Tripod shooting and deployed bipod
- Thread starter Wolfdog91
- Start date
linebaugh
Silver $$ Contributor
If its PRS style competition its for speed, tho I have never im my 11 years seen anyone shoot like that at a match. If I have 60 seconds to clear a stage and my bipod is down for the next position, that does not affect prop engagement, im sure not going to waste 4 seconds pushing legs back.
A complexity without purpose? Trying to shoot with legs crossed like that is a young man's position. Most of us older farts could not assume that position plus, that position, regardless of age, will induce leg tremors in short order for most of us. Regardless, the crossed legs are not the optimal stable position.
Being primarily a practical field shooter, rapid but effective deployment of your field shooting aid is critical in hunting situations when you are moving about. You don't always have a lot of time to engage a target. There simply just isn't enough time to fumble with adjusting legs on those tripods and bipods unless you set up on a stand. Plus, those large tripod are a lot heavier than a pair of aluminum cross sticks. If you like to roam the fields, these heavy shooting aids can be a difficulty.
Also having a field shooting aid that will easily accommodate various types of terrain is critical. Here I am taking about sloping terrain, ground cover obscuring your line of sight, and watching several areas of varying elevation and orientation.
Having tried a variety of field shooting aids, about 25 years ago I adopted the most simplistic system, cross sticks. I can deploy them with a minute including any required elevation adjustment and they adapt to any terrain quickly without much adjustment. They provide sufficient height over most ground cover to allow to engage just about any target regardless of most ground cover conditions which is an advantage over prone bipods. Also, lying prone in most areas I hunt will result is a tick infestation and / or contact with nasty poison ivy (See remarks that follow to avoid these nasties).
The downside is that it takes some dedicated practice to master them. I enhanced the effectiveness by using a lightweight, portable sportsmen's chair to shoot while sitting which give me a fairly stable platform with elbows resting on the knees and feet flat on the ground. It also keeps me off the ground to avoid the aforementioned nasties.
Being primarily a practical field shooter, rapid but effective deployment of your field shooting aid is critical in hunting situations when you are moving about. You don't always have a lot of time to engage a target. There simply just isn't enough time to fumble with adjusting legs on those tripods and bipods unless you set up on a stand. Plus, those large tripod are a lot heavier than a pair of aluminum cross sticks. If you like to roam the fields, these heavy shooting aids can be a difficulty.
Also having a field shooting aid that will easily accommodate various types of terrain is critical. Here I am taking about sloping terrain, ground cover obscuring your line of sight, and watching several areas of varying elevation and orientation.
Having tried a variety of field shooting aids, about 25 years ago I adopted the most simplistic system, cross sticks. I can deploy them with a minute including any required elevation adjustment and they adapt to any terrain quickly without much adjustment. They provide sufficient height over most ground cover to allow to engage just about any target regardless of most ground cover conditions which is an advantage over prone bipods. Also, lying prone in most areas I hunt will result is a tick infestation and / or contact with nasty poison ivy (See remarks that follow to avoid these nasties).
The downside is that it takes some dedicated practice to master them. I enhanced the effectiveness by using a lightweight, portable sportsmen's chair to shoot while sitting which give me a fairly stable platform with elbows resting on the knees and feet flat on the ground. It also keeps me off the ground to avoid the aforementioned nasties.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
I feel lucky, in my area almost all field/hunting shots can be done prone with 9-13" bipod. Used them with rifle, muzzleloader and shotgun(slugs/sabot). I shoot standing, tripod at night in the winter. Warmer, better visibility. I go back and forth between sticks and tripod in my pop-up blinds. Only real advantages of the tripod, hold the rifle/firearm in general position of expected shots so little to no movement(noise) of the rifle to acquire the target.
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
Even agreeing with @linebaugh on the reason, I see potential for a problem in that picture.
That front tripod leg placement will limit the panning ability of that rifle at some point and that point may be at a crucial time during a match or a coyote hunt.
That front tripod leg placement will limit the panning ability of that rifle at some point and that point may be at a crucial time during a match or a coyote hunt.
xswanted
Gold $$ Contributor
These replies you’re getting………too many grouchy old men.
This is strictly to save time during a stage.
If a stage calls for an engagement of targets where a tripod would be useful and you would also shoot prone or modified prone, it’s not uncommon to see people start the stage with their bipod deployed so they don’t have to worry about it during the stage.
I’ve done this plenty over the years. The only thing that’s normally different for me and what would be the norm, many people don’t clip into the tripod. You simply use a shooting bag on top. Once again done this way for time savings.
xswanted
Gold $$ Contributor
I figured I’d post an example of a stage that would exemplify a stage where having your bipod deployed at all times would be needed.
The picture shows a stage from the March COF for NRL22 which has been my main game of precision shooting for some time now.
Shooters begin on the 55 gallon drum, fire two shots at the large target, move to the seat of the chair, fire two shots at the large target, go prone, fire two shots at the small target, go back to the seat of the chair, then to the drum again. 2 shots each position at the large target.
2 minute par time.
Many shooters will utilize their bipod on the drum, with a rear support bag. They will then move to the chair seat, use the rear bag as their main support bag under the rifle, in front of the mag well, then move prone using the bag again as a rear support.
To save time, when the shooter moves to the chair, they will leave their bipod deployed rather than fold it in, and then fold it back out when they go prone.
If you imagine a tripod as the second barricade, rather than the chair, it helps to understand the OP’s question.
If you have questions in this feel free to ask, there’s many ways to shoot this effectively.
The picture shows a stage from the March COF for NRL22 which has been my main game of precision shooting for some time now.
Shooters begin on the 55 gallon drum, fire two shots at the large target, move to the seat of the chair, fire two shots at the large target, go prone, fire two shots at the small target, go back to the seat of the chair, then to the drum again. 2 shots each position at the large target.
2 minute par time.
Many shooters will utilize their bipod on the drum, with a rear support bag. They will then move to the chair seat, use the rear bag as their main support bag under the rifle, in front of the mag well, then move prone using the bag again as a rear support.
To save time, when the shooter moves to the chair, they will leave their bipod deployed rather than fold it in, and then fold it back out when they go prone.
If you imagine a tripod as the second barricade, rather than the chair, it helps to understand the OP’s question.
If you have questions in this feel free to ask, there’s many ways to shoot this effectively.
Attachments
ballisticdaddy
Silver $$ Contributor
This is a stage where my bipod wouldn't even be on my rifle, single schmedium off both props, this maximizes stability and clock management. Bipods on those barrels are not as stable as you might think plus with the bag you have the weight of your rifle over the end of the barrel which flexes much less.
xswanted
Gold $$ Contributor
I’ve seen guys shoot prone without a bipod and it seems to work.
Most would use keep the bipod in the rifle whether they use it or not on the barrel, and shoot prone with it.
ToddKS
Gold $$ Contributor
I am going to shoot bipod down on all 5 positions in that example. I am going to either move the bipod in close enough to fit on the barrel and run tripod rear from the chair or run tripod rear support on both the barrel and the chair. If the barrel appears wobbly, then option 2 for sure unless the target size is particularly generous.
From the book of Okielations:
If the bipod fits, the rifle must sit....
From the book of Okielations:
If the bipod fits, the rifle must sit....
xswanted
Gold $$ Contributor
Similar to what I would do.
Bipod would be deployed on the rifle as far forward as I could get it.
I’d use a bag on the barrel, bag on the chair seat and then shoot prone with the bipod
Keith Glasscock
Gold $$ Contributor
The other reason someone might have the bipod on is when the MD specifies that tripods must start completely collapsed. In that case, safely grounding the rifle to deploy the tripod is the only really safe way to do it. The bipod just keeps the rifle upright.
I keep my PRS rifle balance far enough forward that leaving the bipod on is actually a little negative, requiring flipping the schmedium humps-up to offset the balance change.
As with solving any problem, there are plenty of ways to do it. Some might work better for you than others.
I keep my PRS rifle balance far enough forward that leaving the bipod on is actually a little negative, requiring flipping the schmedium humps-up to offset the balance change.
As with solving any problem, there are plenty of ways to do it. Some might work better for you than others.
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