Here is a thought. Maybe I am wrong but at least I feel this has some merit.

A long time ago when I was shopping around for select barrels from many different barrel makers I paid a lot of money for that piece of steel because in those days select meant;
" Neal when we are making barrels,pinning and lapping and inspecting, some barrels are much closer to tolerance". I would think that statement which I have heard a number of times would imply that every barrel is inspected and the $400. barrels marked as selected was one of those barrels. I currently buy from one small barrel maker because every barrel is tested multiple times ( hardness)for consistent quality prior to having a hole punched through it. Then the hole is bored, pinned,lapped, then a rifling is cut.

SO my opinion is if I am paying those big bucks and have to wait a long time to get it, it better not be a reject. I paid for it to be correct the first time.

Neal