Serengeti AUG-12, the unexpected shotgun

The Steyr AUG, an acronym for Armee Universal Gewehr (Army Universal Rifle), was designed in the late 1970s to replace the Austrian Army's previous service rifle, the Stg.58 (Sturmgewehr 58, or Model 58 assault rifle), a licensed version of the FN FAL in 7.62mm NATO, an excellent weapon but now considered outdated. The Steyr AUG in 5.56mm NATO was officially adopted in 1978, and although it was not the first assault rifle in bull-pup configuration to enter active service, it is certainly the one that struck the imagination of enthusiasts the most, thanks to its modular construction that makes extensive use of plastics. Like all modern military weapons, the Steyr AUG has been improved and modified over the years to further adapt to operational requirements, but it still remains faithful to the original design. Some time ago we dedicated an article to the AUG-A3 SA version, which we invite you to re-read to get an idea of the great originality of its design.

The AUG-12 in 12-gauge with magnum chamber from Serengeti Arms

Serengeti Arms is an innovative Turkish company, part of ATS group, based in Beyşehir, Konya province. It specialises in the design and manufacturing of shotguns. Serengeti Arms is distinguished by its patented gas operating system, which guarantees optimal performance and reliability, and by the unique design of its guns, such as the Serengeti AUG-12 that we describing here.

The Serengeti AUG-12 is a semi-automatic shotgun that in aesthetic and ergonomic terms faithfully reproduces the Austrian Steyr AUG A3 assault rifle, which compared to its two previous generations comes without the 1.5X scope integrated in the carry handle. The AUG-12 takes up the bullpup configuration of the original weapon, with the action placed behind the trigger. This allows the gun to be compact without sacrificing barrel length, which is 470 mm, while the overall length is approximately 750 millimetres.

The Serengeti AUG-12 is chambered in 12-gauge Magnum chamber (i.e. with a 76mm chamber) and in this it differs markedly from the original version with a rifled barrel in 5.56 NATO (later also in 9x19mm). A conspicuous A2-style flash hider is screwed onto the muzzle. The operating system is gas-operated semi-automatic. The AUG-12 is fed from a curved single-stack magazine that in the standard version has a capacity of six 12-ga cartridges, but depending on the laws of the various countries it is exported to, it can use magazines of 2+1, up to 10+1 cartridges.

The stock is made of polymer and is available in different colours such as black, olive green and white. As for the sights, the shotgun has a top Picatinny rail for mounting flip-up sights and optics, as well as 45 degree offset side rails for tactical accessories or micro red dot sights. The manual safety is a cross bolt-type and blocks the trigger assembly, which in turn can be removed for cleaning and maintenance. The magazine release is dual, with either a side button on the receiver or a centre button behind the magazine well. The unmistakable folding forward grip remains, positioned at the end of the very short handguard.

Certainly, the Serengeti AUG-12 will delight those looking for a semi-automatic shotgun that is far outside the mainstream, with an original and martial aesthetic at the same time. Of course, the almost philological precision with which it replicates the look and ergonomics of the AUG A3 is also its greatest limitation: if you don't like the original, you will hardly love the copy, but the world of recreational guns is also made up of tastes, fashions and experiments.

Don't ask how much it costs because, since price has not been disclosedyet: we will be the first to give you further details as soon as they are available.

Serengeti AUG-12 technical specifications