doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Experience with Connecticut Shotgun RBLs

I've been giving some thought to getting a 12GA RBL if I can find one that suits me. I would like a fairly light gun, 6.5 pounds or so, with double triggers and straight grip. I want a gun for general duty upland hunting. While I like vintage guns, I would like to get a new gun that I can start on its path to being vintage. Does anyone have information, either positive or negative, about how the RBLs are holding up? What should I expect to pay for a near new condition gun of the type I described with standard wood?

The RBL12 was available on a heavy frame, and a lightweight 16 ga. frame that has much thinner barrels at the breach. I doubt you will find one under 7 lbs. though. I have a 30" light frame with beavertail, pistol grip, single trigger, and the low vent rib. I would guess its weight around 7 1/2 lbs.

I think a new or used RBL12 like you want is going to be pretty rare. In my estimation, CSM probably did not make more than 100 RBL12's. I could be wrong, but not by much.
JR

Just a quick look at GunsInternational showed a handful of 12ga RBLs at around 8 lbs and one over 9 lbs. 16 ga RBLs were no lightweights either.

Theres a 7 lb 12ga Parker Repro for pretty reasonable price
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Parker-Reproduction-DHE-12-Gauge.cfm?gun_id=100235866

http://www.gunsinternational.com/PARKER-REPRODUCTION-DHE-12-G-3400.cfm?gun_id=100229489

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Parker-Reproductions-DHE-12-gauge.cfm?gun_id=100225841

Looks like 12ga Parker Repros are about 6 3/4 lbs and up.

I have an RBL-12, SS, BTFE and 28" barrels that was built on the 16 gauge frame. It weighs exactly seven pounds with the thin pad installed, 3.2 ounces more with the thicker pad installed. It is my understanding that very, very few 12's were made with this frame size and I have not seen of or heard of one that weighed any less. This one has been flawless for me. PM me if you have questions.

Vol,
A light, less than 7# RBL 12 will be very hard to find. There is one out there that was 6#9 0z, it was gone before I could get out my CC! That gun was on a 16 Ga frame as btdtst's gun. I have a 16 ga that is not heavy at all, 6# 3 oz. It is rare among its peers. Most push 7#. I've hunted with it almost exclusively for three seasons, I am very satisfied with the gun, in all aspects.

You may have more success trying to find a Ruger gold label. Occasionally one shows up for sale. They are supposed to weigh in around 6.5#. I have my doubts as the few I see advertised are closer to 7#. Those that have them seem to like them.

Chief

Vol, if you're looking for a 12 gauge that light and for upland game go with an English gun. For the same price you're going to pay for a RBL a good English boxlock will give you exactly what you want and then some.

I have a 6 1/2 lb 12ga original Parker that is pretty sweet to upland hunt with. That's about the max weight for a quail/chukar gun for me to hunt the hills with. I think you'll like that weight. For a pheasant gun to hunt in the flats with heavy loads, heavier is ok by me.

My RBL-12 would certainly be under seven pounds were it not for the BTFE and the interchangeable recoil pad system which also adds additional ounces. My Ruger Gold Label with a straight stock weighs six pounds 9.5 ounces.

I looked for an RBL in 12 bore, for use with steel shot in SD Game Production areas.

I could not find a light weight gun and thus ordered a flat of Bismuth to shoot in my British guns.

It was easier to find non tox compatible with the guns I owned than a LW RBL.

I got my RBL-12, just as I ordered it, and didn't like the 32-inch vent ribbed barrel, beavertail foreamed, 8 pound 14.5 ounce beast one bit. I traded it back to Lou and he got me a straight grip, double trigger, 30-inch barrel, RBL-12 on the light frame that weighs 7 pounds 4.9 ounces. Suits me much better. By the time I got it, I had really settled into my RBL-16 at 6 pounds 14.8 ounces as my go to hunting gun, and I've only shot clay targets with the RBL-12.