Standard Manufacturing SP-12 Compact Pro

At the time of testing, the SP-12 Compact Pro had not yet gone into full production, so we tested a prototype of the gun. As a result, there were a few quirks. The full size SP12 has a shroud and Picatinny rail on top. This model didn’t have that piece, which made aiming difficult. What we liked about it was it loaded easily because, like the Ithaca 37 shotgun, it has no lift gate. The bottom is wide open and thumbing shells into it couldn’t be easier. It will feed 1¾-, 2 ¾- and 3-inch shells without modification. It boasts an ambi-safety but we felt it should have been reversed. You rotate the lever back to go to “Fire,” and it feels like you should push forward for “Fire” like most other guns. Perhaps they will change it in the final version. We also felt the birds-head pistol grip would be less punishing without the flared top. We all loved the oversized, ambidextrous action bar release. We also liked the Picatinny mounted at the front to place a light or a laser for aiming. With a 14-inch barrel and only 26.75-inch overall length, this is a great little truck gun. However, without a stock or usable sights, it was an unfair matchup against the full-size shotguns. I think it would have scored much higher if competing against similar pistol-grip-only pump guns.