[Lightsped]

I am thinking about looking for a SPAS12. I know the gun isn't really that reliable, but I still wouldn't mind having one. Just for fun. Doubt it would get shot much, if any.....

Does one need a Class 3 license to get a SPAS12?

[hksw]

Unless you want the short barrel (<18"), no extra fee and registration is needed.

[SDC]

It's also not a whole lot of fun to shoot; with the folding stock, the stamped steel edges end up gouging my cheek whenever I shoot one, and the whole shotgun is so muzzle heavy that it's a chore to mount and "aim".

[Monkeyleg]

The coolness factor is probably the Spas 12's biggest drawing point. No other shotgun out there looks as menacing. If you're not going to shoot it often, you'll probably love it. If you're going to shoot it a lot, you're going to grow tired of it.

But you can always hook it under your arm, hold it one-handed and say in your best Arnuhld voice, "I'll be back." ;)

[Mikul]

They are the coolest gun you can buy without spending a mint.

I know two people who own them that shoot them with any regularity. They both claim (and I believe them) that their SPAS12's have yet to jam on them in either pump or semi-auto mode. One guy claims his SPAS12 is his most accurate slug gun. Their weight makes most loadings pleasant.

They also say that they aren't practical for anything. They're way too heavy for trap or skeet (yes, one of these nutjobs took his out to a match), and they're too big and clumsy for home defense. Although if you don't club yourself to death getting down the stairs with one and you run into a badguy, you'll almost certainly not have to fire after he sees that thing.

[hksw]

But you can always hook it under your arm, hold it one-handed and say in your best Arnuhld voice, "I'll be back."

You'll note, however, that in Terminator, the SPAS 12 Arnold was using did not have a buttstock, just a pistol grip. With the full length barrel and mag, it is one very heavy gun to hold with just one hand at the pistol grip. Try it out some time.

[Monkeyleg]

hksw, when I mentioned the word "hook," it was because the Spas 12 folder (at least the one I had and the one that "Arnuhld" used) had a hook on the end of the folding stock. The U-shaped hook could be turned to the right or left, or turned forward. It allowed the user to hook the stock under the elbow, thus permitting the user to have a two-point grip on the shotgun. Of course, doing so assumes that you're built like Arnuhld. ;)

Here's a photo that shows the folding stock and hook collapsed: www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976280063.htm

[jsalcedo]

Mine is a blast and was 100% reliable for over 300 rounds.

With slugs I was hitting a small fruit coctail can at 45 yards no problem.

With Heavy dove loads I could send an old basketball down range and hit it everytime will all 9 shots rapid fire.

Note, the semi auto will only function with loads of at least one ounce.

Switching from pump to semi can be done with a flick of the thumb and wrist and there is no need to take your sights off the target when doing so.

It is a major pain in the a$$ to load and the operation lever on the trigger guard needs getting used to.


I paid $700 for mine and unless someone offers me at least twice that
I intend on keeping it.

Overall it is a very fun cool looking gun.

[mattjoe]

Whoever told you the Spas 12 isn't very reliable, isn't a very reliable source, likely someone who is just jealous they don't own one.
I bought my first one when I turned 18, my first gun. Twelve years later, It's still my favorite shotgun. I liked it so much I bought a second one, a folder.
It is not too heavy too shoot skeet with. I've run plenty of 25s with it. Probably more 25s with that gun then my Browning Citori.
I reguarly shoot about 100 rounds every weekend, for 5 years that was my only shotgun. So if I do the math, I easily had 26,000 rounds through it. Shot many league shoots, even probably hold the record of number of rounds of registered skeet shot with a spas12. I would place a conservative estimate at 70,000 rounds currently through the gun. Last summer- 11 years of shooting it- I had to replace the following two parts: The recoil plug in the back and the firing pin. They both broke at the same time. So I just bought a few extras.

The gun will cycle with under one ounce loads, however they need to be hot. I have shot thousands of the remington high velocity game loads out of it. The black 7/8 ouncers.

Slugs- it works great. Not a problem. And very accurate out to 50 yards. (Haven't ever bothered to check what they do beyond there)

I've used it to shoot steel down in three gun matches without a problem. So these are certainly practical from both a skeet and a practical shooting standpoint. Conventional? Certainly not, but practical, yes.
As for Trap- I took mine to the trap field for the first time last week, only hit 17/25 (my average is probably 21 in trap, I'm not good in trap) granted I was using one ounce #9 my skeet loads, perhaps 1-1/8 ounce 7.5s would be better, but with Cylinder bore you may have a bit of diffculty hitting those far targets, you'd need to actually find somewhere that is selling the chokes, I can't, yet.

When I first got it, I used to clean it all the time- that would take hours.
Now I clean it about twice a year, unless it gets rained on, I don't want it rusting!

I believe if you want one, get one, I talked one friend into buying one last month, he loves it.

Oh, and the folder version- that has 25 rounds through it.

The pain of shooting it with high velocity loads, your head down on the extended folding stock, it really needs to be experienced rather than described.

Loading you will get used to, and can get down fast. Not as fast as a remington with the tube speedloader attachments, but you can go just as fast as anyone else loading one round at a time. It's all in switching your left hand position.

The quick release safety is great, especially when shooting timed competition stages, a flick forward and you're good to go.

These guns will remain 100% reliable if you're using decent power ammo, and you've put it together right.

And yes, Arnold used the folding version in Terminator, and when I saw the movie at 12yrs old, I said, when I turn 18, I'm gonna buy one of those! That's a cool looking gun.