Sulun Arms SPASS-12, the return of a legendary shotgun
One of the world's most iconic tactical shotguns is back: the Sulun Arms company of Turkey offers the SPASS-12, a clone of the Franchi SPAS-12 upgraded to meet modern needs
Sulun Arms SPASS-12, the return of a legendary shotgun
For the second time in a year, one of the most iconic shotguns of modern times – the Franchi SPAS-12, a legend of the 1980s, made famous by countless movies, videogames, and TV shows – makes a comeback on the global commercial markets, a quarter century after going out of production.
And, once again, it's a Turkish company to do the deed: after the Bronco Arms SPS-F first showcased back in January in Las Vegas, at the 2026 edition of SHOT Show, now its Sulun Arms to introduce a clone of the SPAS-12, dubbed the "SPASS-12" (sic!).
The Sulun Arms SPASS-12 is an almost completely correct clone of the iconic Italian tactical shotgun, but like the Bronco Arms version, this too can be distinguished by a set of differences in engineering, manufacturing and operation, aimed at fixing some of the best known drawbacks of the original.
To begin with, the Sulun Arms SPASS-12 is built around a lightweight aluminum alloy semi-automatic shotgun receiver, more specifically the receiver of a Benelli clone, which is a mainstay of the Turkish civilian arms industry; this is cause of some cosmetic differences in the outline of the receiver, but allows Sulun Arms to keep manufacturing costs, and thus the final price tag, relatively low.
Sulun Arms SPASS-12 semi-automatic/pump-action 12-gauge shotgun – right side
Sulun Arms SPASS-12 semi-automatic/pump-action 12-gauge shotgun – left side
The working system is also radically different, at least in part: like the Italian original, the Sulun Arms SPASS-12 comes with a sliding forend with a button at the bottom that allows the gun to be converted on the fly from semi-automatic to pump-action, thus making it compatible with all sorts of ammunition – including low-pressure less-lethal shells that are normally a less-than-ideal fit with semiautos.
The SPASS-12, however, replaces the original gas-operated semi-automatic working system with a more modern and reliable Benelli-type inertia driven system; the 76 mm / 3" chamber also allows the Sulun Arms SPASS-12 to feed most modern shotshells, unlike the original's 2.¾" / 70mm chamber which is not compatible with many popular loads of today.
Sulun Arms SPASS-12 semi-automatic/pump-action 12-gauge shotgun – stock unfolded
The Sulun Arms SPASS-12 shotgun feeds through a magazine tube holding up to five 3", 12-gauge shotshells, or six 2.¾" 12-gauge shells; a sixth shell can be hosted in chamber for quick operation.
The charging handle, bolt catch release button, and crossbolt manual safety all depart from the original SPAS-12 style and are more similar to those of a modern Benelli shotgun.
The Sulun Arms SPASS-12 is also compatible with standard stocks
The 51 cm / 20" or 56 cm / 22" barrel features a fixed choke and a ventilated parkerized stamped steel shroud which, like the black polymer pump, is a clone-correct version of the original Franchi SPAS-12 components.
The Sulun Arms SPASS-12 shotgun comes from factory with a ribbed black polymer pistol grip and upfolding parkerized stamped steel stock with spring-operated buttpad that are correct clones of the original Italian SPAS-12.
A removable hook for single-handed use, like that found on the original SPAS-12, also comes issued from factory.
The SPASS-12 is also compatible with standard stocks, particularly for those jurisdictions that restrict the presence of certain features on civilian firearms or even just on those used for hunting purposes.
The front and rear sights of the Sulun Arms SPASS-12 are, once again, clone-correct variants of the original sights.
The SPASS-12 also comes with a drilled and tapped receiver and is issued from factory with a Picatinny rail from optics, which can easily be removed should the user want to keep his shotgun more similar to the Italian original.
Standing at 109 cm / 43" with its stock unfolded and 82 cm / 32" with its stock upfolded, the Sulun Arms SPASS-12 tips the scales at 9.5 lbs (4,3 kg) when empty, which is very close to the already hefty overall weight of the original.
The Sulun Arms SPASS-12 shotgun is already in distribution in some Countries in Europe – such as in Poland – and in the United States and Canada, where it is also known as the SLN-12 and as the SG-12 Gen.2. For additional information, visit the official Sulun Arms website.
