Description
The Iver Johnson PAS12 PG Black 12 Gauge is a budget-friendly pump shotgun with an 18-inch class barrel, black metal and a two-piece pistol grip stock. A push-button release lets the buttstock come off, leaving a pistol-grip shotgun for storage or tight spaces.
Iver Johnson PAS12 PG Black 12 Gauge Overview
Iver Johnson Arms imports its PAS pump line from Turkey. The PAS12 uses a lightweight alloy receiver, a 3-inch 12 gauge chamber and a black synthetic forend with accessory rail. The distributor photos for this item show a muzzle brake, a rail-mounted rear sight and the two-piece stock. Iver Johnson lists an overall length of 39.5 inches with the stock fitted and 29.5 inches without it, a 14.5-inch length of pull and a weight of about six pounds. The store listing calls the finish blued; the maker describes it as a black finish.
The Two-Piece Stock
The quick-detach stock is the feature that sets this gun apart. With the buttstock fitted you have a normal shoulder-fired shotgun with a 14.5-inch pull. Remove it and the gun shrinks to under 30 inches for storage in a closet or vehicle. Firing a 12 gauge from a pistol grip alone is hard to control and inaccurate, so treat that mode as a compact storage option and shoulder the gun when you shoot.
Barrel and Choke
The smooth bore is a fixed cylinder bore, which throws wide patterns with birdshot and works well with buckshot and slugs at short range. There is no choke tube to change, so it is not a long-range bird gun. Buckshot patterns vary from load to load; pattern a few brands on paper at the distances you expect to shoot before you settle on one.
Sights and Rail
A blade-style front sight and the rear sight on the receiver rail give a better aiming reference than a bare bead, which matters with slugs. The rail also takes a small red dot if you want one. The muzzle brake trims a bit of muzzle rise, but it also adds noise and blast to the sides, which is worth knowing if you shoot indoors or next to other people.
For the House
Short, light and simple to run, the PAS12 makes sense as a home defense shotgun for a buyer on a tight budget. Capacity is four 3-inch shells or five 2.75-inch shells in the tube plus one in the chamber. A pump only runs as well as the person working it, so practise racking it hard from the shoulder. At six pounds it kicks more than a heavier gun with full-power buckshot; reduced-recoil loads help.
Maintenance and Caveats
Turkish pumps at this price usually need a short break-in, and some feel gritty for the first few boxes. Keep the action lightly oiled, wipe the chrome-lined bore after wet days, and run the slide firmly; short-stroking any pump is the most common cause of a jam. Check the choke tube is snug before every outing. Spare parts and aftermarket stocks are limited compared with Mossberg or Remington pumps, so do not expect a wide accessory catalogue.
State Laws and Ownership
Pistol-grip shotguns and detachable stocks are restricted in a few states and cities, so check before you order, and never shorten the barrel below 18 inches, which would create an NFA short-barreled shotgun. Pennsylvania transfers include a PICS check.
Specifications
- Model: PAS12 PG (Zanders item GPAS12PG)
- UPC: 609788801290
- Gauge: 12, 3 in. chamber
- Barrel: 18 in. class, fixed cylinder bore
- Capacity: 4+1 with 3 in., 5+1 with 2.75 in. shells
- Stock: two-piece quick-detach synthetic, pistol grip
- Overall length: 39.5 in. (29.5 in. without stock)
- Length of pull: 14.5 in.; weight about 6 lb
- Receiver: lightweight alloy with rail
- Made in Turkey for Iver Johnson Arms
Before You Buy
Federal law requires that this shotgun ship to a licensed dealer, where you fill out ATF Form 4473 and pass a background check; dealers may sell a shotgun to buyers 18 or older. Have it shipped to an FFL near you, inspect it before you sign, and confirm your state and local rules first.
Who It Is For
The Iver Johnson PAS12 PG Black 12 Gauge is a great fit for first-time shotgun owners and anyone who wants an inexpensive, compact pump for the house, truck or farm.
Buy the Iver Johnson PAS12 PG Black 12 Gauge at MAG5 Firearms
MAG5 Firearms is a family-owned FFL in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Order the Iver Johnson PAS12 PG Black 12 Gauge online and ship it to your local FFL dealer, or browse our full selection of firearms for more shotguns. For factory details, visit Iver Johnson Arms.
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