I bought my first McGowen barrel a couple of months ago and it was in 17 caliber. The barrel was chambered in 17-222 and is easily shoots 1/2" groups at 100 yards. I have two Benchmark barrels in 17 caliber and they clean up very easily and stopped mining copper after about 30 rounds down the tube. My McGowen barrel is still producing copper after about 100 rounds fired. The first 60 rounds were with bare bullets and now I shoot WS2 coated bullets. I break in all my barrels firing one shot at a time and cleaning for the first five shots and then three shots for about three to five times and then let the rifle tell me how much further to take the routine. I am shooting the 25 grain V-Max at 3950fps which may be contributing to the copper but my 17RFB shoots the 25's at 3800fps and my 17/223 shoots 30 grainers at 3900 fps with little copper shown when cleaning. I wanted to know if any one here has a McGowen barrel in 17 caliber and what chambering and if they produce excess amounts of copper fouling after 50 rounds or more. Thanks for any input. Bill