
Specifications
Year: 1990
Manufacturer(s): Franchi S.p.A. - Italy
Roles: Close Quarters Battle (CQB)/Personal Security;
Manufacturer(s): Franchi S.p.A. - Italy
Roles: Close Quarters Battle (CQB)/Personal Security;
Action: Manually-Actuated Pump-Action Slide
Caliber(s): 12-gauge
Sights: Forward Iron
Overall Length: 1,020 mm (40.16 in)
Barrel Length: 610 mm (24.02 in)
Weight (Unloaded): 6.83 lb (3.10 kg)
Caliber(s): 12-gauge
Sights: Forward Iron
Overall Length: 1,020 mm (40.16 in)
Barrel Length: 610 mm (24.02 in)
Weight (Unloaded): 6.83 lb (3.10 kg)
Operators: Italy; Spain
The PA series was born through the original "PA-7" model. This featured a clean rectangular metal receiver with right side ejection port and integral grip with shoulder stock. The smoothbore barrel was mounted over the tube magazine which managed 12 gauge ammunition in a 5- or 7-round count form. The pump slide was ribbed in the usual way for better gripping and seated over the magazine tube for easy access. Bringing the slide rearwards cleared the firing chamber of spent shells (through a mechanical ejection process) while introducing a fresh shell from the available spring-loaded tube magazine. The PA-7 was given a solid wooden shoulder stock and a sighting aperture was fitted just aft of the muzzle. Available barrel lengths were 18.5" and 24".
The PA-8 was the dedicated tactical police version which lacked the wooden shoulder stock. Instead, this assembly was replaced by a stand-alone plastic pistol grip. The stock was a foldable metal unit which could lay over the receiver (as in the SPAS-12 series). All other functionality remained faithful to the PA-7 and, again, barrel lengths of 18.5" and 24" were featured. The PA-8 was manufactured through the PA-8E and PA-8L models with subtle differences in between.
Variants / Models
• PA7 - Varnished rifle-style wooden buttstock
• PA8 - Hard plastic pistol-style grip
• PA8E - Hard plastic pistol-style grip; fixed buttstock; 18.5- or 24-inch barrel lengths.
• PA8I - Up-and-Over folding metal stock; 18.5- or 24-inch barrel lengths.