Just a thought, "to play devils advocate" regarding kill (target) sizes; and in the past targets being bigger that entailed better scores. EG, the shooting ability was inferier to todays shooters. Using Springers.
I would propose that the skill level was as good as (and in my experience with shooters through the 80's and 90's) overall better.
Sizes... How do you shoot to achieve a range card?or what are your expectations!
Do you set out to form a group of 1inch,2inch or more finding the centre of the group to make it the reference at that paticular distance!
At Markyate in the 80's( I know going back like a Tardis) and what I do today with springers and pcp's, is pick out a pellet mark and shoot to hit or clover leaf it from marks 8 to 55 yds. We did that as did D. Welham and T. Doe etc.
Clover leafing at 50/55yds was common and fun.
NOW if you can shoot pellet marks during range carding why would it be difficult hitting smmaller targets
.After all a 15mm or 35mm kill is a lot bigger than a pellet splash.(Not much changes)
So why the difficulty and frightening of a set course? you just proved you can shoot smaller items. Is it a skill thing?
One is easier to shoot and be comfortable with it,and another needs constant adjustments but is accurate but needs more applied skill.
That is shooting a 'live' springer.
HERX77 .