OFFHAND GROUPS

     Offhand group size is determined by the shooter and the rifle. How do shooter and rifle affect offhand group size?  Offhand group size and scores are more affected by the shooter than the rifle.
More precisely:
     Offhand groups and thus scores are determined by the rifle etc. and everything else, including the shooter and conditions. 
There is a group size determined by the equipment, that we'll call the "equipment group size".
There is a circle within which the shooter can hold, that is determined by the shooter, conditions, etc., that we'll call "circle hold". 
     Offhand group size is then composed of the "equipment group size" and the "circle hold".
     As the "equipment group size" falls = the rifle etc. gets more accurate; the "circle hold" required for any offhand group size decreases.

     For an offhand group size of 9" and an "equipment group size" of 4"; a "circle hold" of 8.06" is required.

For a 9" offhand group size:

"equipment group size"/"circle hold"
4.0"/8.06"
3.5"/8.28"
3.0"/8.48"
2.5"/8.65"
2.0"/8.78"
1.5"/8.87"
1.0"/8.95"
.5"/8.99"

     As "equipment group size" falls, the required "circle hold" increases, but not very fast. So, offhand group size is related only slightly to the rifle, and much more to the shooter. Effort expended on shooting will pay off much more than effort expended on making the rifle shoot more accurately. 
     (Note that this relationship is constant over percentages. For a 6" offhand group, multiply the "equipment group size" and "circle hold" numbers by 6/9 = 2/3.)
     (For the calculations, see "OFFHAND GROUPS.xls".)