Thanks everyone. ...and here is "The rest of the story".
I wanted to build a custom AR for long range varmint hunting but I also wanted to have the "look" of an ultra-tacticool sniper system and fire 5.56 so I could buy cheap surplus ammo and do it all on a limited budget. I love my AR in the same way guys love their first car that they "had to have" but leaks oil and sucks money out of your wallet.
I bought a DPMS lower, a preconfigured upper from Model1Sales, a scope from eBay and a bunch of factory reject ammo. So it shot like crap. Dinner plate groups at 100yds. So;
I replaced the scope with a decent 10x super sniper.
I replaced the scope mount with a good 1 piece heavy mount.
I bought good ammo
I bought really good ammo (black hills)
I tried to break in the barrel by cleaning frequently.
I was using my old cleaning kit from the Army (with an extra section due to the 24in barrel) I am guessing that caused the damage.
I made rookie mistakes but learned from them. A friend of mine just spent a fortune on a Lewis Machine AR but I bet I enjoy mine more.
I still need to replace the trigger but with a new barrel this should be good to go. I know Model1Sales has some critics here but they have been awesome to work with.
...and that is the rest of the story