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Posted: 7/18/2005 3:23:48 PM EDT
| Any good? I heard theyre pretty fun, just wondering if theyre worth the $600 that the fixed stock version Im looking at is going for. |
Dunno...but my Benelli Super90 will do it (with the right ammo) in a much slicker package if your trigger finger is up to it. I just think these guns are waaaaay to bulky and awkward for any practical use...but, hey...differences of opinion are what makes for horse races and ugly women getting married!
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For everything on the Spas 12 have a look at: www.spas12.com Production stopped in 2000, by the way. |
I've been eyeballing one of those myself. I've heard a lot about them not being as functional as they should be. One of the comments I've heard the most is that they have FTF probs. I know that they look great and I'd love to own one myself. And for $600!!! That's a steal as far as I've seen. Cheapest one I've seen was a fixed stock for $950! What's the condition and which safety does it have??
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If you do get this shotgun, be sure it does not have a lever safety. These are dangerous and were recalled for a modification, which is not available today. They will go off when the safety is activated or deactivated, I cannot remember which. There should be info on this on the above web site about the SPAS. For that price, I would look for a good used Benelli M1S90 IMHO. |
Heck,with my Benelli M1S90, I could dump 8 rounds in something like less than 5-6 seconds. That's a lot of firepower in a controllable package. I just had to recover from recoil, which wasn't that bad. I found it funny that my ex-SEAL buddy had problems shooting it. Kept jamming on him and told me it was broken. I emptied the whole thing right quick and handed it back to him. Ain't nothing wrong with that shotgun. It's recoil operated and many people are not used to it. If you ever shot an A5 Browning, you know what I mean. |
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The Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun 12 gauge or SPAS12 is much better in Jurassic Park than in real life. The SPAS 12 is very heavy and isn't as reliable as other semi automatic or pump action shotguns. They are extremely evil looking and would likely be fun to own, but they are quite expensive for what you are getting. The hook stock is brutality to shoot any type of serious defensive load with, but you can use it as a whippit gun. If you get a SPAS get it with the pistol grip stock, as function is more important that the cool factor of a folder. The SPAS 12 is lousy as an auto and lousy as a pump. Convertibles really don't do it for me, but if I had to have one, I would rather have a SPAS over a Benelli M3. I was at a Benelli exibtion and thier pro shooter was doing some tricks and explaining how reliable the the M3 is and he had two FTEs and one FTF... If a pro shooter with support from Benelli has his weapon fail, I am doomed if I buy one. If you want an automatic, buy a Benelli M1 Super 90, the world standard in auto shotguns until the Benelli M4 becomes more popular. If you want a pump get a Remington 870, Mossberg 590 or a FN. Cyclic rates isnt something that applies to shotguns. Full Auto shotguns have been evaluated by the DoD, but they just arent practical. To much recoil, not enough ammo and magazine fed shotguns dont solve problem one. A Benelli M1S90 will empy all shells before the first casing hits the ground, Thats plenty fast to say "get your hands off my girlfriend"...jk you can touch my gf, everyone in Lincoln has. 
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Isn't the M3 almost identical to the M1? As far as reliability and cycling I thought they were one in the same. What's different about the m3 besides the optional pump mode for non lethal rounds and light loads? |
Watch out for the safety. There was a recall. You don't want the lever safety - not safe and can't be fixed. For what it's worth -I'd love to have one, but at $1,200 w/ a hook - maybe not. |
Be sure that you handle that SPAS with a fixed stock before you buy it. For some reason, and maybe this is just me but I have handled 2 SPAS with full stocks and half a dozen LAW12s with full stocks and none of them fit me. Like I said that might be me, but my Benelli pistol grip full stocks fit like a glove. $600 is a good price for a SPAS, but if it is the full stock none extended tube Franchi SPAS are not worth as much as the 8 shot folders....even more with the hook. |
I owned one back before the ban. Folder with the hook. It was fun... and that is the nicest thing I can say about it.  It is heavy, unwieldy, and IMHO impractical for any real-world use. There are a few fans of them here on the site who would disagree with my assessment, but that's how I see it nonetheless. I traded mine away before the ban. The only reason I regret that move is how ridiculously their value has increased - but, knowing me, if I had kept it I wouldn't sell it now regardless of price just because of its rarity. I'm just weird that way...
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| I've got mine sitting in the back of my safe if that tells you anything. I operate a $35 million dollar piece of equipment for a living and this thing still baffles me. Switching from pump to auto and back requires way too much work IMHO. They look great, buy it for that price, but get an 870 or equivalent for SHTF. |
+1 I agree...that's a great price. Just get it for cool value and stick it in the safe if you got the green to burn. But don't plan on it for the go to SHTF gun. |
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