If you don't want the original smith looking at it again is there another smith that you have faith in? I'd have him check it out before dismissing the barrel.
Had a quality 25 caliber barrel put on a good shooting pushfeed winlite. I could not get that rifle to shoot decently with the new tube, though it was very accurate as a 30-06 fwt. I tried several different bullets/powders from 100 grains and up, and all the tricks I knew. Best I could get was 2". Original smith was absolutely no help, though he has a reputation for accuracy work.
In the end I wrote it off as a bad experience and sold the rifle with full disclosure. I learned a couple things from that expensive experience!
