Baikal MP-153

     Notes: This is a semiautomatic gas-operated shotgun built for magnum loads.  The MP-153’s parts are made from high-strength steel, and the gun is equipped with a gas regulator to ensure trouble-free firing despite the load used.  To further ensure reliability, the chamber, inside of the barrel, and some other parts are chrome-plated.  The MP-153 is fed from a tubular magazine; this magazine’s feed can be blocked with a catch so that special loads can be fed into the chamber manually.  As with most Baikal shotguns, there are several automatic safeties and a manual safety catch. 

 Izhmash Saiga Series

     Notes: The Saiga series of shotguns are derived from the Kalashnikov design and use the basic Kalashnikov method of operation.  Externally, the Saigas look very similar to the Kalashnikov series of assault rifles; however (mostly to accommodate the ammunition), the Saigas are internally quite different from the Kalashnikov assault rifles. 

     The primary differences, of course, are in the size of the receiver and operating parts.  The internal guide rails for the bolt carrier group have been moved, and a gas regulator has been added (the Saigas are able to use 2.75” or 3” shells, but this gas regulator must be adjusted in order to change between shell sizes).  This gas regulator also has the secondary effect of helping to mitigate felt recoil.  The magazines and the magazine well are necessarily of different dimensions, and of course the barrels are entirely different; they are smoothbore and wider in width.  Most versions of the Saiga series come in fixed-stock and folding-stock versions, and in varying barrel lengths depending upon the version.  Most of the furniture is of polymer, while the metalwork is steel.  The Saiga series may be finished in virtually any color or pattern the buyer wishes.  Saigas may digest virtually any sort of standard 12-gauge ammunition, including shot, slugs, custom loads, and those with cases made from cardboard, plastic, and brass.

     The Saiga-12 series is designed for 12-gauge ammunition, and feeds from 5, 8, or 10-round magazines.  (The 10-round magazines are rather rare, as they proved to be clumsy.)  The basic Saiga-12 uses a 22.8 or 26.8-inch barrel; most of the length of this barrel is exposed and it can be damaged if roughly treated.  The Saiga-12 uses only a fixed stock.  The Saiga-12S is basically the same, but is equipped only with a 22.8-inch barrel and has a shorter stock.  The Saiga-12K is a short variant with a 16.9-inch barrel and a side-folding stock. (The Saiga-12K cannot be fired with a folded stock; the mechanism will not allow this; however, it is known that this interlock can be disabled, using an Average: Gunsmith roll.)  The barrels of the Saiga-12 series are made exclusively with Cylindrical chokes.

     The Saiga-20 and Saiga-410 are quite similar to the Saiga-12 series, but fire 20-gauge and .410-gauge ammunition respectively.  They appear to be simply Saiga-12-series shotguns scaled down to a smaller size.  However, the Saiga-20, Saiga-20S, Saiga-410, and Saiga-410S use a 26.4-inch barrel, while the Saiga-20K and Saiga-410K use a 22.4-inch barrel.  In addition, the Saiga-20 series may be had with barrels which have Cylindrical or Improved Cylindrical choke, while the Saiga-410 series may be had with barrels which have Cylindrical or Modified Choke.

     In 2009, MD Arms in the US introduced a 20-round drum magazine for the Saiga-12 series.  These drums may had with interchangeable rear covers in black, smoked gray, or clear.  These drums fit only in the Saiga-12 series, and do not fit other shotguns.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: MD Arms’ drum magazines do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

*Though the Saiga series will fold to a smaller bulk, it cannot normally be fired with the stock folded.

 Molot Vepr-12

     Notes: Based on the Vepr rifles (which are themselves based on the RPK-74), the Vepr-12 is a semiautomatic shotgun which is meant for a broad range of applications, from military and police work to sport shooting (they actually meet IPSC regulations).  In addition, the Vepr-12 was designed specifically to compete with the Saiga-12 shotgun, and in Russian police, military, and security market the Vepr-12 is apparently doing quite well in this regard.

     Though the operation of the Vepr rifles and Vepr-12 are quite similar, there are also a number of changes, mostly to accommodate the different ammunition. In addition, there is a small selector switch on the left side of the receiver in addition to the large AK/RPK-type paddle lever on the right.  The gas system is self-regulating, primarily to cope with varying loads and types of 12-gauge ammunition.  The magazine housing has been redesigned to allow the magazine to be inserted quickly, straight in, without the need to put the front of the magazine in first and rock it back like Vepr rifles or other weapons based on the AK/RPK series.  Construction is largely of stamped steel, but the fore-end, pistol grip, and magazines are of high-strength polymer.  (In addition, the Vepr-12 can use all Saiga-12 magazines, but not vice-versa.)  All Vepr-12s also have a side-folding skeletonized steel stock which is coated with polymer and has a butt with a ventilated rubber recoil pad.  The top of the receiver is fitted with a true MIL-STD-1913 rail; under the fore-end is another short MIL-STD-1913 rail (Vepr-12s are normally sold with a folding foregrip to attach to this rail, but it can also take any other accessory).  A further very short MIL-STD-1913 rail (long enough for tactical lights or laser aiming modules or suchlike) is under the gas block. 

     There are three versions of the Vepr-12.  The standard Vepr-12 has a 16.9-inch barrel tipped with a removable flash suppressor/standoff attachment; the Vepr-12-01 has a 20.5-inch barrel and the same muzzle attachment, but it is non-removable; and the Vepr-12-02 (designed primarily for sporting use), has a 26.8-inch barrel, but with no muzzle attachment; instead, it comes with a complete set of interchangeable chokes.

 TOZ-87

     Notes: This semiautomatic shotgun is gas operated and fed by a tubular magazine; it is basically similar in appearance and operation of most shotguns of its type in the West.  The TOZ-87 has been available since 1986, but only recently in the West.  The TOZ-87 has a magazine cutoff button; when pressed, the feed from the magazine is stopped, but the chamber may still be manually loaded, so that different or special ammunition may be used.  The standard tubular magazine holds four rounds, but an extended magazine is available which allows seven rounds.  There is only one gauge (12 gauge), but there are several versions.  The standard TOZ-87 has a simple smoothbore barrel with no barrel rib and a fixed Full choke.  The TOZ-87-01 is the same, but it has a ventilated sighting rib above the barrel.  The TOZ-87-02 has a shorter 26-inch barrel, and comes with interchangeable chokes of Cylindrical, 1/2, and Full.  The TOZ-87-03 is basically a TOZ-87-02 with a ventilated sighting rib above the barrel.  The TOZ-87-04 is designed for slug shooting (though it can also fire shot, since it has a smoothbore barrel); it has rifle-style sights and a short 21.25-inch barrel with no choke.  The TOZ-87-05 is the same weapon with interchangeable chokes of Cylindrical, 1/2, or Full.  The stock and fore-end of all these weapons are made from walnut root, and have steel metalwork.  In all cases, deluxe models are available with finer woods and engraving with inlays of various materials.

 TOZ-112

     Notes: This interesting weapon is sort of a cross between a single-barreled shotgun and a magazine-fed semiautomatic rimfire rifle.  The weapon may be breeched like a conventional single-barreled shotgun; this allows one to insert a 20 gauge shotgun shell of any type in the bottom barrel.  When the weapon is breeched in such a manner, the entire breech block/receiver hinges downward, instead of a simple breech block.  The magazine feeds the top barrel, which is rifled and chambered for .22 Long Rifle rounds.  On the neck of the weapon is a barrel selector to allow the shooter to fire from the shotgun barrel or the rifle barrel – both cannot be done simultaneously.  As with many of TOZ’s weapons, there is also a deluxe model, with better woods, engraving, and inlays of silver.