I have done a bit of reasearch, for purpose of making an article on barrels.
There are two basic materials to make barrels: chrome molybden steel and inox (stainless steel).
Inox as general will be type inox 416, martensitic type.
Because of this material structure, it is generally accepted that such type of materials can be best polished and lapped, significantly better then chrom moly. It is also beleived that this highly polished surface of barrel interior reduces fouling of barrel. For this reason, best long range shooters, prefer exclusively stainless steel barrels, deeply beleiving that smoothness of material will give them best consistency in long strings of shots with minimum fouling.
(of course, it goes without saying that stainless is more resiliant to rust, and weather conditions, as well as extreme as extreme spread of temperatures, especially cold)
Howeever even stainless, is not 100% rust proof. Rifle has to be maintained, like any other rifle
Barrels can be made in general in three accepted ways: hammer forging, button rifling and cut rifling.
For stainless steel 416 barrels hammer forging is difficult, so in case that stainless steel barrel is hammer forged, most probably will be type 410. For button rifling, and cut rifling 416 can be. So 410, different material for hammer forging is possibly a compromise, but I am not sure of actual differneces between 416 and 410. It could be also that factories producing hammer forged barrels for their rifle, also import stainless steel barrels from other makers to fit in separate assembly line, if this material makes them difficult to produce by hammer forging.
But....
But, if a good hammer forged chrome moly barrel can produce 1/4 od 1/3 moa groups (with chosen factory ammo) , and if we talk about hunting, i wouldnt be bothered with accuracy issue.
Comapring three types of barrel production: hammer forging, button rifling, and cut rifling:
It is generally beleived (I am not using word proven) that hammer forged barrels will last the longest, and cut rifle barrels will have the shortest longevity. (then button rifled barrel could be in the middle with this estimate). So, in this way you can also look at stainlees steel barrels becasue 416 most probably will not be hammer forged, so if barrel is cut, will hav a bit shorter life span.
(top long range shooters prefer cut rifled barrels, and button rifled barrels, and hunters, genereally dont care)
Additional way to look at it: as mentioned, stainless steel is sweetheart of long range shooters, often using hot loads, and shooting long strings on a match or training in addition to having barrel burning calibers. Of course, such abuse will shorten barrel life significantly. (one barrel per season?) But this is not average rifle usage for hunters.
All in all: if I am resident hunter in Alasca, or frequent hunter in tropical rain forest, or top long range shooter, I would consider having a stainless steel barrel. If I am just hunting, in normal dry or moderately humid conditions, chrome moly will do just fine for me.
Also, one more point: stainless look fancy, especially when is fluted. One more thing to consider, but it has nothing to do with ballistics.
And another point, fitting the iron sights - i dont remember seeing stainless steel barrel with iron sights.
