exactly todd, shooting is one aspect of hunting, which one is most important?
It depends. If your scouting and stalking abilities are intact then you don't have to buy a 50 caliber BMG andcarry a benchrest, 3 sand bags, a ballistics computer, two spotters and a flag pole with a wind sock on it into the field with you every day.
6-7" groups at 1000 is darned good shooting if you are punching paper, but that same group is HUGE if you are trying to shoot a deer with it.
Lets look at this from another angle. You plant to hunt where shot opportunities will not exceed 100 yards. That being the case you buy a 30-30 lever action and put a 4 power scope on it. At the range howeveryour new rifle will not group any ammo you try tighter than 7 inches at 100 yards. According to some here you are still good to go. After all 6 to 7 inch groups are fine at 1000 yards so why not at 100 if that's as far as you plan to shoot? But seriously how many people would be satisfied with that 30-30 and that level of accuracy. I sure as hell wouldn't be and hope that you wouldn't be either.