It really depends on the barrel. Some bead blasted barrels are less glossy than blued barrels. I do feel that they show up more during low light conditions. If you walk to your blind in the morning you can see the barrel easier than anything else. I camo. my sendero sf because of this. Did it make a difference? To me it did if nothing else.

Most hunting rifles in SS do not have the high sheen that target barrels do.

I think they are ok but it really depends on the barrel some are more glossy than others and i like to be completely camoed so i think that i would just rather have an regular barrel.

Eventhough some hunting SS barrels are not as glossy, they still reflect more UV rays (what deer see) than regular matte or blued barrels. Although I do love the look of stainless.

Hello BGHs,
I came across this question in search of some advice too. I live in Washington state, and wet conditions are the norm for the outdoors. I believe a blue or matt finish barrel may give a hunter a disadvantage at close ranges, but not at long ranges. The advise I am asking is if I Duracoat a stainless barrel, do I gain anything other than covering up the light finish of stainless? I am about to buy a Howa 1500 for elk, deer and other mid size game, but now I am trying to choose which barrel finish.
Thank you for your in put.

You gain some rust protection as well.  Stainless barrels resist rust a little more than a blued barrel but they still rust and since you are in a wet situation the duracoat would help.