Got my new barrel!

[deertroy1]

I got my new McGowen barrel for my Savage ML-II yesterday. I installed it today and hurriedly took off to shoot it. I fired four rounds using SR4759 to get it on paper and then shoot a group of three using the same components with AA5744 powder. I didn't allow any time between shots other than the time it took to load and change targets. The group is shown below.  Although nothing to brag about, I don't think this is all that bad considering it was my first attempt with the new barrel and I allowed very little time between shots with the temperature around 70 F.

My observation about the barrel.  The first thing I noticed, especially when I seated my first bullet into the clean barrel was how SMOOTHLY it seated compared to the Savage barrel. After I fired it, it didn't load as smoothly as the first load but was still noticeably smoother to load than the Savage.

I did notice that when I cleaned it before it was fired that some of the fuzzies from my felt patch's were collected by the crown so I'm assuming there are some fine burs on the crown.  I'm hoping that with a little firing these will wear off but I don't imagine the plastic sabots would wear these off as quickly as would a center-fire shooting jacketed bullets?

[Deleted]

Glad you finally got your barrel and already shooting!

I've read that a little lapping compound on a patch ran up and down the barrel can clean up your barrel from any imperfections however I'd ask the more knowledgeable members here before you do this process.

Have you glass bedded your stock? If not I'd recommend that also, it makes a big difference. The other thing I'd do is pillar bed if you have a laminate wood stock. Wood tends to swell and shrink with tempatures rising and lowering.

I have a McGowen and it shoots great however mine is a 45. Good luck with yours and glad to see you up and running! Great start by the way also!

[Deleted]

Congrats. I know its been a long time coming.
Best of luck with it.

[deertroy1]

I already pillar bedded the stock. dougsmessageboards.proboards.com/thread/14555/bedding-complete

By the way for those that are interested it took almost exactly five months to get my barrel from the time it was ordered.  This was to Canada however.

[Deleted]

you now own a greatly improved deer stick. good shooting

[hankinsrfls]

Be careful using any kind of lapping compound in your barrel. Most manufactures tell you absolutely do not do this,, it will void all warranties. Call McGowan and ask them for their advise if you think it needs lapped.. One manufacture I use quite often will void the warranty if you use JB bore bright or that Tube shoot-n- lap stuff.. And if you do use it and return the barrel for one reason or another they will know it was used..
As for the fuzz on the crown.. That should stop after a few shots and a good cleaning..if not I would call McGowan. Jeff.

[deertroy1]

Thanks for the advice Jeff. I've owned a few centerfire customs and have no intention of using any lapping compound. We'll shoot her some more and see what happens?