Years ago, I built a 7x57, on a Turk Mauser. I did not buy a premium barrel. I wanted to put one together on the "cheap". So, I bought a Green Mountain bbl from Midway, that was threaded and short chambered. It was on sale for $69.99.
I had the receiver heat treated, cut off the bolt handle and put on a new one. Then I sent it to a guy who Cryo treated it. I put that into an ambi-thumbhole MPI stock I had in my shop, and took it to the range.
Now, it wasn't as cheap as I wanted it to be, but damn! It shoots just as well, or better than any other rifle than I've built since, and with a $70 barrel!
That said, every rifle I own is bedded and free floated. But, if it doesn't shoot, and I'm keeping it, it gets cryo'd.
I need to find a new shop to do it, as my guy retired recently.
