McGowen 260 Rem Range Report -- Pix are UP!

[Titandriver]

Thought some of you might be interested in my experience with a McGowen barrel I bought from Jim Briggs at Northland Supply. I finally got to wring it out today and my after-action report is as follows.

I picked up a new LRPV here in Cody in 22-250 with the sole intentions of putting a 260 Rem chambered barrel on it. Jim had a McGowen Savage pre-fit SS 28 inch heavy varmint barrel in 260 Rem in stock & ready to ship. Jim was great to work with and did exactly what he said he would do for me. I bought a McCree Precision barrel nut wrench and 20MOA extended base from McCree -- another guy who was fabulous to deal with! I installed the barrel -- first time ever for me -- with zero problems. I head-spaced with a full length sized case from one of my other 260's as minimally as possible.

I loaded some miscellaneous rounds of varying bullet weights to fire-form the brass to my chamber -- totaling 75 rounds. Not being a big believer in barrel "break in" I fired 15 rounds then thoroughly cleaned the barrel. It cleaned up easily and well so I fired another 60 rounds before heading home to clean it again. Once more, it cleaned very easily and quite quickly.

Now I got down to business. I neck sized only using an RCBS die, trimmed & prepped the brass per usual, broke out the H4350 and started loading. I used Rem 260 brass, Sierra 140gr HPBT Match bullets, CCI BR-2 primers, and 41.5 grs/ 42.0 grs/42.5 grs H4350. COAL was 2.795 with the bullets .003 off the lands.

I also necked down some LC Match .308 brass to 260 and loaded 120gr Sierra HPBT Match bullets, Rem 9&1/2 primers, and 37.0 grs RL-15. The bullets were jammed into the lands.

I think the pix will speak for themselves. I haven't measured the groups nor chrono'ed them, but I can assure you that 42.5 grs H4350/Sie 140MK/CCI BR-2 will be my go-to load in this rifle! I used a NightForce 8X32X56 Benchrest scope in Leupold QRW medium rings.

All in all I'm pretty darned pleased with the McGowen barrel and look forward to shootin' bug holes for quite a while longer!

http://http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz326/TitandriverRR/IMG_0337.jpg
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz326/TitandriverRR/IMG_0334.jpg
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz326/TitandriverRR/IMG_0333.jpg
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz326/TitandriverRR/IMG_0331.jpg

Rich Redovian
Cody, WY

[pdog06]

Sounds like you got a good shooter. My McGowens have all shot and cleaned very well also.

As for pics, you need to load them to a picture host website(like photobucket), then copy and paste the pictures "img" link to your post.

[pdog06]

here ya go:

http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/index.php/topic,3598.0.html

[Titandriver]

Thanks PDog'r!!!! ;) Hope you all enjoy the pix.

Rich

[aubie515]

Glad you like the 260. I am thinking about either a 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor. I am leaning towards the Creedmoor.

[Titandriver]

I stayed with the 260 cuz I've got two others. One in a Rem 700 and one on a Rem Model 7, both with Kreigers and #5 contours. I thought about going to 260AI with the Savage but the high cost of dies versus the somewhat limited gain made the decision for me.

[pdog06]

Nice shootin, and a really nice lookin rig too. I run RL-19 thru my 260 with great results, but I have some H4350 and alot of RL-15 on hand so maybe I'll give-em a try.

[Bill in Oregon]

Titan: Fabulous post. Man, those groups have me thinking I need to get back into Savage target rifles.