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Encyclopedia > Franchi SPAS 12
SPAS-12
Technical Summary
SPAS-12
Caliber: 12 gauge
Action: Pump-action / gas-actuated
Mass: 4.4 kg (9.7 lb)
Length: 1041 mm (41 in)
Barrel length: 546 mm (22 in)
Magazine: 8+1 rounds, internal

The SPAS-12 is a dual-mode 12 gauge combat shotgun manufactured by the Italian company Franchi S.p.A.. Image File history File links from http://world. ... The word calibre (British English) or caliber (American English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod, also common for handguns. ... 12 gauge is the most common size of shotgun shell. ... In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. ... A pump-action rifle or shotgun is one in which the fore-end of the stock can be pumped back and forth in order to eject and chamber a round of ammunition. ... The gas-operated system for implementing automatic reloading of a firearm is one of five such systems, the others being recoil-operated, gatling, chain, and blowback. ... An M16 Magazine Various Mags A magazine (also called a mag) is an ammunition storage device within or attached to a firearm. ... 12 gauge is the most common size of shotgun shell. ... Winchester Model 1897 Pump Shotgun, modified for use in World War 1 Combat shotguns, shotguns modified slightly to increase their suitability for use in combat, have been popular in the United States, both with law enforcement and with the US military (particularly the US Marine Corps), since the 19th Century. ... Franchi S.p. ...


Overview

The SPAS-12 was designed during the 1970s as a semi-automatic military or law enforcement shotgun. In the United States, the gun was marketed as a sporting shotgun to help bypass laws that would normally label it as illegal for civilian ownership. As a result, the SPAS acronym officially stands for "Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun". However, military-oriented features like a heavy heat shield for sustained fire increase the weight of the weapon to the point where it can become unwieldy for hunting or competition shooting. For this reason, there exist popular reinterpretations of the acronym, such as "Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun".


The SPAS-12 can function on two settings. The first is "automatic" (more accurately, self-loading semi-automatic) - the foregrip is locked forward and a gas system serves to load the next round without further effort from the operator. In automatic mode, the gun can expend around 4 rounds per second, one round per trigger pull. The second setting is pump-action - the foregrip must be manually pumped back and forth after every shot to eject the spent shell and load a new round from the internal magazine. This mode is required to reliably fire low-pressure ammunition such as tear gas rounds or less-lethal bean bags. Switching between firing modes is done by pressing a button under the foregrip, and sliding the foregrip slightly forwards or backwards. A semi-automatic firearm requires a trigger pull for each round that is fired. ... A pump-action rifle or shotgun is one in which the fore-end of the stock can be pumped back and forth in order to eject and chamber a round of ammunition. ... A riot control agent is a type of lachrymatory agent (or lacrimatory agent). ... Non-lethal force is force which is not inherently likely to kill or cause great bodily injury to a living target. ...


The SPAS-12 also has a magazine cut-off feature that, when activated, prevents the loading of a new round from the internal magazine when the slide is opened. This allows the operator to load a specialized round into the chamber without going through the entire magazine first.


In recent years, US firearm laws have completely blocked the importation of the SPAS-12 shotgun, since it fits the profile of a military shotgun (an illegal destructive device). Re-sales and transfers within the country are relatively unobstructed in most states, but few SPAS-12s are moving across the border. Additionally, in 2000 Franchi has ceased production of the SPAS-12 altogether, and has since shifted its marketing focus towards the new SPAS-15. Due to these events, the SPAS-12 is now a collector's item both in the States and elsewhere. A destructive device is a firearm or explosive device that, in United States, is regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The SPAS-15 is a dual-mode 12 gauge shotgun manufactured by the Italian company Franchi S.p. ...


Variants

The SPAS-12 comes with an optional folding stock, which may carry a large hook at the end for use as a carrying handle or for bracing the weapon while firing. Full stocks are also available, as are pump-mounted tactical flashlights and laser sights. Some versions of the SPAS-12 also have a "sawed-off" barrel for lower weight and better maneuverability in tight quarters. The magazine on these variants may also be shortened, resulting in diminished capacity. Lasers were used in the 2005 Classical Spectacular concert Soon after the invention of the laser in 1960, it was described as a solution in search of a problem. However, since that time, the laser has found a place as a useful tool in many scientific, military, medical and industrial...


Popular culture

In popular culture, the SPAS-12 is the definitive pump-action shotgun. Its distinctive looks and beefy ka-chunk-chunk sound have earned it appearances in Hollywood blockbusters like The Hitcher, Terminator, Jurassic Park and The Matrix, as well as massively successful video games like Grand Theft Auto, Half-Life and Hitman. ... The Hitcher is a 1986 Hollywood movie, directed by Robert Harmon, and written by Eric Red. ... The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction-action film which became the break-through role for former body-builder Arnold Schwarzenegger. ... Jurassic Park is a novel written by Michael Crichton and published in 1990. ... The Matrix is a science-fiction/action film first released in the USA on March 31, 1999, written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski. ... Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (released in October 2002) is the fourth video game in the hit Grand Theft Auto series. ... Half-Life 2 is a first-person shooter computer game and the highly anticipated sequel to Half-Life, developed by Valve Corporation. ... 47 disguised. ...


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