re: First hunting rifle. Stainless barrel? And caliber question.

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I can see folks probably don't put in the scope time that I do to discover issues like I did. Its ok Im very picky about my gun consistency on long range shots.

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Actually, I bet there are a number of folks here who put in a lot of range time and also put a premium on a gun's accuracy. I usually go on 2 prairie dog hunts every summer. I usually shoot >100 rounds/day for 2 days. My main pd hunting handgun is an XP-100 in 22 BR. For nearly 25 years it's averaged 1/2" groups at 100 yds w/ the right loads. My #2 handgun is an XP-100 in 6 BR. It's just as accurate as the 22 BR. Both guns have stainless barrels. The only time I've been disappointed in their long range accuracy has been due to my error. I don't know what happened w/ your s/s guns, but I've not suffered those problems.

OP, if you want a s/s barrel or action, get it. I wouldn't worry about a s/s barrel failing to meet your accuracy needs. It's your personal preference. Some of my hunting handguns have s/s barrels, some don't. On the other hand, an extra $150 is a lot for s/s. For that much money, I'd probably go w/ blued and do what an earlier poster said: take the $150 you saved buying a blued barrel and spend it on extra practice ammo and/or a better scope.