I had the chance to review and photograph a Saiga 12 shotgun made by Saiga (Izhmash) in Russia. This one is modified by Tromix. This Saiga 12 shotgun is used by Gabe Suarez for testing and evaluation of the Tromix modifications. I can not speak for Gabe, but I was impressed with what I saw when I took a look at this unique Saiga 12 re-designed for fighting from the ground up.
Tromix – Saiga Shotgun Conversions and Accessories
Tromix shotgun conversions transform your ordinary hunting gun into a more dynamic tactical tool. The Basic Fixed stock conversion consists of the following:
SAW pistol grip installed
Rear of receiver re-machined to the correct angle.
Receiver back-plate Tig welded in place.
Safety selector stop welded in place.
Tromix trigger guard welded in place.
Left over trigger axis pins welded up.
U.S. fire control components installed.
Gas block aligned as-required.
Install Fixed Tromix or Ace stock.
Mod magwell for 8/10rd magazines.
Tune Extractor and Extractor Bbl Relief.
Sand blast with aluminum oxide media.
Refinish with black bake-on Norrell Moly Resin.
This Basic Fixed stock conversion runs $395 on the customer supplied gun. Add $65 for folding stock mechanism. If you also need your barrel cut down, gas ports opened up, and muzzle rethreaded, add $95. If you need Tromix to provide the base-gun for work, add $475. Availability of complete guns is extremely limited. All pricing shown below for models S-O1 through S17 include the base gun.
Our short barreled shotguns can be ordered with barrel lengths from 8" to 14" in length. In addition to the Basic Fixed stock conversion outlined above, the entire gas system is relocated rearward 4" in order to allow the gun to still cycle low base target ammunition. The Basic Folding stock SBS conversion runs $750 on the customer supplied gun. Add $475 if Tromix supplies the base gun. Availability is extremely limited.
This model (listed on the Tromix website) is close the model we review here
With the stock extended . This Tromix stock is sturdy and light weight. It locks firmly into place. There is a rubber pad with a slight curve to help get consistent shoulder placement
With the stock folded the shotgun is much shorter for carrying and storage. While it can be shot with the stock folded, it would be difficult to aim with the 12 gauge recoil
When the stock folds it leaves room for an optics mount on the Saiga's optics rail. It's design also lends it's self to many sling options
The Shark Brake by Mark Krebs and AK style front sight post, both add to this shotgun's looks and offer a typical AK sight radius and familiar sight picture.
The Shark Brake does a good job of looking good and being an effective close quarters tool
The red arrows in this pic show how well the Shark Brake diverts the gasses away from the shooters line of sight, while keeping a slight angle to aid in muzzle rise
These fuzzy pics show how well the Tromix conversion replicates the typical AK sight picture. Front and rear sights are very close to the standard AK. This allows a shooter to concentrate on their shooting and not the gun
Here is a picture of Gabe Suarez of Suarez International shooting his Tromix converted Saiga 12 and for comparison, a typical AKM (with the curved magazine below). Note the similarities; the red arrows indicate the sight radius, the white arrows indicate the cheek weld and distance to the receiver, Blue and yellow arrows indicate the controls (safety and magazine release) which are set up in almost identical position on both rifles
Here are the same two pictures as above without the arrows
The Galil style handguards offer comfort and control with multiple grip methods. These also count as a US part to comply with 922r
When moving the Saiga 12 trigger group forward the trigger guard doesn't fit like a typical AKM because the magazine release and trigger guard are two parts on a Saiga12. Tromix makes a unique trigger guard that offers room for the shooters hand (fingers) to easily reach the magazine release.
Further modifications by Tromix include the gas block and safety
Overall the Saiga is a great shotgun to begin with and Tromix really does a decent job of improving it for fighting. Here Gabe Suarez is able to shoot three rounds in quick enough succession that two of the shells are in mid air as the third enters the chamber. Note the lack of significant muzzle rise in this test.
"Our Rifle Gunfighting Course has set the standard for close range rifle training, but there is a limit to what can be done in two days. Where Rifle Gunfighting is all shooting and focuses on short range applications, Advanced Rifle Gunfighting adds material that pushes both the weapon system and operator to new levels."
Search Gun Reviews 
Would
you like the small pictures to get larger?
