projo198 14 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 I've been lurking here for awhile after buying my 12 and decided it was time to say hello! I did the PG/FCG mod as soon as I go the shotgun and fired it for the first time this last weekend. As I had feard the gun didn't cycle a single time shooting 2 3/4 sport loads. I did some research (in large part from this forum) and tonight I did some work to try to fix it. I had already emailed Cadiz and they agreed to work on it although I had already done the conversion, but I am horribly impatient and preetty good with firearms so I took a crack at it. I disassembled and filed/polished the hammer face, entire bolt, most of the bolt carrier and the inside of the carrier where the spring sets. I also filed the lips here to ensure the spring didn't have any resistance there during cycling. Pretty much everywhere metal touches metal got some attention. I took the carrier to steel the entire length that goes into the receiver and used a small square file to work the bolt where it rides the receiver rails. I filed the hammer face to a curve to get ride of the hard angles and was careful to maintain a flat middle to strike the firing pin. I also filed the bottom of the bolt where it rides against the hammer to ease movement. I didn't have a decent polishing wheel or a dremel, so when I say "polish" I mean I sanded it to steel and then wire-wheeled it to a smooth finish. THEN I started in on the gas block. It was actually pretty easy to disassemble, but I was glad I did my research. Of the 3 holes present (all were fully visible before disassembly) one was obstructed with gunk. I cleaned it out and measured the holes. They were all smaller than the .093 they were supposed to me, so I drilled each out with a 3/32 bit and filed the insides smooth with a small round file. Once back together the action is VERY smooth. I feel good about it. Instead of just using Rem Oil like I normally do I treated the receiver rails to some lithium grease as well. Hoping all this does the trick, I shoot again this Friday. If not my next step is an adjustable gas block plug and to actually polish the parts I did tonight to a glass-like surface. If that doesn't do the trick I may go a little bigger on the ports, but I really don't want to take all that apart again. All this will take place after a longer break in session shooting 3 in. shells though. So thanks to everyone here who has posted on the subject, more than likely I read your thread and gleaned some knowledge from it. Looking forward to sharing some gun knowledge, thanks! 11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lbsrdi 1,078 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Wow, that's how you search guys. You should be good if you did it all right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
projo198 14 Posted March 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Wow, that's how you search guys. You should be good if you did it all right. Ha ha didn't want to be the FNG here asking questions that were already posted 20 times... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kresk 10,063 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Thank you for not needing or demanding to be spoon-fed! Reading and searching are your best tools as the vast majority of information is already out there. There are some forums where if the same question has ever been asked and answered before, you are automatically banned, end of story. Members here are lucky in that regard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmzzl 146 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Thank you for not needing or demanding to be spoon-fed! Reading and searching are your best tools as the vast majority of information is already out there. There are some forums where if the same question has ever been asked and answered before, you are automatically banned, end of story. Members here are lucky in that regard. +1. You didn't do what I, and endless other users did/do. :] Quote Link to post Share on other sites
schultze13 354 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) I had to give you your first +1 on you rep (lower right corner of your post) for having the ability to read and do it on your own and not asking the same questions almost every FNG on here has, I think you will go far and fit right in with us. I wish all the FNG's were this able most of the FNG's in the last 2 months all bought saigas because they heard about the possible ban and then paid $750 for a S-12 and took it home and when they went shooting and it had problems found us and asked "Why doesn't my $750 shotgun work?? I shouldn't have to fix anything for that kind of money" but I don't see us having that problem with you. Edited March 15, 2011 by SCHULTZE 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kresk 10,063 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Thank you for not needing or demanding to be spoon-fed! Reading and searching are your best tools as the vast majority of information is already out there. There are some forums where if the same question has ever been asked and answered before, you are automatically banned, end of story. Members here are lucky in that regard. +1. You didn't do what I, and endless other users did/do. :] Congratulations on your extra effort and persistence as it makes the forum flow much more smoothly, and without controversy by lazier people. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Welcome. Obviously you did your homework. Please come back with a report on how the gun cycles after your work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nattyiceking 33 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Pictures! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parkerson 9 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Well done ProJo! You're a rockstar. This thread should be the new "Welcome, new users read this first" thread. For your hard work and independent research, I give you............ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
projo198 14 Posted March 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) Thanks all, really appreciate it. I had been eying a Saiga 12 for awhile, but I'll be honest the ATF Shotgun Import Report that came out a few months ago really got me off my ass. Luckily I was able to get mine from Centerfire for just over $500 before they dried up. Anyway here's a few pics. I used the carolinashootersupply kit with an upgraded grip. The quad rail is a UTG from www.milsurpstuff.com. I don't have immediate plans for optics, but I am considering adding the Eotech clone that is on my AR now and getting something better for the rifle. Edited March 15, 2011 by projo198 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bridis 319 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Congrats on the upfront research, you get points for that. I hope you fixed your problem and not made it worse. However, I'm afraid you lose points for the multicolored stock and pistol grip. GL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nattyiceking 33 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 That looks awesome Quote Link to post Share on other sites
projo198 14 Posted March 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Congrats on the upfront research, you get points for that. I hope you fixed your problem and not made it worse. However, I'm afraid you lose points for the multicolored stock and pistol grip. GL. The upgrade was an option upon check out from carolinashooters and both are olive drab, I didn't know they would not match until I got it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigcec1 72 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Wait you are not suposed to do your own research and do every thing with the information that this site provides you. your supposed to reask the same questions over and over again so no one will help you cause they are tired of the same thread. O wait nm that's what you are not supposed to do so you are awarded extra points and good job. nice looking build Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 This is my new favorite thread on this whole forum! All kinds of WIN! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lbsrdi 1,078 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 OD parts never match. Lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PostsOnPercocet 32 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 No, no, no, OP. You're suppose to say you just got an S12, even though you KNOW the ATF has banned them and is coming door to door to confiscate them. Plus, you verified that by checking with local gun shops. Plus, you're suppose to ask us why you are getting ejection problems, how to convert the gun, and how to polish the bolt. You're also suppose to inform us that you already tried the search feature and it didn't work. You couldn't find anything! Oh, and you're suppose to be wondering why not all ammo fits in the MD20 drum! Sloppy OP, sloppy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NM0 586 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Nice job guy. Good to see the results of your research and decision making. Kudos to you for doing something without asking a million questions every step of the way. +1 on OD never matching. The K-Var furniture I just installed on wife's rifle is all a little different, so is the Hogue grip and the ((10)) mags. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Redemption 5 Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Oh, and you're suppose to be wondering why not all ammo fits in the MD20 drum! I'd still like to know why that was in the design. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fumes 84 Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Oh, and you're suppose to be wondering why not all ammo fits in the MD20 drum! I'd still like to know why that was in the design. It's cause God hates you. +1 OP, Reading it does a Saiga good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
projo198 14 Posted March 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Thanks guys. I decided to go ahead and polish the receiver rails tonight as well. That was the last thing I could think to do before testing her out. I also hand cycle the action a bunch everytime I go downstairs for a smoke or whatever. I'll post the results Friday! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The_Caged_Bird 474 Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Oh, and you're suppose to be wondering why not all ammo fits in the MD20 drum! I'd still like to know why that was in the design. It's cause God hates you. +1 OP, Reading it does a Saiga good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tbizzle 18 Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Just noticed that you have the UTG quad rail with rubber handguards. If you still experience FTE's after all the work you did, remove the rubber guards and possibly the entire rail and put back to stock. I had this same issue with mine. Ended up taking the rail off because I kept getting FTE with birdshot. Stock handguard back on and works perfectly. Just a heads up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
projo198 14 Posted March 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Just noticed that you have the UTG quad rail with rubber handguards. If you still experience FTE's after all the work you did, remove the rubber guards and possibly the entire rail and put back to stock. I had this same issue with mine. Ended up taking the rail off because I kept getting FTE with birdshot. Stock handguard back on and works perfectly. Just a heads up. Strange, not the first time I have heard this. I really can't figure out how it would make a difference except for the fact that the original partially blocks the vent on the gas block that vents puc. I'll give it a shot, thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
projo198 14 Posted March 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 OK, shot yesterday and overall very happy with the results. I started out with Winchester 2 3/4 8 shot loads. The shotgun did much better but still had a FTE about one out of every 5 rounds. I then switched to Federal 2 3/4 7.5 shot loads. The gun did amazing, no problems at all. After that I switched to gas setting "1 "and tried Federal 3 inch slugs, which this gun LOVES. No problem at all. Finally I tried Remington 2 3/4 8 shot. Better than the Winchester but still had the occasional FTE. I shot about 100 rds through the gun yesterday of varying brands and the longer I shot the better it got, so I'm pretty sure I am just in the break-in phase now and I am pretty confident the Saiga will shoot about anything I put in it soon enough. Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lbsrdi 1,078 Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 Sounds pretty good, give it some time. Your patience will be rewarded. Have fun! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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