Who Shoots an XXV shotgun?

[WH308]

So this weekend I called into a couple of gunshops while passing. I handled a few guns both Spanish and English.

One 28” AYA No2 that was very nose heavy and also heavy in general, one Gunmark sable that was a XXV with 70mm chambers, this handled nicely and was tidy, but the engraving was quite coarse and the action was very “chunky”

The last was a slightly tired J&W Tolley sidelock, it was fitted with 26” barrels with a Churchill rib and was very delicate and slender through the action, very nicely balanced and handled beautifully.

It’s action made the Spanish guns feel rather bulky and unrefined.

It was chambered for 2.5” cartridges, and I have not handled many guns that are, are they generally lighter in the action, or is the difference just the level of quality and refinement?

 

[Covert]

J W Tilley was good maker who was renowned for large bore fowling guns. Would imagine it to be a quality gun.
Sounds like the gun was made in the Churchill style.
What do the barrels measure?
Is the stock length long?
Are the barrels original/replacement/ sleeved ? As they are 2 1/2 inch could be either.

 

[Len the dog]

From the age of 18 I shot with my father’s handed down 26” AYA #2, then about 6 years ago I moved over to the dark side and started using an O/U. Just recently I have gone back to the old gun as it is lighter to carry when walking the dog, I have to say that I am thoroughly enamoured once more. If a pigeon comes zipping over the trees it swings so quickly and I was always a far better snap shooter than I am driven.
It was made in 1970, my father bought it from new from Entwistle’s and used it a lot before he handed it to me when I turned 18, he had just picked up an absolutely beautiful Henry Atkin boxlock ejector.

 

[Button]

So this weekend I called into a couple of gunshops while passing. I handled a few guns both Spanish and English.

One 28” AYA No2 that was very nose heavy and also heavy in general, one Gunmark sable that was a XXV with 70mm chambers, this handled nicely and was tidy, but the engraving was quite coarse and the action was very “chunky”

The last was a slightly tired J&W Tolley sidelock, it was fitted with 26” barrels with a Churchill rib and was very delicate and slender through the action, very nicely balanced and handled beautifully.

It’s action made the Spanish guns feel rather bulky and unrefined.

It was chambered for 2.5” cartridges, and I have not handled many guns that are, are they generally lighter in the action, or is the difference just the level of quality and refinement?

What you will find with Gunmark especially is they had a range of makers and the quality and finish very massively from this

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To this, which was made by Arrizabalaga from memory

12 gauge Side by Side Gunmark Shotguns for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used 12 gauge Side by Side Gunmark Shotguns, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.

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[enfieldspares]

So this weekend I called into a couple of gunshops while passing. I handled a few guns both Spanish and English.

One 28” AYA No2 that was very nose heavy and also heavy in general, one Gunmark sable that was a XXV with 70mm chambers, this handled nicely and was tidy, but the engraving was quite coarse and the action was very “chunky”

The last was a slightly tired J&W Tolley sidelock, it was fitted with 26” barrels with a Churchill rib and was very delicate and slender through the action, very nicely balanced and handled beautifully.

It’s action made the Spanish guns feel rather bulky and unrefined.

It was chambered for 2.5” cartridges, and I have not handled many guns that are, are they generally lighter in the action, or is the difference just the level of quality and refinement?

It's the barrel thickness. Usually. Boss guns handled so well as the barrels were quite thin. You'll see ten or even fifteen or twenty rebarrelled Boss guns for one rebarrelled Purdey. So on higher end English guns the weight saved is, usually, by having reduced thickness in the barrels.

 

[WH308]

It's the barrel thickness. Usually. Boss guns handled so well as the barrels were quite thin. You'll see ten or even fifteen or twenty rebarrelled Boss guns for one rebarrelled Purdey. So on higher end English guns the weight saved is, usually, by having reduced thickness in the barrels.

What you will find with Gunmark especially is they had a range of makers and the quality and finish very massively from this

Guns For Sale | New and Used Guns | GunTrader

GunTrader the UK's No.1 marketplace for guns for sale. Buy or sell new and used guns and shooting equipment. Browse shotguns, rifles, air rifles and pistols.

www.guntrader.uk

To this, which was made by Arrizabalaga from memory

12 gauge Side by Side Gunmark Shotguns for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used 12 gauge Side by Side Gunmark Shotguns, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.

www.guntrader.uk

Thanks. The one I looked at was very much like the first one.

 

[WH308]

It's the barrel thickness. Usually. Boss guns handled so well as the barrels were quite thin. You'll see ten or even fifteen or twenty rebarrelled Boss guns for one rebarrelled Purdey. So on higher end English guns the weight saved is, usually, by having reduced thickness in the barrels.

Thanks, I get what you mean but this was more to do with the action, the whole actions was delicate and the fences were not lumpy. My description is terrible I know!

 

[spannulman]

Very nice and always thought that would be an interesting choke combination to shoot with.
Any chance of a picture of the engraving and action please?

Here you are

 

[User00053]

Here you are

Thanks.

 

[JTO]

I don't know about light loads for short barrels! My 26" Winchester Model 23 is proofed for 1-7/8 oz of lead.

 

[Kalahari]

As far as I know there is no ballistic advantage for going beyond 25" for a 12 bore shotgun. Just a matter of style and swing for length of barrels, oh and that alll important "fashion" which seems to have undue influence in our sport.

David.

 

[enfieldspares]

As far as I know there is no ballistic advantage for going beyond 25" for a 12 bore shotgun. Just a matter of style and swing for length of barrels, oh and that alll important "fashion" which seems to have undue influence in our sport.

David.

With modern powders they are indeed pretty much all burnt within that distance unlike black powder.

 

[User00053]

The gun and the cartridge written by major sir Gerald Burrard is pretty much the bible for those interested and well worth seeking out, or the modern shotgun. “ a landmark in the history of modern shooting” the shooting times, dated nineteen hundred and frozen to death.

 

[User00053]

The good major was also a bit of a legend in India and worth looking at his credentials a very interesting man indeed and responsible for many things

 

[User00053]

Correction to post 94. Was his father who was famed for his survey work though the good major was born and lived in India

 

[WH308]

Some of you may recall the J&W Tolley I found in a gun shop back in September. Well after leaving it behind and heading home, it gnawed away at me all weekend and on the Monday I called them up and asked if they would ship it to my local RFD for them to give it the once over.

Sadly some pitting in the bores necessitated honing, and the honing took the bores out of proof, although there was still plenty of wall thickness left. A service and a trip to Birmingham Proof house later and it was ready to collect this evening.

It’s a 1934, J&W Tolley Sidelock, Ejector with 26” barrels fitted with a raised Churchill type rib.

I picked up a few Hull Three Crowns paper cased cartridges, 30g of 5 shot and it will be getting its first outing on the pheasants tomorrow.

 

[potshotpat]

Some of you may recall the J&W Tolley I found in a gun shop back in September. Well after leaving it behind and heading home, it gnawed away at me all weekend and on the Monday I called them up and asked if they would ship it to my local RFD for them to give it the once over.

Sadly some pitting in the bores necessitated honing, and the honing took the bores out of proof, although there was still plenty of wall thickness left. A service and a trip to Birmingham Proof house later and it was ready to collect this evening.

It’s a 1934, J&W Tolley Sidelock, Ejector with 26” barrels fitted with a raised Churchill type rib.

I picked up a few Hull Three Crowns paper cased cartridges, 30g of 5 shot and it will be getting its first outing on the pheasants tomorrow.

Beautiful ( not you) the gun enjoy I'm shooting this Saturday on beaters day. I'm using my T Wild Hammer Gun on its once yearly outing.

 

[Button]

Some of you may recall the J&W Tolley I found in a gun shop back in September. Well after leaving it behind and heading home, it gnawed away at me all weekend and on the Monday I called them up and asked if they would ship it to my local RFD for them to give it the once over.

Sadly some pitting in the bores necessitated honing, and the honing took the bores out of proof, although there was still plenty of wall thickness left. A service and a trip to Birmingham Proof house later and it was ready to collect this evening.

It’s a 1934, J&W Tolley Sidelock, Ejector with 26” barrels fitted with a raised Churchill type rib.

I picked up a few Hull Three Crowns paper cased cartridges, 30g of 5 shot and it will be getting its first outing on the pheasants tomorrow.

Very nice

 

[Heym SR20]

Some of you may recall the J&W Tolley I found in a gun shop back in September. Well after leaving it behind and heading home, it gnawed away at me all weekend and on the Monday I called them up and asked if they would ship it to my local RFD for them to give it the once over.

Sadly some pitting in the bores necessitated honing, and the honing took the bores out of proof, although there was still plenty of wall thickness left. A service and a trip to Birmingham Proof house later and it was ready to collect this evening.

It’s a 1934, J&W Tolley Sidelock, Ejector with 26” barrels fitted with a raised Churchill type rib.

I picked up a few Hull Three Crowns paper cased cartridges, 30g of 5 shot and it will be getting its first outing on the pheasants tomorrow.

Enjoy it. Don’t over cartridge it. I find in my Alex Martin 24 and 28gram cartridges kill well but also feel very nice and smooth. Keep shot size small to keep denser patterns.

And having a reproof means you have confidence in the gun. And when the time comes Gamebore Regal Steel and Eley Grand Prix steel are designed for old 2 1/2” guns and I have found they just work well.

 

[enfieldspares]

I’m going to treat myself to a side by side shotgun for my 40th. I’m quite taken with the idea of a 25” light and quick handling game gun of the Robert Churchill high rib style. There are a few tidy AYA and E.J Churchill models on guntrader that I may take a look at.

Does anyone use a XXV?

Eh? What? Pardon? As I've said. As I've also said Buy one, try it, see how it suits. You only pass this way once and if you don't try it you'll never scratch the itch. Thank you for updating your thread. Seems a very nice gun.