[KennyFSU]

Can you provide me with some feedback? The model I'm looking at has the "dreaded lever safety" but would that be a deal-breaker? How common is that issue? After my S12 I've been hooked on anything semi-auto and 12ga, and the SPAS can fire pump at the push of a button.




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[Mochahooligan]

Looks kinda fun! I would like to try one!

[KennyFSU]

I don't like to throw around the r-word but maybe these guns are just too "rare" for people to have any experience with them lol.

[SGT HATRED]

Never handled a spas but my Benelli M3 is also "convertible" and a blast to shoot!

[Glockdude1]

The SPAS is a nice shotgun, but I would pass on it, and get a Benelli M4.

[KennyFSU]

Great suggestions, thanks guys. I've never owned a Benelli before but that M4 looks really nice.

I guess the SPAS is just another old, outdated gun that has been replaced by guns like the M3 and M4.

[Victoriagotagun]

The SPAS wasn't known for its reliability. It's a collectors firearm with the lack of spare parts.

[Foxtrotx1]

It's OOP so if you break something.....

[flyover]

I have one and the are a blast to shoot!! You can put anything from light trap loads to the heaviest slug/buckshot loads (2 3/4" only) through it just by pushing a button.

The bad news is yes parts are hard to find and the safty is an issue. For good information on the SPAS 12 go here: www.spas.com. Chris makes a few parts for the gun and has lots of information.

[Victoriagotagun]

Originally Posted by flyover

I have one and the are a blast to shoot!! You can put anything from light trap loads to the heaviest slug/buckshot loads (2 3/4" only) through it just by pushing a button.

The bad news is yes parts are hard to find and the safty is an issue. For good information on the SPAS 12 go here: www.spas.com. Chris makes a few parts for the gun and has lots of information.

Your link doesn't work.

[Clutch Cargo]

A friend let me shoot his year ago. I remember it being VERY heavy.

[KennyFSU]

Yeah, that's what I read and the biggest complaint; I believe it's around 9.5 lbs unloaded. That, and the lever safety has been known to cause a AD without even touching the trigger.

This is the link: http://spas12.com/index.htm

[flyover]

KenneyFSU, thanks for catching my mistake. Sometimes my fingers don't connect with the keyboard and my proofreading skills suck.

[KennyFSU]

No problem, thank you for your review.


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[collim1]

A guy at the range had one a few years ago. I recognized it and couldn't help but be gravitated towards it hoping to strike up a conversation about it. I guess he's used to it, because he was quite nice and willing to talk about it.

He let me fire a few rounds from in trade for shooting a few rounds out of an SKS I had back then.

I have been sitting here trying to recall the details of the few rounds I shot, but I can't even recall if I was shooting shot or buck, and cant recall if it was on pump or semi-auto when I fired it. That is going to drive me crazy.

I do recall it being deceptively heavy. I frequent this range and have not seen him back there. He had some other pretty cool toys as well.

[dogcaller]

I've shot one a bit. They ARE heavy, and other than the Mad Max looks, don't offer anything more modern designs do better. I wouldn't trade an 1100 or certainly my M1 for one. I used to want an M3 for the cross-functionality of it but in reality I don't know that any perceived advantage is worth the trade off in weight and complexity.

[KennyFSU]

Thanks for the insight all, the seller ended up selling it so it's a done deal.

[harleypower69]

Had one but sold it and went to the M 4 Benelli. Spas was very heavy.

[MrMurphy]

Handled half a dozen, shot one.

Other than being one of the first purpose-built combat shotguns and a semi/pump, the SPAS is an antique.

Everything it does, the Benelli M3 and M4 do better.

[DFin]

It looks like an M-60.

[Batesmotel]

Heavy, awkward, unwieldy, unreliable, expensive. Coolness factor as a movie prop.

Benelli is a better gun unless you want it as a collectors piece.

Never owned one, just shot one.

[mr.scott]

My friend has one. When looking at these you really need to know what you are looking for. You want the crossbolt safety, and beyond that you need to be able to take the gun down and inspect the o ring and the buffer for semi auto use. Both items deteriorate and need replacing.
I've shot it a few times and since it is a heavy gun recoil is not bad at all, surprisingly so since there is not recoil pad. Even shooting one handed with the j hook configured and a support brace it isn't bad to shoot. Shooting a pistol grip 12g one handed is much worse.

I like the spas for the 80s coolness factor.

[badge315]

I had a LAW-12 many years ago...essentially a semi-auto only SPAS-12 without the pump feature. It had the same lever safety and discharged when I flipped the safety off. I wouldn't go near either one at this point.

[Jamesey]

I seem to recall Ayoob saying that the SPAS was so complicated and had so many buttons and levers that it was practically crew-served. But it would still look impressive mounted on the wall.....

[mgunner9]

I own two SPAS 12's ( a fixed stock and a hook stock), and almost everything said in this thread is true, plus it has one of the most complex manual of arms I've ever encountered. There are much better and quicker defensive shotguns available.

However, you SHOULD buy this gun. It will draw crowds wherever you go, unlike a M4, 1100 or 930. Although it hasn't increased much as a collectable piece it has a history like few others and it's somewhat rare. Plus, you will own one of the few weapons that was ever banned based on how it looks, not what it does.... it's just that bad. Owning a SPAS12 is like owning a Ferrari GT380.. not practical but a lot of fun.

The lever safety is a problem, and as I recall it had a tendancy to discharge as soon as the safety was moved to "FIRE", I beleive that a factory fix was issued for this and that it is correctable.