Stubble

I agree with you totally. I just don't want to mess up a good hunting tube that I worked up good loads for. I just keep the drop data on it and when I have to shoot beyond 300 yards I dial it in and squeeze. I don't trust holdovers since they are not precise. I also dial in my windage. When you do it that way you only need practice trigger squeeze. When the X is there the gun fires itself.

I also do a bit of what you suggest, I take a smaller caliber that can stand more than 1000-1500 rounds and make ammo for it that emulates the trajectory of my mag rifles. That way I'm totally with you. And the practice rifle is actually maybe even better if you just burn it up and replace it with a so so barrel. Doesnt need to be a tack driver. As long as your main gun is as good or better. Only thing I wish we had were PDs. Would be great year round practice as would groundhogs. Shot GHs one year in TN and had a super blast one afternoon. Only wish we could do it again.

Of course I'm a bit different than most, I can get all the practice I need of dry firing in the house if needed. Comes from more than a few rounds and more than a few years in competitive shooting. For hunters that are not competitors(as I suspect most are) then it may well be better to use the gun you hunt with.

Bottom line, I'd rather see someone shoot a 22 all year, rather than not shoot till a month before season. Heck if you look at it in reality most folks don't shoot past 200-250 yards and for that trigger time is the most important issue along with correct sight in of the main rifle. This is all assuming you can ignore the recoil factor. To me recoil has never really mattered because its simply mind over matter. Yep it might smack me, but if I decide to shoot that type of rifle, and I"m going to pull the trigger its gonna stomp me. And if I'm going to get stomped I may as well hit while I'm at it so its worth the thump. To me it can't be any more simple.

We are in the same book right!!?

Jeff