Gunsmithing McGowan barrels

[chevy_man]

For the naysayers that think these cheap button rifled struggle to get to moa.

So, I got this put together and then decided to cut my finger off with a skill saw. Now that the finger is healed (well, it's hanging on by itself), figured I'd get back to load development.

24" 25-06 1:7 twist remage, on untouched 60's era 700 with a tuned factory trigger and bedded factory wood stock.
All groups were shot with sig SRD762 suppressor.

Shooting 115 nosler bt (factory seconds), .010 off the lands, and retumbo with WLR primers in r-p brass.

Showing promise. It's got about 70 rounds through it now. It was 10* and blowing snow today, but the Chrono says 59.7-59.9 were all close on the velocity so I'm thinking I'll settle there.

 

[mudpig]

Every McGowen barrel I've gotten (6) have been sub MOA, most sub 1/2 MOA.

 

[Steel head]

What naysayers?

 

[backsideof45]

ive ordered a 6.5 creedmoor, 223 Wylde and a 6br barrel from these guys for my Origin action. All sub .5 moa.

 

[OLD308]

1-7 twist 25-06? Please explain. Big 25-06 fan, and fast twist believer. But that's one I would have never though of.

 

[chevy_man]

Nice groups, but do you have pictures of the finger?

Not at the moment. Was replacing my phone screen and it's still on the healing bench. The x-rays were interesting, the bone I cut off that's healing is what's killing me.

What naysayers?

I mentioned in a couple threads waiting on a barrel. I had a few PM's and comments on how they're not cut rifled, or they're not this or that brand so don't waste the time, etc. A few people pointed out pictures of a bore that they found a few imperfections with a scope. However, it still shot just great, he was just upset it didn't look pretty enough.

I've also had PM's asking about performance, figured I'd just toss something up. Even though they are only 3 shot groups, I've yet to find a load that goes above 1 moa.

1-7 twist 25-06? Please explain. Big 25-06 fan, and fast twist believer. But that's one I would have never though of.

The lightest bullets I've run in the last 10 years have been 115's. I planned on running the blackjack 131's when I get around to load development with them. Just started with the BT's as I bought 1000 of them for something silly like $100 years ago. I could have gotten by with a 1:8, however the blackjacks wouldn't reliably stabilize according to the calculators on those 10* days when my DA is down around 2k ft.

I do have some 60grn hornaday or speer bullets from way back. I'm assuming they're long out of production, but I kind of want to set up cardboard every 25 yards out to 200 and see if they will spin apart. Hell, I'm not sure I can even dig up load data for them anymore.

 

[BroncoMustang]

What naysayers?

I have not heard much about them, but noticed that Precision Rifle Blog shows that some PRS & NRL shooters use them. You can check out the article below if you want. It is located at

Best Rifle Barrel – What The Pros Use

Barrels are deceptively simple, yet crucial to the precision required for long-range shooting. I onc...

precisionrifleblog.com

 

[chevy_man]

I have not heard much about them, but noticed that Precision Rifle Blog shows that some PRS & NRL shooters use them. You can check out the article below if you want. It is located at

Best Rifle Barrel – What The Pros Use

Barrels are deceptively simple, yet crucial to the precision required for long-range shooting. I onc...

precisionrifleblog.com

I figured everyone here was familiar with the PRB.

It seems that some brands have cult like followings, while others are cast off as "not cool". There was a thread here awhile back that surprised me at how many people had little to no respect for any of the names that weren't the big ones.

I simply thought I'd toss up a bit of data (albeit a small sample) to some of those who may be interested but haven't seen any results. I was surprised at the amount of questions I got mentioning that I had experience with them and was going with them for this rifle.

 

[308pirate]

It seems that some brands have cult like followings, while others are cast off as "not cool". There was a thread here awhile back that surprised me at how many people had little to no respect for any of the names that weren't the big ones.

Because most people are lemmings and make their decisions based only on what others do.

Poll-based research like the PRB "what the pros use" are mostly self fulfilling prophecies and unnecessary for people who know how to shop.

 

[XLR308]

I have one in a 1-8" twist x 26" 243win that was 1/2 MOA with several different bullets ranging from Berger 88FBLD to 105 Scenars during initial load development and break in.
Made it pretty damn difficult to decided what powder and bullet to use since it shot all that I tried better than I was expecting though H100V and H1000 was the most consistent with 105Amax and Scenars.
I had a box of Nosler 90 grain ballistic tip factory ammo on hand and wanted to see how it would react to a hot barrel.
A quick 10 shot string with no cool down just cycling and firing in rapid succession gave a diagonal elongated hole less than an inch long.

 

[OLD308]

Is it a custom chamber as well. Bullets out of the body/shoulder junction? Mag feed-able? Velocity? Very interested in your project.

 

[Yote Klr]

1/4 moa at 200yds from a bull bag, not on a full bechrest. 26" Mcgowen 300wm 185 Hybrid target. Usually shoot 5 shot hroups but this was re-zeroing a scope for a hunting trip next week.

 

[chevy_man]

Is it a custom chamber as well. Bullets out of the body/shoulder junction? Mag feed-able? Velocity? Very interested in your project.

The chamber is on the tighter end of the spec. I didn't bother with a custom reamer.
It's in an adl at the moment, so I'd imagine it'll feed anything.

Guys are pushing them pretty hard with the 25 Creed, I'll be happy if I can get them going 2900+- with accuracy.

 

[FisherT&C]

I've had good results with all the ones I've used. I have 2× 6mm 7 twist in stock for sale. They're hard to beat at the price point.

 

[OlsenG_360]

They made my 6.5-06AI barrel and it's shot amazingly well

 

[lennyo3034]

I have two. Both 6CM Impact prefits by McGowan. Have only installed one of them. It did not like 109 LRHT but shoots 107 Sierra and 105 Hybrids very well. I had my best 2 day match finish with it. The headspace is just a tad long on it and stretches brass by the base. I can feel the line with fingertip. The other came with a large burr on the crown. I will need to get that fixed before installing.

Would this prevent me from ordering another? No but I don’t think you get the same attention to detail as you would a custom smith.

 

[FisherT&C]

I have two. Both 6CM Impact prefits by McGowan. Have only installed one of them. It did not like 109 LRHT but shoots 107 Sierra and 105 Hybrids very well. I had my best 2 day match finish with it. The headspace is just a tad long on it and stretches brass by the base. I can feel the line with fingertip. The other came with a large burr on the crown. I will need to get that fixed before installing.

Would this prevent me from ordering another? No but I don’t think you get the same attention to detail as you would a custom smith.

That stretch is not too bad, just set your die appropriately so they're not getting stretched every time. If you have trouble getting that brass to chamber in another barrel, run it all through a small base sizer.

 

[Wannashootit]

McGowen is every bit as solid as the others in that price tier.
Just built a .300 WSM hunting rifle for a customer and it put all the bullets into one hole with one of the loads during development (none over 1/2 minute). Literally, a couple tenths. Never had an issue with any of them.

 

[alpine44]

I got a couple of AR15 barrels from them over the years for DMR-style builds. Good stuff, better than some more pricey options.