Advantages of Converting the Saiga 12

As most are aware, Saiga firearms are produced by the same people and at the same Russian plant as the Russian AK 47 for sale. The Saiga is based on the design of the AK 47, with many of the same components, and the designer of the original AK is still working at the Izhmash plant. Converting your Saiga 12 shotgun has many advantages, including the ability to reduce the length of the gun and improve aiming.

Legality of Converting the Saiga

In the United States, the Saiga must be imported in sporting configuration to be legal. So, all Saiga rifles for sale in the U.S. are sold in conventional stock form, even though this is not the intended configuration. Despite this, it is completely legal according to Federal and state laws to convert the Saiga to an AK setup.

It's actually rather simple to do with a bit of experience as well, requiring the removal of two pins and the fire control group and installation of new furniture. Still, laws do vary by state and some still retain portions of the 1994 federal gun ban in their state laws.

A few states require that a semi automatic magazine-fed shotgun not have a pistol grip below the gun's receiver. While converting your Saiga shotgun you'll need to check your state laws, as well as the law that states you can't have more than 10 imported parts. So, to use a higher capacity magazine on a Saiga shotgun you must replace other parts on the firearm for it to be legal.

Converting Your Saiga Shotgun: The Advantages

Saiga firearms are some of the best made, and are for sale at a rather reasonable price. Still, there are many benefits to a conversion.

Converting the Saiga to a traditional AK setup replaces the fire control group with a more simple design, while the trigger pull itself is improved.

The pull is lighter with less friction, and you're pulling the trigger instead of a lever connected to a bar. Converting the shotgun also puts it in its intended configuration.

While you'll need a number of Saiga shotgun accessories, which may be a bit expensive, you'll improve the ergonomics of the gun and make it easier to hold and use. The length of the gun is also reduced by 4 to 5 inches by choosing from a variety of AK stocks.

The gun will also aim and point faster with the new design while recoil is reduced. You may also prefer the pistol grip, which makes it easier to get back on target. Finally, converting the Saiga also allows you to use high capacity magazines without violating any laws.