RE: Best groups W/O a rest
8mm/06 yes, both my own 76 as well as the Sako sport very, very decent aparature sights, diopter type (a bit like the M1 but a bit more easy to work with and they provide a clearer view of the target) Too, I must admit my eyesight is perfect. Furthermore, I'm very familiar with the Valmet, have been shooting that rifle for about as long as I can remember.
Using a belt to steady a rifle is not any less stable sandbags, but it is a lot harder to learn to do it properly. Thus, shooting from a standing position isn't that much harder than from sandbags.
From a position on the ground, your bodymass becomes a stable platform, and using the belt, or carrying strap in the same way as standing up, almost locks the rifle in place.
Pro-line: haha... Sir, most here would consider me a boy...but thank you anyway.
oh, and 6 years of training for the junior biathlon team also helps I think...