Franchi SPAS-15

Automatic Combat Assault Shotgun

Italy | 1996

"The Franchi SPAS-15 was developed to replace the earlier SPAS-12 combat shotgun."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Franchi SPAS-15. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

130 ft
39.6 m | 43.3 yds
Max.Eff.Range

4
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

Physical
The physical qualities of the Franchi SPAS-15. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,000 mm
39.37 in
O/A Length

450 mm
17.72 in
Barrel Length

8.60 lb
3.90 kg
Weight

Rotating Bolt; Manual Pump-Action / Gas-Actuated
Action

12 gauge
Caliber(s)

3-, 6- or 8-round detachable box magazine
Feed

Optional
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Franchi SPAS-15 Automatic Combat Assault Shotgun family line.

SPAS-15 - Base Series Designation.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/09/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Franchi SPAS-15 shotgun is an automatic shotgun capable of firing multiple rounds without the need for a conventional and traditional manual pump-action slide system. At the time of its inception, the shotgun type was one of the few to be considered truly automatic in the sense that the user did not need to manually actuate a pump slide to introduce a new shell into the firing chamber. The weapon could fire traditional slugs, buckshot, flechette or flare rounds from a 3- 6- or 8-round detachable box magazine.

Utilizing some of the mechanics of the preceding SPAS-12 combat shotgun a pump-action / gas-actuated system, Luigi Franchi SpA developed the new SPAS-15 family. A key differentiating factor was its ability to fire in semi-automatic mode from a detachable box magazine as opposed to a tubular magazine design. Outwardly, the SPAS-15 also took on a more "assault rifle" form consistent with automatic fire and included a long-running handle grip atop the receiver, a wire collapsible buttstock, straight magazine, pistol grip and pump-action slide foregrip. The barrel was fitted underneath the gas tube and capped with a muzzle brake. The cocking handle was fitted atop the receiver within the hand grip loop.

The SPAS-15 weighed in at 8.5lbs and sported an overall extended length of 39 inches with the collapsing buttstock decreasing its overall size to 30 inches when folded. The smooth bore barrel measured in at 18 inches while the weapon was chambered for 12 gauge shells. The fire action was completed through either a pump-action facility or gas-actuated system utilizing an internal rotating bolt mechanism. Effective range was listed up to 130 feet though accuracy was generally higher at close ranges.

Franchi has since completed all serial production of the SPAS-15 series with primary operators becoming the Italian Army, Portugal and Serbia. Many more semi-automatic and automatic shotgun forms have since entered development or the shotgun market, many with an eye on potentially lucrative military contracts.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Franchi SPAS-15. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Spas-Franchi S.p.A. - Italy

[ Brazil; Italy; Portugal; Serbia ]

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Going Further...
The Franchi SPAS-15 Automatic Combat Assault Shotgun appears in the following collections:

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