I've got a freek barrel on my carbine, I did the mods you saw and and a trigger job, best group with match ammo .343". It shoots the cheap Rem gold jacket less than .75"
It's a shooter. I just had a really good muzzle re cut and put on a limb saver de resonator, can't ait to try it.
I also added a 4 x 12 scope, had a 3 x 9 power scope before.
You can get custom barrels that look like stock one's or get one's that have had a Bentz chamber cut in them.
I think the new custom barrel would be the way to go, some Ruger barrels are pretty rough inside, some are better. It's a crap shoot as to what you get. I think we both got pretty good barrels, some are not so lucky and are lucky to hold a 1 1/2" group at best under ideal conditions with match ammo.

John K