General Facts
- TYPE
Shotgun - ORIGIN
Italy - NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1990's - DESIGNER
Franchi - PRODUCTION
<1996 - 2005 - PRODUCERS Italy - Franchi
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
About $1.500 in 2005 - CHARACTERISTICS
Semi-automatic and pump-action
Magazine feed allows for fast reloading
Easy to handle
Large and cumbersome
Introduction
The SPAS-15 is a combat shotgun of Italian origin. It was developed for law enforcement and military use. Essentially the SPAS-15 is an improvement over the earlier SPAS-12 by adding magazine feed. It retains the ability for semi-automatic and pump-action operation.
Design
Externally the SPAS-15 looks like an assault rifle due the box magazines, carrying handle and forearm. The SPAS-15 differs from the SPAS-12 in its rotating bolt short gas piston operation. The receiver is made of aluminum and the furniture uses a lot of plastics. Early versions had a fixed plastic or folding metal stock. Late versions have a plastic folding stock.
Firepower
The SPAS-15 is a semi-automatic shotgun that allows for pump-action operation when using low powered ammunition. It fires 12 ga shells of 2.75-inch length from 6 round detachable magazines. Additionally 3 or 8 round magazines are available.
Users
The SPAS-15 was sold to various military and law enforcement units. The Italian army adopted it for peacekeeping missions. Italian special forces rejected it for its size.
SPAS-15
The SPAS-15 comes in only one version. Early versions were available with plastic fixed stock or a foldable metal tube stock. Later versions had a folding plastic stock.
- Specifications:
- SPAS-15
| Type | Shotgun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 12ga 2.75" |
| Magazine | 3, 6 or 8 round box magazine |
| Operation | Gas operated or pump action |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic or pump-action |
| Barrel length | 450 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Fixed or foldable |
| Length | 1.00 m / 0.75 m |
| Width | 49 mm |
| Height | 267 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.9 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights |
| Remarks | - |
