I got this new barrel. It is nitrided.
The start of the rifling (is there a word for that) looks uneven as if it was squished down. https://i.imgur.com/u3cQl3B.png
For reference this is my criterion. https://i.imgur.com/Ri9MlNG.png
That does not look good. The land/groove goes flat, and then there appears to be a high burr too.
It does not “go flat” it it the start of the rifling you are seeing. Right by the chamber. But the burr does concern me.
Gotcha. Hard to tell with the scope view the orientation. Normally the only burrs you can live with are from the port reaming. And with the nitride, that burr might be tough to shoot smooth. Can you see that with the naked eye looking into the bore??
Not really, no
Well I’d shoot it and see. If it’s a disaster in accuracy, you have a solid pic to send the dealer/manufacturer.
Having dealt with Criterion before- youll have ZERO problems if you need to use their customer service. They are just excellent.
I misunderstood the pictures… Your attached image is Fubar’d , IMHO
That burr is pretty darned big.
I would e-mail pics to the manufacturer, and ask about it.
FWIW the rough leade linked pics, will gradually smooth out. What you are seeing is somewhat normal in your linked Criterion image.
Here is Molon’s Criterion CORE CL after about 150rds. ( Provided I understood Molons post correctly )
A Bartlein 308 barrel…
I agree that there’s something off with it. I wouldn’t waste my ammo trying to smooth it out, cause it looked FUBAR to me.
I interpreted the OP as the barrel with the issue being from an unspecified manufacturer. He posted a photo of a good Criterion so show us what it’s supposed to look like.
Its not a criterion. It is this one: https://badattitudedept.com/kaiju-rifle-co-ar15-16-556-ouroboros-barrel/
Kaiju Rifle Co. AR15 Barrel - 16" 5.56 NATO Mid Gas - Ouroboros Line
Here is what they said:
“That area should look a lot different after a few rounds through it. I would encourage you to put it on paper to see its performance. If you aren’t satisfied, we’ll be happy to refund you or discount you based on performance.”
Oh, I see, my bad, I was wrong. I was truly baffled how Criterion would let one thru like that. GLAD to be wrong.
That sounds reasonable. I would shoot it for sure… I’d have to out of curiosity.
Why do people buy these no name barrels? BA barrels are about as cheap as I would buy a barrel.
That “smear” of metal in the leade of your barrel was most likely created when the chamber was cut and odds are it was due to a worn reamer. Cheap-ass barrel manufacturers often don’t maintain their reamers nor discard them after the appropriate amount of usage.
…
I wont be buying that brand again. I replaced it with a criterion.
Dang. I wanted to see if it shoot good. 
Sorry. It wasnt worth putting together for me since I had no confidence in the part.
Well, did they live up to their promise and give you a bad attitude?
I was pretty pissed to have wasted $170 on it.
I get it. I have a testing obsession and always have some experiment going each weekend with ammo/accuracy.