Good discussion. Other than experimenting with your gun and various loads I don't know how you can be sure what will work best for you. I think this is true of centerfire rifles also. That being said, for most hunting applications, I think the most important thing is to get something that performs consistently and stick with it. 1/2" to 1" theoretical improvements in groups from a sandbaged bench rest may not translate into improved hunting performance. However, the practice and confidence you get with the gun by experimenting is invaluable.

Just my .02