Mcgowen Barrel Reviews

[kswaterfowl]

I take it back.

I think i'm sending this one back too. was messing with some things again today and unless I am slamming things open and closed on two different lots of eldm its a struggle to open and close the bolt. the fatter ojive black was even worse. marks on extracted bullets show things likely only getting worse the more I shoot and this is only after 20 rounds through it.. My same saami spec 6cm PVA and PBB don't have marks like this with same lots and will open and close fine running the bolt slow or fast

View attachment 1009668

I had the same problem with my Mcgowen prefit. I sent it back, and they said they fixed it. But I havent tried it yet.

 

[Mike D Texas]

McGowen is trash. You get what you pay for...

Their prefits might be but I have several C6 barrels and one McGowan that shoots very well.


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[bojangles808]

McGowen is trash. You get what you pay for...

I had to send back a PVA for an undersized freebore that I paid twice as much for. nobody is perfect. **** happens

 

[atmat]

I had to send back a PVA for an undersized freebore that I paid twice as much for. nobody is perfect. **** happens

Yes, but it’s the rate at which it happens with McGowen that’s concerning. That’s amplified when you hear many people’s customer service experience.

I would buy a blank, but I wouldn’t buy a prefit.

 

[gbflyer]

If a barrel maker is making shouldered prefits they'd better be ready for a bunch of returns. I can't figure why any of them would do it. 100% relying on the installer who is often times unqualified, and the receiver manufacturer who can be off .005 easy. There can't be much good come of it.

 

[kswaterfowl]

If a barrel maker is making shouldered prefits they'd better be ready for a bunch of returns. I can't figure why any of them would do it. 100% relying on the installer who is often times unqualified, and the receiver manufacturer who can be off .005 easy. There can't be much good come of it.

You obviously havent owned very many prefits. There are plenty of companies that have very few issues.

 

[gbflyer]

You obviously havent owned very many prefits. There are plenty of companies that have very few issues.

Obviously. I chamber my own.

 

[Packmansion]

If a barrel maker is making shouldered prefits they'd better be ready for a bunch of returns. I can't figure why any of them would do it. 100% relying on the installer who is often times unqualified, and the receiver manufacturer who can be off .005 easy. There can't be much good come of it.

Unqualified lol if you cant install a shouldered prefit im not sure you should be allowed to drive a car.

 

[atmat]

Unqualified lol if you cant install a shouldered prefit im not sure you should be allowed to drive a car.

Bro, lefty loosey righty tighty is tough.

 

[kswaterfowl]

Obviously. I chamber my own.

 

[Packmansion]

Obviously. I chamber my own.

Obviously. You dont know what youre talking about.

 

[gbflyer]

Obviously. You dont know what youre talking about.

Nope. Not a clue.

 

[gbflyer]

View attachment 1009994

Good one. Obviously.


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[Packmansion]

Lets just not make it a habit to spread lies on the internet. Prefits are really easy to install... some people who make prefits are stupid and shouldn't be doing it. There are plenty of outfits who do it well with top notch quality control and phenomenal performance for the fraction of the time and cost of a gun smith... Im sure there are people who are smart enough to order a prefit but dumb enough that they can't install it, I just haven't meant someone that special yet...

 

[gbflyer]

Lets just not make it a habit to spread lies on the internet. Prefits are really easy to install... some people who make prefits are stupid and shouldn't be doing it. There are plenty of outfits who do it well with top notch quality control and phenomenal performance for the fraction of the time and cost of a gun smith... Im sure there are people who are smart enough to order a prefit but dumb enough that they can't install it, I just haven't meant someone that special yet...

Yes, it isn't difficult. By saying unqualified, I should have said "not properly equipped". So please forgive my poor choice or words.

How many people who get a prefit take the time to strip the bolt and check the headspace? Can they fix a thread issue? What happens when the barrel won't screw in? Keep cranking? What about when the cartridge won't chamber? It gets sent back, right? So the guy making the barrel, it's his fault, even if it isn't. So they better be ready to fix it, as a manufacturer is my point.

My experience with McGowan is on post 18. I have prefits from X-Cal and PacNor. They all have a nut.

I am nobody's king. I am qualified to speak on this subject however. Been doing it awhile.

 

[Sled]

Yes, it isn't difficult. By saying unqualified, I should have said "not properly equipped". So please forgive my poor choice or words.

How many people who get a prefit take the time to strip the bolt and check the headspace? Can they fix a thread issue? What happens when the barrel won't screw in? Keep cranking? What about when the cartridge won't chamber? It gets sent back, right? So the guy making the barrel, it's his fault, even if it isn't. So they better be ready to fix it, as a manufacturer is my point.

My experience with McGowan is on post 18. I have prefits from X-Cal and PacNor. They all have a nut.

I am nobody's king. I am qualified to speak on this subject however. Been doing it awhile.

I think prefits are a craps shoot. Yes, Tikka is way better with their tolerances than other mfgs but they too have variance. Every now and then their tolerance and the prefit barrel maker's tolerances stack up in the wrong way.

Fwiw, my smith will not make prefits for Tikka. He wants the action in hand and guarantees accuracy. I think you're wise to do the same and fortunate you have the tools and skills to the work yourself.

 

[Wrench]

Prefits should come after the buyer fills out one of these. If someone has lapped lugs or has a tolerance stacked rifle...it's asking for trouble. Barrels can be setup on the loose side to help with potential clearance issues, but do you want max performance or just show off that you have a particular brand of barrel?

I wouldn't sell a prefit myself. The custom smith can set your barrel to swing the crown up to 12 o'clock on the rifle if it's in his hands. That's not going to be the same results on a prefit.

 

[gbflyer]

Prefits should come after the buyer fills out one of these. If someone has lapped lugs or has a tolerance stacked rifle...it's asking for trouble. Barrels can be setup on the loose side to help with potential clearance issues, but do you want max performance or just show off that you have a particular brand of barrel?

I wouldn't sell a prefit myself. The custom smith can set your barrel to swing the crown up to 12 o'clock on the rifle if it's in his hands. That's not going to be the same results on a prefit.View attachment 1010107

That's a great way to put it. Also I like that diagram. I use a notebook with my own hieroglyphics.

 

[gbflyer]

I think prefits are a craps shoot. Yes, Tikka is way better with their tolerances than other mfgs but they too have variance. Every now and then their tolerance and the prefit barrel maker's tolerances stack up in the wrong way.

Fwiw, my smith will not make prefits for Tikka. He wants the action in hand and guarantees accuracy. I think you're wise to do the same and fortunate you have the tools and skills to the work yourself.

There are more successful middle of the road installations than not I suspect. This thread seems to highlight one barrel makers issue but when the pitfalls of the concept are discussed a dogpile starts. Weird.

For a guy doing several a year it may be worth the risk. One or two in a lifetime? After the getting tooled up, gages...makes sense to find a gunsmith. The not wanting to wait a year is understandable though. Looks like about $600 for a shouldered Tikka prefit from Preferred, then the work starts. LRI is $375 plus the blank for a chamber job/test fire. Just depends on what someone's time is worth and how many tools they want to borrow or buy I guess.

 

[wyosam]

I’ve got a pile of barrels from McGowan, all ordered as prefits (and 2 more on the way). All but one are tikkas and headspaced correctly. The one remage barrel I got in 7-08AI was chambered too deep so is somewhere between an ackley and a Gibbs. Could have sent that one back, but just added a false shoulder for fireforming and ran with it. All have shot great. Machine work has been a little ugly at times. I don’t care for the wait to have them made by a local smith. I’d rather do them myself but haven’t managed to justify purchasing a lathe. If I was in the L48 I probably would, but shipping to AK adds significant cost to an already tough to justify purchase. If a decent machine comes up used I’ll probably be done with prefits.


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