Brand New to Canada: SG-12 "SPAS"

Roh-roooh.

I could barely get through a magazine without a double feed. I had just cleaned and lubricated it.

Cycles by hand fine but almost every shot results in two rounds entering onto the lifter.

I’ll see if it gets better. If it doesn’t then I’ll see what I can do. I like to tinker.

If anyone solves this problem, lemeno.
 

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Roh-roooh.

I could barely get through a magazine without a double feed. I had just cleaned and lubricated it.

Cycles by hand fine but almost every shot results in two rounds entering onto the lifter.

I’ll see if it gets better. If it doesn’t then I’ll see what I can do. I like to tinker.

If anyone solves this problem, lemeno.
That looks familiar.
 
Unrelated. Kinda. My panzer will do this. With certain shells sometimes. Try other ammo and see if it continues.
I’ve had worst luck with challenger target loafs doing this. But it’s only been like a box here and there that does it.
 
Unrelated. Kinda. My panzer will do this. With certain shells sometimes. Try other ammo and see if it continues.
I’ve had worst luck with challenger target loafs doing this. But it’s only been like a box here and there that does it.
I’ll try some buck and slugs. I’ve only been using my Winchester #6 high velocity steel and it’s been running fine… ran fine until I took it apart and cleaned it actually.

Just took it apart again. Inspected the shell latch and its spring pressure.

Everything looks good. Hand cycling works great.

The recoil on these #6 high velocity loads is sharp but soft. Always kicks the spent hull 5-6 feet.

Something about the recoil is causing the shell latch to stay open too long, bounce open, or the shell rim isn’t putting enough pressure on the back of the latch to close it.

🤷
 
The Turkish m4 clones will double feed if you press the side release button/lever bolt release at the back and not forward
I complained about mine and apparently its a design feature so you can unload the gun
Does this shotgun use the same system? Maybe there’s some glitch in them where it tries to unload the mag while cycling thus causing the double feed
I didn’t get one of these this go around I was gonna wait for a future shipment so I don’t have one to compare to
 
Roh-roooh.

I could barely get through a magazine without a double feed. I had just cleaned and lubricated it.

Cycles by hand fine but almost every shot results in two rounds entering onto the lifter.

I’ll see if it gets better. If it doesn’t then I’ll see what I can do. I like to tinker.

If anyone solves this problem, lemeno.
They do say to use hight brass. Could it be the problem?
 
The Turkish m4 clones will double feed if you press the side release button/lever bolt release at the back and not forward
I complained about mine and apparently its a design feature so you can unload the gun
Does this shotgun use the same system? Maybe there’s some glitch in them where it tries to unload the mag while cycling thus causing the double feed
I didn’t get one of these this go around I was gonna wait for a future shipment so I don’t have one to compare to
I’m not using the button to load. I’m always loading from the magazine tube. It could be something to do with that button tho. If nothing else it gives me something to check.
They do say to use hight brass. Could it be the problem?
It could absolutely be the problem. I’m certainly not using the recommended ammo and I was surprised that it worked initially with it.

Either way, I’m not fussed.
 
I’m not using the button to load. I’m always loading from the magazine tube. It could be something to do with that button tho. If nothing else it gives me something to check.

It could absolutely be the problem. I’m certainly not using the recommended ammo and I was surprised that it worked initially with it.

Either way, I’m not fussed.
Have you tried swapping all the OEM parts, converting it to 22, and then emailing TI?
 
Have you tried swapping all the OEM parts, converting it to 22, and then emailing TI?
She’s bone stock.

Clean and lightly lubed. The action feels very smooth.

For trouble shooting purposes, I took the limiter out to clean the magazine tube then I degreased it, and the mag tube, and put it back in (these do come pretty greasy) hadn’t touched it prior to the reoccurring double-feeds.

I’m pretty certain I can sort it out.
 
After all, the original Franchi SPAS 12 was $1500-$2000 back in early 90’s …so…
It's just killing me. My order has been percolating with Can Post in Calgary since last Wednesday. Makes me think either the feds put out a notice or posties went for a shoot em up long weekend and lost it.

Usually Quebec is the bottleneck for Canada post. Things that go there just sit and sit and sit. Mississauga has always been very efficient. Calgary USUALLY is too, very quick in and out. Of course, I am only watching so intently because I want to get my mitts on this.

In the meantime, I have coiled up an old coat hanger, given it a nice even temper in an oil bath, I'm hoping it will be stiff enough to use as a replacement hammer spring. I also 3D printed a new firing pin and hammer, decided to swap out the SPAS foregrip for a cool log I found by the creek. Lastly, I think I can reduce a lot of weight if I get rid of the stock barrel and use a length of cpvc pipe (painted carbon black of course for strength). Oh and I only plan to run minishells through it. Hopefully it works as advertised with no issues (if it actually gets here).
 
It's just killing me. My order has been percolating with Can Post in Calgary since last Wednesday. Makes me think either the feds put out a notice or posties went for a shoot em up long weekend and lost it.

Usually Quebec is the bottleneck for Canada post. Things that go there just sit and sit and sit. Mississauga has always been very efficient. Calgary USUALLY is too, very quick in and out. Of course, I am only watching so intently because I want to get my mitts on this.

In the meantime, I have coiled up an old coat hanger, given it a nice even temper in an oil bath, I'm hoping it will be stiff enough to use as a replacement hammer spring. I also 3D printed a new firing pin and hammer, decided to swap out the SPAS foregrip for a cool log I found by the creek. Lastly, I think I can reduce a lot of weight if I get rid of the stock barrel and use a length of cpvc pipe (painted carbon black of course for strength). Oh and I only plan to run minishells through it. Hopefully it works as advertised with no issues (if it actually gets here).
I’m anxious for other people to get their hands on these too.

I want to see a lot more field tests.

So far the three people that seem to have shot them in Canada, thus far have had mixed results.
 
The extended magazine limiter is a problem and a fundamental design flaw. I'm a bit shocked it went forward. It doesn't hold the spring retainer cup in place, which can lead to failures. If you force extra shells in, the retainer cup can be pushed into the extension. The little rod stops extra rounds, but does not stop the retainer cup. A simple 3/4 thick, 0.95" diameter puck of something stiff (aluminum, hard plastic) is a quick solution. I have a one piece aluminum solution designed up that replaces the center rod and cap of the magazine extension tube.

While diagnosing the magazine issues, I found another issue. My magazine stop/bolt hold open stopped working. This was just from running snap caps, not shooting. This little pin walked out and jams in the receiver slot. This likely explains the double feeding being intermittent. The pin is loose in the holes, so for now I just super glued it into the black latch piece. I have some press fit grooved pins in my cart the next time I order from McMaster.
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I also took a file to the bolt to solve the receiver chopping. Simple fix. It is what it is.
1000042375.jpg


I'm still happy with the gun and all the problems are expected from a $500 Turkish shotgun. None of them are massive, gun killing issues. Again, it functioned satisfactory when I had it out shooting. I assumed it would have little gremlins here and there. I'm not worried about having to tinker, I almost welcome it. I paid for the meme, not a workhorse. If you aren't ok with that, don't buy it.
 
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I’m anxious for other people to get their hands on these too.

I want to see a lot more field tests.

So far the three people that seem to have shot them in Canada, thus far have had mixed results.
Well I have a private range, and it's been wet around here that I can shoot (without too much worry about sparks now), so if I can get it, I can just take it out and start blasting.

I have no skin in this game at all. I don't generally think much of turkey made guns, BUT I appreciate the effort and initiative taken by TI on this one. They VERY easily could have dumped the gen 1 guns on us and we would have bought them, then likely bought the gen 2s too. So there's that.

I plan to strip it down, clean it and put some good oil in it, then take out a pile of different factory loads and see if I can find one it likes before I dig into the reloads I made. Not every shotgun problem has been resolved for me by just using "high brass", however I have had less problems overall with good quality ammo like federal, than I have with the discount bulk stuff (which is why I started to load my own).

Anyway, I'm sure it'll get here when it gets here, and I'm itching to take it out for a twirl.
 
The magazine limiter is a problem. It doesn't hold the spring retainer cup in place, which can lead to failures. If you force extra shells in, the retainer cup can be pushed into the extensions. The little rod stops extra rounds, but does not hold the retainer cup. A simple 3/4 thick, 0.95" diameter puck of something stiff (aluminum, hard plastic) is a quick solution. I have a one piece aluminum solution designed up that replaces the center rod and cap of the magazine extension tube.

While diagnosing the magazine issues, I found another issue. My magazine stop/bolt hold open stopped working. This was just from running snap caps, not shooting. This little pin walked out and jams in the receiver slot. It's loose in the holes, I'll probably peen it in place or something.
View attachment 1203928

I also took a file to the bolt to solve the receiver chowdering. Simple fix. It is what it is.
View attachment 1203930

I'm still happy with the gun and all the problems are expected from a $500 Turkish shotgun. None of them are massive, gun killing issues. Again, it functioned satisfactory when I had it out shooting. I assumed it would have little gremlins here and there. I'm not worried about having to tinker, I almost welcome it. I paid for the meme, not a workhorse. If you aren't ok with that, don't buy it.
I'm anxious to compare.

My TI "M3" had issues, just gremlins really. Running that one hard took care of it if I recall correctly, I'm going to take it out with the spas as well. I think I had metal shavings in the action after a number of rounds, but then sort of just started working. The pump/auto catch was always defaulting to pump, things like that.

THAT said, when I first got my M4, fresh out of the box, it had issues too, quite a few if I recall correctly. I think most of it was feeding issues and stovepipes, but that fixed itself really quickly with rounds down the pipe. It's been a decade since I bought that, so memory could be fuzzy, but even that $2K+ shotgun needed a break in. I think it actually might have been low brass that that one didn't like. I can't remember what the issue was because it now runs on sneezes if you want it to.

My M2 is one of the very few semi auto shotguns that just worked from day one until today. Light, reliable. It's the only shotgun I've every named, that's how fond I am of that one. Now I'm rambling.
 
My M2 is one of the very few semi auto shotguns that just worked from day one until today. Light, reliable. It's the only shotgun I've every named, that's how fond I am of that one. Now I'm rambling.
My M2 SP has been ZERO malfunctions for hundreds and hundreds of rounds. I’ve done the bolt mod to ghost load it and shortened the long spring (U.S Spring for the longer mag tube) it came with to the correct length. It’s been chugging away ever since.

Update on my Velociraptor gun: it ran 00 buck like a champ except sometimes it leaves the last round on the lifter with the bolt locked back - it thinks it’s empty but it’s not 🤷 this seems indicative of a weak magazine spring. Maybe I’ll put a longer spring in with the existing limiter. See how that goes.

Double feeds had been gone tho.

Maybe I’ll go back to #6 now and see how she does.
 
This was imported as the SP12. Didn't need another FRT entry as the "SPAS" components are just window dressing on an SP12.

You wouldn't need another FRT child entry for 10/22 chassis swaps so why would you need one for this? C'mon people...
Tbh it probably should've gotten a new FRT what with the SPAS version being pump and semi-auto while the standard SG-12 is just semi-auto. From what I've seen of FRT entries they'd have to class the Action as "Other" rather than semi-automatic just like how the real Franchi SPAS-12 FRT entry denotes the action-type. I'd chalk this up to it being overlooked or no one bothering to mention the dual-mode action prior to importing. This whole situation is just tempting fate at this point...
 
Back from the range. Took the gun right out of the box. No oiling nothing.

About 200 shells through it. 150 challenger target 1250 fps, 2 slugs, 20 #6 bird shot 1450, 40 1330fps target

The challenger target was 1250 so I wont comment on the gazillion jam and failure to eject

It did run flawlessly in semi auto with high brass #6 bird shot 1450fps but fail to cycle on slug.

The bolt does not stay locked in pump once close and not fired. Wich can make for akward reloading. The gun is design like this (I believe) but its worth noting.

My bolt release absolutly does not work without pulling the charging handle (in semi auto) wich make for akward reloading, or pulling the forehand in pump.

The stock folding button was very stiff but got better very quickly by playing with it.

I experience 3 light strike with 2 brand of ammo. I dont think I ever experience a single light strike with multiple shotgun and 1000's of rounds in my whole life. I just had 3.

Choke was loose out of the box, I hand tight it and it came loose again. Ill put the wrench on it tonight.

Switching from manual to pump is a breeze on mine.

Action, trigger and recoil are all surprisingly smooth.

It had hippcup loading in pump, were I had the push and pull the forehand a second time for the shell to go.

But of all my issue the one that truly bum me, cause I can live with all the others, is the fact that 3/4 in the session the stock was folded and started to bounce around under the recoil. It was properly lock in. Important to note that I shot 90% of my ammo with the stock folded. Ill post video of it later.

Funny enough, no double feed, beside when I was reloading and not pushing the shell all the way in.

Overall I want this thing to works. Its a really cool looking gun and fun to shoot. If I can fixed my bouncing stock and bolt release ill be satisfied.
 
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