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Franchi SPAS-15 anyone?

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franchi franchi spas-15 spas spas-12 spas-15
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#5 ·
GoodOlFroathyOne said:
I thought it was banned from import in 1996 because it was considered an assault weapon and non-sporting?
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It was.
The street sweeper is classified as a destructive device.

I have no experience with a Spas 15 but if they are even remotely like the Spas 12 they are junk. Overlarge, heavy, expensive crap.

Better to buy a Saiga 12 and call it good.
 
#6 ·
Brother Buck said:
It was.
The street sweeper is classified as a destructive device.

I have no experience with a Spas 15 but if they are even remotely like the Spas 12 they are junk. Overlarge, heavy, expensive crap.

Better to buy a Saiga 12 and call it good.
Click to expand...
They are supposed to have been easier to use than the SPAS-12 and added a magazine. But they are pretty much a piece of junk, a Benelli M4 is much better.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Brother Buck said:
It was.
The street sweeper is classified as a destructive device.

I have no experience with a Spas 15 but if they are even remotely like the Spas 12 they are junk. Overlarge, heavy, expensive crap.

Better to buy a Saiga 12 and call it good.
Click to expand...
I have read a review of Saiga VS Molot VS SPAS, but I had hope someone could post own impressions, instead of, perhaps, paid opinion (which seem to be a problem in gun magazines).

According the review, the SPAS is the best choice concerning reliability.

They are supposed to have been easier to use than the SPAS-12 and added a magazine. But they are pretty much a piece of junk, a Benelli M4 is much better.
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By giving this statement, I assume you shoot both. Did you run into any problems concerning ammo (sporting loads) with the SPAS 15?

The Benelli M4 I did shoot myself, the one with the 14" barrel. Using lighter loads it will not cycle properly (e.g. Brennecke KO slugs).
 
#10 ·
Waldlaeufer said:
I have read a review of Saiga VS Molot VS SPAS, but I had hope someone could post own impressions, instead of, perhaps, paid opinion (which seem to be a problem in gun magazines).

According the review, the SPAS is the best choice concerning reliability.



By giving this statement, I assume you shoot both. Did you run into any problems concerning ammo (sporting loads) with the SPAS 15?

The Benelli M4 I did shoot myself, the one with the 14" barrel. Using lighter loads it will not cycle properly (e.g. Brennecke KO slugs).
Click to expand...
I feel your pain about getting an accurate review. In the end it comes down to personal preference.

I should not have said "junk" as they are fine as they are but when compared to other systems they are a bit much and overdone making them awkward. My friend had a SPAS-12 which he ended up selling and getting an M14 and a Benelli M4; I briefly was able to shoot both and felt that the M4 was more comfortable.

Some info that is out on the Web for you; from Wiki,
"The SPAS-15 is currently used by various law enforcement and military agencies, including some units of Italian army and the Carabinieri, although several Italian special forces units have dismissed it after adoption as its bulk and excessive weight, mostly due to the detachable box magazine, compromised maneuverability in critical situations."
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Contrary to the US (due the import stoppage) the prices dropped. And 400 US$ for a used one or 800 US$ for a new one is quite tempting (60% off the former prices).

The ability to use it as a pump action I really don't need (concerning ergonomics you have to have ape-like arms to reach to the front to manipulate the "slide", that you can see from pictures).

I am looking for a self loading shotgun that I also can use for sporting and recreational shooting...here the magazine comes to play.

The Benelli M4 is a damn fine shotgun, but damn fine expensive.

The problem I have is a buy or die situation. I have no chance to test fire it, so if I buy, I keep. And it would be some kind of wasted money if the sporting slugs would not cycle, as stated in the magazine (on the same page of the test there was an advertisement where to buy). So real information is always better, in my opinion. And thanks to the internet...this is now a lot easier than years ago.

I will sleep over it and if I buy, I promise you a fair, independent (not sponsored by a reseller or manufacturer) review of the shotgun, from gun enthusiast to gun enthusiast.
 
#12 ·
I believe they were banned because they were/are a semi auto holdng more than 5 rounds in a stick type magazine.

That and they looked evil and had the street sweeper moniker attached to them.

I has heard they were of good quality but they were so damn expensive when I was looking at them, as was the SPAS-12.

One thing to consier before puchasing this type of shotgun is the availability of parts. Shotguns like these dont have spare parts laying around in your local hardware store.

That fact, and the cost at the time, made me look elsewhere for a shotgun.

I picked up the rem 870 for 1/10th the price of the SPAS-12 and never looked back.
 
#14 ·
Waldlaeufer said:
Contrary to the US (due the import stoppage) the prices dropped. And 400 US$ for a used one or 800 US$ for a new one is quite tempting (60% off the former prices).

The ability to use it as a pump action I really don't need (concerning ergonomics you have to have ape-like arms to reach to the front to manipulate the "slide", that you can see from pictures).

I am looking for a self loading shotgun that I also can use for sporting and recreational shooting...here the magazine comes to play.

The Benelli M4 is a damn fine shotgun, but damn fine expensive.

The problem I have is a buy or die situation. I have no chance to test fire it, so if I buy, I keep. And it would be some kind of wasted money if the sporting slugs would not cycle, as stated in the magazine (on the same page of the test there was an advertisement where to buy). So real information is always better, in my opinion. And thanks to the internet...this is now a lot easier than years ago.

I will sleep over it and if I buy, I promise you a fair, independent (not sponsored by a reseller or manufacturer) review of the shotgun, from gun enthusiast to gun enthusiast.
Click to expand...
Regardless of the outcome, as to whether you end up liking it or not, if nothing else it wouldn't be a bad investment. They are definitely what I would call a novelty, like the FN PS-90 and other interesting firearms, and they're definitely unique in their own way. The M-4 is a tad expensive, I think like 1,400? Was just looking at one yesterday and can't remember exactly how much it was. There will always be someone who will be willing to take it off your hands.

In any event, buy what fits your fancy and you will never go wrong. I am sure that there are firearms I own that others would scoff at (like my Arisaka).
 
#16 ·
politics. i hate them. politicians. i hate them even more...
 
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Discussion starter · #18 ·
As promised, a short "review" of the the Franchi SPAS 15, basically just giving my first impressions of the shotgun.

Look: Indeed the SPAS 15 is a ugly weapon. It is bulky and heavy. Processing is rough, there are numerous weld seams noticeable.

Ergonomics: Compared to other shotguns the stock is quite long, but comfortable for me. Smaller shooters certainly will run into problems without modification. Safety (there are two) can easily manipulated with the trigger finger or the strong hand. The "pump" function" works, but it is only a band-aid solution...ergonomics really suck, because you have to grip very far to the front. But why use the pump function when you have a reliable self-loading function? Here you can see that it was designed having law enforcement/military in mind, when using less lethal ammo...
Magazine change is somewhere between AK/AR.

Function: I tested the SPAS with several different ammo brands I had at home. bird shot (three types, two light loads for trap and skeet, one hunting load), buckshot (#04, #01, #00), slugs (sporting (very light, mild load: Brenneke K.O., hunting: Federal Power Shok). The Franchi ate every round without a hiccup! Impressing. And it was fun to shoot.

Those you are searching a reliable self loading shotgun with a detachable magazine, go for it, if you can find one.
 
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Waldlaeufer
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