BO Dynamics FABARM STF 12 Short Initial Pump-Action Gas Shotgun

If you need a platform to get the first shot off when entering a room and almost guarantee a hit, the BO Dynamics FABARM STF 12 Short Initial Pump-action Gas Shotgun is exactly that. This full metal gas pump action shotgun is officially licenced by FABARM, Italy, boasting licenced trademarks across the design and a futuristic style unlike any other shotgun on the market.

Internally, this beast is based on the Tokyo Marui M870 gas shotgun design, meaning it feeds from TM shell-style tri-shot shotgun magazines and offers either 3 BBs per trigger pull or 6; perfect for taking down a fast-moving foe in a CQB environment. This, the "Short Initial" variant is the breaching-optimised STF 12, the perfect length for a shotgun secondary designed for close encounters with a minimalist design which lends itself perfectly to use by the "point man". If you like futuristically styled shotguns or want shotgun functionality without the plain Jane M870 look, the STF 12 Compact is the one for you!

Starting up front, we are greeted with the gaping 12-gauge sized bore, giving the enemy a seriously intimidating view even before the STF 12 Short Initial is fired. The lack of the breaching choke present on the Compact Version gives the Short Initial a sleek, low drag style and also allows the T238 RGB Shotgun Tracer to be mounted, the ideal shotgun accessory for CQB.

Just below, we have the mock magazine tube which in the real steel STF 12 serves as the magazine, with a 4+1 shell capacity. In Airsoft terms, this makes a nifty place to store spare shells, and although they aren't readily accessible, this is your best option if you're throwing the STF 12 Short Initial onto a backpack for specific roles at a milsim skirmish. To store shells inside, simply unscrew the front cap.

The pump arm of the STF 12 is superbly designed, complete with linear grooves to improve traction, a 20mm Picatinny rail ready for your laser or tactical flashlight and a hand stop so you don't accidentally shoot your own hand when operating the pump quickly. A combination of its spring-free gas power source and superbly designed pump arm make the STF 12 very quick to rack, much quicker than comparable 870's in our opinion.

Moving rearwards, we come to the aluminium heat shield running along the top of the alloy outer barrel, serving in the real steel to protect your hands from coming into contact with the potentially hot barrel. The headshield gives the STF 12 an aggressive, futuristic look with its angular vent ports and also includes a set of white dot iron sights with a fine aperture, giving you a compact and low-profile aiming solution ideal for a shotgun secondary used for breaching. If you want to add a 20mm Picatinny rail like the Compact Version, you're in luck! The 20mm Picatinny Top Rail for STF 12 Shotguns fits right on. 

The receiver itself is a similar shape to the old-school 870 but with angular surfaces to blend perfectly with the STF 12 aesthetic. Layout-wise, the STF 12 follows the familiar 870 control placement but with an ambidextrous shell door catch, enlarged safety button and enlarged trigger guard. The shell door catch is located in front of the trigger guard and is easy to press for fast reloads in CQB and the safety catch is to the rear of the trigger, requiring a push-through from the right to unlock the trigger, or from the left to lock it.

On the bottom, we can find the shell port which is where you insert the shotshell-style magazine. This is simple and easy to do, and when you run out of rounds, hit the shell door release and the shell will be kicked out, ready for the next one! This means the STF 12 is very fast to reload after some practice, though due to the depth of the receiver, it is not compatible with shotgun drum magazines.

On either side, we are treated to licensed FABARM trademarks, immaculately engraved exactly like the real thing. The right side features "FABARM PROFESSIONAL", "OVERPRESSURE TESTED 1638 BAR" and "STF/12" with even more in-depth manufacturer markings over on the left. This gives the STF 12 an elite look, adding to its already exciting high-end aesthetic with an air of plausibility.

The pistol grip is a comfortable ergonomic design, with linear texture on the front and rear, shaped to provide an index point on either side for the shooter's thumb. The grip also contains the gas reservoir of the STF 12, requiring the shotgun to be inverted to fill with gas. This also opens up potential HPA conversion opportunities for those that way inclined!

The ultra-compact form of this "breacher" style shotgun makes it a fantastic secondary platform, kept handy for close encounters in sites with a variety of different engagement ranges. As a CQB primary, the STF 12 Short Initial is about as lean and mean as it gets, providing a shotgun-like spread for easy hits on moving targets with an instant trigger response to aid you in getting the first shot off when bursting into a room.

If you're looking for a specialised CQB tool you can easily carry along with your usual primary, the FABARM STF 12 Short Initial from BO Dynamics is exactly that. Compact and agile, full metal with licenced trademarks and the choice of either 3-shot or 6-shot mode, this is the doorkicker's best friend!

Features

• Full metal construction - Hefty & realistic
• 3 or 6 BBs per trigger pull - Realistic shotgun-like spread, great for moving targets
• Aluminium heat shield - Ultra-modern looks
• 20mm Picatinny railed pump arm - Mount a laser or flashlight here for CQB
• Hand stop built into the pump arm - Stops you overshooting the pump and shooting your own hand!
• Light-enhancing iron sights - Ghost ring style, easy to pick up in low-light environments
• Enlarged trigger guard - Easy access to the trigger, even when wearing gloves
• Ambidextrous shell door release - Swap shell magazines from either side
• Push through safety catch - Push through from the left to unlock the trigger
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Shaped well with linear gripping grooves for traction
• Steel sling points front and rear - Ready for a two-point sling
• Gas reservoir inside the pistol grip - Invert the shotgun to fill with gas
• Compatible with Tokyo Marui-style tri-shot shotgun shell magazines
• NOT Compatible with drum magazines - What a shame!
• 20mm Picatinny top rail with light enhancing iron sights available here
• Compatible with the T238 RGB Shotgun Tracer Unit - The perfect compliment for CQB!

Package Includes

• BO Dynamics FABARM STF 12 Short Initial Pump-action Gas Shotgun
• 3 x 30rnd Shotgun Shell Magazines
• Speedloader