Another knowledgeable poster on another forum describes buying a barrel as paying for a probability that it will shoot well. $450+ gets you a near certainty. $150 gets you a maybe. The fact that some cheap barrels shoot well, doesn't mean that all cheap barrels should shoot well. The $300 savings has to come from somewhere.
I bet that OP's barrel would shoot somewhere between 1 and 2 MOA, which I think is performance on par with the price. I think expecting 1 MOA or better from a $150 barrel is asking too much. Others, obviously, do not. Lazyengineer's analysis is likely spot on.
I bet that OP's barrel would shoot somewhere between 1 and 2 MOA, which I think is performance on par with the price. I think expecting 1 MOA or better from a $150 barrel is asking too much. Others, obviously, do not. Lazyengineer's analysis is likely spot on.