Dave, just because you can't tell the difference does not mean there is no difference. Cut or button it boils down to how well the maker holds tolerances. It is not just the source steel. As we've gone over this before, if you are in the 1's and 2's you will have a preference for barrels. If you are like me then I want a barrel that does not handicap me. As I get better I notice more things to improve on. Tiny things. But, if your goal is 1/2MOA kind of shooting then the Shilen and Criterion are "good enough for government work". If you talk to Jim at Northland he does not prefer one over the other.