BO Dynamics FABARM STF 12 Compact Pump-Action Gas Shotgun

If you love a shotgun which looks a bit different, the BO Dynamics FABARM STF 12 Compact Pump-Action Gas Shotgun should be right up your street! This full metal licenced replica of the real steel FABARM STF 12 has a style all of its own, with an ergonomic pistol grip, side folding stock, and quick detach 20mm Picatinny receiver rail, improving on the usual M870 style layout considerably with some thoughtful ergonomic and aesthetic enhancements.

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 "Compact" variant is the combat-optimised STF 12, the perfect length for clearing rooms and equipped with an extended mock shell tube and menacing muzzle choke at the front for a real beast of a build. 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 a terrifying sight; the pre-installed muzzle choke, a design intended to be pressed against door locks and hinges, thus its rather spikey front face. This choke is a big part of the STF 12 look, blending perfectly with its overall ultra-modern feature set and making it as useful for a cutting-edge breacher loadout as it is for a skirmisher seeking a sci-fi primary.

Just below, we have an extended mock magazine tube which in the real steel STF 12 provides extra capacity for the tube magazine. 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 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 quick detach 20mm Picatinny rail running along the top and extending back to the receiver, complete with pre-installed light-enhancing ghost ring iron sights. The sights are fully adjustable for windage and elevation and are very similar to the superb sights provided with the ASG Scorpion EVO 3A1, if not the same.

Removing the top rail allows you to shave a bit of weight off the STF 12, a useful addition if you're planning on using this beastly shotgun as your secondary. To remove the rail, simply loosen the thumb screw behind the rear sight on the right side, rotate the thumbscrew up and over the receiver to protrude on the left side and the rail should rotate away from the rear of the receiver to the left by 90-degrees, after which it can be lifted free. Beneath the rail, we also have another set of white dot iron sights with a fine aperture, meaning if you want to run the STF 12 without its top rail you can still take aimed shots!

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!

At the rear of the receiver, we come to our final steel sling point and the side folding stock of the STF 12. Like with the front sling point, BO Dynamics have gone to extra lengths to ensure you can still sling the STF 12 even if you cover it with optics, lasers, and flashlights thanks to the robust steel construction of the point. The stock folding button follows just behind, similar in style to the SG550 rifle and equally functional. Pressing the button allows the stock to be swung over to the right side, locking in place on the steel lug. This means if you find your environment a bit to cramped for the STF 12, fold your stock and you'll nearly halve the overall length!

The stock also includes a rubber butt plate for optical gripping qualities in all weather conditions and is a strong, A-frame design made from fantastic quality high-density polymer. Either in the folded or deployed position, this stock doesn't budge an inch, a testament to the tight tolerances of the external parts.

Internally, the STF 12 is based around the Tokyo Marui M870 internal design, meaning you have access to a 3 BB mode or 6 BB mode. To switch modes, rack the pump back. With this done, you should see the selector switch inside the ejection port, protruding at the front behind the detailed mock bolt. With the switch at the front, you're on 3-shot mode and at the rear is the truly evil 6-shot mode. While most CQB sites will insist you stick to 3 shot, the 6 shot mode is a fantastic option for outdoor play, improving hit probability when engaging a moving target significantly!

If you like your shotguns with a touch of style, leaning into the futuristic look, the STF 12 Compact from BO Dynamics is a sure choice. With a full metal build, licensed trademarks and the TM 870 system at the heart of this beast, you cannot run and you cannot hide from the STF 12 Compact Pump-Action Gas Shotgun!

Features

• Full metal construction - Hefty & realistic
• 3 or 6 BBs per trigger pull - Realistic shotgun-like spread, great for moving targets
• Breaching Choke pre-installed - Menacing muzzle device, careful when running!
• Extended mock magazine tube - Just like the real STF 12 Compact!
• Aluminium heat shield - Ultra-modern looks
• QD upper 20mm Picatinny rail - Ready for your choice of optic, quick removable to save weight
• 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
• Side folding stock - Rubber butt plate, folds and locks to the right side
• Compatible with Tokyo Marui-style tri-shot shotgun shell magazines
• NOT Compatible with drum magazines - What a shame!

Package Includes

• BO Dynamics FABARM STF 12 Compact Pump-Action Gas Shotgun
• 3 x 30rnd Shotgun Shell Magazines
• Speedloader