In regard to putting pellets in the same hole / testing the rifles ability to do that, IMO the #1 thing must be the ability to fix the rifle in place, as otherwise you are also testing shooter abilities.
you also need weather to cooperate if you shoot outside as wind will push pellets to a degree, and in regard to hole in hole a little are a lot, and instead of a hole that might grow in size with 10 % with each shot, you would probably see a 50 - 75 % hole growth,,,, at least, but that will of course only be with the first shots in my experience, later shots more easy find a way thru the bigger hole without adding to its size, but by then the hole are 3- 4 X the size of a single pellet, and maybe elongated or ragged.
With the rifle fixed you pretty much dont need a scope, but you would have to go to your target paper and move it over a little to a new clean piece for the next group.
I am working on being able to fix my rifles 100 % cuz at least in regard to my maverick, either i have become a lesser shooter or the rifle have a harder time producing the tight groups i expect from it. The same is also sort of the case with my new Vulcan 3, but at a much lesser level, and at least it is so with a range of pellets / slugs, where just finding one that feel very good in the Maverick are hard.
In regard to my Maverick i want to know for sure, before i go buy a new barrel possible a longer barrel, selling it are of course out of the question as i dont feel good about the gun, so me being me i would feel i was cheating someone if i sold it right now, even telling a possible buyer that the gun are not performing to my liking,,,,,, and i only do that ( cheating / lying ) if it is a return of that "favor"
I am surprised that out of the many airgun reviewers, none of them demo the rifles actual abilities, they all demonstrate a combined shooter and rifle ability. Personally i am mostly interested in the rifles ability on its own, shooters as we know are a bit up and down, but knowing the rifle is good, your own irregularities are more easy to work with.