Having the a rifle that shoots the same cartridge as your buddy sounds like a nice sentiment, but even if you get the same brand and model rifle as your buddy's, it might not shoot the same loads (whether factory or handloads) as well as his. There is a chance it will, but there is also a chance that what his shoots good, will perform less than acceptable in yours. If you are handloading, it is best to experiment and work up a load that is good for your gun. So even though sharing a cartridge might sound like a great idea, it might not be as convenient as originally planned. My suggestion is go with what you like and need for the reasons that are most important to you.