doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Churchill's 25" Barrels - Thoughts On

IMHO more of a marketing ploy then any basis in fact. Same reason Parker Bros. added 28-gauges and later .410-bores to their line -- to sell a new gun to their existing client base.

Shotgun manufacturers are pretty much limited to six gauges to sell and have had to resort to changes in barrel lengths to sell new guns. We could likely take care of all we need in shotguns with the 10-, 16-, and 28-gauges; and get rid of the other three.

Rifle manufacturers can neck it up, neck it down, blow it out, etc. In reality the .22 Savage Hi-Power, the 7mm Mauser, the 30-06 and the .375 H&H can take care of most anything that needs taking care of. Every new rifle caliber since 1912 was likely more marketing than filling any real need.

Enough of my rant!!!

Metrification produces the "perfect" barrel length which is of course 27.5, in inches.

jack

A 12ga of the heaviest wt a person can carry comfortably is good for about 95%+ of all actual shotguning "Needs". My ideal here would be a 28" bbl'd gun weighing about 6 3/4lbs, defininately not to exceed 7lb. This would of course vary per individual. Everything else is more desire than Need, & I love a light 16ga. As to the rifles one really doesn't "Need" a 7mm Mauser & a .30-06 "Both", so that list could be cut to "3".

My rifle list would go, .22 rimfire, .257 Roberts AI, .416 Rigby. Actually, the list at my house is exactly like above, minus the Rigby-haven't figured out what game animal in North America to use it on.
Best,
Ted

Barrel length? What matters to me is how the gun feels when held between my hands, comes up and swings to the target that matters.

But then, I've never been worth a darn at shooting a sustained leed. If I can't shoot paint or pass through, then I save the shell (cause I know I'll miss).

As to rifle ctgs, they all have there place! You are welcome to use the same line with your wife. All I know for sure is, it's worked for me for the past 33 years.

Shooting early season partridges with a well set-up Churchill XXV Premiere sidelock, in the Churchill-coached tchnique is apure joy - and it works.

I prefer longer barrels for longer targets but within 30 yards the Churchill XXV is a cracker.

I shoot an older sidelock AYA which is best characterized as a field grade XXV. It seems to work really well at evrything except the really long shots, and even then, it's probably operator error.

IMO, gun handling characteristics, along with stock fit, gripping area feel, and aesthetics, should match to the preferences of the shooter - whether it be for what he shoots best or enjoys shooting most. Trying to summarize a shotgun's handling characteristics by barrel length only is an invitation to mistakes. Barrel length is influential, but not anywhere near definitive.

Good answers above!

You know that the XXV just didn't fall from fashion.
...but if you are a follower of fashion, the XXVs look out of proportion - the M21s in 26" barrels look chubby and squatish.
Say, does that M21's beavertail make my barrels look short and skinny?

Suppose I may be the only one left that this effects in this group of old timers, but, the XXVs will sure ring a guys ears at the shot. Much more annoying than my longer length barrel guns.

Bet Churchill didn't go to the grave with perfect hearing.

Best,
Ted