how are those Churchill O/U?

[Mr. Friendly]

I recall when they first came out, there was a lot of grumbling about the manufacturer coasting on the laurel's of a premium brand. how have the shotguns turned out though? how do they compare to shotguns in similar price ranges? do they punch above their weight or did they turn out to be overpriced disappointments?

the stock photo's show gorgeous wood...but that's never the whole story.

if they're worth the money, I'd like one as saying it's a Churchill might cause pause for those not familiar with the fake.

 

[bdft]

The only Churchill O/U's that I am aware of are the Turkish guns. They are okay from what i have seen but I certainly wouldn't say the ones I have seen had gorgeous wood. You get what you pay for.
Did Churchill Gunmakers of England (or whatever their name was) make O/U's as well?

 

[Mumbles Marble Mouth]

They're pretty decent guns if were referring to the Akkar Churchill shotguns. The build quality is comparable to that of the Fausti Conrad without the bragging rights that its made in Italy. The Tristars are made by Khan just like the Mossberg Silver Reserve. Give one a feel that is comparable price to the Churchill and when you open and close it, you can tell the Khan's are sloppy. There are high end Khans so just keep that in mind when feeling them. The high end ones are $1800 - $2500 and they're tight, solid, very well made guns. If the Churchill's were bad, then CZ wouldn't use them for their new CZ-USA Over/Unders. Their recoil pads are stupid though. Not sure what they were thinking when they went with that recoil pad. The takedown latch on a few that I felt are razor sharp. Could slice your finger open trying to take your gun apart.

 

[Maritime Storm]

I had one that saw regular Trap & Skeet duty for a few years, I was happy with it for the money I paid.

 

[Garaldtao]

They're pretty decent guns if were referring to the Akkar Churchill shotguns. The build quality is comparable to that of the Fausti Conrad without the bragging rights that its made in Italy. The Tristars are made by Khan just like the Mossberg Silver Reserve. Give one a feel that is comparable price to the Churchill and when you open and close it, you can tell the Khan's are sloppy. There are high end Khans so just keep that in mind when feeling them. The high end ones are $1800 - $2500 and they're tight, solid, very well made guns. If the Churchill's were bad, then CZ wouldn't use them for their new CZ-USA Over/Unders. Their recoil pads are stupid though. Not sure what they were thinking when they went with that recoil pad. The takedown latch on a few that I felt are razor sharp. Could slice your finger open trying to take your gun apart.

Surly at the 1800 to 2500 spectrum, one must be insane or not know anything about o/u's to buy a Churchill over a "B" gun. B guns will last several life times. I know a 3rd gen Superposed user and the gun runs just as good as the day it was made. As for Churchills, I have only used the lower end model, a Canadian Tire special at $795. It was a friend's uninformed purchase. It looked pretty from about 10 feet but those that know a little bit about guns will not be taken in by the press checkering and lazer engraving which are two of the many things that makes a cheap shotgun cheap.

If the OP really wants a Churchill, I say go for it but he/she should be well informed as to what makes a good over under good and a cheap over under bad. My friend thought that he would be able to run clays with his Churchill but after 500 rounds the lock up begain to loosen up. Unlike the Beretta dt10 or bt11 where the lockup can be adjusted or a Citori where the lockup is designed to be better seated over time and use, there is no remedy for the Churchill. Stoeger is at the same price point as the Churchill and also experiences the same problem at around 500 rounds. Even with a lose action these guns are perfectly safe to shoot. You lose a bit in accuracy but that doesn't matter as much because it's a shotgun and not a rifle. More than anything, the rattle and the wiggle of the stock is more of a nuisance until something breaks. I suspect parts and warrenty work will be difficult but I never had to deal with Akkar or whoever their importer might be.

So currently, my friend's Churchill is relegated to "if idiot friend or stupid cousin needs to barrow a shotgun because they forgot theirs" status. To him, the Churchill is a write off. I introduced him to a low end, used Win 101 which was about the same price as the Churchill. He can now appriciate the differences. I am not really an over under guy but I mention the dt10 and Citori earlier because that is what I shoot. I bought both of these guns for around $800 each, used. They both came with removable chokes and have 28 and 29" barrels. I guess if someone really have to buy new and has only an $800 budget then Churchill is an option but personally I would buy a Stoeger or even a Maverick over under first. I think the Maverick is made in Turkey also but there are parts available and I heard that Mossberg has a good warrenty program.

 

[Kevinsm]

A DT10 for $800? Nice.

 

[1963beretta]

You sure the DT10 wasnt $8000 and not $800? And if it was $800, you sure its a DT10?

 

[Falconflyer]

$800 dollar DT-10's......only in my dreams!

 

[Mumbles Marble Mouth]

Surly at the 1800 to 2500 spectrum, one must be insane or not know anything about o/u's to buy a Churchill over a "B" gun. B guns will last several life times. I know a 3rd gen Superposed user and the gun runs just as good as the day it was made. As for Churchills, I have only used the lower end model, a Canadian Tire special at $795. It was a friend's uninformed purchase. It looked pretty from about 10 feet but those that know a little bit about guns will not be taken in by the press checkering and lazer engraving which are two of the many things that makes a cheap shotgun cheap.

Churchills have no engravings. So I'm sure you didn't look at one... at all.

 

[saskbooknut]

Robbing widows and orphans is the only way to get an $800 DT10,
or maybe he misspoke, like politicians these days.

 

[Maritime Storm]

Mine was still tight after 5k rounds, current owner bought it to hunt pheasants and the occasional round of sporting clays and has reported no issues with it. Stoegers O/U aren't built to anywhere near the same standards. Berettas & Brownings break too, in case you forgot. The DT-10 hasn't exactly been problem free.