The first SPAS12 and SAS12
and LAW12 used the old style shock absorber shown above. It
was (I think) made out of cast Cast Nylon 6, not a very good material.
It yellowed and became brittle over time. The tit that held
the part in finally broke off on most of them, with the rest suffering
a fracture of the whole part into shards.
Franchi then converted
to this part, the new style. It was still cast nylon with
a tit, but had two new features. One, a steel face (with belly button
hole) and, two, a slotted cylinder body versus the old "Hershey's Kiss."
The steel face did stop the total fragmentation of the part; it
distributed the load evenly to all the material.
The old style really
had no way to compress when hit except deform the small amount outside
the receiver's recess. The new part had a much longer body and the
whole body could compress. The grooves on the sides allowed the part
to deform and get a bit "fatter" when hit, allowing it to take the shock
better. It lasted longer, but the nylon still turned yellow and
brittle. And the tit broke off, releasing not only nylon shards but
the steel disc into the gun's action.
This new style was also
used on the SPAS15.
More details on how they
failed.
I make replacements for both
the old style and new style shocks. The material
used is UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight) Polyethylene. For information
on materials -- UHMW Polyethylene, Polyurethane, Nylon -- click on Material Properties. The
part material has a forever guarantee -- it will outlast you and
the gun. We have never had a failure (or a single customer return
for any reason).
I use a small screw to hold
the shock in. Yes, you can buy replacement parts with the plastic
tit on them. They pop right in! And they will fall right out.
You can use one if it falling out at some point won't be a problem
-- carry a spare! Yes, sure seems simpler to pop one in. But
Franchi never made that work, and you likely won't either.
Be sure you determine
which part you need -- the new style or the old style.
Look here for details. (Yes,
if you mess up, I'll swap parts).
Material Properties
Which Style Do You Need?
Installation
| New-Style The cost is $39.95 plus S&H |
NEW STYLE IS OUT OF STOCK. |
| Old-Style The cost is $34.95 plus S&H |
Shipping and handling is a flat rate of $8.00 per order to anywhere in the USA, sent via USPS First Class Mail (2-5 Days).
