One hour after buying my Saiga-12, I headed to the range with my friend. First we shot shots and slugs to see how it patterns, upcoming duck hunting season in our minds. Then I wanted to shoot some trap. When we were just about to leave, we stayed to watch how "professionals" shoot skeet. They were quite good compared to my 3 out of 25.(Butstock isn't so good and it shoots left and down... and I'm not a good shooter.)

Older gentleman, who was in charge at that time, asked "What kind of shotgun do you have?"

- "Ugly russian."

-"Is THAT a shotgun?!"

- "Yes."

- "Where did you buy it?" (Like it was illegal or something.)

- "From local store." (Every shooter knows it here.)

- "How much did it cost?"

- "xxxx"

- "Well, quite cheap."

- "Yes, makes tight groups with slugs."

- "SLUGS?!" (He explained to his friend what I had just said, both looked at me with smile on their faces.)


So, what did we learn about it? I need to add telescopic stock, suppressor/flash hider, longer mags and lighter recoil spring because my Saiga doesn't reload with light ammo.

In Jan of '06, I was out testing my new FBMG 20 rd .308 mags and there are two "locals" at the next bench over...
I overhear this conversation while loading mags...

Dumbass 1: Hey! What's that guy have?

Dumbass 2: Hmmmm... Looks like a Saiga or something...

Dumbass 1: A what?

Dumbass 2: A Saiga, I think...

Dumbass 1: Okay.?.?.?

Dumbass 2: It's a cheap copy of an AK...

Dumbass 1: Oh.!.!.!

Dumbass 2: I'd take my Mini 14 anyday...

Dumbass 1: So its not a good gun?

Dumbass 2: I wouldn't waste my time and money with one. Looks like he has some homemade mags too.

[*AFTER I ran through 3 out of my 6 mags....]

Dumbass 2: (now standing behind me at the bench...) Hey Man, do you like your Saiga.?.?

Me: It does alright.

Dumbass 2: What caliber is that?

Me: .308...

Dumbass 1: Really! Where'd you get it?

Me: Oh... Eh, a Gunshow here a while back...

Dumbass 2: Anyplace around here sell 'em?

Me: Not that I've seen lately (EAA had recently lost importation and RAA hadn't come on board yet). Would you like to try a few rounds?

Dumbass 2: Sure!!!!!

[*After firing of a full 20-rounder later and big 'ole Possum grin on his face]

Dumbass 2: Man! I gotta get one of these...

[Elapsed time, approximately 10 minutes. Cost of ammo to me - approx $3. Effort on my part - 0. Look on new Saiga converst face - PRICELESS]

Heh, when I hear asshats ragging about how cheap & flimsy AK's are, those Police lyrics always come to mind (with some slight changes):

"Her friends are so jealous, you know how young girls get"

What's kinda scary to me is how come I remember Police lyrics?

One of shooting friends tried out my 7.62x39 shortly after I converted it. After running through just one 10 rounder he turned and said: "dude, your AK is fucking sweet."

"Coolest fucking guns I've ever seen"
-Range Nazi at the ASC range in West Houston watching my two S12's being fired in harmony.
(Range is full of AK's, AR's, 50 BMG's, etc.)

guido2 in Houston

Just last night I was shooting Trap with my S12. 23/25 and 21/25. One guy asked if it was "Full AUTO" Then he asked if it was "Legal" then I out shot his $2000 Winchester Select Energy with 32" barrels and adjustable comb.

The other guys seemed interested and giddy over a huge-mag fed 18" semi-auto. They laughed excitedly like 8 year olds who just heard a poop joke when, after the first round of 23, I placed my gun up on the rack (it barely fit at 18") and they asked "does that use some sorta mags?" and I pulled out the 10rd AGP.

5 guys who thought it was neat, and one guy who seemed terrified of it. People are weird. When I shoot my O/U no one asks if it's legal... wonder why?

I remember Police lyrics AND can't believe they'd charge $200 per ticket when you could see them for $16 back in the day.

Anyway, I get a lot of "Is that an AK? I thought they were illegal."

Last time I was at the range with the Saiga's (.308 and S12), no one paid me any mind when I pulled out the 16" .308 from the case (probably thought it was 7.62x39). When they started hearing that "BOOM!" and saw the fireball, then I got a few questions. THEN I took out the S12.

The bug-eyed looks were classic.

Well, I've been asked a couple of times at the range "what the heck is that" when I take out my 223 or 308. I explain it's a Russian rifle of AK origin and almost always get told, "AK's aren't accurate". So then I shoot a nice tight group. Afterwards I'm usually asked again "what is that?" or "how did you get an AK to be so accurate?" Very common.

My local range is usually full of pistols and small caliber rifles. So I like to open up with five rounds of 3" slugs outta my Tromix 8".

Sounds like: pop pop pow bang pow bang pop KABOOM KABOOM KABOOM KABOOM KABOOM!!!

That usually wakes em up real fast!
"What the hell was that?"
"Some kinda mag-fed shotgun..."
"looks like an AK.. but in 12 gauge!"

I love it.

Yeh, pretty much all I have ever gotten was "how much do you want for it" when people have shot my s12.

Sting's probably got to pay his Swami for those "tantric sex" lessons I heard he's been taking lately.

What a freaking tool. I'll let his wife shoot a few 3" thru my Saiga-12, and then bang her brains out (if she wasn't so damn old looking . I bet she'll be in a "tantric" state then.

no one at the range as ever seen my SAIGA. Every time I have had it there I was the only one there.

Gaddis,
You are one sick pup. Anyone ever tell you that?

Our range is now surrounded by neighborhoods, so it has lots of baffle walls to insure nothing leaves the property.We have a dedicated shotgun lane for patterning and testing at the end of the 50 yd. line.
When I take it out of the case, and it looks like some sort of AK, and I'm at the shotgun lane, I get the looks. Then, in goes the 10 rd. mag, and the rapid BOOM BOOM BOOM, and the red 12 ga. shells are flying..........

You get the idea.