SPAS 12 Shotgun

[rojocorsa]

...Not my favorite of Italian shotguns...I'll just say that.

[Rekrab]

Question: what's the purpose of the hook on the stock? It looks dangerous >.>

[djleisure]

Question: what's the purpose of the hook on the stock? It looks dangerous >.>

When you turn the hook 90 degrees to the outside, it's a perfect cradle for your arm and stabilizes the shotgun for one-handed operation. I owned one of these in the late 80's (in Oregon) and loved it. I sold it when I needed some money for college ($500!) and that is currently one of my only regrets in life... oh well, things could be worse!

FWIW, mine was incredibly reliable and very easy to control while shooting semi-auto as fast as you can pull the trigger. It also makes a VERY distinct, metallic *chank* sound as the bolt cycled - love that sound.

[Rekrab]

Oh! Huh, what an interesting concept. I guess no one shoots these while folded then?

[jdberger]

I have one. It's a fun gun to shoot. Beware the folding stock, though. When shooting heavy loads/slugs, best to get a sight picture then lift your cheek slightly off of the stamped stock.

The manual of arms is little weird, but it just takes a little bit of practice.

[Endless]

Well I ended up picking up this Spas 12 today...Lost my FN FS2000 but I can always buy one of those new...

I also picked up a picatinny rail mount for it and am going to mount a C-more Reflex optic on it...

Overall its kinda heavy. After shooting the .50 BMGs this thing is a lightweight in reality. Anything under 10 pounds is normal IMO.

It even had the over $1000 pricetag!!!

[Rob454]

Nice. Hope you have fun with it

[jdberger]

Fun! Congrats on your find! Now you're gonna have to watch Terminator.

[Endless]

Heck yes!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJRLoGYtkEM

[dohboy]

Heck yes!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJRLoGYtkEM

Freakin Awesome!!! Very nice!

[Endless]

Thanks Dohboy..

I am going to get a range report up and I am off to my next project. Much cheaper this time...lol

Exact same setup but in black.

[tonelar]

IMO 1500$ is a steal for a rare gun like that. They probably were not cheap to begin with

they were $500-$515 OTD when I bought my pair
i sold one a few years ago yo fund a sweet M1 Benelli / kept one cause it's RAWd and runs great (mostly cause i read the owner's manual)

Oh! Huh, what an interesting concept. I guess no one shoots these while folded then?

i love shooting mine folded

NICE ONE ENDLESS! Shoot it in good health...

PS just make sure you keep an eye on the internal buffer

[Rob454]

they were $500-$515 OTD when I bought my pair
i sold one a few years ago yo fund a sweet M1 Benelli / kept one cause it's RAWd and runs great (mostly cause i read the owner's manual)
r

Can I ask when that was? Also ( possibly) at the time you bought that SPAS Im willing to bet a AR was 400$ AKs were 250$ and SKS rifles were 90$.
let me explain When I say they were expensive to begin with its relative to what money was worth at the time. 500$ back in the 80s was a lot of money.

[tonelar]

Can I ask when that was? Also ( possibly) at the time you bought that SPAS Im willing to bet a AR was 400$ AKs were 250$ and SKS rifles were 90$.
let me explain When I say they were expensive to begin with its relative to what money was worth at the time. 500$ back in the 80s was a lot of money.

You'd lose that bet... $500 was money, but it wasn't BIG money. HK91's and Valmet M78's were BIG MONEY at $1100 back then.

In the latter half of the 1980's people in CA were just getting rumours of an impending ban- so a nice AK was $450 A2 ARs were over $750. The HK M1Super90 was $600.

A milled receiver Norinco SKS was about $200.

I bought a used CAR15 (all COLT) and a Model A UZI for $550 each (to give you an idea).

All this changed as 1988-89 rolled up and suddenly the LAW 12 was almost $900 at Trader's in San Leandro.

(AND FOR THE RECORD: I was agreeing with your "to begin with" post. They weren't CHEAP in the 80's- a nice shotgun was about $250 in the 80's. Just telling someone that $1500 is a STEAL is a little misleading considering a nice SPAS 12 should set you back about $1000 now-a-days. Maybe even less as it's a buyer's market lately.)

[CAL.BAR]

I've had my SPAS 12 since the 80's. Love it. Yes, it's very heavy (12 lbs loaded) and what's more, its COMPLICATED. Various features from semi to pump etc. What's more, on semi, it requires heavy loads to function (00 or slugs) and when you fire a few rounds you realize that it has little recoil absorption features (and that metal stock begins to hurt pretty quickly)

I've used it in 3 gun matches locally, and it performs well, but it is slower than the new Benellis and due to the massive recoil,(or lack of absorption) takes longer to bring back down on target. On the other hand I always win for "coolest looking shooter". (after all, it'[s not how you shoot, but how you look shooting - right?)


You can get SOME parts for it. Go to WWW.SPAS12.com. for a full description and references for parts. When I needed a new latch spring assembly to hold in the folded position, I was told I got one of FOUR sets left in the US for sale.

Considering the rarity, I am surprised they dont go for much more than a grand on gunbroker.