[2nd Amendment]

I won an auction recently for a SPAS 12. $840 which I figure is a pretty good price considering what I sold my previous ones for. No arm hook but I'll eventually track one down. Anyway, the thing arrives and I look it over and it's in as good or better visual condition than promised so I pack it home.

Hmmm, load it up, take it out, chamber a rnd and pull the trigger. It felt like stepping on a grape. Nothing. No click, no resistance, nothing. So I mess with this thing for days and still nothing and so I contact SuperPawn and tell them we have a problem. Send it back, says they, and we'll give you a refund. Well, hell. Not exactly what I want to do but I don't really want to start tearing it apart, either.

So this AM I am in the office taking one last look before I drive to the shop to send it on its way. As I'm getting ready to stuff it back in the case I do what I normally never do, smack the release and let the bolt slam empty. Pulled the trigger again and *click*. Now it works fine. No hiccups at all. I had checked repeatedly to make sure she was locking up fully before, even smacked the the thing hard with the heel of my hand and it made no difference. Now suddenly it's like it never had a problem.

So now I'm leery of the thing. Was it simply stiff from disuse? Is something broke and I just happened to jar it right to get it functional for a while? No local smith wants anywhere near it and, like I said, I don't really want to open it up myself. the receiver is a fairly conventional one so far as I know but having never had one apart before I don't want to further butcher something I may still want to get my money back on.

[Dave McCracken]

That might be why the thing was for sale,2nd.

IMO, sending it back is the best course of action.

Then, take the money and buy a coupla 870s!!

[blades67]

Send it back for a refund, then buy a couple of 1300's. They're better guns.:neener:

[Sir Galahad]

My two 1300s have never had a single hiccup. What he said. Send it back and get 2 1300s.

[Azrael256]

or a Mossy 500. Never had a problem with mine :)

[bamf]

perhaps you've already checked but they've been known to have problems with their safety mechanism.

http://spas12.com/spassafety.htm

I'd return it and I'd get an Rem 870, Win 1300 and a Mossy, all three, you'll please almost everyone here!

[Dave McCracken]

Seriously, 2nd, I never understood the attraction this overpriced and cranky machine has for some folks.

It's heavy,ammo sensitive,looks scary to non shotgunners, has zero parts availability, and is awkward to operate under stress and field conditions.

FWIW, I know some fairly salty types who use shotguns as tools. None own a SPAS.

For $840, you could get a new Big Four pump is crisis management configuration, a flat or two of ammo,and a day or two of professional instruction.

HTH, and no dumping or offense intended....

[2nd Amendment]

Well mainly I just enjoy the things and, before this one, I've not had one that was either cranky or ammo sensitive. Size wise it's not that big a deal, I'm around 6ft and 240lbs and done construction at least part time all my life. Mothers side of the family are all built like Neanderthals anyway so I could probably be a couch potato and still look like a bear. :D

But, I do own normal shotguns. 590, couple old .410's and what has wound up being my HD and all-around gun, an old Stevens Model 67(it's ugly, it's got wood and it looks like it lived in a truck but I love that $90 wonder for some reason). The SPAS is just sort of my indulgence but this one has sort of soured me on them now. I guess I'm going to go ahead and send it back. I hate to but I hate safe queens even more. *sigh*

[Dave McCracken]

I'm gorilla built myself, 2nd, and the SPAA is about on the high end of what I consider employable, weight wise.

If you like them, fine. I just wouldn't depend on it.

As for your Savage, my guess is it fits you, and you've grown attached to it because it works. Enjoy...

And safe queens do not infest Casa McC. If it's not used regularly, it gets turned into something that will be used.