doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 25" Barrelled Shotguns

Fellows, ksauers1 recently posed a question about everyone's opinion of 27" barrelled shotguns, and the conversation made me think about an E. J. Churchill Premiere SxS 12 bore I have, with two sets of 25" barrels with the narrow Churchill ribs. The gun weighs exactly 6 lbs., and balances the same with either barrel set. It is fast handling, as one would expect, but doesn't feel whippy to me. I know Robert Churchill created a lot of controversy when he advocated the 25" barrel a hundred years ago, and it greatly spurred the sales of his guns, I just wondered what the general consensus was on even shorter barrels than 27". They still seem to spark some controversy, even now. It is no gun for clays, or anything of that sort, but a delight to carry in the field and, incidentally, proofed for 2 3/4"" (1 1/4 oz.) ammunition. Sandlapper

Depending on various factors, while I would not choose a gun with 25" barrels specifically for clays, they're not all the same. The example of the Churchill XXVs . . . those are guns that were built with driven shooting in mind. Basically to trick the shooter into thinking he was shooting a gun with longer barrels. That makes a difference.

Another example in my own experience comes from the Ithaca imported SKB sxs. The 20ga guns came either with 25" barrels, mostly choked IC/M, or 28" barrels choked M/F. The model 100, which had a splinter forend, is very light. I could never shoot one of those with 25" barrels well at all at skeet. With 28" barrels (and the tight chokes opened), they shot well for me both at skeet and in the field. Or give me a 280 with 25" barrels, which had the somewhat unusual combination of a straight grip but a generous beavertail forend, and I could shoot those pretty well. I think that the difference in both cases was the added weight up front: longer barrels on the 100'; beavertail on the 280.

This discussion brings to mind an old friend, that was temporarily addicted to 2" 12 ga doubles. He would be in love until he shot a round of sporting and even with light loads 50 or more shots convinced him they weren't practical. I suspect if we used the these shorter barreled guns in the grouse woods or on a quail plantation or even on one of the sporting courses I shoot at, where many of the targets are quick window shots, they would perform fine.
Not to change your subject but you mention the proof and 2 3/4" chambers. I have a couple old doubles that someone lengthened from 2 1/2" to 2 3/4". While I wouldn't have done that I am not too upset because with guns this light I use a much reduced load, 3/4 oz in guns originally proofed for 1 1/8 oz. I think a round of 25 shots with 1 1/4 oz in your 6 lb guns will have you rethinking that combination.

While they're not for me, I have hunted woodcock with a friend from the low country of SC who shoots a 20 ga., 25" barreled SKB, like Larry mentioned. Floyd is a death ray with that little gun. I'd never bet against him, using it in the woods. He's Gil's close friend and his SKB has been pictured on the annual game picture threads many times.

I shoot skeet with a Bill Hanus bird gun, and upland with a WC Scott "Orvis Best". Both are 25" and 28ga. One is 5lbs 13 and the other is 5lbs 14. They are light and lively. Wouldn't change a thing. I did have, at one point, a Dickinson Estate cut to 25" and re-choked. It weighed 5lbs 2. I never thought I would say a gun could be too light. That one was, and it was VERY wippy. Couldn't shoot it to save my life so down the road it went. I love short barrels but it depends on the individual gun.

I wouldn’t buy a gun with anything shorter than 27” barrels, but then I’ve never shot a 25” gun. However, there can be some great deals on the shorter barreled guns. A gun with 26” barrels was a very common skeet gun in the 1980s and a lot of people hunted with them. If they work for you there’s nothing wrong with them. A positive article on 25” guns Short ones.

Ken

I have a CZ BRNO ZH102 skeet gun with 26" barrels. The barrels certainly impose no handicap on the gun's performance. Shoots as well and as easily as the Perazzi Mirage skeet gun with 27" barrels. The Perazzi may be more capable at international skeet but the BRNO is rather my choice for NSSA actually.
I can't imagine that 25" barrels would impose any hardship either. I get along fine with short barreled guns but we all know what an insensitive clot I am.

Have a day
Dr. WtS

Shoot whatever is available at the time. End result, the fellow who knows how to shoot will do a better job than the fellow who doesn't know how to shoot, regardless of the barrel length. "Learn how to shoot."

I think the only handicap in shooting a short (or long) barreled gun, if you are not shooting them regularly, is the time and effort needed to learn to shoot one. Short barrels are no more difficult to shoot than long barrels, if you shoot it enough to be used to it. Shoot just short barrels for some time and then jump to a heavy 30-32" barreled gun and that will feel ponderous.

If you can lift up your and and point at a bird in flight, you can learn to shoot short, light barreled guns. Nothing will be shorter or lighter than your hand pointing your index finger and that's not hard.

On occasion I shoot an Ithaca SKB 20 and Darne R10 20, both with 25" barrels, they are no "death rays" in my hands like Floyd's is in his hands, but more "Second Chance at Life Rays." I shoot them no worse nor better than other lengths for woodcock and quail. Gil