thats just a saiga 12 with some mods BTW the saiga runs well after you play with the gas system and it uses a ak style mag release so you can use the same train of though with it as the ak ive shot both 12ga and .410 saiga's and the .308 saiga rifle(witch is more like a valmet when it comes from the factory) wow now that i see it i spend most of my money traveling in the US
the Vepr12 isnt 'just' a Saiga12 with some mods
The Vepr12 is based on the RPK which yes is a variant of the AK.. but the Vepr12 has a last round hold open, magazine well, hinged and railed dust cover, integrated AK style irons. doesnt have adjustable gas system but doesnt need it because its tuned correctly, AK furniture mounted on a different barrel, different gasblock and a folding stock.
The Saiga 12 doesnt have any of that, nor does it come in that config from the factory.. any of those parts need to be added aftermarket, and the receiver is still different.. so just by doing the mods, doesnt make a Saiga into a Vepr
also the saiga12 doesnt operate the same as its Saiga AK bretheren. The major difference between the 12 and the rifle models is that the 12 requires an open bolt to insert a loaded magazine..
This is the major downfall of the gun.. having to manually open and lock the bolt every time you want to do a reload.
to counter this you can extensively modify the bolt, buy an aftermarket magazine well and different magazines, attempt to fit a bolt hold open latch .. (i havent seen one that works properly yet that doesnt require massive amounts of editing to the receiver), or convert the shotgun to L/H charging, which helps, but you still have to manually lock the bolt open, its just easier to do so.
so no, not just a saiga
heres a factory saiga12 and a factory Saiga AK in x39
and heres the Vepr..
stupid connecting bar is there because we had to have a "thumbhole" stock on semi autos as we couldnt have free standing pistol grips.. yay for 'tarded gun laws