Mcgowen Barrel Reviews

[floridajpr]

I think most people here are talking about prefits not blanks. It seems like the issues people are having aren't with accuracy. I am not sure why any business would risk undermining themselves in one area while performing so well in another. It seems their inhouse gunsmithing services could be doing them more harm than good. I'd have no issue ordering a blank from them they seem to have that down. Took the gun out to shoot it and it performed quite well. I guess ill just have to get over the corncob media blast job lol. Its almost a little funny, I kind of like how homemade it looks lol. My PBBs are soo nice comparatively. I will definitely stick with PBB here on out. Very accurate and well finished no issues.

Yes, I believe the prefits are what people are talking about.

 

[gbflyer]

My buddy ordered a McGowen blank. When his smith chambered it, it had .008” runout at muzzle. Absolutely awful. Industry standard max runout is .0005”. Bore not concentric with muzzle. Absolutely unacceptable.

What do you mean? If you are talking about the OD of the contour not matching the bore at the muzzle, I’ve seen worse than .008 out and still gotten good shooters. Not uncommon at all. Gunsmiths don’t generally reference machining operations off the barrel OD. Consistent bore diameter throughout the length of the barrel is the important number, not that it perfectly matches the OD.

Maybe we aren’t on the same page.

I am not defending McGowan by the way. I had my mediocre experience with Dan. I can’t say that the barrel is not a good shooter though.

 

[Packmansion]

So historically Mcgowen ln replied to me immediately when I was discussing placing an order. Well they are completely ignoring my emails now lol. Customer Service 1 Star. Out of principle I will not being doing business with them in any capacity moving forward.

 

[atmat]

Friendly reminder that most credit cards offer a chargeback feature.

 

[Packmansion]

Friendly reminder that most credit cards offer a chargeback feature.

How does that work?

 

[atmat]

How does that work?

Contact your credit card company and tell them you want to dispute a charge. I’ve never gotten push back (though I’ve rarely used it). But I usually also have evidence prepared — such as emails where I’ve clearly demonstrated what is wrong with the product.

There is usually a time limit to dispute, though, so make sure to get on it.

 

[Packmansion]

They reached out to me. They are making me a new barrel and are paying to ship everything.

 

[kswaterfowl]

They reached out to me. They are making me a new barrel and are paying to ship everything.

That's a huge improvement over their old customer service.

 

[DisplacedHusky]

The C6 barrel I received a few months ago shoots great. I’m getting some crazy high speeds from factory ELDX that I need to figure out, but at least it shoots good.

 

[Harvey_NW]

They reached out to me. They are making me a new barrel and are paying to ship everything.

Good, that's how it should be. I read in another thread there was some new staff and a replacement in management? Hopefully they continue with that support.

 

[HighUintas]

How's McGowen quality been lately? Do they shoot?

 

[Packmansion]

How's McGowen quality been lately? Do they shoot?

My honest review is they are shooters for sure. Sam told me all their barrels are hand lapped. Only issue is their threading and crowing is rough and their matte finish is low quality. If you are ordering a blank and hiring a gunsmith I don't think you will be disappointed however if you get a prefit from them you get what you pay for. The finish is well below average. Their prices are very competitive so I would say there is value and if you are just buying prefits to have fun and test out cartridges it's not a bad value. If you are building your dream rifle look elsewhere. I order a lot prefits and believe mcgowan fits a niche for me where if I know a project is not going to be my main rifle and im just tinkering I will go with mcgowan.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

How's McGowen quality been lately? Do they shoot?

I took the advice off this thread and ordered a blank from them and had my smith chamber it.
I haven’t had it long enough to give detailed review, the barrel only has 40 rounds down it so far.
I threw a vanilla load together to break it in and it shot okay.
Hopefully as time goes on it will tighten up. Just a sample of one. But seems most guys if they buy blanks have had good luck.

 

[atmat]

I took the advice off this thread and ordered a blank from them and had my smith chamber it.
I haven’t had it long enough to give detailed review, the barrel only has 40 rounds down it so far.
I threw a vanilla load together to break it in and it shot okay.
Hopefully as time goes on it will tighten up. Just a sample of one. But seems most guys if they buy blanks have had good luck.

1.42” for 11 shots is pretty dang good.

 

[HighUintas]

My honest review is they are shooters for sure. Sam told me all their barrels are hand lapped. Only issue is their threading and crowing is rough and their matte finish is low quality. If you are ordering a blank and hiring a gunsmith I don't think you will be disappointed however if you get a prefit from them you get what you pay for. The finish is well below average. Their prices are very competitive so I would say there is value and if you are just buying prefits to have fun and test out cartridges it's not a bad value. If you are building your dream rifle look elsewhere. I order a lot prefits and believe mcgowan fits a niche for me where if I know a project is not going to be my main rifle and im just tinkering I will go with mcgowan.

I was looking at profit for Tikka, primarily due to cost, I read that they have new management, and they offer a Douglas featherweight contour that is 32oz at 22"... Unfluted. That's really light and what I'm looking for. So long as they shoot and the threads won't screw up my action or suppressor, I'm not worried about finish. I'd be ordering matte or polished or whatever is free and spray painting it haha

 

[Leaf Litter]

My biggest issue with Mcgowen was poor customer service and they sent one of their muzzle brakes on a barrel where the muzzle brake bore wasn't large enough for the bullet, causing strikes.

Once I removed their crappy muzzle brake, the barrel shot well enough

 

[xsn10s]

I've seen a lot of custom rifles built with McGowen barrels. They all needed to the builder's accuracy spec and a vast majority did. But there were occasions they did not. One barrel that didn't shoot well was missing sections of rifling when bore scoped. When a barrel doesn't shoot I'd first check the crown and then the rifling.

 

[letrbuck]

Their customer service could be better... I have emailed a couple times and left voicemails trying to determine my order status that was quoted on the phone when I ordered at 8-10 weeks and it's been nearly 20 weeks

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

1.42” for 11 shots is pretty dang good.

No doubt, don’t get me wrong I’m very pleased with my product. Just excited to put more time behind this particular rifle. It’s still very new to me.

 

[HighUintas]

Their customer service could be better... I have emailed a couple times and left voicemails trying to determine my order status that was quoted on the phone when I ordered at 8-10 weeks and it's been nearly 20 weeks

Currently?