Andrew Kramer

This is a note of thanks to those in the forum who responded and particularly those who offered to speak on the phone. Some expressed interest in the new AK-12. Here is a video of a prototype being fired on the site of the Russian state news agency RIA. http://en.rian.ru/video/20120627/174267858.html For those on this forum interested in the history of the New York Times and repeating firearms in the United States, I recommend the book The Gun by C.J. Chivers. Thank you again.

Thank you for your answers. The focus of the story is the re-orientation of the Izhmash factory from military to civilian firearms. They still make Kalashnikov rifles for the Russian army. But Saigas are selling well, particularly in the United States, and an increasingly important part of their business, particularly as the factory is making few military rifles as it re-tools for a new military version, to be called the AK-12. (for the year, not a shotgun gauge.) I have agreed to speak with one member of the forum. However, I would like also to speak to others. In particular, Squishy, Stryke

In response to the legitimate concern raised above, you may also respond using the reader mail function of this web site. http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/k/andrew_kramer/index.html

Thank you for your replies. If anybody can talk on the phone, even briefly, please send a contact number to andkramer@gmail.com.

Hello, My name is Andrew Kramer. I am a reporter with the New York Times based in Moscow, Russia. I recently visited the Izhmash factory in Izhevsk, Russia, for an article about the company's sales of civilian firearms. They say their sales in the United States are rising. I would be interested in speaking to an American owner of a Saiga rifle or shotgun. The questions would be: how do Saiga products compare to other AK style rifles? Why did the buyer choose a Saiga? I am also interested in the view of the Russian factory. Is it a plus or a minus that the weapon was made at the original facto