McGowen barrels

[gbflyer]

I got a contoured blank from McGowan last year. Pre purchase service was excellent. I had a significant shipping delay, not their fault obviously. Apparently the tracking details were not logged in from the get - go is all I could figure. Phone calls and emails were ignored, which looking back I really can’t fault them for. Wasn’t anything they could do about it anyway. I ordered the blank fluted and specified where I wanted the fluting to end. Twice. Wasn’t even close when it showed up, again, minor annoyance. The barrel shoots well, nothing spectacular but certainly not a dud. I would use them again. They have not replaced Hart and X-Caliber as my preferred button barrels.

 

[archeratlrg]

Here is my experience with McGowan Barrels. I first took in 6 military barrels with 2 different barrels to reprofile to. 3 of one and 3 of the other. All three were 1/2 in shooters that I wanted the steps turned out of. I also dropped off off some other barrels to reprofile. One was a Shilen, unchambered and a very heavy profile. One was a
X-Caliber and another was a Douglas. Al heavy barrels and unchambered. I had instructions spelled our clearly as to what was to be done
Also had the same instructions written in black sharpie on the barrels themselves. Along with that I had a yellow legal pad sheet with explicit instructions. When I finally went to pick them up they had ruined my shilen barrel by turning it down o small it couldn't be used. Thy said they would replace it with one of theirs profiled to the pattern barrel I had left for that one. The Douuglas and the x-caluber were both turned 20 though under and I can't use them in the stocks I had in letter for them. I only got 4 military barrels back. They said other 2 were still I line to be finished. I didn't know 2 of the barrels were turned undersized until I got home. 3 hour drive each way. I had dropped off some other barrels at that time for reprofiling...a kriger 26" 6mm-284 heavy target barrel that had been on one of my Sako actions. Groups were starting to open up so I was having the chamber cut off, recut for a 98 LR Mauser and reprofiled to match another barrel. Again, everything was layer out in triplicate so there would be no mistake. Instead of cutting off the chamber end, they took it off the muzzle end. They turned the chamber portion 70 thous under spec and then to add insult to injury the just tried to rethread right over the existing Sako threads but for a small ring mauser. Totally trashed the barrel. The other barrel, a target 284 Win on a 28 inch barrel was to have been cut to 25 1/2" and and reconfigured to a Remingto 700 Mountail Rifle profile. They cut it 24 1/2" and profiled it to a Sendaro profile. I was pissed but respectful. I had brought back the military barrels that hey had not turned the steps out of and they said they wouldn't redo them. I threatened to get my attorney involved and the guy at the front "Dan" was extremely rude and told me to get my shit and get out and nit come back unless I was buying new barrels from them. I asked where my replacement barrel was and hecsaid they didn't have any such thing. I told him to go through each of my orders and he finally found it and said it hadn't been started yet, they would call mecwhen it was done and nit to call them again. I said "where are my other two military barrels that were never finished and He insisted I only brought in 4. I told him to look at the order and he pulled it up, it showed 6. He started yelling that I had already picked them up and to get out of his shop. I asked who his boss was and he sad he was the only one I was ever going to talk to and to just get out. Trying to find who the owner is but I'm ready to sue the Ba/#×=ds!

 

[F-Class Shooter]

I cannot speak to the quality of the gunsmithing or how McGowen barrels perform, because I never received the correct barrel. There is one thing I can comment on ...

Dan Wynne, McGowen General Manager, (and the guy you will have to deal with) is one of the most unprofessional business people I have ever had the unfortunate opportunity to deal with. His customer service skills, communication skills, and attention to detail are unbelievably horrible!

My best advise to someone looking at McGowen Barrel is to "RUN" and never look back. I am serious, do not do business with McGowen Barrel. I am sharing because I do not want anyone to experience the 5-month ordeal that I just went through. There are plenty of other barrel makers out there that will "earn" your business.

 

[Daniel-LRO]

I heard Dan opened his own barrel company now and isn't with McGowen or CarbonSix side of it

 

[kswaterfowl]

I heard Dan opened his own barrel company now and isn't with McGowen or CarbonSix side of it

Good news for Mcgowen and Carbon Six.

 

[Roadrunner1]

Has anyone used a McGowen #4 contour barrel on a carry rifle? Would it be similar to a varmint contour and much too heavy to pack around the woods comfortably?

I had two #4's, 270 Win and 300 H&H, Win 70 in 270 with HS Precision stock with Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 weighed 9 lbs and Rem 700 300 H&H w/Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 at 9.5 lbs, they both shot excellent, under .5 inch. They were both 24 inch barrels, if you don't mind the weight go ahead, great barrels.