I finally picked up my SPR today, after having to wait several days for delivery to happen due to a snowstorm.  A couple of questions:

Is it just my barrel or do these rifles have rough barrels?  I'm used to seeing a smooth AR-15 barrel, with at most having some uniform machining marks.  This barrel looks like it's been cast, almost cement-like.  Is this normal, a result of the hammer forging? [:\]

Also, not only are the sides of the barrel rough, the crown looks rough.  There's some wear around the outside edge where the parkerizing looks like it's been rubbed.  The inner part of the crown, the angled portion, looks OK, it's just rough.  This is the thing that concerns me most.  Is everyone else's like this or did I get a "Monday" rifle?  Should I be worried? hooting
Thanks.

Betcha it is fine.  Mine has a sort of "texture" to the finish.  I wouldn't call it "rough," but blue is super-smooth, parkerizing has more texture, and this rifle has more texture still.

It's a shooter, not a beauty queen.  Take it to the range and see what you think then.

Every SPR I've seen were very rough looking.  Well, expect for one I saw that was cut to 20", threaded for a can and finished in Green T.

Just remember, the rougher the surface the more surface area for cooling.