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed	1990s
Manufacturer	Kalashnikov Concern (formerly known as Izhmash)
Produced	1997–present[1]
Variants	Saiga-12 Saiga-12S Saiga-12K Saiga-12S EXP-01 Saiga-12K-030 Saiga-12K-040 Taktika
Specifications
Mass	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, and .410 bore
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	Semi-automatic: 20 rounds/min Fully automatic: 45 rounds/min
Effective firing range	70 m (77 yd)
Feed system	2, 5, 8, and 10 round detachable box magazine, 12, 20 or 30 round detachable drum magazine
Sights	Iron sights

The Saiga-12 (/ˈsaɪɡə/) is a shotgun available in a wide range of configurations, patterned after the Kalashnikov series of rifles and named after the Saiga antelope native to Russia. Like the Kalashnikov rifle variants, it is a rotating bolt, long-stroke gas piston operated firearm that feeds from a square 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. Saiga firearms are meant for civilian domestic sale in Russia, and export to international markets.^[2]

The Saiga-12 is manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern (the merger of Izhmash and Izhevsk), in Russia. Kalashnikov Concern also manufactures Saiga 20s (20-gauge) and Saiga 410s (.410 bore), as well as the Saiga semi-automatic hunting rifles chambered in various centerfire rifle calibers.^[3] Russian armed forces use a combat shotgun variant called the KSK (Karabin Spetsialniy Kalahnikov, "Kalashnikov Special Carbine"), with the 12-gauge size expressed in its metric equivalent of 18.5 mm. The Picatinny rail layout is similar to the civilian 030 version.