Anyone have a SDS imports Saiga 12 clone?

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AVL_AK

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They are very inexpensive now, with the current NDAA exploring sanctions on Chinese military related imports, are they the next Saiga / Vepr?
I have seen limited reports on function, all positive. Anyone here have one?
 
I bought a unfired SDS lynx12 3g from a member here, I love it. My good friend has a perfectly converted Saiga 12 that he's made very....tacti-cool.... anyways, The SDS I have has been awesome, slings slugs, buck and target without hick-up. Only issue I've had with it is it came with a couple of promag drums and in typical promag fashion it hasn't been very useful. The included 5rd mag from sds and Saiga 12 mags it runs like a top.

I can't speak for the "base model" but I've heard pretty similar reliability as the 3g variant.
 
Hunter600rr said:
I bought a unfired SDS lynx12 3g from a member here, I love it. My good friend has a perfectly converted Saiga 12 that he's made very....tacti-cool.... anyways, The SDS I have has been awesome, slings slugs, buck and target without hick-up. Only issue I've had with it is it came with a couple of promag drums and in typical promag fashion it hasn't been very useful. The included 5rd mag from sds and Saiga 12 mags it runs like a top.

I can't speak for the "base model" but I've heard pretty similar reliability as the 3g variant.
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Thanks, I was looking at the model that takes Vepr mags as I have plenty. Veprs are so expensive now, I hate to keep shooting it!
 
AVL_AK said:
Thanks, I was looking at the model that takes Vepr mags as I have plenty. Veprs are so expensive now, I hate to keep shooting it!
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I imagine you'd have similar results with the vp12 from sds as I have with their saiga clone.

And it's crazy what happened with their value! My friend has had his for quite some time now, said he would sell it too me and being the good friend I am, I told him I won't even make a offer and to hold on to it, that it's beating down the door of a easy grand+
 
I had a Lynx for a while and can echo the overall positive impressions people have had on them. I had a very occasional failure to eject when running low brass birdshot but it was definitely fault of the low powered rounds. The fit and finish can definitely be described as “industrial” but in my inexpert opinion it was good ‘nuff and they seem to have put the money where it mattered for function. I’m 6’1” with a large frame and fairly long arms and I did find the stock to be ridiculously short, but definitely still shootable. I’d still have it but a guy I shot with offered a trade I couldn’t pass up.
 
Cataphract said:
I had a Lynx for a while and can echo the overall positive impressions people have had on them. I had a very occasional failure to eject when running low brass birdshot but it was definitely fault of the low powered rounds. The fit and finish can definitely be described as “industrial” but in my inexpert opinion it was good ‘nuff and they seem to have put the money where it mattered for function. I’m 6’1” with a large frame and fairly long arms and I did find the stock to be ridiculously short, but definitely still shootable. I’d still have it but a guy I shot with offered a trade I couldn’t pass up.
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Totally correct on the stock, highly recommend a m4 buffer adapter and tube on them, even if it takes away from the classic AK 'vibe' lol. Mine came with one already installed and I wouldn't begin to think about putting the original stock back on lol

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Hunter600rr said:
I imagine you'd have similar results with the vp12 from sds as I have with their saiga clone.

And it's crazy what happened with their value! My friend has had his for quite some time now, said he would sell it too me and being the good friend I am, I told him I won't even make a offer and to hold on to it, that it's beating down the door of a easy grand+
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Vepr 12's are $1500-2000 now, they were about 1100 new when I got mine.
 
Picked it up today. It doesn't seem to have anything obvious wrong. I like the left side charging handle, though it would have been better to cast it into the bolt carrier instead of threaded into it, probably not as strong. A Krebs MK VII safety seems to work in it. (I have them on all my AKs, even my KR-9, flip it up with the trigger finger knuckle, finger goes immediately on the trigger, way faster than any other AK safety lever.) Need a red dot for it, figure out the adjustable gas settings, then try it out when I get time. I'm assuming the largest gas port is for low power shells, would that be 1 or 3? Manual isn't much help, probably just have to take it apart to see.
 
Looking forward to a usage report, because if this thing is actually reliable, I'm going to grab one before they're unobtanium. If I read correctly, they have since gone to a forged in lieu of cast BCG which I think the Lynx had.
 
I also have one of the SDS Lynx 3g models. Seems to run good even with low brass once you get them broken in a bit from new. Out of the box, they are fairly crude/ rough around the edges. Mine runs with the SDS, Kalashnikov USA, Promag drums and Saiga mags reliably.
 
recreationalhandgrenade said:
Ak shotguns have always been pretty janky and I'm sure it's no different. You pretty much only buy one beacuse 3 gun right?
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Yeah, I love my Vepr 12 for 3 gun, no issues with it at all as long as I don't try to use very low power shells. The new one will take it's place now that Veprs have become stupid expensive, not something I want to throw in a barrel. The VP12 has adjustable gas as well for low power shells, hope it works out.
 
saiga12shooter said:
I also have one of the SDS Lynx 3g models. Seems to run good even with low brass once you get them broken in a bit from new. Out of the box, they are fairly crude/ rough around the edges. Mine runs with the SDS, Kalashnikov USA, Promag drums and Saiga mags reliably.
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I used 1380 FPS made by Tula and 1350 FPS Winchester in #7.5 or #8 shot in the Vepr since I bought a lot of it when it was cheap at Walmart. Haven't tried it with 1200 FPS shells, except when it was new. It wouldn't cycle them consistently. it's pretty broken in now, probably 3-400 shells through it, all with CSPECS steel 8 and 10 round mags. I'm going to have to try it again before my stock of shells runs out. I can always use the low power in the slam fire 7+1 Ithaca if they won't work. I have used it in 3 gun before too.
 
So what is the consensus ? Reliable or a novelty ? I see the Saiga mag versions are still cheap and I am tempted to buy one. I am kind of on a shotgun buying spree lately and an AK style shotgun would be something different.
 
Chris. said:
So what is the consensus ? Reliable or a novelty ? I see the Saiga mag versions are still cheap and I am tempted to buy one. I am kind of on a shotgun buying spree lately and an AK style shotgun would be something different.
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I have the lynx 3 gun version and I love it. It's currently my only shotgun with every intention of it staying that way. It just runs everything I've put through it.
 
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