Another ski bipod question???

[eric n]

Stupid Question....Did you have to re tune your load when switching from a harris?
I know its easily tested, and I will. Just wanted to see (hope) its as easy as that. The vertical is driving me nuts! Changed hold, rear bag/fill, free recoil, different mats under feet, everything I can think of on my end and the groups always look out of tune compared to a traditional bipod.
I have a Sinclair gen 3... Seems like a lot of guys have gotten away from them. Is it because of vertical issues?
Thanks

 

[mac86951]

What's under your bipod?

 

[digrazir]

I use same technique for shooting off my Atlas or Remple bipods...I use a carpet for the front feet and a firm hold into my shoulder. I never had any luck loading the front legs of the Atlas and you can't load the front feet of a ski bipod. This is what works for me. Ray

 

[eric n]

i usually put a board down with a car mat or the shooting mat itself over the top. Not sure which model protector bag but it has a slight taper fore to aft and the stock has stock tape to facilitate tracking. Front feet slide easily in any direction.
I assumed it was cheek pressure , after trying 3 heights of rings and different heights of cheek piece along with cheek pressure, still stringing.

 

[Pappy42]

Stupid Question....Did you have to re tune your load when switching from a harris?
I know its easily tested, and I will. Just wanted to see (hope) its as easy as that. The vertical is driving me nuts! Changed hold, rear bag/fill, free recoil, different mats under feet, everything I can think of on my end and the groups always look out of tune compared to a traditional bipod.
I have a Sinclair gen 3... Seems like a lot of guys have gotten away from them. Is it because of vertical issues?
Thanks

I had no problems with vertical and the Sinclair gen3.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I could never get the vertical under control with a Sinclair. My working theory is that my stock is too flexible and the bipod is allowing it to load and unload in an uneven fashion.

A stiff stock might be the answer.

 

[Pappy42]

I could never get the vertical under control with a Sinclair. My working theory is that my stock is too flexible and the bipod is allowing it to load and unload in an uneven fashion.

A stiff stock might be the answer.

Keith, did you solve your vertical? I've never thought of the relationship of a flexible stock and a bipod.

I don't want to hijack the thread; but I'm very interested in how you arrived at your conclusion and how you solved it.

Thanks.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Keith, did you solve your vertical? I've never thought of the relationship of a flexible stock and a bipod.

I don't want to hijack the thread; but I'm very interested in how you arrived at your conclusion and how you solved it.

Thanks.

I went to a more flexible bipod (I'm using a centershot) and moved it closer to the action. The bipod/stock combination seems happier now from an accuracy standpoint. I liken it to the difference between a too hard front bag in benchrest and one that has just a little squish.

Tracking is a different story. The rifle moves all over the place after the shot releases (free recoil). With a little technique change, I can get better tracking. I was out experimenting today with methods to determine how much pressure, and which direction, I'm putting into the recoil pad before firing. I'm particularly attempting to find a method where I can obtain a more repeatable performance.

Do this: Fire 10 rounds at 5 or 600 off of the bipod. Take the bipod off, and fire the next 10 free-recoil from a front rest. If the groups are the same size, your technique is pretty darn good. Personally, I can get a bit more out of some technique work.

 

[eric n]

Hijack all you want Pappy, I can use all the info anyone wants to put out.

Thanks for your replies guys... I figured it out today.
Decided to stuff the rear bag and ears till it almost burst, then was going to keep taking sand out of the ears till the vert came down. Turns out it likes to be packed really hard. I think a little bit more tweeking will make all well.

 

[Pappy42]

I can't remember who I learned it from; but less filler in the front rest bag and more in the rear bag helped me out a lot.

I've pondered spike feet for the ski feet bipods and am interested if a shooter has experience with them that they would like to share.

I'm with you Eric n; any thing that I can learn is great.

Thanks Keith.

 

[Joe R]

New Stupid Question....Did you have to re tune your load when switching from a harris?
I know its easily tested, and I will. Just wanted to see (hope) its as easy as that.

Over the past 7 years I have used a Harris, Sinclair, Flex and Joypod bipods. I got bitten by the precision bug about three years agoand I have been shooting F-TR for the last 18 months. I have learned more from my fellow competitive shooters than I had in the previous 5 years.

No, you do not have to re-tune your load when switching bipods, the rifle chamber/bullet has no preference or communication with your forend/bipod. You can affect recoil with your cheek pressure. I don't use any cheek pressure because I want as few influences on the rifle as possible while maintaining recoil control. This is a personal preference of mine. YMMV.

The vertical is driving me nuts! Changed hold, rear bag/fill, free recoil, different mats under feet, everything I can think of on my end and the groups always look out of tune compared to a traditional bipod.
I have a Sinclair gen 3... Seems like a lot of guys have gotten away from them. Is it because of vertical issues?

Regarding your vertical, there are many factors that will cause vertical. Too many to go into in a single post. If you are not using a chrono, get one. First you have to find out how close in velocity to one another (ES= Extreme Spread) your bullets are and then try to bring them closer together. For F-TR the general rule is ES = 15 fps or less variance between the high and the low. That will start a journey that should take at least a year and many give up along the way and settle for what they have. It's not worth it for most people unless you're OCD or competing. If you are not competing but still want to get a precision load, start going to matches and ask questions. That's were you'll find people that are actively and seriously dealing with all the issues that affect precision. Many of those people also hang around here.

Good luck,

Joe