Pre fit Barrels?

[Tikkamike]

I have a savage short action in 308 coming. I am not terrible interested in 308 so I was thinking about putting a McGowen prefit 260AI barrel on it. However I dont want to waste my money just to have a 260 AI I want a tack driver, but it would be cool to do it on a budget. Anyone have experience with them? or any of the other savage prefits? I know its not lapped or stress relieved but I could run some Lapping bullets through it and if it shoot good I would be happy, to me good is under half inch at 100 yards. Let me know your opinions or experience

 

[sinarms]

I have dealt a lot with prefits but I will let others chime in about that. Since you stated you were on a budget I would suggest not using the 260AI and use a std round as dies are very high for the 260ai. The 6.5x55 is good, as is the std 260, 6.5x47L and so on.

 

[rebel_]

Since you're on a budget, I suggest going with the standard .260 rem. The dies are much cheaper and you can find them easily. Plus, you won't have to fire form brass.

 

[Tikkamike]

I'm decided on the 260ai. I am asking about McGowen prefit barrels.

 

[CRNA]

I have dealt a lot with prefits but I will let others chime in about that. Since you stated you were on a budget I would suggest not using the 260AI and use a std round as dies are very high for the 260ai. The 6.5x55 is good, as is the std 260, 6.5x47L and so on.

I have a McGowan on my 7mmRM on a Savage 111 and it shoots great.

 

[5280yotes]

I have a McGowan on my 7mmRM on a Savage 111 and it shoots great.

Where did you get that barrel for your 111? I have called mcgowen twice in the last two weeks and left messages with live people and no one calls me back.

 

[Senderofan]

I have a savage short action in 308 coming. I am not terrible interested in 308 so I was thinking about putting a McGowen prefit 260AI barrel on it. However I dont want to waste my money just to have a 260 AI I want a tack driver, but it would be cool to do it on a budget. Anyone have experience with them? or any of the other savage prefits? I know its not lapped or stress relieved but I could run some Lapping bullets through it and if it shoot good I would be happy, to me good is under half inch at 100 yards. Let me know your opinions or experience

I'm not sure who informed you that the McGowen is a lower form of pre-fit custom barrel. I have a 30" bull barrel, 1:10" twist, on my semi custom BVSS. This barrel is the most accurate .308 I've ever owned. I've been so impressed that I just purchased another .308 barrel, 1:10" twisy, 26" length.... for a rifle I plan on giving to my father as a gift.

I also hAVE A .260 Improved. This is a full-on custom from Bartlein Barrels....they did all machine work and provided a 31" tube on my stainless
Rem. SA. This combo. is extremely accurate and is my 1K BR rifle. The Bartlein will out shoot the McGowen....but the cost was much higher.

You can't go wrong with the McGowen. They produce some amazingly accurate rifle barrels...just like Shilen etc.

Wayne

 

[CRNA]

Where did you get that barrel for your 111? I have called mcgowen twice in the last two weeks and left messages with live people and no one calls me back.

Northland Shooters Supply
Jim Briggs 763-682-4296
Was at my door in about 6 weeks from time order was placed.

 

[TacRabbit]

+1 for Jim Briggs at NSS. I ordered a CBI barrel from him and had it 6 weeks later. Still havent shot it though. I have a McGowen but it is on a Rem 700 so I cant comment on their pre-fit quality.

 

[Trickymissfit]

I have a savage short action in 308 coming. I am not terrible interested in 308 so I was thinking about putting a McGowen prefit 260AI barrel on it. However I dont want to waste my money just to have a 260 AI I want a tack driver, but it would be cool to do it on a budget. Anyone have experience with them? or any of the other savage prefits? I know its not lapped or stress relieved but I could run some Lapping bullets through it and if it shoot good I would be happy, to me good is under half inch at 100 yards. Let me know your opinions or experience

I'd suggest you look at Pacnor or Shilen barrels (prefits). Much better barrels, and they have about any chamber you'd ever want. A 260AI is almost a waste. You'll not gain very much out of it. I'd suggest a 6.5WSM, or a 6.5Ackley. The Ackley is nothing but a .257AI necked up to 6.5 or a 7x57AI necked down. Cases can be made from factory 6mm or .257 Roberts stuff. The Savage action is a little longer than the Remington short action, and handles the 57mm case length well
gary

 

[Tikkamike]

i looked at the shilen website not much info where can I buy a stainless shilen prefit? how much would a stainless shilen prefit run? anyone know?

 

[sinarms]

$320 plus shipping

 

[J E Custom]

I know you ask about pre fit barrels but having replaced a lot of them I do not recomend a pre fit
barrel from anyone.

I know there are some that shoot well , but the odds are good that you will get a so so barrel,and
chamber because they are mass produced just like the factory barrels and just like the factory barrels not all shoot well.

The pre fit custom barrels have a better chance but they are not allways that well machined.
The barrel blank may be good but the chambering job falls short, the barrel cant make up for
it.

You stated that you were after accuracy and IMO there is only one way to improve the odds of
getting a real shooter is with one of the top end barrels and first class gunsmithing.

There are a half dozen well known smiths on this site that can give you an accuracy guarantee.
and deliver.

A pre fit barrel is a Pig in a Polk and If it works out "Great" but if it doesent there is not much
you can do without spending More money.

You get what you pay for (some times) and there is no short cut to accuracy.

Pre fit barrels will say It "should" shoot 1MOA but they will say it is the assembly or something
if it doesn't, but a smith has total control of quality and can offer 1/2 MOA and achieve it.

Of course this is just my opinion, based what I have seen and others have had good luck
with there's so the choice is yours.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Tikkamike]

JE,

That is kind of what I assumed. I know when I had my 338 build my gunsmith went to great lengths to be sure everything was consentric in every way possible and the results were fantastic. So this prefit thing is kind of a sounds too good to be true type of thing, however I cant really afford to spend the kind of money on a build like I did the first time so keeping your opinion/experience in mind I think i might take a gamble and try it out. it is within my budget and could be a good learning experience. Hopefully I get a good one...