The SPAS-12, made by Franchi, has sort of a cult following due to its large, robust design and the fact that it has appeared in numerous television shows and movies. It is a large, heavy 12-gauge assault shotgun that can be operated in either semi-automatic mode or pump-action mode. A folding stock is the most common option for this shotgun, though some came with fixed synthetic stocks, and some can be seen (as in the case of Marui's original SPAS-12) with a pistol grip only. This particular spring-powered airsoft version is made by a Korean company called Seong Jin. We are big fans of the SPAS-12, limited though it is in tactical situations due to its large size and heavy weight.
Appearance
There's one thing that immediately struck me when I first saw this airsoft - it's too small! Having owned a real SPAS-12 for a while, the difference was obvious. It's shrunk about 40% from the size of the original, being a 1:1.8 scale replica according to the box. The real thing is a Very Large Shotgun while this looks like... well, it looks like a toy. Or maybe a .410 gauge youth version of the SPAS. Take a look at this photo to compare the Seong Jin SPAS-12 to a Marui MP5K.
Other than that, this model isn't generally too bad for looks. The parts are in scale with each other if not with real life proportions. The plastic of the receiver, pistol grip, barrel, magazine tube, and barrel shroud is of a nice even black. The pump is molded in grey plastic similar to the Korean Glock 26 we reviewed. There is a shiny foil sticker on the ejection port that is supposed to represent the bolt of the shotgun; a real SPAS's bolt matches the rest of the gun's finish so the sticker will probably come off on our version if we decide to keep it. The folding metal stock has a nice black finish and even includes the support hook (though it's non-functional).
Function
I thought that this airsoft would be extremely fragile, based on its general appearance. I was mistaken - it's fairly sturdy. Its small size allows it to handle quickly with the stock folded or extended. The pump action is quick and positive, and the BBs feed reliably from the 40+ round magazine under the barrel. The ghost-ring sights resemble those on a real SPAS-12, and the push-button operation of the folding stock works much like the real thing, though the butt plate doesn't fold flat and the support hook can't swivel out for use when the stock is extended. To load the tubular magazine below the barrel, you unscrew the front cap less than a quarter of a turn to unlock it, and then you pull it and the attached magazine spring and BB follower forward and out. Tip the gun so it's muzzle-up, and pour 40 BBs into it (40 is the recommended capacity but it seems to hold 41 or 42). Then compress the magazine spring onto the front cap's guide and slide the follower, spring, and guide/cap into the front of the magazine, twisting it back into place to lock it. Rack the pump, aim, and fire - one BB at a time, like a conventional springer. This airsoft can emulate a shotgun's pattern by doing three-pellet shots - rack the pump three times before pulling the trigger. You lose a bit of velocity so you'd certainly want to use lighter weight BBs if you were to do this as you'd severely limit your range and power otherwise. Assuming you filled the magazine to 42 rounds, you'd get 14 shots off this way, which is still respectable.
Accuracy
With .2g ammunition, the SPAS-12 shoots about three inches low and an inch to the left at seven yards, but it groups fairly well. When the range is increased to fifteen yards, the power drops right off - the group size widens a bit and the group drops about ten inches below the point of aim, and centers about three and a half inches to the left.
Overall Impressions
This SPAS-12, though not very useful for training since it's so out of scale, would be fun for plinking or for low-budget indoor springer tournaments. It seems fairly accurate and durable, but since it isn't as well-built as a Marui airsoft for example, it probably wouldn't be suitable for hardcore use. It is definitely a lot of fun for the money, though.
