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| SPAS-12 |
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| The SPAS-12 was designed in the late 1970s by the Italian company Luigi Franchi Spa as a special purpose, military and police close combat weapon (Actuallu, SPAS stands for Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun, or Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun, depending on the source). It featured a selective action for greater versatility, and can be used as a gas operated semi-automatic repeater or as a manually operated pump action repeater, depending on the missions and ammunition used. Since its introduction SPAS-12 became a very popular police and special forces weapon, being versatile, reliable, and with good firepower. On the other hand, it is heavier than most other similar shotguns and quite complicated, which results in relatively high prices. SPAS-12 utilizes somewhat traditional for shotguns gas system with annular gas piston located around the underbarrel magazine tube. It operated the bolt with vertically tilting locking lugs that angages the barrel extention to lock. SPAS-12 can be switched between gas operated self-loading mode and manually operated pump mode by pressing and holding a button at the bottom of the of the forearm and pulling the forearm slightly forward for AUTOMATIC mode or backward for the PUMP (or MANUAL) mode. Earlier models of the SPAS-12 had the level type safety at the front of the triggergaurd, but due to some deficiencies this was later replaced by the push-button (vross-bolt) safety at the same place. SPAS-12 can be fitted with a stamped metallic buttstock that folds up to the top of the receiver when not in use, and with a pistol grip made of plastic. Alternatively, solid plastic buttstocks with pistol grips are available. The barrel has a cylinder bore with screw-on muzzle devices (cokes of flash hiders). Sights usually are of the rifle type, with post front and open notch rear sight. Action: Selective Pump action or gas operated Calibre: 12 Gauge Overall Length: 1024mm Barrel Length: 546 mm Weight: 4.4kg Magazine: 8 rounds in underbarrel tube magazine |