Spas 12

Tooth

Tooth

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A friend of mine had a Spas 12 years ago, and all I remember is it was cool. I met a guy that has one, and was considering buying it. I have heard good and bad from freinds. Some say if you can afford overpaying for a shotgun get it. Others say it will remain in the safe because it is fun for a couple shots, but generally heavy and uncomfortable. I recently purchased a mossburg 88 and am going to make it more fun by adding a recently purchased folding stock, and heat sheild. So I already have a toy version of the Spas. What do you think?
 
pretty much what everyone else has said.

Got one.... I like it because its cool looking but its heavy, clunky and not the most tactical SG in the world due to that. Its basically my Terminator gun. I shoot it when I feel like "ahhnold"

neat gun though.

[smile]
 
Yup, what they said.

I researched for a while and wanted one badly, the itch has subsided for now. The only reason to buy one is because "you have to have it", if you don't feel that way then pass.

These guns have some issues, early model safety was prone to failure (paddle type), recoil buffers in back of receiver tend to wear out, amongst others. If you ignore the problems eventually you will destroy the gun. Parts are hard to come by.

On the plus side, if you do pick one up, you can count on being one of the coolest guys at the pumpkin shoot!
 
And doesn't Benelli now have a shotgun that is "selective fire" in a smaller, lighter package.

I may be wrong, but I thought I saw one somewhere.
 
As everyone else has already said. I have had 2.
One thing to also consider is that there are a LOT of parts in these things. As they are out of production finding the parts is not easy and very expensive.

With the kind of money that they get for these a Benelli m3 is a lot better for the money.
 
I have one and love it. Sone of the above info is correct, to a point; but remember this gun is entirely about want, not need. It's heavy, somewhat complex, expensive, rare and really cool looking. It is truly the Desert Eagle of shotguns.

The point about the buffer wearing out is true, but a number of enthusiasts are making replacement buffers (all they are is pieces of Delrin plastic). I replaced the recoil buffer in mine, and all has been well since. There is much talk on the internet about the "lever-style" safety being dangerous/faulty. It is said that the gun can discharge by manipulating the safety lever without touching the trigger. While I'm quite sure this has happened to some folks, I have one of the older style "lever safety" guns, and I've TRIED to make it fail by (with the gun pointed downrange of course) moving the safety back and forth. Nothing has happened yet. I also never touch the safety on the gun anyways; keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot, yes?

This is the type of gun that screams "You must have me!" the millisecond you see it. If you have to to think about it, it's not for you. Don't try to rationalize or justify purchasing one. There is no reason to do so.

Like I said, I love mine and I bring it to every NES shoot. It always draws a crowd, and people always want to try it!


Good info here:

http://spas12.com/


Hope this helps!
 
So what are they worth?

Yes when I see these guns something iside me says you need it. I try to rationalize it, but can not. So the quetion is what are they worth. I have seen most posted in the $1,000 dollar range. I do not yet have an AR and want one of those really badly as well. I fortunately can afford both, am somewhat willing to take the dirty looks from my wife when I bring them home, but am having a hard time rationalizing purchasing them both.
 
I've quietly been on the prowl for one ever since I bought Fooped's .44mag Desert Eagle and got the chance to fondle his Spas. (yes that sounds dirty and I don't care)

Despite all the naysayers, if I see one and have the free cash, I will be buying it. For me it's a matter of opportunity. The desire is there. The availability is not.
 
I bought one when I was 19 and didn't yet have the ability to blow my $ on handguns.It was big,heavy and didn't do anything my buddies 870's or 500's did except look really cool while being big and heavy.
I didn't have the shoulder hook stock for mine but wished that it did and if for some reason known only to the planets decided I ever needed another,it'd have to have it.

If you don't have an AR and are thinking either,I'd have to say get the AR.It's more versatile but of course,if it's just for fun and the itch that needs to be scratched is a SPAS,then that's all that'll do it for you.
 
I've handled these beasts before, but never got to actually shoot one.
I remember reading a few reviews about the SPAS 12 many years ago the gun magazines. IIRC, they only operated in semi mode with the heaviest loads of buckshot or slugs. Anything lighter, like skeet or field loads, it needed to be pumped to cycle the action. I'll never forget what one reviewer said said about the design of the pump forend: "It has all the mechanical advantage of a disc brake".
 
Fooped said:
There is much talk on the internet about the "lever-style" safety being dangerous/faulty. It is said that the gun can discharge by manipulating the safety lever without touching the trigger. While I'm quite sure this has happened to some folks, I have one of the older style "lever safety" guns, and I've TRIED to make it fail by (with the gun pointed downrange of course) moving the safety back and forth. Nothing has happened yet. I also never touch the safety on the gun anyways; keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot, yes?
Click to expand...

I had this happen to me. I'm not sure if it's an older or newer style (I didn't even know there were different types), but here's what happened.

Someone asked if I wanted to try it out, and naturally I said, "Yes." He put the safety on and handed me the gun.

We got to chatting, and after a minute or so, I got set up to shoot it. I pulled the trigger hard and nothing happened. He reminded me that the safety was on. I moved it off safe and BOOM! The gun was still pointed down range. My finger was not on the trigger. We tried to duplicate it and couldn't. I think the guy believes I pulled the trigger. I didn't.
 
Sorry to bump an old thread. I've recently become quite taken with these shotguns. The want is there, the desire, the need, and taking everything that everybody has said into account, when I have the money I'll be getting one.Jurassic Park. Enough said.

My question is on the MA legality of the folding stock on it. I saw a few for sale, is there something I'm missing?
 
Him said:
\
My question is on the MA legality of the folding stock on it. I saw a few for sale, is there something I'm missing?
Click to expand...

The SPAS-12s one finds are prebans usually and therefore exempt from the MA AWB.

-Mike
 
I have owned a few of these. So, I will tell you there is a cool factor to them that not much else has.

That being said.... Depending on what you want to get out of it, I would say 80% of the time the answer is pass on it.
If you are looking for a very cool gun to shoot once in a very great while, then buy it. In essence a functional wall hanger/ safe queen.

Other than that... They do nothing any other shot gun won't do.
The are obscenely heavy.

The folders are miserable to shoot.

Parts are non existent.

They have tons of bizarre parts, O-rings, buffer thingies, seals, etc.
If any of these small non orderable parts fail, you have a non working, or in some cases Unsafe gun.

So, if you want a shooter and not a safe queen, buy something else..

If you get the thing and want the folding stock.. Last one I saw was in the UK someplace about a year ago, they were asking @ $700.. (this was a complete stock only with hook).


If you need more info, feel free to PM me.
 
Last edited:
The spas 12 looks KEWL we can all agree. However it is large and heavy irf. If you want a true defense shotgun you have to get what works best for you. I have a rem 870 custom job in my hallway and a Super nova in the bed room. The rem is a bit heavy but the super nova is very light and fast with a pistol grip on it it is very easy to maneuver inside a home. Plus with the ability to eject a round from the chamber without having one come out of the mag you can do a tac reload VERY easy and VERY fast. IE switching form buck to a slug while the BG is running.
 

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