Saiga-12

The Saiga-12 is a 12-gauge shotgun available in a wide range of configurations, visually patterned after the Kalashnikov series of assault rifles. Like the Kalashnikov rifle variants, it is a rotating bolt, gas-operated gun that feeds from a box magazine. All Saiga-12 configurations are recognizable as Kalashnikov-pattern guns by the large lever-safety on the right side of the receiver, the optic mounting rail on the left side of the receiver and the large top-mounted dust cover held in place by the rear of the recoil spring assembly.

The Saiga-12 incorporates several features absent on the AK-47 and similar firearms.

Since shotgun shells are nearly twice as wide as 7.62×39mm rifle cartridges, the extraction port in the side of the dust cover had to be increased in size. However, since the bolt had to remain the same length to fit inside the AK-47 sized receiver, the rear section of the bolt is covered by a sliding metal flap that rides on the recoil spring. This allows the gun to be sealed against dirt when the bolt is forward, but the compression of the recoil spring during firing moves the flap rearward to clear the extracted shells.

In Project Reality, the Saiga-12K is only seen in the hands of the Rifleman Specialist kit of the Middle Eastern Coalition.

Variants

 * Saiga-12K
 * Folding Stock
 * Iron Sights