Wondering About The SPAS 12

[Single Six]

I well recall the rather cool-looking SPAS 12. You know, the one that could function as either a pump or semi-automatic at the touch of a button. It's been in quite a few movies, most notably "The Terminator", in which Schwarzenegger wielded it one-handed [no hardship for him, obviously]. I've held one at a gun show before, but that's my only experience with one. I seem to recall them being banned from import eventually, but I also remember reading that their reliability did not match their looks at all. Does anyone here own one or otherwise have experience with one, and if so, what were your impressions?

 

[SHR970]

The ones I handled were unreliable.

Heavy, bulky, don't like them.

 

[Single Six]

Sounds like your experience bears out what I heard.

 

[1 old 0311-1]

REAL expensive, REAL heavy, REAL cool, REAL unreliable. Pass

 

[Single Six]

Judging by the scant number of responses, I guess not too many folks have had experience with the SPAS; and the few that have seem to be confirming the talk of unreliability I'd mentioned. Oh well..thanks for all replies.

 

[catacombshadows]

SPAS-12

Great and a reliable shotgun if maintained. I have 5 of them and collect and smith my own. 4 out of the 5 I purchased couldn't even cycle because they were missing the O-Rings or the two gas port holes were filled solid with carbon. from the previous owners who never cleaned them fully. I did a 100% tare down and rebuild on all of them and they all fully cycle and are flawless on the actions.

Watch out for hulls hanging up, the extractors and their springs were caked full of carbon from the former owners and it took a good hour to strip the bolts and clean out the fouling but as of today I haven't had a single malfunction in thousands of shells between all 5. So that's my advice, clean them right and they will treat you right.

 

[Skarekrow88]

REAL expensive, REAL heavy, REAL cool, REAL unreliable. Pass

- True, they aren't cheap

- If you ask me its lighter/no heavier that any other "combat" shotgun I have handled due to its receiver being made out of aluminum which makes up for the added weight from the heat shield

- I agree, they are quite cool

- False, at least not if maintained properly. You might have handled one with clogged gas ports. Mine has been nothing but reliable regardless of what I feed it.

 

[hootey]

I had one for years and shot everything from birdshot to slugs through it. Never had a single malfunction, not one. It really liked the S & W sabot slugs Smith made back in the mid to late 80's. It was my Go-To shotgun any time I needed one. Great for "Bar-Raids", no one would move a muscle once they saw it. You had everyone's complete attention! Great shotguns!

 

[Mosin-Marauder]

Bar raids? I hope you're referring to open carry and not actually robbing the joint.

 

[skizzums]

I assume he's talkinglaw enforcement, at least I hope

 

[hootey]

"Bar-Raids" were shine and dope search warrant raids(amazing what you can find) Did not mention anything about robbing anything