IWI US Inc. recently unveiled a new semi-automatic shotgun design just in time for SHOT Show 2018.
Based in Middletown, Pennsylvania, the U.S. subsidiary of Israel Weapon Industries Ltd. is known for its bullpup-style Tavor rifle family and other Israeli-style weapons.
The new Tavor TS12 is the company's first foray into the tactical shotgun market.
"The Tavor TS12 is our first entry into the home defense shotgun market, and we held off until we had something unique and desirable that held the same characteristic quality and performance of the entire Tavor line," Casey Flack, CEO of IWI US, said in a press release.
"The TS12 is it: compact, easy to use and maintain, and with a large magazine capacity, it is ideal for home defense, as well as a sporting shotgun," he said.
This 12-gauge, gas-regulated, semi-auto shotgun feeds from one of three rotating magazine tubes, each capable of holding four three-inch shotgun shells or five two-inch shotgun shells, for a total potential magazine capacity of 15 +1 rounds, according to an IWI US press release.
The Tavor TS12 features a unique, patented "Bullhead" bolt locking system, specific to the TS12. The 18.5-inch smoothbore barrel is fed rounds through a tubular magazine system that automatically loads the next round when the tube is rotated in position.
The TS12 can be fed and unloaded from either side and configured for either right- or left-side ejection or operation.
The muzzle threads are internal and compatible with Benelli/Beretta choke tubes. One choke tube is included with the Tavor TS12.
It measures 28.34-inches overall and weighs eight pounds. It also features a one-piece, full-length 1913 Picatinny top rail with M-LOK receptacles on each side of the forearm to allow multiple placement possibilities for lights and other accessories.
Hopefully, IWI US will have its new shotgun at SHOT Show 2018's range day on Jan. 22, so we can take a close look at it in operation.
The TS12 will be available initially in a black finish, but later versions will be offered in olive drab and flat dark earth. It's slated to retail for about $1,400.
-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
