McGowan barrels??

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pyscodog

Active member
I was just looking at a web site that has these barrels. I don't know much about them. Anyone use them now, or in the past, that might shed a bit of info on these barrels.
Thanks-pyscodog
 
I have had a few of them. Once upon a time, they were quite a bit cheaper than Shilen. That made them attractive. Now that they are nearly the same price, I don't buy them anymore. Quality was on par with Shaw and A&B.
John
 
I personally haven't had one but had a friend that ordered one for a savage and it had a hard time getting 2 moa. After getting it bore scoped the lands had several narrow spots, and there was really rough tooling marks. I do remember he had a very hard time getting them to stand behind there barrel.
 
That will sctatch them off my list. Northland has them for $299. I can save a C-note by buying a Savage barrel and use the money saved for something else.
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At one time McGowan was a very respected name in barrels. Not sure why they would go down hill like some say? I'd be tempted to question the gunsmith that chambered and fitted them. All gunsmiths are not created equal! Haven't heard of them in a lot of years, thought they had quit.
 
Pyscodog, I followed in you steps about two years ago. Did a lot of reading on McGowen and made several phone call and decided to take a chance. Built a savage 204 last year with a McGowen barrel(1:11 twist) for a prairie dog gun. Absolutely the best shooting rifle I own. Consistanty shoots 5 shot groups under a dime at 100 yards. Bore scoped the barrel when new and couldn't find any flaws. Cleans very easily as custom barrels should. So pleased, I ordered another barrel from them in 22-250 ackley and should be here in the next week or so. Sorry to hear about some of you with misfortunes, but any barrel maker can have a bad barrel slip through the cracks. My buddy and I built 204's at the same time, mine with McGowen and his with a Shilen. We still haven't found a load to make his Shilen shoot as well as my McGowen. I spoken with McGowen and was assured they will stand behind their work, but I've not had to test this and hopefully never will. I ordered the 204 barrel through Jim Briggs at Northland Shooting Supplies and the second barrel directly from McGowen.
 
Originally Posted By: Don FischerAt one time McGowan was a very respected name in barrels. Not sure why they would go down hill like some say? I'd be tempted to question the gunsmith that chambered and fitted them. All gunsmiths are not created equal! Haven't heard of them in a lot of years, thought they had quit.

McGowen did the chambering and fitting on my friends 2506.
 
I have a McGowen barrel on my .243, built on a Rem 7 Action with a MacMillan Stock (I bought the gun used). Mine is about a 24 inch barrel and has a very light contour, so it is a hunting rifle and not a target gun. I have tried 6 different factory loads so far and it has been able to shoot 5 of the 6 close to MOA consistantly. The lone holdout shot in the inch and a half to inch and three quarters.
 
Originally Posted By: OutlawkyoteOriginally Posted By: Don FischerAt one time McGowan was a very respected name in barrels. Not sure why they would go down hill like some say? I'd be tempted to question the gunsmith that chambered and fitted them. All gunsmiths are not created equal! Haven't heard of them in a lot of years, thought they had quit.

McGowen did the chambering and fitting on my friends 2506.

I guess it could be they have gone down hill.
 
Harry, as in Harry McGowen sold his barrel making and gunsmithing business back in 2006, if I am not mistaken. The new owners packed everyting up and moved it to Montana. They kept what equipment could use and upgrade to much of it to new CNC machinary.

I have used a dozen or so of Harry's barrels in the past and with the execption of one, they all shot great. I have heard nothing but good things about the new McGowen Barrels. I haven't tried one of the new ones yet, but plan to on a 6mm BR build in the near future.
 
Originally Posted By: Outlawkyote My buddy has a 2506 McGowen barrel that doesnt shoot as well as my factory savage barrel.


I have had the same exact experience........I replaced my savage barrel with a Mcgowen, and have given up on it......the savage barrel shots better, as much as I hate to admit it.

Some have reported good results, but I have not had good results with mine.
 
I have four McGowen barrels-All purchased in the last 1.5 years and all of them shoot great. McGowen even chambered two of them.
I have shot just above or just under 1/2 MOA groups out to 500 and some out to 750 yards (3-shot groups).
Groups at 100 yards have all been 4-shot groups and shot in the .1's, 2's or 3's.
 
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