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I have always used Bar-sto or Kart barrels in my builds, but when I went to get a barrel for my 2011 they were not in stock and there was no real idea when they would be. So, I went with a Nowin barrel. I sourced it from Midway since they had it in stock and I already had other parts on the way from them.
First issue was the barrel came in without a barrel bushing. Called Midway, the operato was polite but basically told me I was SOL and told me to call Nowlin. Ok sure. Called Nowlin, left a message. In the meantime, it bothered me that I was calling Nowlin for a part I had purchased from Midway, so I called Midway back and explained to a much more helpful operator my position. She agreed to send me out a barrel bushing with an order I already had placed. Angela from Nowlin called me back the same day, I told her that Midway was taking care of the missing bushing and she told me that if I needed anything please call back.
Got the barrel bushing in, fit perfectly, and I started to fit it to the Fusion slide.
Then the other shoe dropped...
As normal I checked the barrel against the specification card Nowlin sent with the barrel. The first lug was out of spec, measuring 0.035 instead of 0.038 to 0.040. Since thier card specifically said to NOT grind that portion of the barrel, I gave Nowlin a call.
Note that at this point I should have sent the whole thing back to Midway and made them make it right, but I felt like Nowlins name was on the barell and they would want to know.
Called Nowlin, explained to Angela that I think I got a barrel that slipped passed QC from them, reminded her of the missing barrel bushing, and that I was pretty positive of my measurements but I could be wrong, asked her if I should send it back to her or go through Midway. She told me to send it back to her attention and it would get taken care of ASAP. Sent it out, they got it ina couple days, told me they checked it and sure enough, my measurements were right and it was slightly off. Fixed or replaced the barrel- I cant tell which- and I got it back today.
Super awesome service and you can tell they are great people who take a lot of pride i thier barrels. Angela promised me it would shoot as good or better than any of my other barrels, and I believe her.
So bottom line, if your looking for a new barrel, I dont think you can go wrong with Nowlin.
First issue was the barrel came in without a barrel bushing. Called Midway, the operato was polite but basically told me I was SOL and told me to call Nowlin. Ok sure. Called Nowlin, left a message. In the meantime, it bothered me that I was calling Nowlin for a part I had purchased from Midway, so I called Midway back and explained to a much more helpful operator my position. She agreed to send me out a barrel bushing with an order I already had placed. Angela from Nowlin called me back the same day, I told her that Midway was taking care of the missing bushing and she told me that if I needed anything please call back.
Got the barrel bushing in, fit perfectly, and I started to fit it to the Fusion slide.
Then the other shoe dropped...
As normal I checked the barrel against the specification card Nowlin sent with the barrel. The first lug was out of spec, measuring 0.035 instead of 0.038 to 0.040. Since thier card specifically said to NOT grind that portion of the barrel, I gave Nowlin a call.
Note that at this point I should have sent the whole thing back to Midway and made them make it right, but I felt like Nowlins name was on the barell and they would want to know.
Called Nowlin, explained to Angela that I think I got a barrel that slipped passed QC from them, reminded her of the missing barrel bushing, and that I was pretty positive of my measurements but I could be wrong, asked her if I should send it back to her or go through Midway. She told me to send it back to her attention and it would get taken care of ASAP. Sent it out, they got it ina couple days, told me they checked it and sure enough, my measurements were right and it was slightly off. Fixed or replaced the barrel- I cant tell which- and I got it back today.
Super awesome service and you can tell they are great people who take a lot of pride i thier barrels. Angela promised me it would shoot as good or better than any of my other barrels, and I believe her.
So bottom line, if your looking for a new barrel, I dont think you can go wrong with Nowlin.
