Jim Carmichael had a theory about this- as during the Depression years-1929-1939, when the field grade M12 had a fair trade retail price of $39.95, the main reason the 30" barrel in 12 gauge outsold the 28" barrel version was simple hard-scrabble farmer economics- you got 2 inches more steel with the 30" barrel at the same price as with the shorter 28" length- go figure. [/quote]
Are you sure it wasn't because with 30" barrel Ole' Sod wasn't two inches closer to the game? In Europe we keep it simple short man short barrel tall man long barrels. We certainly would not buy shirt too large because more material was used to make it and the price was the same.
