As of right now, I have 5 rifles. And they are at the extreme ends of the spectrum. I have a .22-250 and .264 Win mag that are high velocity, over bore, barrel burners and I have a .30-30 and .45-70 Gov't which are heavy, slow, rainbow trajectory freight trains made for short distance shooting. I also have a .22lr.
I had at one point a Savage .30-06 and hated it. I could never get it to group well no matter what I fed it. I tried factory ammo, reloads, and 3 different scopes. I got rid of it and feel bad for whoever the poor soul is who bought it after I did. I should have melted it down into scrap metal. I am not saying the .30-06 is a bad cartridge, but I really don't want another one.
I am tired of going to the range and worrying about barrel wear and keeping the barrel cool between shots for the high velocity rifles, let alone the .264 is $3 a shot. The 45-70 and .30-30 aren't bad on the 100 yard range but the range I go to has a 567 yard target that is fun, and those rifles aren't made for that. Yes, I realize in 1873 the .45-70 was a long range cartridge but my lever action doesn't have a scope and isn't getting one so I would look like a fool trying to hit with a big bore and iron sights. I realize I have 2 rifles designed for long range but every round I send downrange makes me think of barrel wear and I don't want to re-barrel my rifles.
I would like a rifle in the middle of the road. Something that isn't an ultra long range cartridge, but isn't a brush gun either. It would have to be economical to shoot, relatively flat shooting, and capable of 500-600 yard shots. I need something I can shoot relatively often and not worry about excessive barrel wear. I would like to be able to take deer and antelope sized game at 100-200 yards.
Right now, i am considering a Ruger American predator in 6.5 Creedmoor. I like the heavier barrel and have heard the Creedmoor is a relatively balanced round. I was thinking maybe a .308 or a .270 may not be bad choices either.
I just want a rifle I can shoot relatively often and not have to worry about. I realize all barrels wear, but the 2 screamers I have are notorious for it. I don't need a 1000 yard tack driver either. I just need a relatively flat shooting, economical, long lasting, all purpose rifle capable of the occasional 500 yard shots. Is that too much to ask for?
I know you can't get any rifle barrel hot and expect it to not wear, but I don't want something so high velocity and overbore. I will still keep my new rifle cool, but I am tired of worrying about throat erosion and heat cracking.
And for the guy that is going to tell me that barrels are a wear item and to screw a new one on when it wears out, I would agree with you, but the .264 was my grandfather's and I don't want to be the idiot that destroys a classic rifle. The .22-250 was a more recent purchase, and is intended for the occasional coyote hunt, but I still don't want to wear it out as that is a vintage rifle as well.
I am welcome to all suggestions that don't require me to modify my current rifles.