Mc Gowan barrels, how do they rate

[Baddog0302]

I know there are "good " Bbl's and there are "bad" bbl's made by all Bbl. makers. A few makers have higher QC that others. How does McGowan Bbl's rate ?? I'm interested in a 22 & 30 Cal. switch Bbl. 1000 Yd. "set up

 

[1000yardstare]

Mail ordered McGowen barrels into Canada in the 1980s. Can`t do that anymore - 9/11 and all that.

Ordered them prechambered, local `smith headspaced them. Did a .223, 6mm/250, 6mm Rem, .338-06, .358 Win, .375 Whelen Imp. Great barrels, very accurate.

Am currently thinking of ordering a McGowen .338 blank and a PT&G reamer for the .338/.300 WSM. Have to go through a Canadian dealer now which adds $100 to the price. I expect the barrel to be just as good as 30 years ago.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Buddy has one on his .338 and it shoots very well.

 

[Hal]

Since 1980 Mr McGowen sold his barrel making equipment and the new owner moved it to north west Montana. They still use the McGowen name.

Hal

 

[CaptainMal]

I have one on my 6 Dasher. Just getting started with it but during fireforming it broke in and now cleans up easily with no copper fouling. Groups are only .4's but my first real testing is going to be later today.

Local fellow has built more than a dozen target rifles and all are with McGowan barrels. No complaints from anyone. It's what is winning our local matches.

 

[Steve Blair]

I have two on Savage 12F rifles. One is a 26" 9-twist .22-250 that was nitrided while new. It shoots .3-.4" at 100 with Sierra 69 MK and does not foul at all. It appeared to be lapped when received and now has 48 rounds through it.

The other is a .308 30" 10-twist that I shoot in F-TR. It shoots very well, often grouping 15 rounds under 2" at 300 when practicing. I shot a 150-10X with it at 900 yards on the F-Class target. So, the barrel does shoot. It also copper fouls pretty badly. Thus far, the fouling does not seem to affect accuracy. I have only fired ~60 rounds through it before cleaning. The bore did not appear lapped when received and now has 1137 down the tube.

YMMV