gulag 0 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 I have a stock configuration Saiga-12 with a 19" barrel and 4 gas ports. Should I try to keep everything on the "1" setting because it might be overgassed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 I have a 4 port gun as well. It's a 19" in factory configuration. On break in day I started with maybe 20 rounds buckshot on setting 1, went to 100 rds of birdshot on setting 2. The second time I went to the range to shoot it, it cycled everything from 3" turkey loads to bulk pack birdshot on setting 1. Yours should be fine and probably cycle everything on setting 1. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 You could always buy one of the gunfixr gas plugs that have the -1 setting to help alleviate the problems associated with an overgassed gun. It will also be a little easier on the shoulder especially when shooting the high brass loads and magnums. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
corbin 621 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 (edited) I have a 4 port gun too. I think mine had the front port covered by the gas block hole, but CGW opened that up, so now it looks like a D instead of a hole. My advice (whether you have a 3 port OR 4 port gun) is to start with setting 1 and see if that will cycle the round, then bump it up to 2 if you have to. I'd definitely recommend Gunfixer's gas plug though. It's hand adjustable and gives you more fine tuning. I think MD Arms is going to be making their own gas plug too, but I don't know if that's going to be available soon or not. Good luck Corbin *EDIT* Welcome to the forum, by the way! Edited April 3, 2010 by Corbin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danklab 57 Posted April 4, 2010 Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 I read through the manual and decided to start mine out on setting #2 for anything in a 2 3/4" shell and #1 for 3". Since it mentioned to use setting #2 for 70mm shells and #1 for 76mm... best I can remember. However, I also have a 4 port gun, and while I shot mostly birdshot.. I think some of the buck I put through it beat it up a little. I have an imprint on my rear trunnion from the carrier. No damage or anything, but I got one of Gunfixer's plugs to tame some of the overgassing, and it seems to run a little better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Klassy Kalashnikov 1,393 Posted April 4, 2010 Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 (edited) I read through the manual and decided to start mine out on setting #2 for anything in a 2 3/4" shell and #1 for 3". Since it mentioned to use setting #2 for 70mm shells and #1 for 76mm... best I can remember. However, I also have a 4 port gun, and while I shot mostly birdshot.. I think some of the buck I put through it beat it up a little. I have an imprint on my rear trunnion from the carrier. No damage or anything, but I got one of Gunfixer's plugs to tame some of the overgassing, and it seems to run a little better. With a 4 port gun, it seems like everything cycles on setting 1. After an extremely short break in period I haven't changed gas settings at all. Edited April 4, 2010 by Klassy Kalashnikov Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skiboatsp 111 Posted April 4, 2010 Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 4 port guns have .073 ports 3 port .093 It's basically the same amount of gas with smaller ports which means less fouling Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sudaevpps43 31 Posted April 4, 2010 Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 (edited) I read through the manual and decided to start mine out on setting #2 for anything in a 2 3/4" shell and #1 for 3". Since it mentioned to use setting #2 for 70mm shells and #1 for 76mm... best I can remember. However, I also have a 4 port gun, and while I shot mostly birdshot.. I think some of the buck I put through it beat it up a little. I have an imprint on my rear trunnion from the carrier. No damage or anything, but I got one of Gunfixer's plugs to tame some of the overgassing, and it seems to run a little better. With a 4 port gun, it seems like everything cycles on setting 1. After an extremely short break in period I haven't changed gas settings at all. It was the same case with my Saiga 12 which is also a factory 4-port gun (mine was made in 2008 and is a 19" barreled IZ-109 variant). I moved the trigger group forward and installed a pistol grip and regular AK type buttstock on it, but I didn't do any mods to it to improve its cycling ability because there just wasn't any need to. After I had broken it in a bit by shooting a couple hundred rounds of various ammo types through it, it then cycled everything (including low base 2-3/4" ammo) with no problem with the factory gas plug set to 1. My Saiga 12 was definitely overgassed as well though, but this was only an issue when shooting high-base or magnum shells, and it was an issue I easily remedied by just getting a Gunfixr gas plug and using its -1 setting when shooting high-base & magnum ammo. Edited April 4, 2010 by Frogfoot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Racer 27 37 Posted April 4, 2010 Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 I've got 2 19" with 4 ports. Both won't cycle low brass unless they are on #2. OP shoot yours with it a setting 1 and see if it will cycle first before changing to #2. If it cycles on setting #1 then you could be getting the action hitting from the low brass on #2. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gulag 0 Posted April 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Thanks everyone! Perfect feedback! I LOVE THIS FORUM! I'll add the Gunfixr to my list and try everything at setting "1" first, and if that doesn't work I'll switch it over to "2" You guys ROCK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elia.jon1 1 Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 try not to think of it as over gassed, it is properly gassed, and you have to make sure to "choke" it correctly.......dont worry bout the new plug just leave that bitch on 1 if it likes it there....thats what i did with mine Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gulag 0 Posted April 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 try not to think of it as over gassed, it is properly gassed, and you have to make sure to "choke" it correctly.......dont worry bout the new plug just leave that bitch on 1 if it likes it there....thats what i did with mine Awesome thanks a lot I'll do that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wade Pruetz 103 Posted April 22, 2010 Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 4 port guns have .073 ports 3 port .093 It's basically the same amount of gas with smaller ports which means less fouling Well someone may want to tell Ivan at the factory, I have two S12s and they both were/are three port guns with .070" from the factory. .070" is plenty of gas to cycle either a three or four port gun as long as the gun hand cycles smoothly. I would address any cycling issues by grinding and smoothing internals and leave enlarging the gas ports as a last resort. Just my two cents but I wish I had not enlarged the ports on my first gun to .093", the gun will literally eat Federal bulk 7 1/2 on setting -1 on the gunfixers plug. That said I have a great sbs project gun that won't need to have the gas block moved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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