doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The pros and cons of light 12s

It's been posted before but here is my Reilly 12 bore, SN 34723, last extant gun made at 16, New Oxford Street, probably in April 1897. 2 1/2" chambers. 6 lbs, 1 oz. My go-to gun for everything (when I can get the cartridges).

I really like to carry them. The birds have no clue that its a short shell I am using. As Geo once said "an ounce of 6's is an ounce of 6's!"

Concerning wall thickness on Prussian Dalys, I have a very Lindner like J.P. Sauer 26" ten, yes 10, gauge Krupp barrel gun at 6 pounds, 4 ounces empty. The wall thickness is quite adequate in both barrels and the stock is standard dimension and bulk. I have no idea how they built a full size ten gauge at that weight with good wall thickness. I have a good collection of Lindner guns but have always shied away from the Featherweight guns, thinking the barrels were too thin.

Just got off of the phone with Kirby. My son has a new toy coming for his birthday (December 30th, my tax-return baby). George Newnham 12BLE, circa 1882, 30-inch 2-bar damascus tubes, 14 5/8 LOP and at 6 lbs 2.5 ounces. Long, light, and lovely. No choke to speak of but... for long walks on northern grouse trails it should serve admirably. His CZ Bobwhite G-2 12 was a good start but it's a bit heavy and clunky for grouse, this one isn't. Our boy just got home Saturday from CSU and he's back at his summer job again today (and will be for the next month or so). His grades were exemplary (clearly my wife's influence) and IMHO...such behavior needs to be positively reinforced. Hopefully he'll let his pappy borrow it every once in a while?

I have a 6lb Dickson RA and it is certainly hard to manage on crossing targets.

Lloyd, I've got a Purdey circa 1928, ordered in by A&F, that weighs and letters at 6 lbs. even with 26" Whitworth bbls. and very plain straight grain walnut. The barrels have surprisingly thick walls for a light gun on the order of .032" MWT. Handles like a dream; choked Cyl & Full. Sandlapper

Sandlapper: Sounds pretty wonderful.

Let me tell you about my detached retina…

Best,
Ted

Not any different that 1 oz out of a 6# 20 gauge either. Even 1.25 oz @1200 or so is just fine out of a 6# hunting gun for most folks.

Anyone who suffers from astigmatism is more at risk of a detached retina. Ditto males versus females. People with blue eyes suffer more of them than people with other color eyes. People with ancestry from Northern Europe are more susceptible to detached retinas. Older people are at greater risk as well.

Tell me, exactly how do you square your “most folks” supposition with the above facts about who suffers the greatest chance of retina detachment?

Or, are you just making it up?

Best,
Ted