Saiga (Saiga-12)

Saiga-12
General Characteristics
Real name:	Saiga-12
Type:	Automatic Combat Shotgun

The Saiga-12 is a magazine-fed pre-war automatic shotgun available only in Metro Last Light. Unlike some Last Light weapon featured in Metro 2033 Redux, it acts as a stand in for the Abzats from Metro 2033, as a powerful automatic shotgun, though the Abzat was later added to the game by purchasing the Season Pass. It is also one of the last weapons Artyom comes across in the game, first purchasable in Undercity and found on numerous enemies after that.

Overview

With a layout similar to the Kalash (AK-74), it is able to accept most attachments available for that rifle, which includes the Suppressor, Laser Sight, Red Dot Sight, and IR Sight.

The Saiga-12 is superior to all other shotguns in the game due to its fast reload (on par with an AK-74) and potentially massive magazine size when upgraded with the 20-round extended drum magazine. Thus, it has massive firepower, second only to the Abzats. Even with the drum magazine, it does not sacrifice its rapid reloading capabilities, allowing for massive sustained firepower, this is the most effective weapon at close quarters for players who do not have the Abzats. It is even better than the latter due to easier use and reload speed. However, because the Saiga-12 has high rate of fire, this also means your shotgun shells will be rapidly burned through, require constant scavenge for shotgun shells and spend MGR for them at the shops.

It shoots faster than the Shambler and reloads faster as well, it also can fire more than 6 rounds before reloading. It does not have the ability to fire multiple shells at once like the Duplet, but its automatic rate of fire makes up for that. The only disadvantage compared to the other shotguns is the absence of the extended barrel attachment - which means it suffers greatly at range, unlike the long barreled shotguns that are more competent at medium range with the extended barrel. The Saiga-12 is suggested to be reserved for mutants, especially in Undercity level; it can fire full-auto, but to conserve ammunition, firing single shots is recommended. Only use full auto if you find yourself in tight situation, getting cornered or low on health. Since the effective range of Saiga-12 is relatively short yet powerful while in range, using it in confined areas against armed human enemy is also a good idea.

Attachments

• Silencer
• Extended magazine
• Reflex sight
• Infra-red sight
• Laser sight

Variants

Saiga-12 variants in Metro: Last Light

• The first sighting is when Pavel uses one while escaping the Nazi station in Reich level, some are later seen being carried by guards in the Theater. But none of them are obtainable.
• The first one that can be used is found inside the Church outpost that you can buy from the salesman.
• Another can be found in Undercity on a dead body, however a Nosalis will jump the player and take the dead body along with the Saiga. If the player is quick enough, shotgun rounds can be taken before the Nosalis takes the body away.
• It becomes common during later chapters when facing Reds.
• It can be bought from the Depot traders.
• One can be picked up for free at the D6 trader during the last battle.
• It can be seen in Armory Station in the Metro 2033 Redux, but is unobtainable.

History

The Saiga-12 is a rotating bolt, gas operated, magazine-fed, semi-automatic 12-gauge combat shotgun. Developed in the 1990s, it has seen use in the Russian military, and is also in use by civilians for sport or hunting. The shotgun was built on the famous Kalashnikov action that has proven itself reliable over decades of use in combat.

Related Achievements/Trophies

	Gunslinger	Bronze Trophy - 15
	Kill at least one Enemy with each Weapon available in the game.

Trivia

• In reality, the Saiga-12 is only semi-automatic, although it uses a standard AK-style trigger group and converting it to full-auto is entirely possible for a skilled weapon-smith - this is probably what has been done to the Metro Saiga.
  • However, the full-auto shotgun will usually create a lot of recoil, aiming is difficult unless the user can handle the wild kickback force, though tuning the weapon's rate of fire could mitigate this. Since Saiga-12 is a close range weapon, although the recoil is quite heavy, it can still score hits even at full auto so long as the user is not using slugs.
• The Saigas seen in the game appear to have started life as civilian models, as evidenced by the hand guard design, also its wooden stock is replaced by metal one.
• The Metro made Saiga uses AK-style 12-gauge curved magazine, loosely based on 10 round box magazine in real life. Saiga-12 can use smaller magazine with the capacity of 2 or 5 rounds, 12 or 20 round drum magazine also exists in reality.
• If left idle, Artyom will play with the charging handle.
• The Saiga-12 is the only pre-war shotgun in the game, the rest are metro-made.
• The Saiga-12 replaces the Shambler as the primary enemy shotgun near the end of the game. They are used by enemies in DLC levels as well.
• In Redux version, a NPC is seen carrying Saiga-12 with modified grenade launcher.

Glitches

• When certain attachments are installed, the HUD icon of the Saiga is displayed incorrectly.

Gallery

In-game Saiga-12, as seen from the first person perspective in Metro: Last Light.

The real world counterpart of the Saiga-12

As seen in the pre-alpha teaser trailer

2011 E3 demo

2013 retail

This Saiga is modified with drum magazine, red dot sight and laser sight.

As seen in pre-aplha 2011 E3 demo

The Saiga-12 with night vision sight and silencer