Offhand, Gale McMillan was one of the best barrel makers in the USA. His button rifled 22 caliber smallbore rimfire barrels may well have been the best ever. They still hold virtually all of the NRA's 100 yard prone records shot back in the 1970's that still stand, but the better ammo available then helps somewhat. I don't think any 22 long rifle barrel made these days has equaled them; a few are close. Neither does the ammo these days in my opinion.
McMillan centerfire barrels in 22 and 24 caliber were also great, but his 30 caliber ones never quite produced the high power rifle scores as Hart button rifled barrels did. But then when Hart's best barrel smith, Al Houser, retired in the mid 80's, Kreiger's cut rifled barrels took the lead for the 30's. A couple of other cut rifled ones are now the equal of Kreigers.
Gale McMillan loved the Remington actions. They were cheap and available from Remington. Easy to true up and the ones fitted with his 22 caliber barrels did well in the benchrest game. When 30 caliber barrels were put in them for high power matches, they fell short. Not surprising as the Remmie's are about 1/3rd as stiff as Winchester 70 ones. He refused to believe that a Win receiver would bend about 1/3rd less in the vertical axis for a given barrel fitted to it; in spite of mechanical engineers' calculations proving otherwise as well as people who physically measured them comparing them to other receivers. Nor would he believe the round Rem's twisted loose in epoxy bedding as proved by stock fitters having to rebed them every few hundred shots; the Win's action's flat surfaces kept them bedded consistently. Nor did he want to discuss why benchresters finally glued round Remington receivers in flat surfaced sleeves to keep them from twisting with 22 and 24 caliber barrels.
McMillan's fiberglass stocks are second to none.
McMillan centerfire barrels in 22 and 24 caliber were also great, but his 30 caliber ones never quite produced the high power rifle scores as Hart button rifled barrels did. But then when Hart's best barrel smith, Al Houser, retired in the mid 80's, Kreiger's cut rifled barrels took the lead for the 30's. A couple of other cut rifled ones are now the equal of Kreigers.
Gale McMillan loved the Remington actions. They were cheap and available from Remington. Easy to true up and the ones fitted with his 22 caliber barrels did well in the benchrest game. When 30 caliber barrels were put in them for high power matches, they fell short. Not surprising as the Remmie's are about 1/3rd as stiff as Winchester 70 ones. He refused to believe that a Win receiver would bend about 1/3rd less in the vertical axis for a given barrel fitted to it; in spite of mechanical engineers' calculations proving otherwise as well as people who physically measured them comparing them to other receivers. Nor would he believe the round Rem's twisted loose in epoxy bedding as proved by stock fitters having to rebed them every few hundred shots; the Win's action's flat surfaces kept them bedded consistently. Nor did he want to discuss why benchresters finally glued round Remington receivers in flat surfaced sleeves to keep them from twisting with 22 and 24 caliber barrels.
McMillan's fiberglass stocks are second to none.
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