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Posted: 2/11/2025 9:12:57 PM EDT
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Introduction of a recent entry in the box fed AR platform shotguns. The Mag 12 by Panzer Arms is a close copy of the RIA VR80 There are some differences and I believe improvements. All of the aluminum is 7075 T6 condition. Some of the toughest alloy in aluminum. Better than 6061 T6. It has a drop in trigger. A welcome addition to this format. Trigger not bad out of the box. Barrel held in with a pin thru a lug on the barrel. Very secure and guarentees exact barrel placement in the receiver. A definate improvement on the VR80 which uses a set screw which can allow some slight variation on barrel placement. Machining is very good. Fit and finish is excellent on this gun. It has a minimalist buttscock, a buttpad and mount on the buffer tube. It works. It uses the same magazines as most all of the Turkish shotguns. It has a 19.75" barrel with Benelli Mobil Chokes. Weighing in at 8.1 pounds and 39" overall length with the included muzzle brake. Another improvement is the elimination of the plastic cover on the handguard at the receiver mating point. This handguard is solid 7075 T6 aluminum and indexes perfectly every time. Panzer Arms is one of the top tier manufacturers of shotguns in Turkey. This one will be made into an SBS. Don't know how long the barrel will be but it has the same potential as the RIA VR80. Broke it down to show the componnents that are close to the VR80. Really the same design with a very narrow/thin handguard.        |
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I was wondering which model you had from your other post. Note to any one looking to buy a Panzer AR12, some of the light weight models have plastic uppers and handguards. The PANZER ARMS AR12 PRO-S (SHORT Forend) appears to be just releasing.  Constructed with both upper and lower receivers made from 7075-T6 aluminum. This looks like a possible good place to start a SBS. I need to see a parts diagram or disassembly video before purchasing one. |
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Originally Posted By Grimjaw5: I was wondering which model you had from your other post. Note to any one looking to buy a Panzer AR12, some of the light weight models have plastic uppers and handguards. The PANZER ARMS AR12 PRO-S (SHORT Forend) appears to be just releasing. https://panzerarmsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AR12-Pro-S-scaled.jpg Constructed with both upper and lower receivers made from 7075-T6 aluminum. This looks like a possible good place to start a SBS. I need to see a parts diagram or disassembly video before purchasing one. The gun I posted is all 7075 T6 Aluminum. The new gun that seems to have just come out is a polymer gun which may include a polymer trigger mechanism. I would imagine that the mechanical components would be similar but I don't see the barrel lug in the receiver. This polymer gun looks to be different. It may not have the same gas system on the Mag 12 aluminum. I'm a fan of the system they use in the Mag 12. It lends itself well to SBS it. If you want short, you have to move the gas system. If you are around the 12 inch mark or better, enlarging the gas port should work. Remember, when you enlarge gas ports, more carbon fouling will occur at earlier intervals. cherenkov, a member here has gone the shortening with gas port enlargment. Check out his SBS. The polymer gun can be had for as little as $240, the original for under $500 |
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So I just made a comment on the other VR80 and saw your post about the Mag12. Does this drop in trigger allow standard AR15 drop Ins? If so- Perhaps an FRT-15 drop in might be in order - Just need to see how the carrier might interact with the forced reset and time it appropriately. It looks like someone got their JTS AR12 12 gauge shotgun running reasonably well with hotter loads (slugs) in FRT Mode. At 4:20 in the video, he switches to slugs (assuming its hotter than his first rounds) and that seems to get it running better. The JTS and the Panzer are likely much different bolt carriers so consideration on the timing is likely.  Fastest 12 Gauge Ever? Shotgun FRT Trigger Test! |
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: So I just made a comment on the other VR80 and saw your post about the Mag12. Does this drop in trigger allow standard AR15 drop Ins? If so- Perhaps an FRT-15 drop in might be in order - Just need to see how the carrier might interact with the forced reset and time it appropriately. It looks like someone got their JTS AR12 12 gauge shotgun running reasonably well with hotter loads (slugs) in FRT Mode. At 4:20 in the video, he switches to slugs (assuming its hotter than his first rounds) and that seems to get it running better. The JTS and the Panzer are likely much different bolt carriers so consideration on the timing is likely.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Cq6g7xPGEI believe the trigger in the Mag 12 is propritary. Don't think the AR 15 trigger will fit and function. This is a video that shows the disassembly of the Mag 12 and the removal of the fire control group Since there are no trigger or hammer pins, the AR15 FCG will not work. https://youtu.be/qealr3AymtM |
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So today I decided to separate the upper from the lower to get at the propriatary drop in trigger. More involved than a standard upper lower disassembly. The upper can not be removed with the barrel still in the gun. Not a great design because that requires removal of several other componnents. First off is the muzzle brake. Loosen the retaining set screw. Screw off the brake. Then comes the barrel ring/handguard retainer. This one originally was pretty snug but no issue. Slide off the handguard to expose the barrel and gas componnents and get a good look at the barrel pin. Note: These are nearly identical to the RIA VR80 componnents but there are design differences. There is a barrel retaining pin with a circlip as the retainer on the pin. The barrel pin is a really good fit thru the upper and barrel. And yes, when trying to remove the circlip, it launched across the room even with my efforts to keep it secured. Found it within a minute or two. I may change this as it is at risk for a dissappearing act every time attempts at removal are made. Tapped out the barrel pin, there was some tension from the bolt, pressing on the barrel. This is why the barrel has to be removed, to give some clearance as there is a lug on the barrel that possibly must go forward a bit. Barrel came out easily even with the close fit. It was helped with some push from the bolt action spring. Once this all was completed, the upper came off without issue. The fit of all of these componnents I would grade as a 9, maybe a 10. Close fitting parts but still work nicely. Next step to remove the drop in trigger is to remove the safety lever retained by a FHCS. (flat head cap screw) It locks in the trigger group. Drop in trigger slides right out. It's much larger than an AR drop-in trigger and is propriatary to this Mag 12. There are no trigger or hammer pins so AR stuff will not work. Some pics with notes: |
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Here is the drop in trigger. No trigger or hammer pins. Locked in the lower with the upper. Safety is in the trigger housing.   Pics of the lower receiver show how different it is than an AR lower. A lot of differences. Open front, barrel pinned, shell guide in the lower.   Frontal shot shows barrel pin which is in the upper receiver. Very good fit on these componnents. Circlip on the barrel pin is a PITA. Snug fit, not easy to remove without scratching the upper.  A better look at the barrrel pin. The barrel tang which locks in nicely into the upper, has the locking lug common the seni autos.   |
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Bump to keep this from falling in to the Archive. |
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