Normally when you first encounter a dogtown the dumb ones (young and old) will accomidate you with 20-40 fast shots before they retreat to their homes. If the area has not been shot you might get them to stay up for over an hour or two before they get gun shy. Then it slows down and barrel cooling is a non issue.

Things to aid your shoot:

1). Barrels with flutes as they promote rapid cooling, you increase your number of shots by 30-50% before you stop to cool the barrel. The wind helps these cool faster. The wind is your friend.

2). Low power loads, those loaded close to the starting load as recommended by load books. This enables more shots before heating is an issue. Speed is irrevelant, accuracy is everything.

3) Have small bullet loads and heavy bullet loads, by this I mean light fast loads for when the wind is not blowing, and heavier loads with higher BC's when the winds blow.

4). The .223 is a great gun in a dogtown, I use the 34's in the morning and non windy days, and 60's when the wind blows. Normally with my savage model 16 fluted 223 I can shoot 40 shots before I pause to change guns. If the barrel is hot to the touch and you can't keep your hand on it for 2-3 seconds let it cool. The 53 V-Max is the new bullet of choice for many and it's high 290 BC is a real help when the winds blow.

5) The 204 is even better with it's high BC for it's smaller bullets. Shoot the 32's in the am when the winds are calm and 39 Sierra's when the winds blow. Point of impact for both should be close in your loads.

6). Binoculars are a must, trying to spot dogs thru your scope is tiring. 10 X is fine.

7) Leave the 7mm @ home, don't overheat/ruin a good deer rifle for p-dogs, and forget the 17hmr as it's too weak a gun for football sized game, they crawl back to thier holes and you will miss the kill. With 2 guns you lack nothing.