Chuck,
As the owner of multiple 20 ga's ans other non-12gas here is my $.02....
First, I finally got my RBL and it was worth the wait. I broke from traditions of what most on this forum would have done and order it with SST, pistol grip and beavertail and I am very glad I did. I did it becuase 1. I knew the gun was light and "dainty" and I stuggle to shoot a light gun. 2. With chokes, I will use this gun at many CA s/s events shooting Clays. 3. The SST accoding to Lou at Galazan, is the same trugger as the model 21 (a good sound trigger). Based on this, it just made sense to order it that way for more control and better use at clays. I hit the nail dead on. I shoot this gun very well. In it's first filed trip, it took 2 ducks, 2 snipe and a wild pheasant. So (at 6+ lbs)it carrys as well as it shoots. Confirgured this way it shoots target like a gun weighing 2 lbs heavier. By the way, I am only an average shot. Ordered mine with exhibition Claro and self opener too. The wood is fantastic.
If you really don't want to wait, my suggestion for alternates are limited. A nice new or used Beretta or Merkel would be a good choice. (Beretta is my first choice.)
If the clay game is not 100% important and you can live with double triggers (I shoot a lot of clays with dbl triggers, w/ and w/o choke tube guns) and want a more "traditional" s/s, I really love my Arietta from Jack J. Mine is a 16 ga 30" round body, english grip, splinter forend. It is a dream to carry, very traditional w/ dbl triggers, fixed chokes well balance. I shoot it well, but I have to work at it while the RBL is more natural.
The next statement will get me tar & feathered here, but here goes. If you really are going to shoot it a lot especially at targets.... I wouldn't buy an "old collectable" double as a first gun. Don't everyone jump on me please. I own 5 or 6 LC's, and Foxes and my shooting buddy has even more Parkers, LCs' and others, and I love the old guns.... I just would not shoot one gun like that excessively, especially as a clay gun. The SST's on old guns are very finicky, the ejectors can be too and even the dbl triggers. Don't miss-understand me... I own and love my old guns and I am fortunate enough that my wife hasn't shot me for buying so many so I can rotate them when I go shoot, but if I had to have one s/s, it would be a modern gun.
That is my $0.02. Good luck and I wish you good health so whatever gun you choose, you enjoy the time to shoot it.
Jerry
PS, I shoot somewhere between 4000 and 6000 shells a year through my various guns (12 ga to .410). Some at doves, some at ducks, some at other upland game... but most at targets. So that is why my perspective may be different than others here.
