The Saiga 12 – you either love it or hate it, but it is hard to argue that there is not a market for them, and it is likewise hard to argue that they are not "sporting arms" given that they are one of the go-to platforms for 3-Gun, IPSC, and other shooting sports competitors (but that does not stop the BATFE from trying). Just like any other popular firearm platform, there is almost no shortage of accessories and modifications available for it… except for one small detail: for the past few years, wanting a new barrel for your Saiga pretty much involved a new Saiga; no one made just the barrels by themselves.
Thankfully, that void in the market was noticed, and ICC MFG, LLC stepped forward to fill it. I just received an email from Paul, the Operations Director of ICC, and in addition to the pre-threaded, 12" barrels for SBS conversions, they are also producing pre-threaded 18" barrels for standard Saiga barrel replacements. Both retail for $250, both are lathe machined, both are chambered for 2.75" and 3" shells, both have extended tabs at the chamber to "prevent mis-feeds with shorter cartridges", both are "in the white" so you can decide on your own finish, and both require drilling gas ports and cutting pin slots (so you can do it as you / your gun requires).
Now, if you want to go the short-barrel route, you can retain the old barrel for the future or just to sell, and if you already have a short-barreled Saiga and are moving somewhere where such devices are frowned upon, you can deconvert it and remove it from the BATFE’s books.
Gotta love capitalism.
(Note: ICC gave me absolutely nothing for this post, and I probably will be giving them money in the future. I just thought my fellow Saiga 12 owners would be interested.)
Call me paranoid,but owning an SBS puts you on a very short Government confiscation list.I think the NFA registry is a bigger deterrent to legal ownership than the other hassles-nobody wants to be on that list.Personally,I would never register a firearm of any kind for any reason and the only registered firearms I’ve ever dealt with were the ones I was issued in the Marine Corps.
I needed to replace the barrel on my Saiga 12 “vodka special” and was resigned to selling it and getting another. I like the idea of getting a new threaded 18 inch barrel instead. Thank you Sir!
@ B.C,King: I have absolutely no doubt that owning an NFA-registered item puts me on all kinds of lists at the BATFE, but have you ever filled out a Form 4473? Guess what?
@ Renegade: Seriously. I much prefer just replacing parts as they wear out, rather than having to replace the whole bloody thing… especially given mine is somewhat expensive as it is
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Point taken,although I have not filled out a form 4473 in over 30 years and even then I rarely used FFL dealer transactions.
Fair enough
. Just irks me when people get all twitchy about NFA, but then go to their gun store and pick up their newest Plastic Fantastic. Sure, it is a cumbersome-as-hell registration scheme, but that is exactly what 4473s are.