Back almost 60 years ago, scopes were very primitive as compared to today. More people "made do" with iron sights than is common today.
In those heyday days of "The Rifleman's Rifle", the pre-'64 Model 70, I read of no opinions that didn't believe that any rifle which could give five-shot groups of two MOA wasn't a "good hunting rifle". All the writers seemed to believe that two MOA was plenty good for Bambi. I grant that there were only four gunzines: The American Rifleman, Outdoor Life, Field & Stream and Sports Afield. We didn't have nearly so many "experts" as we do today.
Sure, I work to have my deer rifles at or within one MOA. But I don't worry about it from one year to the next.Two MOA will put you into the heart/lungs at out to 200 yards with no difficulty. Most deer are killed within 100 yards, anyway, plus the usual allowance for extra yards for bragging...
, Art