As a well known shotgun snob, I decided to deviate from my usual appetite of Vintage, English and American doubles ad try this new-fangled creation from Galazan. Why not? The little "thing" looked cute with its color hardened frame, pretty wood, rounded frame and unlike those Euro imports didn't have those characteristic and to me annoying seams where the barrels are joined to the breech block.

Fast forward: I'm just back from an 8 hunt trip shooting doves in Bolivia. with 5000 plus rounds through my little "RBL" I have ZERO problems to report!

Buy one and be glad you did! Get the Beavertail and assisted opening features if you plan to participate in high volume shooting on the southern continent.

Rating: A+++

Jeff: Is your RBL in any particular gauge, or is it just a generic "shotgun"? (Not being cute, I'm just interested in the gauge.) I'm an admirer of the 28 gauge and might be interested in buying an RBL if my wife ever succeeds in supporting me financially in the manner I deserve.

Stonecreek:

Check the thread title.

And, if your wife begins to understand your true needs, here's the site......RBL shotguns

As a skeet shooter, I love the 28 ga., but these shotguns are too rich for my blood!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Stonecreek:

Check the thread title.

That would be too easy and clever a way to figure out the gauge, now wouldn't it?

Jeff, I've been considering a dove trip to S.A., but have worried that if I took one of my 28's that shells might be a problem. I'm assuming from your report that they were plentiful in Bolivia. Were they appreciably more expensive than the 12's and 20's?

SC:

While I am not current on the shell supply situation, I've shot a 28 on a couple of trips, at least part of the time (I know, hard to believe isn't it? ).....once a Citori English style, and the second time a Parker Repro SXS. I shot a few thousand shells thru them each time, but shot my 12s more. I don't recall the shells being more expensive than the "regular" gauges but I did have to give our outfitter notice that I was going to be shooting some 28s.

Not that it matters but for some odd reason that Citori had a "twang", kind of a high pitched sound, when you shot it that made it tougher on your ears than a 12. Never did figure out why, I think I've still got it stuck away somewhere.

quote:

Not that it matters but for some odd reason that Citori had a "twang", kind of a high pitched sound, when you shot it that made it tougher on your ears than a 12.

I have noticed that some shotguns seem to have a particular "ring" to their report. That's one of the reasons I love to shoot a 28" Winchester 101 28 gauge that belonged to my wife's father -- it seems the quietest shotgun I've ever fired. By contrast, every .410 I've ever shot seemed louder than it should be by rights, and had a deep, throaty report that I attribute to the very slow powders used in the little bore.