1. General: You will find that the parts used to assemble each Saiga-12 varies greatly from gun to gun. Your gun may or may not cycle the same ammo that works fine in your buddy’s gun. One gun may cycle fine with the same ammo on gas setting 1, that requires setting 2 in another gun. Many of the guns have mis-drilled gas ports that do not line up with the gas block. If you have a Tromix Saiga-12, the gas ports have been modified as required to allow sufficient gas to the piston in order to cycle the action.
2. Gas Adjustment: There is a gas regulator knob in the front of the gas block, marked “1” and “2”. The “1” setting is for heavy loads and the “2” setting is for light loads. To adjust the setting, depress the small detent in the 7-o’clock position and turn the regulator to either 1, or 2. Keep the regulator screwed into the gas block as far as possible when moving between selections, ie, screw it in completely and then back it out to the desired setting. DO NOT FIRE YOUR GUN ON SETTING NUMBER 2 WITH HEAVY LOADS! You will beat the back of the dust cover in, until it is so short it will begin popping out of the track in the front. I will no longer Warranty this condition if you damage your gun in this manner. When switching to new ammo, always put the regulator on #1 and test fire. If it does not cycle, THEN put it on #2.
3. Trigger Reset: If your trigger is failing to reset, it is most likely due to one of the return spring legs falling off the trigger during shipping. Remove the top cover and insure both hammer spring legs are resting on top of the trigger bars.
4. Ammunition: Most Saiga-12’s will cycle all 1-1/8oz ammunition. I do not recommend firing any of the super light 1oz shells. The very best cheap, light, birdshot ammo is Winchester AA, Super Sport, or Super Handicap. It runs about $4.50 per box and cycles Saiga’s like a champ. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIRE WINCHESTER “UNIVERSAL” AMMO SOLD AT WALMART. YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. Don’t call me if your gun does not work with this ammo. Any high base heavy loads should work fine in all guns, including buckshot, slugs, and steel shot waterfowl ammunition.
5. Muzzle Brake: If you have a Tromix Shark brake installed on your 18” gun, you should experience about a 15% reduction in felt recoil with only a slight increase in muzzle blast. If you have the brake on an 8” SBS, the back blast will be substantial, and when firing heavy magnum loads, the fire ball may be so severe that it curls back over your forward hand. Burned hair may result. Gloves are highly recommended.
6. Cleaning: Depending on the type of ammunition you are firing, your gas piston may get fouled to the point of malfunction after 200 rounds or 2,000 rounds. To clean, unscrew the gas regulator completely and remove. Remove the top cover and bolt carrier assembly. Using a long shaft, slide it through the gas tube from the rear and knock out the gas piston (puck). Then thoroughly clean inside the gas manifold, clean the piston, and reassemble.
7. DO NOT INSTALL A RECOIL BUFFER IN YOUR SAIGA-12 SHOTGUN!!!!! With a buffer in place, your bolt will barely get rearward far enough to engage the ejector and the bolt will barely clear the case head of the shell in the magazine before going back forward. This will induce all sorts of problems, both feeding and ejecting.

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