Notice that Krieger is doing button rifling now, for the Weatherby rifles?

Harry McGowen built his first rifling machine in 1967, of his own design. His first barrel was for a .25-06. The first five shots from that barrel went into 1/2 inch, back in 1967.

Harry showed John Krieger how to do it, literally, and gave him permission and instruction in copying the machine and techniques for button rifling.

Maybe Krieger taught McGowen to cryo treat?

Anyway, all McGowen barrels are heat treated and then cryo treated after button rifling to relieve stress and smooth the micro structure of the steel surfaces.

Lapping of a McGowen barrel is not required, like it is with a cut rifled barrel.

McGowen is supplying all the barrels on the big bore CZ's put together on the "American" motif.

These barrels start as 1-3/8" stock and the lump is left on the barrel that CZ then machines into the recoil contraption and rear sight island.

McGowen did have to lap some barrels for CZ that were made in Europe and were pretty rough. A bunch of them.

You can tell whether it is a McGowen barrel by the obvious narrow lands and wide grooves of McGowen. Also, a 10" twist in a .423 or .505 is a big clue.

Personal take: I think these McGowen barrels are very accurate and foul little, plus there is no pressure increase with the faster twist rates, compared to some other barrels.

If the barrel does not have the obvious McGowen rifling then it was made across the pond, and might have been lapped smooth by McGowen over here.

Smaller bore CZ's may use other barrels, but if it is +.40 and American stocked, it is a McGowen.

McGowen can make a barrel for you to the CZ pattern and leave a "washer" on the 1-3/8" stock for about $85 bucks extra, IIRC. They do 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" barrels to various contours too, both Chrome Moly (4140) or Stainless Steel.

We'll see how it works for the .500 Mbogo Express ... one of these days ... R&D at HA!/DOA

Harry knows he needs to get a web site, might be coming soon:

McGOWEN RIFLE BARRELS
815-937-9816

I've got one of his 505 barrels he made for the Kimber DGR of yesteryear. I'm still waiting for a Montana PH because the threads match and it will chamber and screw right on. Bear in mind, that's patiently waiting, not holding my breath.

I had Harry make and chamber the barrel for my 500 A-Square. Very good barrel and it didn't foul much at all. That said, nothing I've seen fouls less than a PacNor super match grade. I've owned about 6 of them and none were anything but super accurate and very easy to clean.

tiggertate and John S,
I already knew you two have smarts, but good to hear that Harry's .505 and .510 barrels are in your good hands.
I have a 16" twist stainless Pac-Nor on the .470 Mbogo, and a 10" twist McGowen Chrome Moly on a .470 Capstick. They both foul little and give good velocity and superb accuracy. Both are button rifled.

If anyone has a cut rifled or hammer forged barrel needing smoothing, Harry and his help can lap them.

I will be going for a third .423 barrel and a third .510 barrel, all stainless and faultless so far, from McGowen.

I just wanted to brag about McGowen Rifle Barrels, as they don't seem to do much advertizing, nor need to.

Big hand for Harry McGowen: