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While waiting for Mark Woodman to finish a Brux .45 barrel for an Omega build, I am trying a McGowen 24” 1:18 twist .45 barrel on an Omega platform:
McGowen 22” .45 1:18 nitrided (1” shank)
Woodman Arms 209 breech plug
Woodman Arms picatinny rail
LR Customs MZ-Rex 2 brake
Boyd’s Pro Varmint stock
Contessa 1” Light Picatinny low rings
Kahles Helia CL 3-9x40
Spartan Arms picatinny rail and bipod
Total weight: 9 lb 11 oz
This barrel has one of Mark’s adjustable-head space 209 breech plugs. The plug is an absolute work of art (as has been said before) and performs beautifully. I’m guessing all the other big names will be going to this design before long. I easily adjusted this one for about .004 crush on a Fed 209a and it is working great.
The barrel is beautiful. Mark machines a one-piece recoil-lug block and welds it to the barrel. The nitride finish is flawless. The 1” shank tapers to .888 at the brake. Mark threaded the barrel for my brake and made a nut for it. Mark recommends staying under 40k pressure in these SML barrels.
So far I’m testing light smokeless loads - 50-55 gr of H4198 and Fury 300 gr Star Tip 2p bullets with a 1/8” dry wool wad.
The very first two bullet-to-bore shots with 50 gr of powder from this rifle at 50 yards shot into one ragged hole. The barrel really seems to like 53/53.5 gr as well with that bullet. The worst group I’ve seen so far at 50 yards has been .635”.
Here at 80 degrees and 3000’ the 53 gr loads are going about 2217 fps and the 55 gr loads are running about 2335 fps at the muzzle. Recoil is fairly light.
Planning to push these 300s a little harder and move into testing some 327 gr bullets in the next day or two.
Thanks to @Mnt monkey for his advice in setting this rifle up. So far, I’m very happy with this rig!
McGowen 22” .45 1:18 nitrided (1” shank)
Woodman Arms 209 breech plug
Woodman Arms picatinny rail
LR Customs MZ-Rex 2 brake
Boyd’s Pro Varmint stock
Contessa 1” Light Picatinny low rings
Kahles Helia CL 3-9x40
Spartan Arms picatinny rail and bipod
Total weight: 9 lb 11 oz
This barrel has one of Mark’s adjustable-head space 209 breech plugs. The plug is an absolute work of art (as has been said before) and performs beautifully. I’m guessing all the other big names will be going to this design before long. I easily adjusted this one for about .004 crush on a Fed 209a and it is working great.
The barrel is beautiful. Mark machines a one-piece recoil-lug block and welds it to the barrel. The nitride finish is flawless. The 1” shank tapers to .888 at the brake. Mark threaded the barrel for my brake and made a nut for it. Mark recommends staying under 40k pressure in these SML barrels.
So far I’m testing light smokeless loads - 50-55 gr of H4198 and Fury 300 gr Star Tip 2p bullets with a 1/8” dry wool wad.
The very first two bullet-to-bore shots with 50 gr of powder from this rifle at 50 yards shot into one ragged hole. The barrel really seems to like 53/53.5 gr as well with that bullet. The worst group I’ve seen so far at 50 yards has been .635”.
Here at 80 degrees and 3000’ the 53 gr loads are going about 2217 fps and the 55 gr loads are running about 2335 fps at the muzzle. Recoil is fairly light.
Planning to push these 300s a little harder and move into testing some 327 gr bullets in the next day or two.
Thanks to @Mnt monkey for his advice in setting this rifle up. So far, I’m very happy with this rig!
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