I tried an experiment today shooting my rifle in the old-school way. I shot prone with the sling wrapped around my left arm and gripped the rifle firmly on the forend. I also gripped firmly with the trigger hand. The shot to the left was cold bore, and the next 4 shots were touching. I didn't have time to shoot anymore, but I plan to continue the experiment. It seems to me there are at least 2 advantages to this style of shooting: 1) it helps control the recoil of a light rifle, 2) it adapts well to field conditions. The rifle is a Tikka T3 lite 308 with a Harris bipod, 100yds, the circle is 1".

I'd say excellent shootin

+1

Not many people can do that, even with a bench or bipod.

I noticed something similar with my M1A. - I thought the gun was only good for 4 inch groups at 100 yards - until one day when I did as hermano W did, gripping the forearm firmly, and also with the trigger hand. I didn't do nearly as well as hermano did, but my groups improved significantly. Closer to two inches than four.

Some guns need and respond to this better than others. My best shooting with a 30 pound benchrest rifle was done while barely touching the gun at all. And in rifle silhouette shooting, the grip is usually fairly light. I would have a good grip with the trigger hand, while resting the rifles floor-plate on the flat of my off hand. On the other hand, my little 6.5x54 Mannlicher Schoenauer with the 17.7 inch barrel is like my old M1A, a firm grip with both hands and a strong shooting position returns the best results by far.

Damned fine shooting, for sure! Just out of curiosity, what would have been your normal technique and would you have fared, typically?