Hope you included Remington in your top 5 gun co. JMHO, damascus and twist barrels are just as good as any other barrel made back then. If any barrel rings true, there are no bad visable spots, and appears thick enough, shoot it. There are around 15 twist or damascus SxS's shot on a regular basis at my club, and not a one of them was checked by a gunsmith. Some are quite thin at the muzzle, but then, most the pressure is gone by then. Although not very technical, thought I'd say something- Paul