| Franchi SPAS-12 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 1 2012, 02:49 PM (75 Views) | |
| Gen.David | Jun 1 2012, 02:49 PM Post #1 |
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God Of All
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The SPAS-12 is a combat shotgun that was manufactured by the Italian firearms company Franchi S.p.A. from 1979 to 2000. The SPAS-12 is a dual-mode shotgun, meaning it can be calibrated to cycle either semi-automatically or through pump-action. The SPAS-12 has sold well to military and police users around the world,[1] as well as to the civilian market. The appearance and intended purpose of the SPAS-12 initially led to its 'combat' arrangement, including a unique folding stock, being banned from import to the United States due to a lack of "sporting purpose". To highlight the sporting image necessary to satisfy US import regulations, Franchi named the model the Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun, but to no avail(those regulations have since been undone). Variants The first and most common variant of the SPAS-12 came with a metal folding stock and had a magazine capacity of eight rounds. Early models could be had with a detachable wooden stock, though this is rarely seen. After the United States imposed import restrictions on the type in 1989, a version was released with a synthetic fixed stock and five or six round capacity to comply with regulations. Various barrel lengths were seen on the SPAS-12, ranging from a 18" "shorty" to a 24" UK legal barrel length (in reality a standard 21" barrel with a 3" choke-tube permanently brazed or silver soldered in place). The most common barrel lengths encountered are 21" and the slightly less common 19.5". The SPAS-12 came equipped with a non-adjustable circular aperture rear sight (which also acted as the catch for the stock when fully folded) and a large, non-adjustable blade foresight integral with the barrel. Franchi released two other shotguns based on the SPAS-12 platform; the LAW-12 and the SAS-12. The LAW-12 was semi-automatic only while the SAS-12 was pump-action only. These two "sister" shotguns accepted all SPAS-12 accessories and could share many other components, notably the trigger packs and stocks. The SAS was unusual in that it could accept 3" shells, whilst the SPAS and LAW could only accept 2 3/4" shells.[5] The Franchi SPAS-15 is the successor to the SPAS-12. It is also a semi-automatic/pump shotgun, but uses box magazines instead of the internal tube magazine of the SPAS-12. |
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4:59 PM Jul 10