[Zack]

What was the reason to stop importing it to the USA? I see on GB they go from $800-$1600... I always wanted one of these, I remember in Jurassic park the guy in the first movie used one of these. I heard somewhere, they where unsafe to shoot and fell apart? but I do not know if that is ture.:scrutiny:

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

gaining popularity with gamers.

the older lever safety I've heard is unsafe and could casuse the gun to fire when its moved. the newer crossbolt(i believe its called) is the upgrade. I've heard thats its not too reliable with the semi auto setting. If you want a pump-semi shotgun i would get the Benelli M3.

[hmphargh]

I believe it is because they were in a lot of movies and people thought that they were cool looking, so the BAFTE banned import because of lack of sporting purpose.

[Zack]

Why didnt the Spas company fix the safty issue?

[Texas Gun Person]

They are fun to use in Call of Duty... that's about all I know. :)

Banned for import. You can still find them around.

[surbat6]

Too heavy, too complicated...have you ever tried switching from semi-auto mode to pump, or from pump to semi-auto? I have.

[Ditch-Tiger]

My buddy had one for about a year and then sold it because the novelty wore off.
It was fun to shoot but it was HEAVY and was extremely hard to pump when in the manual mode (which by the was is slightly complicated to change from semi to pump)
It was just fine as far as reliability goes though. It was also unique in that the choke tubes threaded on the outside of the barrel, his only came with a full (very tight patterns) and you could unscrew it by hand and have a cylinder bore...kind neat.

[hmphargh]

Why didnt the Spas company fix the safty issue?
Franchi did issue a recall and installed a cross-bolt safety.

[FirearmsEnthusiast]

They stopped importing them because they're extremely ugly :)

[UKShooter]

I also want one :) There are only something like 50 in the UK and everytime I see one for sale I try to buy it but its always gone before I get there :(

One day i will get one.

I have spoken to people that own them and they say as others have said that they are extremely heavy which makes them a bit unpractical but lets face it, we only want one because it looks cool :) As stated, if you want a decent gun that is both semi and pump get a Benelli M3.

[BigBore]

I own a Spas 12 ( SPAS stands for Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun, or Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun ) folder and I have had NO issues and the safety they did take care of..Its heavy..Mine weighs about 10 pounds..I have had no problems switching between semi and pump..They simply were banned because at the time they were not considered a sporting shotgun..I have yet to try mine out on a nice gathering of pheasants..LOL..Light loads however do jam the action open once and awhile.Most of the time is shooters error though ...You have to keep that piston clean!!
Have any of ya ever fired one in semi mode..They are sweet..The Benelli M4 is a finer shotgun though..So if ya get the chance pick up a M4..I wish I had one..

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

They probably banned them because they look scary.

[surbat6]

Bigbore is correct about the reason they are no longer imported - "No sporting purpose."
My experience at the range with a friend's SPAS and in the gunshop with several examples is that the switchover between pump and semi-auto is difficult. It could be due to newness of the guns I handled.
I think we're all in agreement that the SPAS 12 is HEAVY, though.