The new FABARM STF/12 Composite XL Range 22" QTA 12-gauge pump-action shotgun is the latest entry in the wildly popular STF/12 line of tactical, sporting, and defensive shotguns offered for years now by the Italian company both to civilian and MIL/LE/Government customers... and it's also the longest variant and the one offering the highest capacity.

While most shotguns in the STF/12 line, as of today, had been built for maneuverability and controllability in short-to-mid range engagement situations – making them ideal for CQB, room clearing, home and property defense, tactical applications, and for some practical and tactical shooting sports disciplines – the new FABARM STF/12 Composite XL Range 22" QTA model was designed specifically to counter First Person View (FPV) drones.

Conceived for the commercial market, and thus cheaply and readily available mostly worldwide, these small drones have risen to prominence on the battlefield in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The last three years saw their combat use proliferate worldwide, both among regular militaries and guerrilla/insurrectional groups, as their small size combined to their high speed and maneuverability makes them ideal for reconnaissance, target acquisition, and even direct attack when adapted to deliver small explosive devices.

This also makes FPV drones potentially adaptable for use in large-scale terror attacks, turning them into a point of concern for law enforcement agencies. That's why the shotguns industry has been scrambling for the past few years to churn out dedicated solutions for drone warfare, and FABARM's new STF/12 Composite XL Range 22" QTA pump-action shotgun represents one of the most versatile alternatives to date.

Based on the well-known, super-smooth FABARM STF/12 action and on all the other features the STF/12 series is known for – 7075-T6 alloy receiver, "Racing"-type competition trigger, slip-proof Grip 3D finished handguard and pistol grip, Soft Touch finished side-folding buttstock, and many more – the new FABARM STF/12 Composite XL Range 22" QTA shotgun comes from factory with 22" barrel and an extended magazine tube holding eight 12-gauge, 76mm / 3" shells (plus one in chamber).

The stock, grip and handguard are finished in black, and the barrel is protected by a matte black Cerakote finish, while the magazine tube, receiver, and heat shield are finished in MIL-SPEC green Cerakote. The high-accuracy Tribore HP barrel comes from factory with an Extended XL Range choke for tighter, more accurate pattern spread at longer ranges.

Just like on all other FABARM shotguns, the barrel of the STF/12 Compact XL Range 22" QTA model is proofed to withstand up to 1,630 Bar in pressure, making it viable for long-term use with steel shot or other types of particularly dense specialty ammunition for drone warfare or other tactical applications.

As a namesake, the new STF/12 variant comes with FABARM's own, brand new QTA Quick Target Acquisition sights, specifically designed to facilitate target acquisition, target leading, and accurate shooting on small fast-movers such as – ditto – FPV drones.