Squirrel Hunting... What is MY accuracy requirement?

[Eleanor416Rigby]

It's good to have more than one firearm at the range at one time, so you can avoid getting a barrel hot. Most hunting rifle barrels are going to walk around when they get hot.

Most of the time, hunting means one shot from a cold barrel, and then maybe a follow-up and then plenty of time for the barrel to cool. When firing many multple-shot groups you are practicing in a way that is different from the hunt. Both you and the rifle might do differently in the field.

I like to bring along my heavy-barrel Browning Buckmark Camper and practice with it in between shooting other arms. Pistols require a lot of practice, and hunting rifles should be shot with cold barrels IMHO.

 

[cottswald]

I will see if it groups similarly from a rest, though with my current skills and technique I think I would be very hard-pressed to truly accurately identify differences in ammo brands/lots in my rifle, and at best am just hoping to identify if something "works" or is a "dud".

When you use a rest you will see a difference.