How to Remove SPAS-12 Recoil Buffers

The SPAS-12 is a 12-gauge short-barrel combat shotgun designed for law enforcement and military use. Manufactured by Luigi Franchi S.p.A. in Italy beginning in 1979, it was banned from further import into the United States in 1989. The selective-fire shotgun has an option for either pump-action or gas-operated semi-automatic fire. The recoil buffer, also known as a receiver shock absorber, is a nylon insert mounted in the back of the receiver to dampen the impact of the bolt as it moves forcibly to the rear in gas-operated recoil action. OEM receiver shock absorbers in the SPAS-12 proved to have short functional life and disintegrated with heavy use. Failure of the shock absorber allows metal-to-metal contact between bolt and receiver, causing severe damage to the receiver. Aftermarket receiver shock absorbers made of more resilient polyethylene are easily installed.

Things You'll Need

  • Small pin punch
  • Screwdriver
  • Small screwdriver, dental pick or other prying instrument
  • Needle nose pliers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Verify that the shotgun is unloaded and point it in a safe direction.

    • 2

      Close the bolt.

    • 3

      Remove the large mounting screw on the rear of the pistol grip. Take off the pistol grip to expose the external end of the receiver and the mounting tab hole for the receiver shock absorber.

    • 4

      Locate the two trigger assembly mounting pins on the right side of the receiver above the trigger. Push the two trigger assembly mounting pins out of the receiver using a small metal pin punch.

    • 5

      Pull the trigger guard down and remove the trigger assembly from the receiver. The receiver shock absorber is now exposed inside the receiver.

    • 6

      Pry out the original receiver shock absorber -- or whatever fragments remain -- from inside the receiver using a small screwdriver, a dental pick or other small prying instrument.

    • 7

      Move to the rear of the receiver. If the mounting tab of the original shock absorber or some remnant of it is still in place, either punch it forward and into the receiver with a metal punch or pluck it out its mounting hole from the back of the receiver with a pair of needle nose pliers.

    • 8

      Install replacement receiver shock absorber.