akmtnhnt
Well-Known Member
I'm curious what you could have possibly done to damage the rifling?
McGowen vs X-Caliber
- Thread starter JumpinLegs
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
I have gotten (1) X-Caliber Remage, carbon fiber, pre-fit in 6.8 Western, and (2) CarbonSix shouldered Remington 700 prefits in 6.5 PRC and 7 SAUM. As someone mentioned earlier, McGowan does the blanks for CarbonSix. All three shoot very well. I trued all three actions concentric to the bolt raceway and left the threads the standard size, just touched them up a little. The only strange thing I noticed is the 6.8W seems to be throated short, or something else is going on. I never seemed to be able to get a load with a COL over 2.85" with any .277 bullet combo. I asked them about it and they gave me a standard answer, "we used a SAAMI spec reamer, yada, yada, yada. COL is not a determining factor in handloads, your jump or jamb is." While I agree, I still find it strange that a cartridge that is supposed to have a COL up 2.95" for the 175 Sierras is a whole 0.1" shorter with just a 0.01" or so off the lands. The whole thing just never added up to me. I also used a REM 721 action, maybe that played into it as I saw something interesting later in a CarbonSix on a 722. I ended up letting the issue go as it shot well and continues to shoot well to this day. In the end I prefer the shouldered pre-fit look a lot better than the Remage. However the Remage was plug and play. I had to adjust headspace a tad for the 6.5 PRC CarbonSix pre-fit, it was a hair snug. As for the 7 SAUM, I used a REM 722 action and I had to adjust quite a bit to get proper headspace for it. I chalked it up to being a 722 and not a 700, or I also used Mack Brothers bolts and one bolt seemed to have larger lugs than the other. No matter I solved the problem. Most people would likely just go to a gunsmith and have professional take care of it. I am not most people and I have very few gunsmiths in my area and none are accepting work these days. So I learn to do all my own work. Both CarbonSix's shoot a bit better than the X-Caliber. But nothing to complain about. In the end I think X-Caliber and McGowan both make fine barrels. You should be in good hands with either.
JumpinLegs
Well-Known Member
I was trying to find the chamber length using a bullet with empty brass. Bullet got stuck in the chamber, it wouldn't knock free with tapping the butt on the ground, I only had wooden dowels available to try to push the bullet out, and those dowels got stuck in the bore. After freeing the bullet a couple days later by drilling into the back of it, I tried carefully drilling out some of the dowels, but I ended up touching the rifling with the drill bit after the bit split the dowels. It was a big learning experience full of moments when I knew I should have slowed down to think a little more, but I ignored that thought in favor of getting things done "quicker". Now I get to spend hundreds of dollars instead.
They sent me the wrong barrel on a recent order.
Then jerked me around for a month, denying they screwed up even after I sent the barrel back, on my dime.
Finally after they "found" the barrel I sent back the barrelmaker called me.
Fingers crossed that they get my order right this time.
Too bad the hunt I wanted that rifle for came and went in the process.
I'm never ordering from McGowen again.
My family has several Carbon6 barrels and whether it was their machining or the McGowen barrel itself we have not been particularly happy with any of them. Bad chambers, some pressure out with several less grains than other rifles, average accuracy, they just generally haven't been good.
Lock-N-Load® O.A.L. Gauges & Modified Cases - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc
Lock-N-Load® O.A.L. Gauges Regulating seating depth and the resulting jump to the rifling is widely regarded as fundamental to improved accuracy. A few thousandths of an inch change between the bullet and the rifling can make the difference be...
This is what you need.
FullCurl8
Well-Known Member
Maybe there is comfort in knowing my shop sees about 2 such incidents a year.
BrentM
Well-Known Member
I have both. I have several x's and likely going to stick with them. So far on the x carbons they have some of the best finish lapping I have seen and all shoot very well. Very impressed with my x barrels for sure.
DickE
Member
Been using McGowen barrel for over 10 years. Averaging between 8-10 a year. Everyone has been well pleased.
JumpinLegs
Well-Known Member
You're right, that looks exactly like what I need. I should probably pick up one of those.Lock-N-Load® O.A.L. Gauges & Modified Cases - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc
Lock-N-Load® O.A.L. Gauges Regulating seating depth and the resulting jump to the rifling is widely regarded as fundamental to improved accuracy. A few thousandths of an inch change between the bullet and the rifling can make the difference be...www.hornady.com
This is what you need.
JumpinLegs
Well-Known Member
I figured that I was far from the first to try that method of stupidity. Can confirm, that method is still stupid.
bballard
Well-Known Member
I have two McGowan barrels. A 280 and a 6mm Remington. Both shoot fantastic and my order was correct and delivered on the estimated time frame given at the time of purchase. These were 700 prefits. Had local Smith install the barrels and set headspace. Very pleased with their barrels.....
Leaf Litter
Well-Known Member
I have a Mcgowen barrel and it shoots fine, no issues. However, if you have to contact them, prepare for a bad attitude and apathy.
No experience with X-caliber, but I'll be buying one soon over Mcgowen for my current project.
Your mileage may vary
No experience with X-caliber, but I'll be buying one soon over Mcgowen for my current project.
Your mileage may vary
I have both, they both shoot pretty good groups and are both in fast calibers, McGowan 26 Nosler - X Calber 220 Swift both just a little tighter than .5 at 100 yds for both. I do hand load and took a bit to get the 26 Nosler where I wanted it about 100 rounds, I loaded 15 for the Swift with 1 powder and 1 bullet type and it was done the fastest won but not by much.
I have two McGowan's, two X-Caliber, and three Wilson Arms barrels. The McGowan barrels were prefit for rem and Savage. I had a smith chamber and shoulder the X and Wilsons. He was impressed with both brands.
All have endured well, and are accurate to the point where I am the limiting factor.
Developing loads for each has been easy.
All have endured well, and are accurate to the point where I am the limiting factor.
Developing loads for each has been easy.
