The composite barrel was developed to have a heavy barreled varmit or benchrest performance without the weight. The barrels are very expensive when compared to steel. i have not heard of anything that is necessarily bad. I believe that if the outer layers of the composite material wouldget punctured that the barrel would have to be scrapped. The steel portion of the barrel would be open to moisture and debris without a way to clean it. How well it the metal end cap secured on the barrel? I believe that this could come loose after a few hundered rounds. Unless you are a serious varmit hunter that walks alot and you treat you rifles like they are made of glass, i would recommend that you stay away from the composite barrels.