Mcgowen Barrel Reviews

[willicd]

The short answer is that, generally, we don't "bother with custom receivers."

There are features that are interesting which Tikkas don't have - modular bolt heads, quick change barrel systems, lighter bolt lifts, etc. However, for most of us these features are weighed down by the requirement for a Remington 700 pattern trigger and its reliability/safety baggage.

For a self-professed cheapskate like yourself, focused on utility, I'd recommend selling those Solus actions (which don't even provide most of the sought-after advantages of customs, and are not terribly smooth) and focusing on the humble Tikka.

-J

I have 3 SS tikkas waiting to build on or sell. What are the “sought after advantages” of custom actions the solus doesn’t provide? There must be quite a list since you used the term “MOST”! I named 3 highly sought after advantages of custom actions that the solus does possess. “Smooth” is relative and I don’t have them in my hands to gauge that after initial break in.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I’m going to build myself a slow twist bolt action 30-30 deer rifle just for something different and I think I’ll try a McGowen 1-15 for the 125’s. It will be my first McGowen so apparently I need everyone to wish me luck!

If you are going to do your own work on the barrel, McGowen blanks are actually pretty good. It is their machining work (chambering, threading, etc) that needs work. I have two McGowens and both shoot great. One is a Remage and one a Savage.

 

[Dualsight]

Not to resurrect a thread that ended last year, but this has been a very good as I too was considering the McGowen rifle barrel and debated between a shoulder or a nut. If still thinking about a McGowen barrel it appears a McGowen blank is the better alternative and find a trusted gunsmith to complete the process.

Everyone, thank you for your stories and experiences; very enlightening.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Not to resurrect a thread that ended last year, but this has been a very good as I too was considering the McGowen rifle barrel and debated between a shoulder or a nut. If still thinking about a McGowen barrel it appears a McGowen blank is the better alternative and find a trusted gunsmith to complete the process.

Everyone, thank you for your stories and experiences; very enlightening.

It's worth noting that McGowen has been making some changes in house, apparently for the greater good of the customers. My buddy @Timberline001 has experience with them and just ordered a barrel recently, he can chime in with details.

 

[Timberline001]

Not to resurrect a thread that ended last year, but this has been a very good as I too was considering the McGowen rifle barrel and debated between a shoulder or a nut. If still thinking about a McGowen barrel it appears a McGowen blank is the better alternative and find a trusted gunsmith to complete the process.

Everyone, thank you for your stories and experiences; very enlightening.

There’s been alot of changes at mcgowen. As others have mentioned, Dan is gone. When you call now you talk to Sam and he’s been one of the most helpful individuals I’ve talked to on the phone in this industry. Extremely knowledgeable about their barrels and helpful. My 6.5 PRC tikka prefit barrel I ordered the end of January arrived at the end of February and everything looked fantastic on it. Sam mentioned everything has changed in house in his opinion and that seemed true with my barrel. I’m excited to do more business with them between the quick turnaround, good price, and great customer service.

 

[Timberline001]

I’m about to order a 6mm creedmoor prefit from mcgowen with PBBs hybrid contour so I can compare it apples to apples with my PBB. I’ll let everyone know how it goes.

 

[mt100gr.]

I don't remember if I chimed in here yet....

My McGowen prefit wasn't without its issues, but I dealt with them myself since I don't mind tinkering.

I can't complain about the accuracy and depending how thier new structuring reviews, I may order from them again. I like that they're 20 minutes away.

I only had six loaded rounds yesterday, trying a different powder charge.

 

[Leaf Litter]

This is a borescope shot of my most recent Mcgowen barrel, it has some really odd markings all the way around the barrel on the lands. Perhaps it was rebored? It seems to shoot OK, But I've only had 50 rounds of load development down the tube so far, so I can't comfortably make a statement about accuracy.

The "GO" gauge also wouldn't close on it from the factory. I can chamber ammo, but not the go-gauge. Same as with my first mcgowen barrel.

They are priced competitively, so you get what you pay for.

 

[wyosam]

I’ve got 4 McGowans and all shoot. Had one that was chambered a touch deep, other than that no issues. This was just now with my latest in 338-284. Shot from clean and cold.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ryan Avery]

This is a borescope shot of my most recent Mcgowen barrel, it has some really odd markings all the way around the barrel on the lands. Perhaps it was rebored? It seems to shoot OK, But I've only had 50 rounds of load development down the tube so far, so I can't comfortably make a statement about accuracy.

The "GO" gauge also wouldn't close on it from the factory. I can chamber ammo, but not the go-gauge. Same as with my first mcgowen barrel.

They are priced competitively, so you get what you pay for.
View attachment 692138

I’ve seen “strange marks” in just about every brand of barrel. Rarely does it tell me anything about the barrel’s accuracy.

 

[Leaf Litter]

I’ve seen “strange marks” in just about every brand of barrel. Rarely does it tell me anything about the barrel’s accuracy.

And that's why I never complained to them, I'm waiting to see if it has a detrimental effect on accuracy or if it's purely cosmetic. I have a factory tikka barrel that looks perfect for 95% of the barrel, but has big gouges in the throat from boring.

 

[letrbuck]

I’m about to order a 6mm creedmoor prefit from mcgowen with PBBs hybrid contour so I can compare it apples to apples with my PBB. I’ll let everyone know how it goes.

Any updates?

 

[Timberline001]

Any updates?

I got it. It looks good and the contour matches my PBB perfectly. The threads as well as the rest of the machining is much more clean than my previous Mcgowen prefits. I hope to spin it on this winter and start shooting it.

 

[mlevimadden]

Reviving this thread with the 20% Black Friday sale McGowen has starting soon. Anyone else have any recent experience on a tikka prefit from McGowen after the personnel changes?

I've been enjoying my PVA barrel for the last year but am wanting a 6 creed prefit and wouldn't mind saving a couple hundred bucks.

 

[z987k]

Reviving this thread with the 20% Black Friday sale McGowen has starting soon. Anyone else have any recent experience on a tikka prefit from McGowen after the personnel changes?

I've been enjoying my PVA barrel for the last year but am wanting a 6 creed prefit and wouldn't mind saving a couple hundred bucks.

I've got a Mcgowan on a pierce and one on a tikka. They're both shooters. I've had no issues. The tikka barrel was this year, so post personnel changes for sure. I think the other one was to, but I don't remember exactly when that mix up was. I also like the large selection of barrel contours. I just wish they'd add the factory tikka light contour. You can send them a barrel and they'll copy it, but it'd be nice if it was an option.
I guess if you had the tikka lite profile print you could just send that to them as well.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

I've had 2 and neither shot well. Could have been a bad chamber job. I took both guns to a different smith and they got a Hart and a Bartlien.

 

[Qholum37]

I've had 2 and neither shot well. Could have been a bad chamber job. I took both guns to a different smith and they got a Hart and a Bartlien.

How recent were these barrels made? I got one for one of my dads rifles before the changes and the threading didnt look good but it ended up shooting pretty decent. I've been thinking about getting another with this sale going on but not quite sure yet.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

How recent were these barrels made? I got one for one of my dads rifles before the changes and the threading didnt look good but it ended up shooting pretty decent. I've been thinking about getting another with this sale going on but not quite sure yet.

This was a few years ago. And again, it may have been the gunsmith. I wasn't willing to try either again so I fired them both.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Hope they got rid of that guy, Dan. What a miserable POS to have as point of contact for a business.

 

[floridajpr]

I believe McGowen Precison blanks are what CarbonSix uses for their barrels. Been waiting on my CarbonSix CF 6.5prc barrel since March 2024, it's almost December. I heard they got a contract for a big brand name, (Browning), and that is why barrel orders are taking longer. I hate waiting for barrels.