We're on the same page but each to his own when it comes to preferences with firearms and it also depends on what the firearm will be used for.
The thing about "custom" barrels is that they aren't all created equal.
Many large barrel makers will provide several grades of inspection to ensure quality and this will have a very large influence on the price of the barrel.
When buying lesser grades, you're not getting anything "special" More likely, you're going to get a barrel that will outperform most off the shelf, factory rifles but there isn't any guarantee.
Then there is the other factor to be considered. Chamber reamer, reamer quality, the competence of the smith etc.
I've had to send one Shilen and one Douglas barrel back to the manufacturers. Both had bore consistency issues.
When I get a custom barrel, the first thing I do with it is run a tight patch through it. If that patch indicates tight and loose sections while being pushed through the bore I start to worry.
Then, I clean the bore, using the same procedure I would use after shooting.
I run a tight, oil soaked patch down the bore again, and it it still indicates tight and loose sections, I will send the barrel back.
I've only had this issue once, with both of the above manufacturers and that was several years ago. I ordered "Select Match Grade" barrels from both of them and the barrels I received were of lesser quality. In both cases, the manufacturers were apologetic after they had checked out the barrels themselves on return.
They both replaced the barrels and paid all costs incurred.
I will admit they were skeptical when I called. They're both very reputable and rightfully so, considering the usual quality of their products.
In both cases, I told them I would ship them the barrels and pay costs both ways if they felt the barrels were made to the standard I paid for.
The whole process took less than a month in each case and I had new barrels in my shop to install on the HBR rifles I was building at the time.
