Looking for opinions, pro and con on MGM barrels for an Encore. Also, any comparisons between them and factory barrels. Thank you in advance.

I had a 17MachIV (almost identical to a 17 Fireball)MGM barrel that shot very well and copper fouling was non-existent. If I were in the market for an A/M Encore or Contender barrel again they would be first on my list.
I didn't have a factory barrel in the same cartridge or caliber so it is hard to compare directly. As a general rule, the MGM barrel seemed to be better than the factory barrels in my opinion. Only reason I sold it was I am not a huge fan of break opens for bench and varmint shooting.

I'm a big fan of MGM and their barrels. I have several and will only buy MGM barrels if adding to my Encore or Contender collection.

i have around 25 barrels by MGM presently, and they do nice work at a reasonable price , and deliver in a timely manner.

in comparison to factory tubes, MGM allows you to specify length, contour, additions of brakes, and they do nice metalwork if you want fluting or something special....they'll also throat for specific bullets, or allow you to specify twist. average delivery on most i've ordered has been 8-12 weeks, some arrived within 6 weeks.

if you have an issue, they'll fix it. whenever i've asked for odd things...and thats been a lot...they didnt ask why, or try to convince me to switch specs, they made the barrel exactly as i asked.

I have 2 MGM barrels...a 14" .17 HMR and a 24" .17 Fireball. Both are excellent barrels. I'm a big MGM fan! You won't regret owning an MGM barrel.

Wow, that's a lot of barrels. If I may ask, how many frames do you run and what calibers do you have?

i kinda wonder at times , at what point a "hobby" slips into the "fetish" category, and then that deteriorates into "obesssion". i could get by with probly 6 or 8, but i like tinkering with handloads and trying things out.

havent sorted through pistol barrels lately, but updated the carbine list recently, copied & pasted below. usually have 15 or so frames.

SSK .17Aguila 20" taper
MGM .17mach2 20" bull fluted
TC factory 21" taper 17HMR
TC factory 21" taper 22LR Match
MGM 21" taper 17 Ackley Hornet
TC Factory 21" taper .17 rem
TC factory 21" taper 22 hornet
MGM 22" taper 22 K-Hornet
MGM 22" taper .221 Fireball
MGM 22" Bull .223
SSK 21" taper .25/20
MGM 22" taper .256 Super Mag (.25x357max)
MGM 21" taper .25 Classic (.25x30herrett)
TC Custom Shop 22" taper .25TCU
TC Custom Shop 22" taper .25/35
MGM 24" bull .25x30-30 Ackley Improved
TC factory 21"taper 7mmTCU
TC factory 21" 7x30 waters
MGM 24" taper 7x30 waters
OTT 17" taper .30reece (.30x357mag)
TC factory 21" .30/30
TC Custom shop 20" .357 Mag
TC Custom shop 22" .357 Max
TC factory taper 21" .375win
TC Factory 21" taper .35 Rem
TC Custom shop 24" .375JDJ
MGM 16" .41mag
MGM 20" fluted .414SuperMag
TC Custom Shop 22" Bull .445 SuperMag
TC Custom Shop 20" 45/70 bull
TC factory 21" .209x45 mzzlder
MGM 24" fluted .209x45 mzzlder
TC custom shop 28gauge

took a pic of the fluted .414 this weekend, while chasing pigs:


other assorted...

Thanks! I run only carbine or rifle barrels with mine.

MGM are the nicest people to deal with! I'm planning a trip up to UT to meet 'em in person. I'll take my G2 Carbine and its rifle and shotgun barrels along with my old octagon barreled G1 "easy opener" converted .22 LR pistol (the carbine barrels are both from MGM).

There are no cons.

I really like mine (Contender Carbine) and I can only echo the others in praise of the Fantastic customer service I received from MGM!

Pretty good trick finding that many figured walnut stocks for them, too

I wish I could find more of the Bishop thumbholes, they fit me very well.

Man, I need a Contender with an MGM barrel

Thanks everyone for the information.... looks like it will be an MGM!! Sorry about the delay in thanking everyone but I just got back from a hunting trip.

Thanks again!

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