doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Your experiences with the 12ga 2" please

Team,
I asked for, and received a very nice book for Christmas today (thanks Sis!)

As I sat down to read it, I came across a good quote, and I would like to solicit input from those of you who have used a 2" 12ga.
I normally shoot a 2oga, 26" RKLT Lightning, 6lb2oz, 1965 Super Posed with 7/8oz RSTs choked CYL/SKT for Grouse Woodcock.


Here's the info, and Merry Christmas

Book: The Traditional Side by Side, first edition, page 11
by Doug Stewart

The author says:
"On the light side, the 2" 12ga using 7/8oz loads shoots the shortest shot string known. It is deadly out to 35yards. It is like a pizza pan being thrown through the air."

Now I want one of the light nifty (and rare, not cheap) little guns. Love to hear your thoughts for the purpose of discussion.

How about just buying some 2" shells from RST and running them through a 2 1/2" 12 bore? Same thing?

If you were to compare a typical 2 inch 12 gauge to your superposed, it’s the difference between a Ferrari and an ox cart.

He didn’t say what gauge his super is…if it’s a 20 bore, I doubt it handles like a Ox cart. If his super is a 12 bore and depending on configuration…like a properly balanced super light…I highly doubt it handles like an ox cart either.

2” 12’s are overrated. Typically, a lot of them are ill balanced, especially Spanish made ones. Made to be light, which many of them are, but they usually sacrifice balance to achieve that. There are some gems out there, but they are few and far between.

The author of your book sounds like a hype man. A pizza pan huh? With what choke? Any choke? Ya right. The 12 is always going to be ballistically superior to smaller gauges, but light and well balanced 20’s and 16’s don’t take too much of a back seat to a 12 these days.

Nobody’s buying much of anything from RST these days either. They haven’t put much out in awhile.

Instead of seeking out a 2" gun, why not a lite weight 2 1/2" gun that you could shoot 7/8 , 1 oz. loads from. I chose to use a 5 lb. 12 oz. Churchill 12ga. chambered for 2 1/2" shells, which would be more available than the 2' ones. CZ, you have handled mine and I'm sure you would agree.
Karl

That’s true, I didn’t consider that he might be switching from a 20 gauge super to a 2 inch 12.

That might close the handling gap somewhat.

7.5lb o/u’s don’t feel the same as 6lb or lighter sxs’s.
And now I’m sure his super will turn out to be a skeletonized lightning with 24” barrels, a super short ultra low density stock, and only weigh 6 pounds.

The 2” 12ga from Britain is always light. Otherwise why bother? My 26” Irish Gallyon weighs 5 lb 4 oz, the same as my 28” 28ga sxs. The 12ga action is bigger than the 28ga, which is only significant if you carry one handed, which I do. Right now ammo is scarce except for 1-7/8” mini 12s in 7-1/2 shot. I have the components to load 2”, but I haven’t yet. I prefer 5s and 6s for pheasant. I would be more enthusiastic about the 2” 12ga if I didn’t have a 28ga. My gun is very light, and very pretty as well. I hunt with a man who favors his 2” 12ga to all others for upland game.

Lovely Churchill by the way, thanks for sharing!

Vol423- I wonder what attributes make your friend pull out this gun over others. Weight? Handling? Shot String?
I hunt with a man who favors his 2” 12ga to all others for upland game.

Same thing. In fact, 7/8 oz 2.5" shells would be the same thing. As would 7/8 oz 2.75" shells in a gun so chambered. The short shot string comes from the wide, 12 ga. bore, not the short cartridge case.

I love the 2” doubles. I’ve had probably a dozen or so and have never had one that was “I’ll balanced”. And I’ve had them in 26”, 27” and 28”. Maybe LeFusil’s Spanish made 2” guns were “I’ll balanced”. But the English version of a 2” double is a joy to carry and shoot.

You are going to need to find one pick it up and swing it. You also didn't say if you are use to shooting SxS. A good 2" 12 is going to be in the 5 1/2 lb or less. With RST not be able to find components, 2" shells are not readily available and no one knows when RST is going to start up again. However, they are a nice gun to carry and they are propositional to a 12 gauge. Like any light gun they do require you to be conscious of swinging it.

Ken