Interesting. I’ve noticed the same thing. For the last 5 or 6 months I’ve been practicing off hand shooting with my .177 Bantam. Started at 22 yards or so with 4” spinners and then 2 1/2” and now can relably hit 1 1/2”. I keep the scope as low as it goes, which is 4x
Youre right, when kids with the Sheridan .20 cal pump that’s the only way we shot. Iron sights, no scope, squirrels, rabbits, and birds.
Recently bought a used FWB 601 SSP to practice 10M shooting off hand. That gun is as accurate as they come. Off a rest, will put 10 - .177 pellets through the exact same hole at 10M. Looks like a single shot. Of course, I can’t do that standing off hand...
Benchrest and FT with jackets and hamsters, etc is fun, but I’ve always thought standing off hand was the true shooting skill. I was horrible when I first started 5 or 6 months ago. But now I’m respectable, but lots of room for improvement.