Did you sight in @25yds? If you missed missed a little high, that's one of those things that can catch people by surprise.
I keep all my RDS (and most of my irons) at a 50/200-ish zero, so up close a few inches high will take care of what you're talking about. Trust me, the issue wasn't with the gun, sight, or height above bore...just the shooter going a little faster than he should have been while yanking away on the trigger.
At the Action Rifle match I would go to in San Diego, one stage would always have us shoot out to 100 or ~160 weak handed. It was good practice, and I think that made the "distance" shot I mentioned above a little easier. Just like you're saying...it's amazing how practice can improve things.