Practical shooting is the youngest and most spectacular sport, which is considered “home” for many law enforcement agencies. Its task is to develop among police officers and special forces the necessary techniques for handling firearms. The rules are established by the International Confederation of Practical Shooting. Especially for this sport, within the framework of the IPSC rules, Russian gunsmiths developed the Saiga-12 carbine. 340.
The work took into account the wishes of those who are engaged in practical shooting and have extensive experience in this area. Since 2015, serial production of the Saiga-12 sports model has been carried out. 340. The description, characteristics of this small weapon, as well as user reviews about it are presented in the article.
Start
The basis for the Saiga-12 carbine is used. 340 was the civilian version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which has been used by hunters and law enforcement and security personnel since the 90s. In addition, this version of small arms in the 030 version was used by athletes. In 2012, the Russian Technologies corporation commissioned the Kalashnikov concern to develop a special sports modification of the carbine, which could later be used within the framework of the IKPS. This carbine was the Saiga-12. 340.
Work on the shooting model was carried out under the guidance of lead designer Alexey Shumilov. Also, a famous Russian athlete, leader of the Rostec team, Vsevolod Ilyin, was brought in for this purpose. The first sample of "Saiga-12" is used. 340 was demonstrated in the city of Nuremberg. After successful testing, the manufacturer released the first trial batch, which consisted of fifty units. Since January 2015, this model has been mass produced.
Purpose
The scope of application of Saiga-12 is quite extensive. This is not surprising: a reliable, simple and unpretentious weapon is the dream of many shooters.
First of all, it is used for hunting. And it gets mostly very positive reviews from hunters. Depending on the caliber, it is used in hunting, the purpose of which is to kill various animals. We'll talk about this a little later.
Saiga is no less popular among ordinary shooting enthusiasts. Good ergonomics (especially if the weapon is subjected to tuning), reliability and, most importantly, appearance, which makes some models look like the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, attract many shooters. Of course, 12 gauge is pretty serious; Such weapons are best suited for adult, strong men. But there is also Saiga-410, which will be a good choice for women and teenagers, allowing them to instill in them a love of weapons and avoid unpleasant consequences of use, such as bruises on the shoulder.
Finally, the characteristics of the 12-gauge Saiga were carefully studied by the military of different countries, who subsequently adopted it for service. For example, it is used by law enforcement agencies and intelligence services of countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia, the USA, and Kyrgyzstan. True, in 2014, as a result of the introduction of sanctions, the import of these guns to the United States from Russia was prohibited.
Quite often, this formidable weapon is purchased to protect home and property. Indeed, at a short distance, a shot from a bullet, buckshot or even shot from a 12-gauge Saiga causes the most terrible damage, which neither a Kalashnikov assault rifle nor a Makarov pistol can compare with.
Tuning
"Saiga-12" Spanish 340 contains a telescopic adjustable plastic buttstock, which houses a rubber shock-absorbing butt pad and an elongated forend, providing a comfortable and strong hold of the weapon. In addition, the elongated shape of the forend, in the manufacture of which polymer materials are used, allows the athlete to manipulate the carbine faster. In the future, the developers plan to use ergonomic aluminum for these purposes.
In addition to the standard handle, there is an additional one on the left side of the model for reloading. Carbine "Saiga" 12 sp. The 340 L 430 is not equipped with open sights. The receiver is equipped with an integrated hinged Picatinny-type cover, thanks to which shooters have the opportunity to install various collimator sights.
"Saiga-12k"
In all external parameters, this gun resembles those mentioned above. But at the same time it is much more compact due to the shortened barrel - its length is only 430 mm. This has both pros and cons. Compactness, lighter weight and a better located center of gravity are important advantages, thanks to which the Saiga-12k receives rave reviews from hunters and shooters. The downside is that the short barrel further reduces the firing distance.
In addition, in order for the weapon to comply with modern legislation, the developers were forced to install a special locking mechanism that does not allow firing with the butt folded. The shooter must first fold back the butt and only after that he gets the opportunity to shoot.
However, there is also an export version, which has the same dimensions as the Saiga-12k, but lacks such a mechanism. It is intended for use in countries with laxer gun laws than Russia.
Ammunition
Detachable box magazines have been developed for carbines, the receivers of which are equipped with special guide shafts. Thanks to this design solution, changing magazines is much faster.
Shotgun "Saiga-12" 340 is made with an automatic slide stop and a special remote button, which allows you to quickly release the magazine like a pistol. According to athletes, it is very convenient to press it using the thumb of your right hand. At the same time, the grip of the handle and fire control remain unchanged. The carbine system has a standard return spring, thanks to which possible inertial releases of magazines, which often occur from recoil, are completely eliminated.
What about the return?
When I started shooting with the new gun, what struck me most was the soft recoil. The guys and I tried to install a muzzle brake-compensator on an old gun with a recoil buffer, but the Saiga, even without such a buffer, still had less recoil. Then we tried shooting with less powerful cartridges, and lo and behold! - the gun worked!
I weigh 50 kg and recoil force is very important to me. I handle recoil well, even with a fairly powerful cartridge, but the 12 gauge still turns the body a little and throws it back. In the past, I had to shoot at least 32 grams of shot, otherwise my gun would refuse to fire. There are also special cartridges for practical shooting - 34 grams with slow powder, soft in recoil. They would have suited me too, but my old gun didn’t fire these cartridges.
So imagine my glee when I started shooting with a gun that actually has softer recoil and also works with softer cartridges! With the old gun, due to the greater recoil, I could make the transfer to another target in about 0.20 seconds. With the new one - for 0.16, and once it even turned out for 0.15! But only once.
And you can’t even imagine how much that is – four milliseconds! This is just a few full seconds of exercise, thanks to which it is quite possible to win!
"Saiga-12" Spanish 340: reviews
Users respond mostly positively to this small weapon. Those who have tested this model appreciate its following strengths:
- Due to two cocking handles located on both sides of the receiver, any athlete, regardless of whether he is left-handed or right-handed, can load ammunition into the chamber as quickly as possible and effectively use this carbine.
- The model has reliable operation of a short gas piston.
- The carbine system is characterized by a complete absence of contamination by powder gases in the receiver.
- Many people note a soft feeling when shooting. Thanks to the new compensator, Russian athletes noted that the recoil when shooting was noticeably reduced. In addition, the weapon is not moved away from the aiming line.
- Ability to shoot at high speed.
In addition to its advantages, this carbine has one drawback. During the use of weapons, many shooters have noticed that the barrel lining gets very hot. Upon superficial inspection of the model, users may get the impression that it is made of carbon fiber. However, in its production glued aluminum is used. This explains why such an element quickly becomes hot. Many shooters use gloves when operating the Saiga-12.
Existing disadvantages
Alas, any weapon that has its advantages cannot do without its disadvantages. When describing Saiga-12, it is important to talk about its shortcomings.
One of the main ones is the short distance of a confident fight. Which is not surprising - even the longest modifications have a barrel length of only 680 millimeters. For a hunting weapon this is quite a bit. For comparison, the famous TOZ-34 can boast a barrel length of 711 mm.
Another drawback is the short sighting line. After all, the rear sight and front sight are located directly above the gas outlet tube. This does not allow you to confidently aim at long distances. However, experienced shooters who really love weapons can easily solve this problem - we’ll talk about this a little later.
Is it suitable for hunting?
This is not the first year that there have been serious debates between hunters: is Saiga-12 suitable for hunting? The question is really difficult. It should be looked into in more detail.
The main argument from opponents of using Saiga for hunting is the sighting device, which is not suitable for shooting offhand. Indeed, a standard rear sight and front sight are great if you need to shoot at a stationary or slow-moving target. But shooting down a flying duck or a rapidly running hare is much more difficult.
But still, experienced shooters with good marksmanship use these weapons very successfully when hunting, always returning with rich trophies. Namely, practice, as we know, is the most reliable criterion of truth.
And the ability to fire 5-8 shots without reloading, and then change the magazine in a second is a very pleasant prospect, especially if the target of the hunt is a wild boar, bear or elk.
So, if you are looking for a weapon that will allow you not only to successfully hunt, but also to protect your home, the Saiga-12 will be a really good choice.
Which store to choose
In general, in our country three types of magazines for Saiga-12 are produced. They have a capacity of 2, 5 and 8 rounds. And the choice here is not always obvious.
On the one hand, being able to fire 8 shots in a row, destroying everything in your path, is very pleasant. But this store is quite long, and its cost is quite high. On the other hand, by purchasing a 2-round magazine, the shooter does not use the full firepower of the weapon. But the magazine practically does not stick out from the Saiga, which means it will not cling to bushes, branches, clothes or any other objects, causing unnecessary problems.
Each hunter must decide for himself which option to choose based on his own needs and preferences.
In general, there are magazines of much larger capacity - including drum ones, which can hold up to 20 rounds at once. Alas, in our country, weapons legislation limits the maximum magazine capacity to eight cartridges. However, it is only prohibited to use magazines with a larger capacity, but storing them at home or carrying them with you is not prohibited at all.
