It is often overlooked that Churchill did not just offer XXV barrels, he also designed a 'natural' stock to go with it and coached ashooting style which suited the whole gun.
Of course short barrels were nothing new, Greener wrote of producing shotguns with 24" barrels to order in 1875. The 'XXV concept' was more than lopping off afew inches of steel.
I regularly shoot best English shotguns with barrels ranging from 32" to 25" and of all types. Some shoot well, others do not. As I said earlier, a best Churchill XXV Premiere is a crackingly effective gun in the right conditions if used as intended.
I am familiar with the story Salopian mentioned and I do not think it is backed up by the balance of the evidence on the history of the XXV development. That is just my personal opinion.
I happen to be of the opinion that 28" is the best 'all round' length for the barrels of a sporting shotgun that has to do everything. Longer and shorter barrels have their place and either will be better than another in certain circumstances.
This debate prompted me to check my gun cabinet - I have gus with the following lenght barrels: 25, 25 1/4, 26, 28, 29, 29 1/2, 30.
I have shot things with all of them.
