Hello! Rando, here. I’m the resident weapons nerd of the group. This will be an ongoing report of an average 50-something owning and using a KS12-T autoloading shotgun. This is part 1.
This shotgun is manufactured in the United States for Kalashikov by Kalashikov USA. It is a 12-gauge, magazine-fed shotgun built on the AK-47 platform. It is an autoloader that can accept 5 and 10 round magazines or drums. It is also compatible with many Saiga-12 parts and accessories.
I have only recently (in the past few months) taken this shotgun for a spin at the range. I tried various loads from 1100 – 1500 fps 1-ounce slugs (only slugs are allowed at the range). I tried to adjust the gas system for the lower power loads, but the gun never cycled correctly until I used 1400+ fps ammunition (1450, if I remember correctly).
This was my first time firing a shotgun of this design. My first time firing a shotgun was a fixed-stock, tube fed “standard” shotgun. Man! That SOB hurt my shoulder! I bought the KS12-T to attempt to mitigate some recoil since it had a gas-powered recoil system. I still needed a recoil buffer pad to help save my shoulder. A: I’m an older man. B: I knew I would be firing some powerful loads. Even with the pad, I got a real workout for my shoulder. But I was able to follow up with 10mm and .22 TCM pistols with little difficulty.
I was, admittedly, disappointed with the initial performance of the shotgun. But I acknowledge that I am a noob and unfamiliar with the weapon. I did some reading online that stated that there was a needed break-in period for the recoil apparatus. So I bought a 250 count case of 1600+ fps rifled slugs. I’m going to try to fire those through the weapon to see of the gas setting behavior changes for lighter power loads once I finish those shells.
This will be followed-up once I take the shotgun back to the range. I haven’t gone recently due to unrelated issues with sciatica. That is a VERY PAINFUL nerve condition that will affect even one’s ability to sit in a chair or stand for even a short period of time. There was NO WAY I would have even been able to use the weapon let alone stand still against the recoil or even holding the thing. Even driving to the range would have been an insurmountable challenge. Now that I’ve received good treatment for my ailment, I will be returning soon to the range and I will provide an account of my experience there. I have high hopes that this weapon system will provide good service once I break it in and learn more about it.
Mid-Life Crisis Task Force 