It varies, for a big game rifle , velocity matters more than barrel life to me, for a target rifle , recoil and barrel life are considered more. If it comes down to two or three very similar cartridges, and I have dies and components for one, that will be a factor. I load all of my centerfire, so being able to buy factory loads at the local store is never a consideration. To start from scratch for a big game rifle, I would pick a bullet diameter and weight that interest me, and then look at cartridges that deliver the bullet at a velocity that I want, at ranges that I want. Then I look at component availability and go from there. For a go to big game rifle , I shoot customs, and most cartridges can be chambered in actions that I like. For an range rifle, the platform is important to me, as I shoot factory rifles for range practise.
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Only accurate guns are interesting.
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