Group Buy barrels any good?

[A5BLASTER]

I purchased a 12in and an 18in group buy barrel. Are they any good?
Every thread I see, seems to say if you want a good Sub MOA shooting rifle, you need to spend at least $400 on the barrel.
I have yet to shoot the 18in barrel, but I did shoot the 12in today. At 50 yards Iwould get a nice group, then a bad group, then a good group, then a bad group.
Wonder if its the scope, the ammo or the rifle? I was using handloads.
Hornady 120gr ELD-M
31.2 gr of CFE223
Hornady brass with CCI SFP
COAL: 2.26
Could it be this barrel does not like this bullet? At 50 yards I should be getting almost one hole groups.
This rifle is basically my "hunting" rifle, so not needing 1/4in group at 100, but I would like at least 1in group at 100.
Any suggestions to look at??

What did the load work up look like? What's the jump for that bullet on your chamber?

Have you ever shot almostone hole groups are one hole groups at 50 yards before?

What scope/mount?

What trigger?

Did you accurize the build are just slap it togther?

Have you much experience shooting groups with the grendel are shooting groups with a grendel pistol?

If you want consistent sub moa then yes it's better to buy a better then rack grade barrel. The group buy barrels are good barrels but they are rack grade barrels, not to say that with good shooting technique and a well worked up load you can't get one to turn in consistent moa are smaller groups. It's just that if you want a almost 100 % chance that it will do that you have to step up to a better grade of barrel.

How much torque is on the muzzle device?

Is the gas block contacting?

Is the gas tube binding?

Did you use a ton of torque on the gas block screws?

Is the gun slightly over gassed are under gassed?

As you can see we need more details about you, the rifle, the load, the trigger, how you was shooting i.e. off the bench, bagged, bipod, offhand braced on a Miller can?

We need intel.