ORIGINAL: cayugad
I think your Dad might be right. There are a lot of people that do not shoot well off hand. Underclocked has some good ideas with the hidden load. I did the same thing when I was shooting revolver, and solved it the same with with empty chambers.
Another thing that might be happening when you shoot off hand is, you're taking to long to get target acquisition and because of this wandering the sight and trying to spot your trigger pull. When I shoot free hand I shoot much better with a straight pull, fast target acquisition, and fire. When I take my time, I start to swing and it makes for poor accuracy.
Thanks for the idea underlocked ... I think I may also have been holding the gun too "loose" off hand and not tight to my body. That is how I shoot slugs out my shotgun ... I let the gun kick hard and I shoot very well with open sights and off hand. However they aren't shot over 75 yards. I just got in that habit and I could be transfereing that over to the ML.
Cayugad: I'm glad you pointed that out, because I even told my dad that I was going to start shooting faster. I felt as though I was anticipating the shot a little bit too much. Great stuff guys thanks ...
feel free to write more ...