I'm looking to build another upper. I'm stuck on the debate about stainless steel and chrome-lined barrels. I want an accurate barrel that is lightweight and could take a string of shots (heat). I narrowed my choices to these two. I know SS barrels tend to be more accurate due to machineability, but heat up and open your groups sooner... along with a shorter barrel life. With that said, I know chrome-lined barrels tend to be less accurate due to the process for chrome-lining a barrel, but deals with heat better and allows you to be accurate for a longer duration... also gives you a longer barrel life. The barrel life isn't that important to me. The Criterion barrels are honed and hand-lapped that should make the chrome-lined barrel finish better and also a faster barrel (velocity). Help me choose my next barrel. Thanks

Having dealt with Criterion over a defective barrel, I would never buy one of their barrels again. They made excuses why it was bad, and when I offered to send it back so they could see what was wrong with the barrel, if they sent me a RMA, it was crickets. I did not even ask for my money back or a replacement barrel, I just wanted them to be able to see what was wrong with the barrel.

The barrel was a 18” 6.5 Grendel and the best I could get out of it was over 1 MOA, and when warmed up opened up to 3-4 MOA. The barrel I replaced it with shot right under 1 MOA right out of the box and after break in shoots even better.

Of the off the shelf/easily gotten barrels, I really like Daniel Defense.

-One of the few companies that forges the chamber and bore at the same time.
  This eliminates non-concentric leade, as well as chatter or rough leade. It eliminates the chance of a chamber/bore not being concentric.
-CHF
   This produces a very smooth bore surface and in my experience needs less attention regarding copper fouling. It also arguably lengthens bore life.
-They have finally gotten ahold of themselves regarding gas port sizes.
-The barrels are affordable and can be had with taper pinned gas blocks already installed, which removes some stress and work from you. Even competent people can have a bit break or walk or some other shenanigans.

I've been happy with my 13.9" Criterion Core. I also have a 12.5 Criterion hybrid profile that has been great.

I went with Larue for 5.56, Criterion stainless for .308.  I am pleased.

I had great service from Criterion over a chamber issue on a remage barrel.  There were the usual round of questions initially but they paid for shipping both ways and asked for 2-3 pieces of fired brass to be included.  They rechambered and returned.  What was a 2 MOA 22-250 became a great shooter.  No Criterion complaints from me.

My first choice and go to now is X-Caliber.  I have several of their barrels and all are amazing shooters.

All I asked for was a RMA so they could figure out what was wrong with their barrel, I never asked for anything back. I was going to leave that up to them. I guy at Criterion acted like it was a bother to do anything. I had bought the barrel from PA and they were not happy with how I was treated.
I bought a Faxon Match barrel and it shoots under 1 MOA all day long just like a Grendel should. It was a toss between the Faxon and a Wilson Combat barrel.

Big fan of DD barrels as well. Easily some of the most consistently high quality barrels I’ve come across.