RE: shooting from a bench
G. David Tubbs suggests that you lightly hold the forearm, while ina rest, when shooting a hunting rifle. He says that only benchrest rifles (wide, heavy forearms) should be left free.
This may not be for everyone, but it did help me a great deal. I was holding my non-dominant hand back by my chest just below the rear of the stock. My big guns where jumping, and my grouping was bigger.