Marrakai -I agree with you. The only way you will ever be able to gauge the accuracy of ANY rifle is to shoot it off a bench. Granted, the shooting of a double off a bench requires a different set of rules (hand holding the "splinter" on top of the bag and bagging the rear of the stock (the Brits regulate from a standing bench) so the recoil dynamics are as close to the actual field/hunting sceanrio as possible. I consider my self to be an "above average" shot (I have shot a number of military matches out to 1000 yds) but shooting off hand for regulation/sighting purposes - I don't think so!!!