The TS12’s safety is a crossbolt design easily manipulated with the trigger finger, and a bolt-release button is located just below the ejection port on the right side of the receiver. Additional features include M-Lok-compatible slots on each side of the fore-end, four QD sling cups (two at the shotgun’s butt and two just to the rear of the charging handle) and internal muzzle threads compatible with Beretta/Benelli MobilChoke-style tubes—improved cylinder and modified chokes come with the gun.
Bullpups in general are notorious for poor triggers because of the long linkage required between the trigger proper and the sear. And while the trigger on our test
TS12 wasn’t great, we’ve also encountered far worse. After about 1/8" of take-up, and a moderate amount of creep, the trigger broke on average at 11 lbs., 9 ozs., of pressure. While this would be unacceptable in a precision firearm, we found it to be quite passable on a tactical scattergun.
Early reports seemed to indicate that the TS12 was finicky with lighter 12-ga. loads, but that was not evident in the sample we received for this evaluation. A total of 400 rounds were sent downrange—a mix of birdshot, 2¾" buckshot, slugs and 3" magnum buckshot—and the shotgun experienced no stoppages regardless of load. The TS12’s gas operation and well-designed ergonomics, including a wide rubber recoil pad, did help to manage its kick a bit, but 12-ga. recoil is stout nonetheless, and anyone suggesting otherwise should be scrutinized. For pattern testing, Remington’s 21-pellet Ultimate Defense No. 4 buckshot was used, and at 25 yds., the shotgun’s cylinder-bore barrel generated tight, well-centered patterns that averaged between 10" to 12" in diameter—results pretty much perfect for close-quarters defensive use.
Bullpup-style firearms have always generated strong opinions both for and against, but traditionalists shouldn’t let the
IWI Tavor TS12’s unorthodox appearance dissuade them from considering what our testing has revealed to be a reliable and potent short-range tool. The shotgun makes good use of the inherent advantages of the bullpup layout, and—thanks to its rotating magazine design—offers far greater capacity than its compact size would imply.
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