jayjaytuner said:
realize theres a thread for F-open bipod..but most are stating a rest if better off...
what is everyone using for ftr??....
I like the looks of the Sinclair gen III, but the left and right leg adjustments look like they might be a pain to set up?...
the centershot looks nice...
Looking for one that tracks straight back
thanks for any input.....
jay
There are many bipods nowadyas, with many more to come. Bipods are now fitted with bells and whistles, GPS receivers, laser tracking, gyroscope leveling and so on. All made in evermore exotic materials, or so it seems.
I used the Sinclair Gen2 model from the moment it was available to buy at Sinclair until last year when purchased the Gen 3 model to go with my new F-TR rifle. I never had a Gen 1 but there was a shooter at our club who had one some years back.
When I look at a bipod, the first thing I notice is where the rifle is mounted on it. It is my belief that if the bipod is holding the rifle as on a pedestal, there will be bounce since the fore end is at the top of legs directly touching the ground. On the other hand, if the bipod is cradling the rifle fore end, there is less bounce due to the indirect contact to the ground.
My latest F-TR rifle has a PR&T F-TR stock with the stock having an almost flat bottom and this arrangement, along with the Sinclair allows the rifle to track back quite straight, with little difficulty. With a regular style stock such as the one on the Savage FTR rifle, I discovered that the rifle would come down from the bag during the recoil and actually submarine a little inder my right shoulder. This would push the stock to the right and the muzzle would thus swing left and I would have to realign quite a bit for every shot. It was also impossible for me to stay on the target when the scope was at 36X or more.
Now, I have little problem staying on the target even at 42X, especially if I do a good follow through. So the Sinclair has worked fine for me, though I am not compltely sold on the idea of the adjustment knob up front. I've started to use it but I also can adjust the legs esily enough. I will confess that I have difficulty reaching the elevation knob once I'm in position and when the spotting scope is tucked in next to me, forget it.
What I am finding now is that I would like a rear bag with a longer top and ear compared to me current Protektor model 41 (I believe.) I have been using a Home Depot rubber mat under the bipod for several years, more to provide the same friction rather than "fix" the position. I just drape it on the ground.
I shoot 180gr bullets out of a 32 inch barrel, if that makes any difference.
