The SPAS-12 is an Italian Shotgun available in Phantom Forces. It is unlocked at rank 120 or could be purchased using credits.
History[]
The Franchi SPAS-12 (Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun-12) is an Italian combat shotgun manufactured by Luigi Franchi S.p.A from 1979 to 2000. It is capable of semi-automatic or pump-action operation with it being designed primarily as a semi auto but having the pump action firemode used to reliably fire low-pressure ammunition such as tear gas rounds.
The SPAS-12 was intended to be a rugged military combat shotgun, hence its name. In 1990, Franchi renamed the shotgun to Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun for continued sales to the United States as a limited-magazine-capacity, fixed-stock model until 1994 when the Federal Assault Weapons Ban was introduced. By the time the Federal Assault Weapons Ban had expired in 2004, Franchi had ended production of the SPAS-12 in 2000 to focus on the production of the SPAS-15.[1]
In-Game[]
General Information []
The SPAS-12 is a high rank semi-automatic shotgun. Damage is on the lower end for a shotgun, with a maximum damage of 30 and minimum damage of 18 per pellet but it is still capable of dealing a one-shot kill (1SK) up close. Range is above-average, with damage beginning to drop off at 43 studs and stopping at 125 studs—its minimum range value being quite good for a shotgun. Its rate of fire (RoF) is slightly above-average for its class, at 200 RPM—slower than other semi-automatic shotguns like the Saiga-12 or DBV12, but higher than any of the pump-action shotguns such as the KSG-12. The SPAS-12 sports average muzzle velocity, at 1500 studs per second. Unlike the Saiga or DBV-12, the SPAS-12 lacks a box magazine, instead having a typical tube magazine where shells are loaded individually. This does mean one can fire the weapon before finishing a complete reload but reloads take longer to perform. Its capacity is slightly higher than average, at eight rounds plus one round in the chamber.
Usage & Tactics[]
The SPAS-12 performs well in closed environments. Being out in the open with the SPAS-12 hinders the user's chances to successfully engage targets at longer ranges. The weapon is most effective when flanking the enemy at close range or attacking capture points at close range. As reloads take longer to perform, it is recommended to reload behind cover or switch to a secondary.
By default, it comes with the stock folded, which obstructs the user's vision immensely. As an alternative, one may use the attachment Extended Stock to use the rear flip up sight instead. In addition, using any optic will unfold the stock. Like with most other shotguns, the SPAS-12 supports an alternative aim position above the default optic.
Given its good 1SK range, a suppressor should be avoided, as it will further increase the spread and decrease the damage. Using a Muzzle Brake can help the user with the strong vertical kick of the shotgun. Other recoil reducing attachments like the Angled Grip, Stubby Grip, or the Green Laser can help make follow up shots easier and rapid. The laser, vertical, and other hipfiring attachments will make close-quarters-combat (CQC) easier with hipfire, cutting out the extra second it takes to aim at the target, potentially winning the firefight. If a user wishes to increase the range, Flechette rounds can be useful.
Conclusion[]
In conclusion, the SPAS-12 performs best in CQC situations due to its lower damage compared to other shotguns. However, when compared to other semi-auto shotguns, it has definite superiority in terms of range and low pellet spread, even to an extent where it can compete against pump-action shotguns and the Stevens DB equipped with Flechette or Birdshot, which allows the player be able maintain a good amount of distance from the enemy and still be able to kill effectively. That is made even more impressive by the fact that all of this can be achieved with just the SPAS’s default buckshot ammunition.
Damage Table for Ammunition Attachments[]
| Hitbox for Flechette | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Max (57.6 studs) | Min (125 studs) | |
| (x1.14) (x8 pellets) Head | 30.78 (246.24) | 20.52 (164.16) |
| (x1.00) (x8 pellets) Torso | 27 (216) | 18 (144) |
| (x1.00) (x8 pellets) Arms and Legs | 27 (216) | 18 (144) |
| Hitbox for Birdshot | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Max (57.6 studs) | Min (125 studs) | |
| (x1.14) (x16 pellets) Head | 30.78 (492.48) | 18.47 (295.488) |
| (x1.00) (x16 pellets) Torso | 27 (432) | 16.2 (259.2) |
| (x1.00) (x16 pellets) Arms and Legs | 27 (432) | 16.2 (259.2) |
| Hitbox for Rubber Pellets | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Max (43.2 studs) | Min (87.5 studs) | |
| (x1.14) (x6 pellets) Head | 44.46 (266.76) | 18.47 (110.808) |
| (x1.00) (x6 pellets) Torso | 39 (234) | 16.2 (97.2) |
| (x1.00) (x6 pellets) Arms and Legs | 39 (234) | 16.2 (97.2) |
| Hitbox for Slugs | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Max (48 studs) | Min (125 studs) | |
| (x2.29) (x1 pellet) Head | 206.1 | 103.05 |
| (x1.20) (x1 pellet) Torso | 108 | 54 |
| (x1.00) (x1 pellet) Arms and Legs | 90 | 45 |
Pros & Cons[]
Pros:
- Good fire rate for its class.
- Decently tight spread for its class.
- Can equip Extended Stock for a clearer sight picture.
- Slugs ammunition enables a 1SK to the head at all ranges.
- Fastest reload times in-class.
- Access to Pump Action attachment, which decreases spread drastically.
Cons:
- Somewhat obstructive default Iron Sights.
- RoF can easily be oversampled.
- High vertical recoil.
- Previously mentioned pump action reduces RPM.
Trivia[]
- The SPAS-12 in-game has an 18-inch barrel with a muzzle device at the end already, likely being a choke device.
- The SPAS-12, with Slugs, is the second fastest firing weapon that can 1SK to the head at any range. The first is the KAC SRR, at 400 RPM.
- Previously, with the implementation of the M107, the SPAS-12 would be beaten out by its 200 RPM, but it was then reduced to 55 RPM, leaving the SPAS-12 in first place. Today, after Update 5.7.3, both the SPAS-12 with Slugs and the M107 are now tied with the second-fastest firing weapon as the latter's firerate has now raised back to 200 RPM.
- In real life, the SPAS-12 has a charging handle located on the shell ejector, which could be use to load up the weapon like other semi-automatic shotguns.
- The SPAS 12's description, as of the Summer 2020/Canadian Independence Day update is incorrect. As currently in-game, the SPAS 12 holds eight shells (Or 9 when chambered) instead of the 7 rounds presented in the description.
- The SPAS-12 was originally in the alpha stage of Phantom Forces. It was removed when the game transitioned into its beta.
- The weapon was developer-only, so a regular player would have never seen it unless a developer was in the server.
- The SPAS-12 was the first Italian primary weapon to be added into the game. However, it is not the first Italian weapon to be added to the game, since the M9, made by Beretta, has existed in the game ever since development began in August 2014
- The SPAS-12 is one of the only guns in the game being able to equip 3 attachments by default which are Extended stock, Flashlight, and Pump-action.
- It has an incorrect reload animation. In real life, you would have to hold down a button to load in the shell, but the character never does that in-game.
- This error was later corrected.
- Like the Škorpion vz. 61, equipping most optics will cause the stock to extend, although it does not offer much of a stat difference.
- Equipping the Pump Action attachment will give the SPAS-12 the same firerate as its Half-Life counterpart.