[Video+Review] Omega Arms AR12: Budget AR Shotgun?

One universal truth I think we can all agree on is that…shotguns are just plain fun.

Doesn’t matter the make or model. Nine times out of 10, you’re going to have a great day blasting away at the range with a shotgun.

And today, we’re taking a look at a very affordable, Turkish semi-auto model from Omega Arms.

Of course, I’m talking about the 12-gauge Omega Arms AR12.

With a street price sitting at around $399 right now, is this wallet-friendly shottie a contender?

Well, I took it for a test spin to find out. Keep reading as we dive into this platform a little more, and I give you my full range report.

If you prefer seeing things in action, check out my full video review below.

As always, hop on over to Pew Pew Tactical on YouTube to see more gun shenanigans and reviews.

Omega AR12: Whose It For?

Before we just jump right in, let’s address the elephant in the room…

Yeah, this shotgun looks sorta mall ninja-ish. And this is by no means a serious tactical shotgun outfitted for home defense or trench warfare. It’s just not.

What it is, though, is a fun shotgun – which we’ll get into later.

But I want to be upfront about it so all you super serious shotgun guys don’t yell at me in the comments.

So, with that out of the way, who is this gun for?

This 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun is perfect for folks who like to shoot pumpkins in the fall or blow holes in pizza boxes.

In short, anyone who just wants a Sunday fun day at the range.

Specs & Features

As far as specs, it’s sort of tough to find specifics as the Omega Arms website isn’t exactly forthcoming with data…but here’s what I know.

You get a choice of barrel lengths — 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, or 29-inches – and a 5+1 or 10+1 capacity (depending on mag).

Aside from that, it comes outfitted with plastic, lots of plastic.

Starting near the front is what I think is a fake suppressor. Or maybe a barrel shroud?

But to be honest, I don’t know what’s going on. (Which is kind of a theme with this gun…but more on that in a minute.)

Continuing down the shotgun, the rail offers plenty of space for adding lights or lasers.

So feel free to upgrade this bad boy as much as you want. Honestly, I like when I can customize, so I appreciate this feature.

The flat-top rail obviously didn’t ship with sights installed, but I dug around and found some plastic sights in the box.

Using a Fix-It Stick toolset (great to have on hand, by the way), I popped the sights on pretty easily.

The handguard sports an all-plastic design complete with…fake Keymod. Yeah, I’m as perplexed as y’all on that one.

Though I can’t really explain the fake Keymod, I can say the trigger feels pretty solid with no uptake. It breaks okay, and the reset is clear.

The AR12’s stock is huge and…you guessed it…polymer. But it does sport a cheek riser which is sort of cool.

Ergonomics are actually pretty good.

It offers a side charging handle and magazine release like you’d find on just about any semi-auto long gun profile.

Controls feel familiar and are placed where’d you expect them, so no surprises there – hassle-free on day one.

I think the grip feels all right, while the angled grip upfront feels great!

As far as aesthetics, the Omega logo comes painted or silk-screened in white, and a big AR12 is plastered on the side.

We assume the AR12 is in reference to Armalite’s AR-12 – also a shotgun. (You can read more about that here.)

It comes with a hard-shell plastic box and lots of goodies, including a cleaning kit, oil, sights, and a sling. All you gotta supply is ammo, and you’re ready to go.

MSRP right now sits at $589, but again, street price is closer to $399.

Range Time

For this test, I used Kent Number 7 target loads and the two mags that came with the AR12.

Right off the bat, the AR12 shoots really well. At 7.5-pounds, it eats up some of the recoil. But, of course, autoloaders feel a bit easier on the shoulder.

Couple hundred rounds through it, and I think fun is the right word for it.

I experienced two failures – both were double feeds. But, again, I used low brass target loads.

I’d love to see how it runs with some high brass magnums.

Accuracy-wise the Omega performed great inside the 25-yard range.

Again, this isn’t a precision shooter but something fun to take out to the range or field and just plink with.

Bottom Line

I like the overall package and all the accoutrements – cleaning kit, mags, hard-shell case, and sling. It’s a decent value if you don’t like piecing these accessories together yourself.

Also, the rail space was nice. I was able to dial in and customize it the way I wanted, which I appreciated.

And finally, yeah, that price is nice, especially when you don’t want to or can’t spend a ton on a shotgun.

As far as shortcomings, this is less on the gun and more on my choice, but I wish I would have gotten the 7+1 option instead of the 5+1.

More ammo, more boom, more fun…you get the picture.

I also would prefer if this shotgun was American-made, but it’s not.

While yes, I had two double feeds, I think we need to be realistic about this package.

It’s a super affordable shotgun. Period. It will not perform like a high-end model, so as long as you set your expectations appropriately, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 3.5/5

Couple of double feeds but otherwise ran pretty well for me.

Ergonomics: 4/5

Funny thing, even though it’s covered in plastic and looks like a generic video game gun…the ergos are great. That angled foregrip gets a big thumbs up. (Please don’t judge me.)

Accuracy: 4/5

This may be higher, but I didn’t fire any rifled slugs. At short distances, it did great.

Customization: 3/5

At first glance, the AR12 looks like it has lots of room for activities — but you can’t change out the grip, stock, or handrail. And that fake Keymod is fool’s gold. You’re left with some rail space up top and on the forend.

Value: 4/5

Lot of value here. Hard-shell case, iron sights, strap, and a cleaning kit. Not bad.

Overall: 3.5/5

This affordable range gun will bring a smile to your face. Pumpkins beware.

Conclusion

As long as you go into the Omega Arms AR12 knowing it’s a $399 semi-auto shotgun, a lot of the mall ninja corniness becomes tolerable.

Again, I’m not taking this to Afghanistan or sitting it beside the bed for bad guys. But for a Sunday at the range with some watermelons or pumpkins…sign me up.

In short, the AR12 makes for a fun range shotgun at a reasonable price.

Watch the Omega Arms AR12 in action by checking out the video below.

What do you think of the AR12? Let us know in the comments below. While the AR12 is great for pumpkins, it lacks in home defense. So, hop on over to the Best Home-Defense Tactical Shotguns to shop for your next bedside gun.