What is happening at McGowan

[supercorndogs]

This barrel is a replacement for a replacement. The first one had drastically undersized muzzle threads. The second one had drastically undersized tennon threads. All showed this same rough threading. The first one had the same bad crown as this one. The second had no crown. I guess when you crown like this. Leave it alone. Lol.

I tried to lap the tendon threads some to remove some of the roughness. Then I ran a patch down, and had to bump the cleaning rod with my palm to get the patch through the crown. The rough threads are crappy, the crown is worse, I wonder what the chamber job and rifling job on the blank looks like for that matter.

I notice no one else sends me barrels with threads that look like this. It's only my assumption that there is a reason.

 

[celltech]

Time to get a refund and move on...think my patience would be worn out by now.

 

[Krob95]

This ain't the first junk barrel they've turned out. Cut your losses as they won't refund it and have a quality smith cut you a barrel. I assume this is a prefit, any reputable smith can get ya squared away. I see you’re in Colorado, I'd suggest Fritz at black canyon customs.

 

[supercorndogs]

I was going to send it off and have the muzzle re-threaded and crowned, but I keep telling myself. You really want another 75-100 in this thing. I would have thought they would have thought that by now too, and sourced a barrel from somewhere else to send me.

 

[DangerRanger]

I would demand a refund and when they don’t give it hit a charge back and rock on.

Might work as a tomato stake

 

[supercorndogs]

I don't grow little baby tomato plants.

I took in the first one used, probably from someone who got tired of dealing with them also. They "never noticed the muzzle threads were small." And I mean my QD attachment could hulu hoop on them. I am not out the full price of a barrel, but have pretty much no chance of a refund.

I was considering cutting my losses on the last barrel, but un-benounced to me they were making me this one. Then I got this one, I was like the threads are rough. I can work with that. Then, dang, the muzzle threads are worse. I looked through the barrel from the chamber, and I could see the burs on the crown.

I might be able to just get it recrowned I guess. Both threads seem useable.

 

[Sogan]

I would demand a refund and when they don’t give it hit a charge back and rock on.

Might work as a tomato stake

If they really wont replace it or refund you then I’d say that this the only answer. Fuck them if that’s their CS

 

[Carlos Danger]

Seem better threads in the plumbing dept in Home Depot.

 

[supercorndogs]

I imagine they would replace it again. I thought they would make me send the other one in before they sent this replacement. I was not expecting it until i got a shipment notification from them. There CS has been fine. The product I keep getting is the problem. I might just order a crowning tool and try to crown it myself. I don't think I can make it worse. I was wondering if I could get a finishing reamer and clean up the chamber. i hate to buy anything for 243WIN though.

Watch me crown it and it be a freaking lazer beem.

 

[supercorndogs]

Seem better threads in the plumbing dept in Home Depot.

Last barrel looked like NPT.

 

[supercorndogs]

Can I lap the burs out? Should i nock them down with a jewelers file then lap them? Do think I will have troubles with stuff coming loose on those threads?

 

[Schw15]

Ordered one barrel from them because they had it in stock never again the chamber was so rough I had them polish it but haven't messed with it since I got it back. They just seem not to care to much and I will never use them again.

 

[ThePretzel]

Can I lap the burs out? Should i nock them down with a jewelers file then lap them? Do think I will have troubles with stuff coming loose on those threads?

I mean you can't make the barrel any worse than it already is, I'd make sure the threads are at least smooth and in-spec though before screwing it onto any action you care about to avoid damaging the action itself.

 

[Ape_Factory]

My only guess has to be all of their qualified people walked off the job for whatever reason or they're using all these shit barrels as a tax write-off due to financial woes. No decent machinist would allow that sort of work to pass inspection. No owner would want their staff to send this stuff OTD in this day and age of social media and internet forums with massive membership roles. You'd have to be as dumb as a 2x4 or have a desire to completely destroy your business. Yet here we are. Truly WTF. There must be something very, very wrong at McGowen post-blank manufacturing phase. Their blanks seem ok. It's what happens after that's truly incredulous.

I had a similar experience recently, damaged crown, weird chamber, sent my barrel back and am waiting on the replacement. In the meantime, my f*cked up original barrel is listed for sale under their in-stock section. There's a sucker born every minute.

I've literally lost all hope of getting a quality barrel and I'll likely end up wasting another six to eight weeks when I could have ordered a WOA and been perfectly happy (today) for a reasonable amount of money.

Stop taking orders and fix whatever needs to be fixed. At a certain point, there's no coming back from a damaged reputation.

 

[rustyinbend]

I've got two McGowen barrels ... one installed on my 300-WM that is awesome, and another in the box waiting for my 6.5-CM Tikka to return from LRI ... it is having the barrel removed from the action (impossible to do myself). When I read this, I immediately took the barrel out of the box and inspected it ... relieved to see that threads are fine. Screwed on the muzzle brake easily and with about the expected tension ... action threads look good, but can't confirm until LRI sends the action back. Bore scoped it and saw some residual manufacturing "gunk" (little black turds) so I've got it soaking in C4 and will scrub it out prior to first shots. Sorry to hear some of you are having issues with McGowen ... so far so good for me.

 

[Ape_Factory]

How long ago did you order the second one? I have a CarbonSix which is a McGowan blank and it's a great barrel. I'd just prefer the "intern" not be the one putting the finishing touches on my barrel.

 

[rustyinbend]

Ordered the 300-WM barrel Jul-21 and received it Nov-21. Ordered the 6.5-CM barrel Nov-21 and received it Jun-22.

 

[308pirate]

Writing them off as a Howage option. Criterion seems to be the only one left offering them.

 

[Schw15]

I shot the barrel i had to send back. They did a great job polishing out the messed up chamber and shot great today so happy they fixed it

 

[Darayavaus]

My only guess has to be all of their qualified people walked off the job for whatever reason or they're using all these shit barrels as a tax write-off due to financial woes. No decent machinist would allow that sort of work to pass inspection. No owner would want their staff to send this stuff OTD in this day and age of social media and internet forums with massive membership roles. You'd have to be as dumb as a 2x4 or have a desire to completely destroy your business. Yet here we are. Truly WTF. There must be something very, very wrong at McGowen post-blank manufacturing phase. Their blanks seem ok. It's what happens after that's truly incredulous.

I had a similar experience recently, damaged crown, weird chamber, sent my barrel back and am waiting on the replacement. In the meantime, my f*cked up original barrel is listed for sale under their in-stock section. There's a sucker born every minute.

I've literally lost all hope of getting a quality barrel and I'll likely end up wasting another six to eight weeks when I could have ordered a WOA and been perfectly happy (today) for a reasonable amount of money.

Stop taking orders and fix whatever needs to be fixed. At a certain point, there's no coming back from a damaged reputation.

Who made that man a machinist?!?

I did sir, he's my cousin!

 

[supercorndogs]

All three of my Remage 243 barrels have had rough threads. I had to grind down the locating pin on the barrel extension of the AR-15 barrel they made for me. It shoots Ok. I guess I should pull the muzzle device and look at those threads again. I seem to remember being less than impressed wth them also. All of them had rough enough chambers, that I polished this one.

I am going to order a 45 degree crown lapping tool. And see if it will shoot. If the muzzle threads are concentric and it shoots maybe I use them, maybe i get it r-ethreaded and crowned.

 

[MT Mulie]

Writing them off as a Howage option. Criterion seems to be the only one left offering them.

Preferred lists Howa 1500

 

[Threadcutter308]

Writing them off as a Howage option. Criterion seems to be the only one left offering them.

Welcome back.....

 

[supercorndogs]

Preferred lists Howa 1500

Last couple threads where I didn't mention the maker of the barrel when asking some questions. I had several people PM asking if it was preferred barrel blanks, and stated they were having problems with them.

 

[MT Mulie]

Last couple threads where I didn't mention the maker of the barrel when asking some questions. I had several people PM asking if it was preferred barrel blanks, and stated they were having problems with them.

Have your heard anything with big holes and their pre-fit?

 

[308pirate]

Welcome back.....

I've been back for a while. Always watching

 

[308pirate]

Preferred lists Howa 1500

Thanks, are they any good?

 

[308pirate]

Last couple threads where I didn't mention the maker of the barrel when asking some questions. I had several people PM asking if it was preferred barrel blanks, and stated they were having problems with them.

Welp back to Criterion only

 

[Threadcutter308]

I've been back for a while. Always watching

I figured as much.....

 

[abn31c]

Writing them off as a Howage option. Criterion seems to be the only one left offering them.

 

[308pirate]

View attachment 8055610

Just call me Lt Dan

 

[Threadcutter308]

Just call me Lt Dan

Oopsies.........wrong wheelchair.

 

[abn31c]

Just call me Lt Dan

So Lt Dan, you had yer hands on a MPA DS9?
I'm about to pull the trigger on one.
Curious if you have an opinion....

 

[308pirate]

So Lt Dan, you had yer hands on a MPA DS9?
I'm about to pull the trigger on one.
Curious if you have an opinion....

Nope.

No likey SAO pistols. But USPSA might add Limited Optics if you're interested.

Got this one on Black Friday sale: $1237 delivered NIB

 

[abn31c]

Nope.

No likey SAO pistols. But USPSA might add Limited Optics if you're interested.

Got this one on Black Friday sale: $1237 delivered NIB
View attachment 8055625

Nice score, but I got one of those. I shot my first pistola match a week ago. No alphabet classifications just an Outlaw steel thing. Had a blast. Got to shoot some good stuff after the match. The MPA is damn solid, atleast to a non pistol guy like museff.

 

[308pirate]

Nice score, but I got one of those. I shot my first pistola match a week ago. No alphabet classifications just an Outlaw steel thing. Had a blast. Got to shoot some good stuff after the match. The MPA is damn solid, atleast to a non pistol guy like museff.

There's a big difference in how accessible performance is when going from light (sub 35 oz) to heavy (40+ oz) pistols. But you need skills to access that difference.

 

[abn31c]

There's a big difference in how accessible performance is when going from light (sub 35 oz) to heavy (40+ oz) pistols. But you need skills to access that difference.

Yer sayin I have no skilz? Yer a dik....yer right, but still a dik.....

 

[MarinePMI]

Yer sayin I have no skilz? Yer a dik....yer right, but still a dik.....

But, what about the Alien pistol?

 

[supercorndogs]

Have your heard anything with big holes and their pre-fit?

I have not. I have some barrels from Crown Ridge Barrel Works and Criterion that have been pretty good also. Just because I heard Preffered turned out some bad ones doesn't mean they don't make good barrels. I have also never personally delt with preferred. I have 6.5 Creed, 300wm, and 280Rem Criterion barrels, and 6mm creed, and 280Rem crown ridge barrels. All have shot very well, and i have not had any troubles with rough or undersized threads, rough chambers, or damaged to non-existent crowns with them.

Pretty sure Crwon Ridge does Howage. They were pretty fast last time I used them.

 

[308pirate]

Pretty sure Crwon Ridge does Howage. They were pretty fast last time I used them.

Gotta buy a blank and send it in.

 

[supercorndogs]

Gotta buy a blank and send it in.

They usually have some x-caliber blanks on hand, and maybe Wilson. It depends on the what you want though. You can e-mail him what you want and he will tell you if he has a blank or not.

 

[Glassaholic]

This barrel is a replacement for a replacement. The first one had drastically undersized muzzle threads. The second one had drastically undersized tennon threads. All showed this same rough threading. The first one had the same bad crown as this one. The second had no crown. I guess when you crown like this. Leave it alone. Lol.

I tried to lap the tendon threads some to remove some of the roughness. Then I ran a patch down, and had to bump the cleaning rod with my palm to get the patch through the crown. The rough threads are crappy, the crown is worse, I wonder what the chamber job and rifling job on the blank looks like for that matter.

I notice no one else sends me barrels with threads that look like this. It's only my assumption that there is a reason.

Supercorn, that totally blows, especially that they've already had an opportunity to make it right and still screwed it up. Question for you, this was from McGowan and not from another smith who turned a McGowan blank correct? I was literally going to order a barrel from CarbonSix this week, but they use McGowan blanks and this has me a little hesitant. But if the issue is more with the smith service and not with the blank itself, that would put me a little more at ease... maybe, but if that's the kind of QC McGowan has, then maybe I pass...

 

[MarinePMI]

Welcome back.....

Well, that didn't last long. And no, it wasn't me.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Well, that didn't last long. And no, it wasn't me.

Saw that. Is that a new record ?

"Scratches his head and rolls his eyes".........

 

[supercorndogs]

Supercorn, that totally blows, especially that they've already had an opportunity to make it right and still screwed it up. Question for you, this was from McGowan and not from another smith who turned a McGowan blank correct? I was literally going to order a barrel from CarbonSix this week, but they use McGowan blanks and this has me a little hesitant. But if the issue is more with the smith service and not with the blank itself, that would put me a little more at ease... maybe, but if that's the kind of QC McGowan has, then maybe I pass...

Yes, these barrels were made by McGowan. I have always heard good things about their blanks. Of course we all know some unlapped savage train track looking barrels can shoot. I can say it felt smooth running patches through it. Although it feels to me like it might have opened up at the muzzle threads. @killswitchengage offered to thread and crown it for me. I was planning to lap the crown, shoot it a little, and check some brass before I decide what to do with it. If it won't shoot or the brass has lots of run out i will probably cry to McGowan again.

 

[supercorndogs]

By by Lt. Dan.

 

[locotrician]

This barrel is a replacement for a replacement. The first one had drastically undersized muzzle threads. The second one had drastically undersized tennon threads. All showed this same rough threading. The first one had the same bad crown as this one. The second had no crown. I guess when you crown like this. Leave it alone. Lol.

I tried to lap the tendon threads some to remove some of the roughness. Then I ran a patch down, and had to bump the cleaning rod with my palm to get the patch through the crown. The rough threads are crappy, the crown is worse, I wonder what the chamber job and rifling job on the blank looks like for that matter.

I notice no one else sends me barrels with threads that look like this. It's only my assumption that there is a reason.

My last barrel was the same story and it will be my last of thiers , they are rude on the phone as well and suggested perhaps my action had oversized threads. I laughed at the guy , thought it was a joke. It wasn't.

 

[supercorndogs]

Well, I mounted up the barrel. The tenon threads are not as loose as the last one, but not as tight as my Crown Ridge or Criterion barrels. I bet If I had wires they would be still be under. It also shoots like dog shit so far, 2-3 MOA one might touch 4MOA. I loaded a different bullet, pretty sure its not going to matter. The Nosler CC blem 105s I was shooting shot bug holes in my 243 AI. But i loaded some Hornady 105 match over H4350 to try next chance i get. I could see some pretty good copper streaks on the rifling at the muzzle end after 20 rounds.

 

[supercorndogs]

Yep no love with a different bullet and powder. The two cir led are from this barrel. The others are from a 224 Valk AR.

If you look at the POA, the circle below and right. If you over lay this as a 10 round group it would be 3.5 to 4 MOA.

 

[locotrician]

I think everyone of thier barrels that come out in spec go to c6 and the rest are sold off as mcgowen.