Turkish SPAS-12? | Classic Reproduction or Turkish Junk Disaster??? | Sulun SPA-12 | IWA 2026, Nuremburg, Germany

Posted by Linemount@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 72 comments

At IWA 2026 in Nuremburg, Germany there were a large number of Turkish firearms manufacturers represented. There has been a lot of chatter about the influx of cheap Turkish-manufactured shotguns into the US in recent years, which has in turn spawned an entire sub-culture of internetters who love to hate them. There are actually a lot of high-quality Turkish firearms available on the US market, however for some reason Turkish shotguns priced at the poverty-tier tend to be poorly manufactured and have attained a bad reputation.

Here is the Sulun SPA-12, the much-talked about Turkish reproduction of the legendary Italian Franchi SPAS-12. This new shotgun goes to great lengths to copy the original SPAS-12 down to very fine details. Featuring a vented heat shield, folding stock, and imposing profile, the SPA-12 delivers the classic SPAS-12 look at a much more affordable (dare I say almost too cheap???) price point than original examples. According to my research, the Sulun SPA-12 aims to replicate the dual-mode capability of the original, allowing shooters to switch between pump-action and semi-automatic operation. That would be pretty sweet if true.

Just like other Turkish shotguns it looks quite nice! I didn’t get a chance to interrogate the representative about the shotgun but the primary concern for potential buyers will probably be quality.

The main difference I can see between a standard SPAS-12 and the Turkish SPA-12 is that the latter has a picatinny rail. This example is also missing the hook that goes on the end of the folding stock, which I believe is removable on the standard SPAS-12 anyway.

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mikaru86@reddit

Picked up mine today from a dealer buddy that ordered one for me from the German importer. It came with a fixed stock installed, but the folding stock was included (with the hook even). For legal reasons, I had to fix the folding stock in place (a simple 3D printed spacer clipped onto the push button installed in the grip did the trick), but it looks 100x better with it installed than with the one it came with.

I also removed the picatinny rail for the classic look. There also looks to be a block in the magazine extension, that may be removable. But I'll test the gun first before messing with that. The magazine spring is held inside the part the extension screws on to and it has a rod inside that seems to be screwed in. It might be possible to unscrew it and remove the clip that holds in the spring to get the full 8+1 capacity (it was advertised as 5+1).

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BigRed_Renegade@reddit

Please update us on your experience with this.

I am actively talking with sulun arms now. Apparently they sell these to bronco arms/defense. I haven't found a US video shooting these yet. I am working on getting a few samples so we can test them out.

If all goes well, we may bring a bunch into country.

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mikaru86@reddit

First two trips to the range were a bit of a mixed bag. Started out with Rottweil 12/70 Special Trap 2.4mm 28g (my go to steel plate load) and it did not like that at all. Massive short stroking, stovepipes, failure to feed, etc.

Switched to some Forest Ammo 12/70 Crowbuster 2.7mm 32g HV after taking it apart (on the range) and spraying some oil onto everything. That seemed to have worked better, but still not making it through a 5 round mag without at least one issue. Mainly failures to feed where the round gets hung up on the mouth of the chamber or double feeds where a second shell is released from the magazine which then gets stuck between the mag and the lifter.

So I ran a box of the Crowbuster and two boxes of the Rottweil in pump action mode. Still plenty of problems with feeding and the mag, but slowly getting better.

Then I tried some Brenneke 12/67.5 K.O. CleanSpeed Plus 28.4g slugs in semi auto mode again. They fed much better (and no short stroking), but the magazine / cartridge stop issue persists. I did occasionally make it through a mag without issues, but rarely.

After that trip, I tore it down at home, cleaned and lubed everything and removed the magazine restriction. The extension had a rod screwed into it and the spring was held in the magazine tube with a clip. Now it has the original 8+1 capacity again. I was hoping that this would help with the magazine issue (reduced spring pressure slowing down the feeding speed and allowing the cartridge stop to snap into place in time again). But that was not the case. The Crowbuster still doesn't run at all (plenty of gas, just not feeding reliably into the chamber and plenty of double feeds from the mag). The Brenneke slugs are starting to run somewhat reliably. No failures to feed during the last trip, but still several double feeds from the mag.

Not sure what the problem is, maybe cartridge length (I have only tested 12/70 and 12/67.5 yet, not true 12/76) or something wrong with the cartridge stop. I'll try our some different ammo and if that doesn't help get in touch with the importer for assistance.

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BigRed_Renegade@reddit

Fantastic writeup! I will share your notes with them and see what they say.

Badfly48@reddit

Imagine this thing gets imported over here and it's in the $700-900 range... Instant buy for me. Don't even care if it cycles properly.

Yo_Mommas_fupa_69@reddit

MSRP is projected to be $350-$400

I'm looking at my email now for dealer cost. It won't be selling for 350-400$

SheepdogArms@reddit

Someone misspoke. MSRP is closer to 1,000. The dude at Shot Show was wrong.

Honestly, I believe you. I was shocked at how low they said it was coming in

MSRP here in Germany is 1140 EUR (including 19% VAT, so roughly 1110 USD without tax). But they are listed for as low as 999 EUR (975 USD without tax). I paid even less, because I got a good deal on it from my buddy. So sub 1000 USD seems reasonable, even with some margin for the importer and dealer, especially since there is less overhead in the US (e.g. no mandatory proofing).

DarkMatterM4@reddit

Do you have a source for that? I can't imagine materials + shipping costs they'd make a profit selling it that cheap.

The rep at shot show was saying $400. Someone else said they had it wrong and I wouldn’t be surprised because I don’t see $400 being a profitable number either.

RedditPoster05@reddit

The original didn’t even cycle all that well if I’m not mistaken

Hammermier2@reddit

It would be just like the Spas then lol

bowtie_k@reddit

The Italian one is junk so I would expect the Turkish to be as bad or worse than the original

USS-Hellcat@reddit

This is where I am at on it. If Franchi couldn't make the thing worth a damn I doubt Turkey will be able to.

McMacHack@reddit

They did such a bad job that it actually works as intended

Okietwist3r@reddit

Failed into success! Next they’ll make hi points that don’t jam! 😂

skippythemoonrock@reddit

Needs to ship without those generic windows font engravings though, those are hideous

Dhavi_Atoz@reddit

Everyone: “OMG. SPAS. Want even if Turkshit.” You: “OMG. Helvetica.”

This combined with the upcoming Bronco SPS F, it looks like we soon might not need to pay $6,000 to do our Half-Life/Jurassic Park LARP

https://broncoarms.com/tacsx-12-sps-f/

One in the same

LiberalLamps@reddit

The Bronco at shot show broke just from people handling it. Not getting my hopes up but if they don’t suck too much I’ll be buying one.

So it's exactly like a real SPAS-12!

Clean_Brush1041@reddit

sign me up.

dolanotrumpo@reddit

Dealers in here Switzerland already have them, around CHF 650.-

GunsAndWrenches2@reddit

How many dead presidents is that?

About 870 of Washingtons.

Yikes

I think people with actual SPAS-12s pay that just for the hook that's always missing. I'd buy this in a heartbeat for 870.

Zippo963087@reddit

Sign me up, I want one!

Adept-Replacement213@reddit

Clever girl…

JustACanadianGuy07@reddit

Man, i dont care if it works, i want a spas 12

TacTurtle@reddit

Is it as unreliable as the original SPAS-12?

Impossible_Wait_8326@reddit

Mine never gave me problems. I only shot high brass OO buckshot in it tho.

Humdrum_Blues@reddit

Turkish Junk Disaster

Great, it'll be just like the original!

Heavy AF but intimidating AF 😝 It don’t kick much I’ll give it that. I got some 8 pellet OO buckshot in mine. Worth a good bit too I was surprised. Didn’t think the original was that expensive now.

BerniceFighter@reddit

Finally a Turkish shotgun I'd roll the dice on

GopherPorn@reddit

The Panzer Arms m4 is solid though

WarlockEngineer@reddit

The 12 gauge g3 looked like fun

roostersnuffed@reddit

Just stay away from the AUG clone, it cracks/explodes.

Shame, it looks so cool with that big barrel, like it could be an AUG based 20mm launcher or something.

WTFisThatSMell@reddit

https://youtu.be/_UoGWbDr-E0?si=de6M1r1OqtEaID8J

HemHaw@reddit

The turk Benelli M4 I got fucks rather hard. The wood on it is lovely too, if not traditional.

xj98jeep@reddit

I got the Mac m1014 and it's been great. The wood is sexy and haven't had any issues yet

That's some Turkshit I'd actually buy, assuming it's at Turkshit pricing.

Linemount@reddit (OP)

Closeup image of the SPA-12.

47_aimbots@reddit

It's too bad all the actually good Turkish gun makers who make quality stuff get buried in a sea of trash quality guns

StraightFlight@reddit

Imagine they copy the shit safety (non push button) and still don’t give you a safe way unload the chamber 😂

ImranFZakhaev@reddit

The earlier bad safety (as well as the later push button) were both independent of the lever used for unloading the chamber

Bambinorino@reddit

I just want to put the grip/stock assembly on other guns

Master-CylinderPants@reddit

Right? I want the furniture, not the shitty gun

Lord_Vorkosigan@reddit

Turkish copy of a gun that already has a ton of issues doesn't bode well

That said I want one

uselessheathen@reddit

Fantastic username.

Icy_Guarantee_3463@reddit

LoL--https://www.deltamike.co.nz/product/sulun-spas-12-12ga/

borg2@reddit

It looks cool but from the moment I hear Brazil or Turkey I'm out.

2010-Ford-Focus-RS@reddit

I don't care if it sucks ass, I desperately need one

Preauxmetheus@reddit

This was at SHOT. By the last day they weren't letting people handle it because it was already broken. Wish I was kidding but they would not let me do an interview with them.

WVGunsNGoats@reddit

The bronco one or the Sulun one, of course with turk shotguns it may be hard to tell…

Darthaerith@reddit

Instant buy. Thats one of the few shotguns I actually want and would sell my kidney for if I had to.

sporknitebattlepass@reddit

Yeah, that’s tight

classic reproduction or junk disaster

Why did you repeat yourself?