Probably the greatest advantage of relining is that it preserves external barrel markings and allows you to NOT have to recut the various dovetails and other external profiles all over again on a new barrel blank; also keeps the original barrel's fit to the receiver, so no rethreading and figuring out how to keep everything squared up with the old receiver. This is particularly helpful in restoring vintage lever action repeaters, which have a LOT of cuts on their barrels to duplicate.
I've never heard of a liner failing (perhaps some of the gunsmiths here have, tho.).
Most "quality" restorations include a new barrel of modern steel which includes the "precise fit" and contours/dimensions/muzzle cut/rifling twist etc....
and all the original markings recut to an exacting standard, based on the year of manufacture.......
They are so good that you cannot tell them from original, except by their flawless condition. Not cheap like a liner but they look fantastic
as long as the rest of the gun is properly restored to the same standards as well.......
I've re-blued lots of guns for people that had liners and because of the alloy differences, the liners always show with a distinctive halo.......sorry this Winchester 1890 picture is not real good. This is a gun that I re-blued before I put it back together, but the picture was handy and shows the liner halo if you look close enough. Leave the muzzle in the white and they look even worse IMO.
