What is that hook thing on a SPAS-12?

[mgregg85]

I was cruising through the modern firearms website and came across the SPAS-12 and after looking at it for a while, I still have no idea what that hook on the bottom of the buttstock is for.

Does anyone know? Is this an incredibly stupid question or are you dumbfounded by it too?

The only thing I can come up with is, does the hook rotate and then sit under your arm when you shoulder it? I don't know what purpose that would serve but then again I'm not too knowledgeable on tactical shotgun use.

 

[NonConformist]

Yep, a hook for your arm. Now what practical purpose that has is beyond me, maybe to fire one handed while holding the gun up if your other is disabled?

 

[Vaarok]

Pretty much to free up your other arm for opening doors, cuffing suspects, throwing flashbangs, reloading, or whatever. I dunno, the only time I've seen it actually used for anything is in the movies.

 

[Auburn1992]

Carrying handle when it's folded?

 

[2TransAms]

It's a grappling hook,to help scale walls. No BS.

Edit: Actually it might be BS,but I've heard more than once that it's for grabbing handholds and snagging cables. But hang out at gun shops long enough and you'll hear about everything.

 

[Logan5]

With the stock folded, you were supposed to put the hook over your strong side shoulder, and then you could fire with just your strong hand while using your weak hand to fend off the Terminator, open doors, microwave burritos, etc. And no, it dosen't work out very well for the operator.

Hey, when did we start pretending that I'm the only one here who was old enough to read gun magazines in the 1980s? Not much about the SPAS 12 was a secret.

 

[kingjoey]

It is a stirrup to fit under your forearm to allow you to fire it one-handed if needed. Seems like a good idea but you gotta be in a pretty nasty situation or injured if you need to fire a shotgun one-handed.

 

[Bababooey]

Thats the chuck norris option for true bad-asses that shoot dual spas ....

 

[Loosedhorse]

Seriously...

The gun as pictured fires as per usual. The recoil pad/hook can rotate up 90 degrees, at which point you can hold the gun one-handed (maybe one-armed is a better description), putting the hook behind your arm, above the elbow and below the triceps, while you hold the pistol grip.

I'm sure there's a picture of Arnold from some movie (perhaps from "Predator"?) with one on each arm, blazing away.

How useful this feature is (no way to aim with this hold) is open to debate.

But it's shur WICKED COOL!

 

[SuperNaut]

It's the shoulder thing that goes up.

 

[Quiet]

I'm sure there's a picture of Arnold from some movie (perhaps from "Predator"?) with one on each arm, blazing away.

The actual movie is "Terminator".
Scene where he goes to the police station with a SPAS-12 and AR-18.

 

[jackdanson]

Thats the chuck norris option for true bad-asses that shoot dual spas ....

Awesome first post.. welcome.

 

[Mainsail]

The hook pivots left or right and allows for one-handed shooting from behind barricades to avoid exposure. You would push the hook in against spring pressure and rotate it either way. It indexed into any of three positions and locked there. The hook actually sits under your forearm while shooting to offer some support. The manual had a suggestion that you thrust the gun forward as you fire. This prevents 'limp wristing' the gun and causing a malfunction. When it was folded, the hook could also be used as a carry handle.