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Posted: 5/16/2026 10:25:36 PM EDT
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I built a Saiga 12 just prior to quitting 3 gun. I shot my first match with it in 5 years. I had no reliability problems during a two hundred round test 5 years ago before I put it away. Among other things, I installed an SGM magwell and hogged it out for VEPR12 mags. Today I had a lot of reliability problems. It ran 100% on on slugs. It absolutely shit the bed on buckshot, which i believe was underpowered. I had bouts of issues with birdshot. I tried two different loads, and the hotter one struggled a bit less. When it failed, the round would nosedive into the feed ramp and snag. Slapping the bolt didn't help. I had to drop the mag, rack and reinsert. I'm trying to figure out a way to narrow it down to the gun, mags or ammo. The failure sure looks like the mag was at the wrong angle. But some ammo ran 100%. One of my mags seemed to have a sluggish spring. It never jams when I insert a mag and rack the bolt. Is the bolt not moving back far enough for the shell to fully pop up before going forward? Do I need to butcher another mag well to change the angle? Is my mag catch too long, causing the rear of the mag to sit high?  |
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That looks too high. Also, try Csspecs mags. You will find nothing better. Id hazard to say better than OEM mags. CSSpecs V12 Mags |
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Given that the hotter ammo worked better, I'm guessing it is a gas issue. I forgot how the gas system worked. While it didn't look terribly dirty, the gas puck did require a dowel and hammer to break free. I'm guessing sitting for years with mild carbon buildup didn't help it any. Since the federal ammo used to work 100%, I'm hoping this fixes it. I will also do a minor polish job to smooth things out. |
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I shoot my JTS M12AKT1 shotgun a lot and found that the Remington Nitro and Winchester AA shot shells in a higher velocity (1300-1350 fps) do really well in my shotgun. The hulls on the shot shells are smooth and seem to load and eject better than the ribbed style. It took my shotgun several hundred rounds to break in and the JTS website suggests shooting 200 rounds of buck shot on the highest gas setting to break it in before running birdshot. Maybe you are just needing to go run several boxes through it to get it to smooth out!? Attached File - Clint |
#CTMadModz on youtube
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Originally Posted By Deerhurst: Check your gas ports. Very common to have ports blocked, under sized or missing or all of the above like my Saiga 20 had. |
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Originally Posted By Couch-Commando: Do you know if it is pinned or pressed like some 7.62x39 saigas? I have a shop press and depopulation tool for removing the gas block. I believe pinned. Standard AKs are pressed then pinned. My S20 came off easy. Piece of wood and a dead blow. Went on as easy too. |
USAF (Ret) 2003-2024
Joined:
Oct 2025
Posts:
332
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CO, USA
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