[woodsrider]

I'm thinking of ordering a 450bm barrel from match grade machinery for my encore. I have a cva and an ar in 450 but they just don’t handle like my encore and I don’t care for bolt actions. Just wondering how well your mgm barrels fit and shooot. Any info would help.

 

[emrducks]

I've ordered multiple barrels from MGM and I couldn't be happier with their performance. I currently have one in .357 mag, 500 S&W and they are both tack drivers. One thing that I did was follow their recommended break in routine...not sure if it helped but they shoot great.

 

[woodsrider]

I appreciate the feedback. As soon as I figure out what I want it to look like I’m going to get my order in.

 

[Luv2hunteup]

I’m happy with my MGM barrels. The last one I ordered was for my Contender. You can get a match grade barrel blank for a small up charge. Call and ask what is available.

Another option are Bullberry barrels. Top quality blanks and craftsmanship.

 

[twohats]

Have a mgm 480 ruger 10" barrel and like it. Also have a Encore katahdin 460 S&W barrel that I am more than happy with, and less money than an mgm. The 460 is almost identical to the 450, though factory rounds coast more. But I really like it and am shooting federal premiums out of it with 275 gr barns expanders.

 

[woodsrider]

Have a mgm 480 ruger 10" barrel and like it. Also have a Encore katahdin 460 S&W barrel that I am more than happy with, and less money than an mgm. The 460 is almost identical to the 450, though factory rounds coast more. But I really like it and am shooting federal premiums out of it with 275 gr barns expanders.

I also have the tc 460 katahdin barrel but it’s a little to short for the blind I like hunt out of. I have to get very close to the window to get the end out. I put in an order for a stock 24” mgm 450 barrel and it should be here Tuesday.

 

[old graybeard]

Last winter I built a 450 on the Encore platform. I got the barrel from MGM and couldn't be happier. The gun shoots and handles extremely well for me. Can't think of anything I would want to change. Good luck I think you'll be pleased.

 

[Luv2hunteup]

Seeing that you have a couple of 450s you may want to consider another caliber. Encores do well with a rimmed cartridge. The 357 Maximum is a great cartridge for Whitetails out to 200 yards but it will get the job done a little farther. It has a fraction of the recoil and muzzle blast.

MGM can get match grade blanks and Mike Bellm will do a custom chamber for you. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with MGMs chambers in that caliber.

 

[woodsrider]

Seeing that you have a couple of 450s you may want to consider another caliber. Encores do well with a rimmed cartridge. The 357 Maximum is a great cartridge for Whitetails out to 200 yards but it will get the job done a little farther. It has a fraction of the recoil and muzzle blast.

MGM can get match grade blanks and Mike Bellm will do a custom chamber for you. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with MGMs chambers in that caliber.

I have been looking into the 357 maximum. My only issue is I don’t reload and the ammo is a little harder to come by. My local gun shop always has a couple boxes made by Jamison on the shelf.

 

[Cat Power]

I have 3 MGM barrels, 357 Max, 308, and .22LR Match. All Awesome

 

[Luv2hunteup]

I have been looking into the 357 maximum. My only issue is I don’t reload and the ammo is a little harder to come by. My local gun shop always has a couple boxes made by Jamison on the shelf.

Forget Jamison. Buy from Reeds Ammo or Colorado Custom Cartridge. It is a very simple cartridge to load. I’m sure you could find someone at your local range who would teach you how.

 

[LOman]

I'm thinking of ordering a 450bm barrel from match grade machinery for my encore. I have a cva and an ar in 450 but they just don’t handle like my encore and I don’t care for bolt actions. Just wondering how well your mgm barrels fit and shooot. Any info would help.

I ordered a 460 S&W barrel from them. I had no real problems with MGM as a company, but the barrel was awful. It had horrible vertical stringing. They tried to help me through, but I eventually sold the miserable POS. MGM now recommends against the 460 S&W in an Encore and point people to the 450 BM instead.

 

[woodsrider]

I started with a beat up old muzzleloader I bought cheap. Replaced the stock set,installed bellm spring kit,1x hinge pin and hammer spur. The barrel is mgm 24” 1/20 twist.

 

[redneckengineer]

I recently ordered a 26" chrome moly blued 1/20 twist...looking forward to receiving it. Haven't decided on the optics to top it off with...

Sent from my SM-G950U using Michigan Sportsman mobile app

 

[woodsrider]

Fit and finish is excellent. I hope it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[Luv2hunteup]

Fit and finish is excellent. I hope it shoots as good as it looks.

Follow their barrel break in procedure.

https://matchgrademachine.com/barrel-breakin-cleaning-procedures/

 

[hmrx]

The 45s, both 450 and 460, need velocity under 2200 to shoot with with a 250 grain slug. That is due to the 1 in 16 twist they used, it's just too quick. I believe both companies now have a 1 in 20 twist Gives much better accuracy at higher velocities. The vertical stringing in an encore is usually due to no headspace. Had a couple mgm barrels where there was no headspace. The case stuck out of the barrel too far. Needed to run a chamber reamer in too take out .005 as some frames are too tight. It fixes the stringing. Sometimes they cut barrels to a tight tolerance. The encore needs some headspace. It can't bind at all on the close. Tc cuts the frame on 0 to .012 frame barrel tolerance. So if your barrel chamber is on the tight side and your frame is too, you can have headspace issues. They bind on the close. On a straight walled case you can't adjust by sizing short as you could with a necked case.

 

[woodsrider]

Seeing that you have a couple of 450s you may want to consider another caliber. Encores do well with a rimmed cartridge. The 357 Maximum is a great cartridge for Whitetails out to 200 yards but it will get the job done a little farther. It has a fraction of the recoil and muzzle blast.

MGM can get match grade blanks and Mike Bellm will do a custom chamber for you. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with MGMs chambers in that caliber.

Do you have any preference on barrel length and twist rate also bullet weight? I have found quite a few companies that make ammo in various weights and types. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Luv2hunteup]

Do you have any preference on barrel length and twist rate also bullet weight? I have found quite a few companies that make ammo in various weights and types. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I had MGM make a 20” full bull 1:14 twist Contender barrel for me. I had them upgrade to a Xcalibur barrel blank and Mike Bellm did the chamber for me.

So far a 180gr Remington SJHP over 24.5 grains of AA1680. shows the most promise but I do have some test loads I haven’t checked yet with Lil Gun. I killed 3 deer with it in January, awesome performance with little recoil and muzzle blast.