Survival: Top 10 Tactical Shotguns #4

Coming in at #4 on our list of the Top 10 Tactical Shotguns is the famous (infamous?) Saiga 12–a semi-automatic shotgun that wants to be an AK-47 when it grows up. Built on an AK-47 body, the Saiga, made by Izhmash, is immediately recognizable as a Russian weapon. The Saiga 12’s greatest advantage is the ability to accept detachable magazines, giving it unmatched capacity.

Official Description:

The “Saiga-12” self-loading smooth bored shotgun is intended for professional and sport hunting of small-and medium-size game under any climatic conditions.

The shotgun comes with 12-ga. smooth bored barrel and the chamber which accepts the ammo equipped with shot or slugs including “Magnum” cartridges with 70 and 76 mm cartridge case.

The shotgun is used to deliver single shots. It is reloaded automatically due to the energy of powder combustion gases bled from the barrel bore through the barrel port. The shotgun may be equipped with a sight leaf adjustable for windage and elevation, which makes zeroing and firing at moving targets more convenient. The gas motive unit is adjustable to match the parameters of internal ballistics inherent to the standard cartridges and “Magnum” cartridges, as well. For the purpose of diversifying operational capabilities the shotgun may be equipped with muzzle adapters of different chokes, including the muzzle adapter “Paradox”.

The shotgun may be produced with a quick-detachable butt and quick-detachable pistol grip to make storage and transportation more convenient and to enhance its maneuverability. The “Saiga-12” shotgun is manufactured in four versions: “Saiga-12”, “Saiga-12S”, “Saiga-12K”, “Saiga-12S ЕХР-01”.

The “Saiga-12S” differs from the “Saiga-12” in the availability of a special folded butt and an operating handle. The folded butt makes carrying and storing the shotgun more comfortable. The “Saiga-12K” has a short barrel and a trigger/firing mechanism locking device to prevent the shotgun from firing when the butt is folded. Being an export version of the “Saiga-12K”, the “Saiga-12S ЕХР-01” is not equipped with a trigger/firing mechanism locking device. Atop the receiver is a rail for the optical-sight mount accommodation.

Specifications:

Gauge	12
Cartridge	12×70 or 12×76
Trigger pull, kfg	1.5-3.7 (3.3lbs – 8.16lbs)
Barrel Length, mm	580 (22.8″)
Overall Length, mm	1145 (45 inches)
Weight, kg	3.6 (7.9lbs)
Magazine Capacity	2, 5, or 8
Drum Magazine Capacity	12, 20, 100

Top 10 Tactical Shotguns

1-Mossberg 590A1 Tactical Tri-Rail

2-Remington 870 Express Tactical with Blackhawk

3-Benelli M4

4-Saiga 12–a semi-automatic shotgun

5-Remington 1100 Tac4

6-Mossberg 930 SPX Pistol Grip

7-Winchester SXP Extreme Marine Defender

8-FN Herstal SLP MK I Tactical

9-Savage Stevens 320 Pump

10-Stoeger P-350

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

Preparing your investments and family for when disaster strikes.

E.J. Smith is the Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH, where he completed course-work in Practical and Defensive Handgun, Conceal Carry Pistol, Shotguns, Precision Scope Rifle and Kidnapping Prevention. E.J. plays a Yamaha Recording Custom drum set with Zilldjian cymbals. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com. Sign up here to receive all the best content from Richardcyoung.com each week.