Visit IWI.US to learn more.
IWI US just announced that their highly anticipated TS12 semi-automatic shotgun is now shipping. An innovative bullpup design, the TS12 has three rotating magazine tubes and a 15+1-round capacity.
That’s with standard 2-3/4-inch 12-gauge shells, though the TS12 still has a solid 12+1-round capacity with 3-inch shells.
The TS12 was first teased in the U.S. over a year ago, and like a lot of exotic firearms, took time and effort to get it on the American market. And it appears that IWI US was successful at getting it here without a lot of changes to the design.
The TS12 is a bullpup meaning the action is positioned behind the trigger. The magazine tubes and barrel run all the way back into the stock for a very short overall length.
The magazine tubes can be loaded and unloaded from both sides and the tubes can be indexed clockwise and counter-clockwise. This allows shooters to use different kinds of ammunition, and with practice, select their next load.
Once a tube runs empty the bolt will lock to the rear, allowing the user to select either the right or left tube to load from next. As soon as the shooter indexes their next tube into position, it will load and chamber a round from it automatically.
This removes one potential step in the loading process, which gives it an advantage over even some box-magazine-fed shotguns. However, it does not, despite its appearances, convert to left-hand use, unlike early versions. It is possible that down the line IWI will release a conversion kit for left-hand use, for now, it’s righty only.
Israel Weapon Industries isn’t the first company to make a multi-tube shotgun, a rotating tube shotgun, or a bullpup shotgun, and they’re certainly not the first in line with self-loading shotguns, but they may be the first company to deliver all of these features at an approachable price.
The TS12 has a suggested price of $1,399. Now that’s no budget shotgun MSRP but it is extremely competitive considering how little competition the TS12 really has.
See Also: IWI Follows Masada Release with ARAD Rifle Announcement
There are plenty of semi-automatic shotguns that cost as much and more than the TS12, even in just the tactical shotgun category. That just leaves one reason to get — or not to get — a TS12. It’s very different.
In this case different is good and the Tavor TS12 ensures that IWI remains one of the leading manufacturers of military-grade bullpups.
Despite its bulky spacegun appearance the TS12 weighs 8 pounds unloaded and measures in a just over 28 inches long. That’s as short overall as just the barrels on some shotguns. It’s a gas-operated shotgun with a 2-position gas regulator and is compatible with Beretta and Benelli chokes.
While it has a completely unique manual of arms and love-it-or-leave-it looks, IWI US probably has a winner on their hands with the new TS12.
Visit IWI.US to learn more.
Heard it had trouble with some shotgun shells , so the y had to retool it a little.
Hope my pre-order is still in place. Been anxiously awaiting the release.
The gas system was setup so a shooter could “comfortably shoot” full 3″ loads – but because ti was such a “soft shooter” with 3″ – it wouldn’t cycle 2 3/4″. Because “the market” demands 2 3/4 shells, back to the drawing board. Fixing that issue, created other issues that had to be addressed, as well as refinements that got shook out in the process.
So they didn’t bring it to market until they were happy with it.
Similar to the Tavor-7 – which was supposed to be a 1 MOA gun – and they held it back, because they weren’t getting near that accuracy. Which they were NEVER GOING TO GET in a 16″ bullpup with a 1:12 barrel – the PHYSICS JUST AREN’T THERE. While they were trying to work on the accuracy issues – other issues that came up were addressed.
What we end up with in our hands with IWI – is a RELIABLE FIREARM that performs as advertised (even if you have to REVISE the original expectations).
However, it does not, despite its appearances, convert to left-hand use
WTF????… In your video he claims that it can be loaded from either side and the ejection port can be switched from side to side
Still waiting to hear back from my inside source at IWI.
There were a TON OF CHANGES from the earlier iterations of this shotgun. SImilar to the delayed release of the Tavor-7 – IWI waits until IT’S HAPPY. And for them to be HAPPY – RELIABILITY IS THE GREATEST CONCERN.
Typically for them – if a “feature” has to be sacrificed for RELIABILITY-SAKE – then it goes. It’s more important to them for their firearms to be RELIABLE – than to have a feature. Especially considering the LIFE OR DEATH NATURE of it’s domestic/foreign use – keeping in mind that the lion’s share of IWI-Israel clients are FOREIGN MILITARY CONTRACTS.
As much as the US Civilian Market is an attractive one – since we are the ONLY COUNTRY that has THE RIGHT for civilians to own PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING (for the time being at least) – the bulk of their arms sales are foreign contract.
This gun would have been out years ago – if they would have dropped the ability to shoot 2-3/4 loads (I only run 3″ full power loads in my shotties anyways – but that’s just me). Originally 3″ loads shot really soft (recoil-wise), but shorter loads wouldn’t cycle. Much as the shorter loads are cheaper and good for the range – for defensive purposes, I’d rather have the extra horsepower of full loads (my shots are loaded with Federal Flyte-Control 00).
All in all – IWI’s stuff is consistently worth the wait. Rumor has it (unconfirmed as of yet from my source) that these will be able to be ordered in RH or LH configs.
I own a Tavor SAR, Tavor-7, Galil Ace Rifle (x39) and am looking forward to having a TS-12 as my “next to the headboard gun”. My KSG will be “for sale”, as soon as my TS-12 comes in.
Rick