SPAS-15: Saiga victim
When Franchi SPAS-15 appeared in 90's on the shelves of domestic stores, I experienced a real shock. Since at that time the appearance of such “almost military weapons”Among hunting double-barrels and semi-automatic machines was impressive. And in this shotgun the silhouette of an assault rifle of a potential enemy (“strategic partner” in 90-e) M-16 was clearly guessed.
A little later in the “Infantry Weapons” directory I found this gun in the “support weapons” section, where I read that it was intended for direct fire support of assault groups and infantry units on the battlefield.
I learned that this combat shotgun was designed to order and in accordance with the requirements of the Italian Interior Ministry. He had to replace the SPAS (Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun) 12 rifle. Italian security officials were not satisfied with a sub-barrel tubular store, which requires more time to recharge. That is, the most important requirement was the availability of a box detachable store.
SPAS-15, like 12, could work in both self-loading and pumping mode (the mode is selected using the special button in the upper part of the forearm). Such an option is also a requirement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for which it was important that, in addition to conventional shotgun or bullet cartridges, a rifle could successfully work with special ammunition (for example, rubber bullets or plastic canister) that have less energy self-loading rifles.
And here everything is simple: you switch to the “pump” mode and shoot with any, including the weakest, cartridges.
Self-charging mode is provided by the removal of powder gases, using the traditional gas engine automation system with the upper gas cylinder and a short working stroke of the piston.
Locking is done by turning the bolt for the barrel, which made it possible to execute an aluminum alloy receiver box (the usual solution for modern guns, which allows to reduce the weight of the weapon).
The bolt group together with the return springs are combined by the return spring guides into a single module that can be easily removed during disassembly.
The cocking handle is located on the upper side of the receiver, under the carrying handle, and is easily controlled by either hand.
The gun has two fuses at once. One of them is located on the left side of the trigger guard, the other, automatic is located on the fire control knob and turns off when it is covered with your fingers.
The SPAS-15 is equipped with a rear panel, located on the handle for carrying the weapon. The fly is attached to the far end of the vent, like an AR-15, which the gun looks like externally.
The gun uses an 6-charging plastic magazine with a single row arrangement of 12x70 cartridges. The use of “magnum” cartridges with sleeve length 76 mm is not provided.
If it were not for the overpriced price of this spectacular device (then about $ 2000), I would certainly have bought it. However, soon other, equally interesting shotguns, including domestic production, appeared on the market. In the specialized media, enthusiastic materials about these weapons disappeared, and the Italian shotgun was forgotten.
And now, almost twenty years later, I had a chance to get to know the gun that once shook my imagination, hold it in my hands and even shoot about a hundred rounds of it.
First of all, I would like to say that the gun seemed frankly cumbersome to me, unlike the AR-15, from which the shotgun design was borrowed. At the same time, its weight is relatively small (3,9 kg without a magazine), which creates a feeling of "toy" and even fragility of a massive gun.
Joining the store thanks to the shaft mouth is very simple and easy. But the cocking of the shutter did not seem convenient to me, perhaps because of the lack of habits for the arrangement of the bolt carrier so unusual for us.
Shooting from a gun is very comfortable - the return for the 12 caliber is small, and the toss of the barrel is almost not felt.
I also did not find the location of the sighting devices too convenient, and I think that they are not too good for shooting, say, taking off ducks. Well, yes SPAS-15 was never positioned as a hunting weapon.
Before my eyes (and with my participation), around 400 rounds, shotguns, cartographic and bullet rounds, were shot from a gun. Both factory equipment, and "self-cool". According to the owner of a shotgun, some of them were reloaded several times. There were no delays in the pump or the self-loading mode.
In general, shooting with a gun left a rather favorable impression. But then I remembered how in the magazine “Caliber” I read the story of a single SPAS-15 user, who complained about the incredible complexity of incomplete disassembly and assembly, as well as the maintenance of a gun. He admitted that after the first cleaning of the shotgun, he stopped working in “pump-action” mode. And he failed to restore this function.
I told this to the gun owner. He said that he was not at all surprised, because the device was extremely “over complicated”, and categorically refused to do an incomplete disassembly at the shooting range, recognizing that this procedure requires special conditions.
Actually, this was probably the reason why SPAS-15 did not take root in the power structures of Italy and did not have much export success. Because of what its production was discontinued in the 2005 year.
It is noteworthy that this gun because of its formidable appearance fell under the “gun bang” 1996 of the year, announced by the Bill Clinton administration, and its import was banned in the USA.
We had no ban on this device, but even from our endless market it was supplanted by “Saiga-12”, a gun conceptually similar and located in the same niche. Our shotgun is far superior to the “Italian” in terms of ease of maintenance and reliability. It is more versatile, more compact, and, perhaps, more ergonomic. Saiga offers much more room for tuning, which is important for athletes and many civilian users. And, importantly, much cheaper.
It can be said that SPAS-15 was one of the first “victims” of “Saigi” in the Russian market. After its appearance on sale at the "Italian" there was not a single chance.
At the moment, these exotic and brutal guns occasionally appear on the secondary market, and their price is about 60-80 thousand rubles. And their judges (which include my friend) complain of the almost complete absence of spare parts and tools for these guns.
A little later in the “Infantry Weapons” directory I found this gun in the “support weapons” section, where I read that it was intended for direct fire support of assault groups and infantry units on the battlefield.
I learned that this combat shotgun was designed to order and in accordance with the requirements of the Italian Interior Ministry. He had to replace the SPAS (Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun) 12 rifle. Italian security officials were not satisfied with a sub-barrel tubular store, which requires more time to recharge. That is, the most important requirement was the availability of a box detachable store.
SPAS-15, like 12, could work in both self-loading and pumping mode (the mode is selected using the special button in the upper part of the forearm). Such an option is also a requirement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for which it was important that, in addition to conventional shotgun or bullet cartridges, a rifle could successfully work with special ammunition (for example, rubber bullets or plastic canister) that have less energy self-loading rifles.
And here everything is simple: you switch to the “pump” mode and shoot with any, including the weakest, cartridges.
Self-charging mode is provided by the removal of powder gases, using the traditional gas engine automation system with the upper gas cylinder and a short working stroke of the piston.
Locking is done by turning the bolt for the barrel, which made it possible to execute an aluminum alloy receiver box (the usual solution for modern guns, which allows to reduce the weight of the weapon).
The bolt group together with the return springs are combined by the return spring guides into a single module that can be easily removed during disassembly.
The cocking handle is located on the upper side of the receiver, under the carrying handle, and is easily controlled by either hand.
The gun has two fuses at once. One of them is located on the left side of the trigger guard, the other, automatic is located on the fire control knob and turns off when it is covered with your fingers.
The SPAS-15 is equipped with a rear panel, located on the handle for carrying the weapon. The fly is attached to the far end of the vent, like an AR-15, which the gun looks like externally.
The gun uses an 6-charging plastic magazine with a single row arrangement of 12x70 cartridges. The use of “magnum” cartridges with sleeve length 76 mm is not provided.
If it were not for the overpriced price of this spectacular device (then about $ 2000), I would certainly have bought it. However, soon other, equally interesting shotguns, including domestic production, appeared on the market. In the specialized media, enthusiastic materials about these weapons disappeared, and the Italian shotgun was forgotten.
And now, almost twenty years later, I had a chance to get to know the gun that once shook my imagination, hold it in my hands and even shoot about a hundred rounds of it.
First of all, I would like to say that the gun seemed frankly cumbersome to me, unlike the AR-15, from which the shotgun design was borrowed. At the same time, its weight is relatively small (3,9 kg without a magazine), which creates a feeling of "toy" and even fragility of a massive gun.
Joining the store thanks to the shaft mouth is very simple and easy. But the cocking of the shutter did not seem convenient to me, perhaps because of the lack of habits for the arrangement of the bolt carrier so unusual for us.
Shooting from a gun is very comfortable - the return for the 12 caliber is small, and the toss of the barrel is almost not felt.
I also did not find the location of the sighting devices too convenient, and I think that they are not too good for shooting, say, taking off ducks. Well, yes SPAS-15 was never positioned as a hunting weapon.
Before my eyes (and with my participation), around 400 rounds, shotguns, cartographic and bullet rounds, were shot from a gun. Both factory equipment, and "self-cool". According to the owner of a shotgun, some of them were reloaded several times. There were no delays in the pump or the self-loading mode.
In general, shooting with a gun left a rather favorable impression. But then I remembered how in the magazine “Caliber” I read the story of a single SPAS-15 user, who complained about the incredible complexity of incomplete disassembly and assembly, as well as the maintenance of a gun. He admitted that after the first cleaning of the shotgun, he stopped working in “pump-action” mode. And he failed to restore this function.
I told this to the gun owner. He said that he was not at all surprised, because the device was extremely “over complicated”, and categorically refused to do an incomplete disassembly at the shooting range, recognizing that this procedure requires special conditions.
Actually, this was probably the reason why SPAS-15 did not take root in the power structures of Italy and did not have much export success. Because of what its production was discontinued in the 2005 year.
It is noteworthy that this gun because of its formidable appearance fell under the “gun bang” 1996 of the year, announced by the Bill Clinton administration, and its import was banned in the USA.
We had no ban on this device, but even from our endless market it was supplanted by “Saiga-12”, a gun conceptually similar and located in the same niche. Our shotgun is far superior to the “Italian” in terms of ease of maintenance and reliability. It is more versatile, more compact, and, perhaps, more ergonomic. Saiga offers much more room for tuning, which is important for athletes and many civilian users. And, importantly, much cheaper.
It can be said that SPAS-15 was one of the first “victims” of “Saigi” in the Russian market. After its appearance on sale at the "Italian" there was not a single chance.
At the moment, these exotic and brutal guns occasionally appear on the secondary market, and their price is about 60-80 thousand rubles. And their judges (which include my friend) complain of the almost complete absence of spare parts and tools for these guns.
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