Match Grade Barrels

[muzzleblast525]

Has anybody ever shot a barrel made by Match Grade?  If so, how did you like it and how did it shoot?

http://www.matchgrademachine.com/gunshop/home.php?cat=249

[Buckskin]

Oh Lord, here we go again.  I have heard good things, but see no reason to buy custom when the factory barrels have treated myself and so many others so well.

[muzzleblast525]

I've been looking for a heavy pistol barrel and didnt waqnt to wait 8-10 weeks and Matchj Grade had one.  I have just ordered one from TC Custom Shop so will have to now wait.

[muzzleblast525]

Sorry for typos, was typing from my phone earlier....

[reelhook]

match grade makes great barrels and the strong suite is the fact that they offer special twist. TC only offers what they have on hand.

[skb2706]

I have three MGM barrels and have/have had many factory barrels. The MGM barrel are typically made from Shilen barrel blanks which are of much higher quality than the factory blanks that TC uses. With that said I doubt that you would appreciate the difference on a barrel used for deer hunting or informal target shooting. I have mine for long range varmint shooting and the very small accuracy differences are needed. Plan on paying as much as twice for an MGM opposed to a factory standard barrel.

[HEAD0001]

I have one in 6.5 X 284.  The barrel shoots better than I can. 

If you compare the price of a 28" Pro Hunter Barrel to a 28" MGM barrel, you will find about $100 price difference.  That is far from double.

And for that $100 you can pick a custom length, IMO a better crown, Chamber and throat dimensions to exactly match your loaded round.  And a better barrel to start with.  IMO you get alot for that extra $100.  Tom.

[jiminpa]

i just ordered a .17 remington 24" s.s from mgm.it's in the mail now,i can't wait.i felt t/c barrels where hit and miss.

[skb2706]

I have one in 6.5 X 284.  The barrel shoots better than I can. 

If you compare the price of a 28" Pro Hunter Barrel to a 28" MGM barrel, you will find about $100 price difference.  That is far from double.

And for that $100 you can pick a custom length, IMO a better crown, Chamber and throat dimensions to exactly match your loaded round.  And a better barrel to start with.  IMO you get alot for that extra $100.  Tom.

"as much as twice as much"

my sons 23" factory .204 ruger barrel = $190

my MGM 23" .204 Ruger barrel = $390....thats all of twice as much

Point is they can be very expensive and you would be hard pressed to show a difference on all but very long distances. Granted the MGM is far easier to clean and not quite as picky with ammo.

[HEAD0001]

Where did you find a new factory 204 barrel for $190?  I would like to buy one of them.  Not to start an argument, but I would like to buy a 204 for $190.  Where did it come from?  Tom.

[encore58]

I think these aftermarket barrel companies are taking us for a ride. Their prices are ridiculously high. No way any barrel should cost over $350.00 period. T/C barrels are around $200.00 to $300.00 so why should MGM ask so much more? I heard T/C had used Shilen blanks and Green Mt. blanks but I m not sure about that???
Anyways, T/C will stand behind their product so if it doesn't shoot they will make it right.

[Keith L]

I paid that for my .204 a couple of years ago.  I got mine from Midsouth Shooters Supply.  It is  blue with no sights, and they have them now for $213.   I recall some special or something that got the price down.  Watch the ads.

Encore 58, while I have all TC (I include one Fox Ridge in that) barrels each of us has different wants and needs.  People who can afford the custom barrels, and have a need for some of the features found in custom barrels should have that option.  It would seem there is a market for them at the prices charged because there are a number of places making custom barrels, and most of them have long waits for delivery.  The market determines the price, that is the American way.

[encore58]

Keith,

I agree in the free market society we live in and I am guilt of buying a Bullberry barrel and forend and spending a premium for it.
I am currently pricing a .44 mag 21" rifle barrel in stainless from these various companies and the price varies between $430.00 and $500.00 without sights! Seems like the price is getting out of hand so I may try a Foxridge Outfitters barrel. It will be around $350.00 but I don't know if they make a .44 mag rifle barrel in stainless.

[skb2706]

Where did you find a new factory 204 barrel for $190?  I would like to buy one of them.  Not to start an argument, but I would like to buy a 204 for $190.  Where did it come from?  Tom.

Birthday special from Midway. I think I got one of the first (was on the waiting list forever). It was $192 plus shipping. I did send it back to TC because the extractor would jump up over the rim occasionally. They fixed it and never had another problem.

MGM uses Shilen blanks unless you specify something else.

[HAMMERHEAD]

I have a MGM .357 mag barrel.

Someone asked why buy custom over T/C or F.R.O.

Well, my MGM barrel is made the way I wanted it. A faster twist (1:14), a higher quality blank (Shilen), a tighter, smoother chamber with a short throat. It shoots all my handloads well.

My factory .44 Rem Mag is good, no doubt about it, but it leads much more quickly and the chamber is definately sloppier and rougher with a long leade into the rifling.

I think both are good values for the money.

[dstegjas]

I finally had the chance to get out and shoot my new MGM .17hmr barrel today. I put a Mueller 4.5-14x40 AO scope on it and sighted it in at 50 yards. As you can see by the picture below the barrel and scope combo do very well. I am very pleased to see how it groups so far. I plan on seeing how it groups out at 100 yards and beyond soon. Time was just not on my side today.



I know the argument between custom and stock barrels has gone on forever. I have both types of barrels and enjoy them just the same. So for me, it's just whatever I decide I want at the time. However MGM gave fast deliver and the product certainly has delivered from my view point. Workmanship is top notch from the welds to the bluing. I would order from them again without hesitation.

Jim