Bench resting a pistol

In several years of shooting pistols from the bench, including Savage Striker, Savage 10 home made, Competitor, M 29 and Ruger MK II, I was able to get each gun to pretty reliably average around or under 2” 100 yard 5 group 5 shot averages. I think that I learned the following:  Many/most pistols will shoot accurately. I'd bet that almost any pistol in good shape will shoot < 4” 5 shot 100 yard group averages with a good scope and rest, out of the chute. ( I did not shoot CF autoloading pistols.) 22rf M17 and MKll with selected ammunition-back when one could buy ammunition-were astoundingly accurate. The bench rest design and height makes a BIG difference. Watch someone shoot a pistol off sandbags. Neck bend, seat height, eyeglasses-10 minutes tells the tale. You have to get the gun 9” to a foot above the bench. The scope is important. Using a good rifle scope can work, but a good pistol scope works better. Variable high power rifle scopes at lower powers have more eye relief. SKILL matters most, with a decent gun/scope/bench rest. I reached the point where my skill was the limiting factor. I could call most shots, but not control the gun. When it went off, I frequently had it aimed off.That's my lack of skill, eyesight, tremor, age.