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Maxrounds PowerMag 700 for the Saiga 12

Maxrounds PowerMag 700 for the Saiga 12

As I have said before; when I was much younger and shot Practical Shotgun (PSG) full time I would have sold my soul for a Saiga12 semi-auto shotgun. Essentially a big, 12-gauge AK47, it’s far from pretty but running an 8-round box mag makes it practical with a capitol P… I have tested a few Saigas since then and grown to respect the design; despite never having used one in competition.

We Have The Power

The 8-round magazine capacity of the Saiga is fine for PSG and scores over tube mag guns (Remy 11-87 etc) on its en-bloc reload ability. But there is always someone willing to push the envelope and in this case it’s Maxrounds!

It would appear the Saiga 12 and its derivates are the top choice for a semi-auto shotgun on the international Practical Shooting scene (IPSC). So Maxrounds (Czech Republic) now offer a 20-round drum. Called the PowerMag 700 (700-grams/24oz empty) it’s an impressive looking design. However, loaded it weighs an equally impressive 59oz (3.68 lbs), which is not inconsiderable.

It uses a helical coil spring for power and a sprocket-type feed system. Loading is laborious but you soon get the knack. You also have to adjust the rear mag catch as it comes over size, this I think is done to allow precise fitting to individual weapons. It took me about 10 minutes to do so. It’s big at 8.8 x 6.3 x 2.6” deep and given its payload Maxrounds has done well to pack it all in.

For the test Oleg at FSU Connections kindly lent me the standard Saiga 12, which shows the two-position gas regulator, basic sights, full forend, skinny butt and pistol grip. The later versions have a far more AK look about them with rifle sights, non adjustable gas system and an improved magazine well that incorporates a chute, which makes mag changes far easier. However the PowerMag is not designed for these guns but the former.

Hey You’re Just a Big AK!

The gun came with not only the standard 8-shot box mag but a larger 10-rounder and a short 2-shot too. This last is doubtless to make it slightly more acceptable if you wanted to use it for birds or clays? Plus it offers a couple of screw-on, choke tubes. One addition was the Maxround’s muzzle brake; which is about the size of a tin of corned beef.

The Saiga 12 shows a 24” barrel, with the classic AK safety lever on the right of the action. The mag catch is at the rear of the well and the magazines have to be angled forward for the front lug to engage then snapped back to lock. The lower receiver has the night vision mount as do all of the Saiga series. Cocking is by a handle on the right of the bolt carrier with the gas system offering a 2-position, adjuster valve.

Ammunition went to OO & OOOO buck shot and slug. As the Saiga is quite light for a 12-gauge I fitted the rubber, slide-over grenade launcher pad, which extends the LOP but also gives better shoulder adhesion and reduces kick.

Initially Disappointing

I ran about 50-rounds through the box mags and the gun performed without a hitch, so no problems with the launch platform. Then it was on with the PowerMag. The first thing I noticed was you can’t fit it with the bolt closed as there’s too much spring tension to overcome. Luckily the Saiga 12 has a hold open catch, which solved that problem, but no cigar as this extra operation wastes time.

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I have to say that with the PowerMag onboard the gun looks purposeful; if you like that sort of thing. The first mag full of OOOO buck was disappointing as every second or third shot it failed to fully eject, with occasional mischamberings too. Getting down to about 10-shells it started working properly.

Switching to OO buck gave similar results, in all cases the gun was set to maximum gas. Loading up with CBC slug improved things with the ability to get at least 15-rounds off without a hiccup; but never a full mag. With this the ultimate shotgun cartridge the brake proved highly effective too.

Too Much?

I reckon I got the feed angle about right, but the power required to move 20-shells is probably going to tell in terms of reducing bolt speed as the gun cycles. As the top round is rubbing against the carrier and slowing it down, a situation that has the potential for partial ejection and mis-feeding.

It would appear that Maxrounds is aware of this problem as you can easily adjust the spring tension to try and make it work. The PowerMag comes with a set of Allen keys that allows you to disconnect the spindle and re-tension the drive spring. This is a balancing act, as you still need enough power to push 2lbs worth of ammo into the gun to be compatible with the cyclic rate of the bolt.

Too little tension and the bolt might run over the cartridge as it’s rising, too much and it will either not feed properly or decelerate and give partial ejection. After a lot of tinkering I eventually got the mag working OKish. But to be honest it ran better if I did not fill to capacity with 18-rounds being ideal…

Though admiring the PowerMag as it’s visually awesome and I love hi-cap, semi-auto shotguns, it raises questions.

Is it truly practical? Probably not, as it doesn’t offer a closed bolt load, it’s prohibitively expensive, large and heavy
In terms of economy and reliability if I was spending £400+ on the PowerMag I would sooner buy 5 or 6 x 10-shot mags, which cost less, work from the box and are more practical
The fact you have to tune the mag is annoying, I did not find it a problem but if you have no mechanical skills or aptitude then you will have to find/pay someone who has
The skeleton build of the magazine will allow debris inside; certainly with PSG shooting, which could be carried into the gun, it does need some form of cover to stop this happening

Switching back to the Saiga 12; the new 10-round mag is more than enough as it lifts the gun to the capacity of a tricked up Remy 11-87 while still keeping it practical. That would be good enough for me; however, the Maxrounds muzzle brake is well worth considerations as it’s highly efficient. In truth and though the latter guns with more features look good, the old Saiga 12 is really great value for money if you are looking for a PSG machine!

My thanks to Oleg (FSU Connections) for the loan of the Saiga 12 and muzzle brake.

For
Great value practical shotgun

Against
PowerMag needs fine tuning, is very expensive and not 100% reliable

Verdict
Get the Saiga 12, with 8 or 10-round mags and the Maxround’s brake

PRICES:
£769
10-shot mag £64
Grenade launcher recoil pad £34
Maxrounds (20-shot) PowerMag 700 £439
Maxrounds Muzzle Brake £169

gun
features

  • Name: Saiga 12 Hunter
  • Stock : Black synthetic
  • Barrel: 24”
  • Included: 2 x 8-shot mags supplied
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