Mcgowen Barrel Reviews

bojangles808 said:
Theres a #1 contour so I'd assume that'd be a little lighter but it might be limited on threading with that one. I don't need threading though. If you got 2 lbs 4 oz on an 18 inch 6cm barrel that sounds pretty close to the same proportion as the factory contour. They told me they could also do the preferred barrels Tikka hybrid light contour as a custom too if you wanted 5/8 threading. There's a whole hybrid light thread on here somewhere that has.m bunch of finishes weights posted.
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I'm assuming you can get the #1 with a flared end and 5/8 threads. Pro tip: just order a #1 and 5/8 threads. They will call and ask if you want a flared end or 1/2 inch threads. 😉
 
bojangles808 said:
Theres a #1 contour so I'd assume that'd be a little lighter but it might be limited on threading with that one. I don't need threading though. If you got 2 lbs 4 oz on an 18 inch 6cm barrel that sounds pretty close to the same proportion as the factory contour. They told me they could also do the preferred barrels Tikka hybrid light contour as a custom too if you wanted 5/8 threading. There's a whole hybrid light thread on here somewhere that has.m bunch of finishes weights posted.
Click to expand...
To clarify, my barrel is threaded 5/8
 
Qholum37 said:
I just received my 7mm PRC barrel and everything looks really good. It was done ahead of schedule, a bit over 8 weeks. The fit and finish is much better than the last barrel I got from them about 3 years ago. They nailed my custom contour! 20" length and basically an .810 Taperless with the shank shortened up to 2" instead of 3". The weight came in a touch less than I expected as well, weighs 2 lbs 11.5 ozs. Overall, I am very pleased. I will also add that Sam was awesome to work with!

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Qholum37 said:
Got to put a few rounds down the new 7PRC barrel today and I like what I see so far! A rainstorm moved in and started dumping so I didn't get any 5 or 10 shot groups in like I had planned but here are shots 4,5 and 6 with factory Precision Hunter ammo...

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I loaded up a mid book load today for the 7PRC to break in the barrel a bit more. 4831SC, 175 ELDX and some 1x Hornady brass that I will be throwing away after this because of somewhat loose primer pockets. The first picture is 6 rounds just over 1/2". I was stoked so I kept going - the last picture is 10 shots. Shots 15-24 down the barrel with zero load development. I'm Impressed! This thing seems to shoot whatever you feed it!

15-20 7PRC.jpg

15-24 7PRC.jpg
 
Qholum37 said:
I just received my 7mm PRC barrel and everything looks really good. It was done ahead of schedule, a bit over 8 weeks. The fit and finish is much better than the last barrel I got from them about 3 years ago. They nailed my custom contour! 20" length and basically an .810 Taperless with the shank shortened up to 2" instead of 3". The weight came in a touch less than I expected as well, weighs 2 lbs 11.5 ozs. Overall, I am very pleased. I will also add that Sam was awesome to work with!

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I liked the looks of this barrel contour enough I just ordered nearly the exact specs the other night, but went 22”. Hoping I’ll be right at 3 pounds. Also going to be a 7PRC
This will be my 2nd Mcgowen, hopefully as good as my first one.
 
I’m sure it will happen at some point and my usage overall is low…

I’m on my 6th McGowen barrel which is a 20” .224 in a Tikka Lite contour. It’s shooting very well so far.

In fact, all 6 of my McGowen steel barrels have shot well from .224 to .30 all in lite/sporter type contours.
 
NWBLKTAIL said:
I liked the looks of this barrel contour enough I just ordered nearly the exact specs the other night, but went 22”. Hoping I’ll be right at 3 pounds. Also going to be a 7PRC
This will be my 2nd Mcgowen, hopefully as good as my first one.
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This has been my favorite contour that I’ve had so far and it shoots awesome. I have been going out a few nights a week and shooting 10 shot groups and they are all right around 3/4” which is great considering it’s a magnum. Pretty tame recoil really with a suppressor.
 
Qholum37 said:
This has been my favorite contour that I’ve had so far and it shoots awesome. I have been going out a few nights a week and shooting 10 shot groups and they are all right around 3/4” which is great considering it’s a magnum. Pretty tame recoil really with a suppressor.
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Yeah I’m hoping it will land perfect in that feel of weight and balance, I’m hoping all said and done I will be about 10ish pounds. More concerned with shoot ability. I have light rifles in more tame cartridges.
My McGowen .243 shoots great so far. Turned a friend on to them and he ordered a .243 as well and it hammers.
 
I would bet the barrels take longer now but I could be wrong. I canceled my last order a few weeks ago after 3 weeks without an answered phone call and only one replied to email but then no answer. Sam finally answered when I asked for my money back and said they’re extremely busy. I was trying to change the fluting length. I called Preferred and had my fluted blank 2 weeks later.
 
Just updating this I ordered a custom contoured blank on April 13th and got a call yesterday it was done April 23rd.
Might be different for the next guy, but I was surprised how fast it was.
 
Haven't seen any updates here lately so figured I'll add mine.

Placed order on 5/9/2025 for a tikka prefit in 22cm.
Received on 6/25/2025. Way ahead of schedule - awesome!!

Overall looks good - good finish and all.
Haven't been able to get it to shoot well though. I'm just trying to run factory hornady eld-m 80gr and the eld-x 80gr. Groups vary from 2 to 3 moa :O

The previous barrel from them was a tack-driver out of the box.
Trying the barrel in a chassis tomorrow to see if anything changes. Otherwise might be reaching back out to them to see what's going on.
 
I just got around to trying a Mcgowen barrel I ordered in Dec of 2024, and it looks like I will be sending it back to them. It is really hard to close and open the bolt on every round I try. It was so tight on a factory 108 eldm that it pulled the bullet out if the case. Here is a picture of a hornady 105 gr bthp.
 

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kswaterfowl said:
I just got around to trying a Mcgowen barrel I ordered in Dec of 2024, and it looks like I will be sending it back to them. It is really hard to close and open the bolt on every round I try. It was so tight on a factory 108 eldm that it pulled the bullet out if the case. Here is a picture of a hornady 105 gr bthp.
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You didn’t mention cartridge. Are you seated at SAAMI length?

Is it a prefit barrel?
 
kswaterfowl said:
6 creedmoor, saami length. This was with all factory ammo. It is a Mcgowen tikka prefit. Passed the go, no-go gauge test.
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I had the same marring on bullets with a 6cm PVA prefit and it only got worse after shooting. Eventually sent it back it was out of spec. they likely got too cute with the chambering. Unfortunately I have a 6cm McGowan on the way, I hope it's not that bad
 
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