Saiga 12 Gas Issue

[4rcefedmkiv]

I've had a Saiga for years and tried all the tricks of the trade to get it to be more than a single shot shot gun. Anyone know of a gunsmith somewhat local to Annapolis that's familiar with the Saiga gas system and can get it to run properly ?

 

[wilcam47]

Did you adjust the gas port up front?

 

[Inigoes]

Hafer's tuned up my saiga-12. Tim did a really good job too.

Well worth the drive to Hagerstown.

 

[kdmag88]

What have you done? Single shot with all ammo or only the weakest low recoil target shot? Mine would cycle anything down to 3dram 1-1/8oz 7-1/2 shot bulk stuff. (yes, 7-1/2 made a difference, wouldn't do 8 shot even with the same specs.) If you don't plan to shot much high brass stuff, they make reduced power recoil springs that should fix you up too.

 

[thomfantomas]

Did you adjust the gas port up front?

This!!!

 

[Sherman]

I got an auto gas plug for mine and it worked pretty well with basic rem target loads and maybe some low power loads, but i cant remember exactly which low power loads cause it's been awhile since i shot it.

 

[hobiecat590]

Once upon a time Saiga offered a 5 position gas adjustment plug that replaced the standard 2 position plug. This was supposed to solve the low brass cycling issue. Good luck.

 

[Inigoes]

If this is one of the early saigas where quality control was hit and miss, definitely have a gunsmith go over it.

Saigas did a poor job on the gas ports.

 

[4rcefedmkiv]

Thanks for all the replies guys, it has the 5 position adjustable gas plug and some type of gas puck. It's been so long I can't remember but what ever they had aftermarket accessories gas system wise I bought it. I tried every type of shell I could run through it with no success. I think i remember reading that the actual gas ports need to be drilled but i looked at them and look way to small for me. It's been in the back of the safe for a few years while I tinkered with other things.

 

[wilcam47]

Thanks for all the replies guys, it has the 5 position adjustable gas plug and some type of gas puck. It's been so long I can't remember but what ever they had aftermarket accessories gas system wise I bought it. I tried every type of shell I could run through it with no success. I think i remember reading that the actual gas ports need to be drilled but i looked at them and look way to small for me. It's been in the back of the safe for a few years while I tinkered with other things.

Did you try all settings?

 

[4rcefedmkiv]

Did you try all settings?

Sure did, all settings with quite a few different loads.

 

[JohnnyE]

Be cautious with a drill and the gas ports. It's too easy to make holes bigger, but making them smaller, not so much.

I've worked on four Saiga 12's and, IIRC, they were roughly 2009 vintage guns. When was yours produced? Since you describe them as single shot, that makes me "guess' they are undergassed. When you fire, where does the spent hull land? Does it clear the gun? If so, how far away from you does it land? These are clues regarding the gas situation.

My guns were undergassed from the factory, so, even a wide-open gas plug didn't deliver enough oomph to do the job, especially with skeet loads. I could fire slugs and mags, but I wanted them to eat everything.

I ended up having the bolt-carrier group machined (profiled and polished) to make them run more smoothly with less friction, plus I opened up the gas ports in the barrel, (three ports in the 19" barrel guns, two ports in the 22" barrel guns) and ended up being slightly over-gassed.

Let's understand your current condition BEFORE picking up a drill or a Dremel. Putting metal back is not an option.

All of my Saiga 12's run like Swiss watches. It took careful consideration before chopping things up.

 

[inkd]

Scott's Gunsmithing did some great Saiga work back when they were all the rage. I'm sure he could fix up whatever is ailing it.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

Scott's Gunsmithing did some great Saiga work back when they were all the rage. I'm sure he could fix up whatever is ailing it.

Scott's did mine took a little bit to loosen up but now it runs just fine on everything down to bird loads. Really nice conversion.

 

[4rcefedmkiv]

Be cautious with a drill and the gas ports. It's too easy to make holes bigger, but making them smaller, not so much.

I've worked on four Saiga 12's and, IIRC, they were roughly 2009 vintage guns. When was yours produced? Since you describe them as single shot, that makes me "guess' they are undergassed. When you fire, where does the spent hull land? Does it clear the gun? If so, how far away from you does it land? These are clues regarding the gas situation.

My guns were undergassed from the factory, so, even a wide-open gas plug didn't deliver enough oomph to do the job, especially with skeet loads. I could fire slugs and mags, but I wanted them to eat everything.

I ended up having the bolt-carrier group machined (profiled and polished) to make them run more smoothly with less friction, plus I opened up the gas ports in the barrel, (three ports in the 19" barrel guns, two ports in the 22" barrel guns) and ended up being slightly over-gassed.

Let's understand your current condition BEFORE picking up a drill or a Dremel. Putting metal back is not an option.

All of my Saiga 12's run like Swiss watches. It took careful consideration before chopping things up.

Great advice, it's been a while since I've shot it, I feel like it had failure to eject but I'm not positive. Perhaps I need to take it out one more time, document the ejection and then let Scott's take a look.

 

[JohnnyE]

Great advice, it's been a while since I've shot it, I feel like it had failure to eject but I'm not positive. Perhaps I need to take it out one more time, document the ejection and then let Scott's take a look.

I hope I am being helpful.

At your next range session, bring along a variety of shells with a range of power. Most S12's should shoot 1 oz, 2 3/4" slugs. Also bring along some skeet loads with 1 1/8 oz of lead pushed by 2 3/4 dram equivalent of powder. These should be the least likely to cycle the gun. If you can't cycle 3" magnum slugs, she's really undergassed. Take good notes (what you're shooting, the plug setting, and where the hulls land) and maybe even shoot some cellphone video.

 

[4rcefedmkiv]

I hope I am being helpful.

At your next range session, bring along a variety of shells with a range of power. Most S12's should shoot 1 oz, 2 3/4" slugs. Also bring along some skeet loads with 1 1/8 oz of lead pushed by 2 3/4 dram equivalent of powder. These should be the least likely to cycle the gun. If you can't cycle 3" magnum slugs, she's really undergassed. Take good notes (what you're shooting, the plug setting, and where the hulls land) and maybe even shoot some cellphone video.

Absolutely helpful. In hindsight this seems to be the best course of action and i'm a little embarrassed I didn't think of it before I posted.

 

[JohnnyE]

Absolutely helpful. In hindsight this seems to be the best course of action and i'm a little embarrassed I didn't think of it before I posted.

Don't sweat the things you didn't do right out of the box. We all start out excited by our new acquisition and optimistic it will work just fine right out of the box...then reality sets in. I'm here to try and help, and leave judgements to your family!

 

[erwos]

Scott's did mine took a little bit to loosen up but now it runs just fine on everything down to bird loads. Really nice conversion.

I have a Chad special SBS as well. Runs great with birdshot when you configure the plug and the puck for maximum gas.

 

[PTM76]

I don't know if Tac-47 is in business still, but I bought their auto-gas plug and its never given me problems.

Some Early saigas didn't have enough gas ports in the barrel.

What barrel length and what year did you buy it?