I definitely had a dodgy 22 early star nut barrel
I reckon that there was a golden era of quality where modern cnc met old fashioned 'make it the best we can' values
I have new star nut barrels and older barrels that are spot on, and had some older barrels are are not as 'pin point' as HW CAN be. I have an 85 (bought action only off here, with a 95 piston in it from someone who should have known better) where it took ages to find a matched 85 barrel. That barrel which needed a re blue, and was shimmed in V Mach era, is very pellet fussy for an HW. Thankfully it's like a laser with .......Superfield. As well as was there a golden age, how many folk really (really really) put in pellet testing legwork ? Most barrels will be excellent with something.
IMO the best HW barrels love FTT, Shoot all the JSB derivatives, and will also shoot RWS great.
So, no I think that pinning it down to 'MK 1 95's were as good a sit got' is too general / not true
The 16 inch barrel MK1 95's, which at that time came with well finished internals, springs too, had the barrel weight as we all know. 'Pre internet' - no one I knew had a problem with them being tricky to shoot. I had a MK1 95 at that time, it was great. I wish I'd kept it !
Looking for TO-6 Trigger unit unmessed with or T0-6 kit for 34