Bi-Pod who uses them....

[mikeinct]

The reason I ask is I have one of those things but it is tall & swivels..& I usually set it up on my lighter gun when varmint hunting...I've made some nice field shots with it...If any of you saw the 4/6 Mulligan group I shot from a bench the other day it got me thinking...Some stocks are just not right for riding on front rest & bag set ups..I know the model of bipod I have is not right for what I'm thinking..Would or could The shorter bipod be better for shooting from a bench ??...Is it possible that some rifles twist & recoil at firing causing a say 2 shots to go low left out of that group..& heres the kicker could such a gun equipped with a short stiff bi-pod be made to shoot better from a bench...than say that same gun just riding the bags ???...I'm thinking that the shape of my stock is a problem & a short bipod could counteract the negative effect it is having on some of my groups...Any thoughts or reasearch on this would help us all shoot better...mike in ct..please see sorry looking group attached

 

[chino1969]

mikeinct,
All of my rifles are fine tuned and shot from a bench with a Hart front pedestal rest and Bald Eagle bags. I have two different rear bags,1 with tall rabbitt ears, 1 with small bunny ears) and three front inserts for the rest. One of the front inserts has a wide rest with a corresponding bag for benchrest fore-ends, the other is for a beavertail fore-end, and the other is a universal fit for narrower fore-ends. I use an Accuracy Asset attachment that screws on the bottom of the stock via the sling swivel hole and rides the front benchrest bag very well. For the field I use type 'S' Harris bipods. I have a short 'benchrest' prone model and I have a larger 'sitting' model. I also use a rear bean bag to take the place of a proper rear sandbag when shooting prone. I personally cannot shoot as well from a bipod as I can from the bench set-up but it's pretty damn close. When I fire from the bench, the rifle recoils in a predictable way; i.e. rearward with no torsional cant. It's just a matter of pushing the rifle forward against the front rest stop and preparing for the next shot. With a bipod there is a whole lot more movement going on. The rifle twists and goes rearward in unpredictable paths. So to answer your original question; I cannot shoot as well using a bipod as I can from the bench.

 

[mikecr]

I use the tallest Harris for varmint hunting, and have used the shortest model off the bench. I have "Pod Paws" on mine, which helps control recoil motion. I haven't seen where accuracy suffers badly going from bipod to Farley & back. But then, I'm used to shooting off bipods. I like them.

I believe a bipod could be designed to enhance accuracy over a rest. This because it's attached. Unfortunately, bipods aren't allowed for 1K events such as Williamsport. So such an effort in design would hardly be rewarded. In my view, it's Nascar type rules like these that inhibit shooting innovation, and any real world contribution to shooting.
Off my box now...

 

[chino1969]

mikecr,
Keep those A.P.R.M.'s cal'ed and keep those terminals from shorting and giving the unit a half scram. We are probably into the shooting sports for the same reasons; stress relief from our day jobs.
Regards,
Chino69

 

[mikecr]

Yes, I should chill out:crazy:

 

[Silverfox]

mikeinct--When I am working up a load for a new bullet or trying a new powder, I usually use a mechanical front rest and rabbit ear bag in the back. Like you, I have some rifles with stocks that just don't fit my front rest well at all, but I still use the mechanical rest for beginning load development.

Once I have settled on a couple of powder weights that seem to work well off the mechanical front rest, I put my Harris Model S-L 9" to 13" swivel bipod back on my rifle and shoot more test rounds to help me make my final selection for a load. I do use a piece of carpet under the legs on the bipod and still use the rabbit ear rear sand bag off the concrete bench for my final tuning in of loads and final scope adjustments.

Since I do almost all of my shooting in the prone postition off the bipod I like to make those final scope adjustment while shooting off the bipod instead of the mechanical rest. Once in a great while I will be in a spot where I can't use the bipod and then I use my home-made shooting sticks. Anyway, I don't find that there's a big difference in the point of impact when I move from the mechanical front rest to my bipod. If anything, I get smaller groups shooting off the bipod, especially if the forearm of the stock doesn't ride well on the front rest.

 

[harvey13118]

I like others build loads from the bench then switch to bi-pods. I carry 3,,in the car), but have found I use the tall harris the most. When I walk the field it is always the tall harris mounted.

I prefer the short stiff bi. But the grass is usually to tall so most shots are sitting. I prefer prone or semi-prone for all long 200+ shots but will take what I can get for a rest, fencepost, treelimb, haywagon and once off the top of the car. Best shot this season, with this rifle, is 320 yds, off haywagon.

One good thing around here. Woodchucks are and usually have been stalked at short range. Picking long shots is difficult because of terrain but the chucks do not act as spooked.

Bottom line I'm not shooting a BR rifle. I can usually cover 10 rds with a quarter and do not see "much" difference between bags and bi with my limited ability.

22-250 700VLS, jewell, bedded, floated, 8.5X25X50 leupold, 40Vmax@4110fps

 

[mikeinct]

I made arrangements with the guy at my local gunstore..he's going to let me borrow a short harris to test on a benchrest w rabbit earred bag..Thanks for the carpet tip...I'll be sure to drag along a sample..Something just keeps nagging at me that the gun is twisting..I think that bipod rest may fix that..These are not benchrest rifles..The stocks wont ride the bags..Any edge I can contrive will show up fairly easy..

 

[M700]

Two articles right here on 6mmBR.com that deal with accurate shooting from the bipod:

Froggy has shot some incredible groups from the bipod:

http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

Also you'll find some good 'pod shooting stuff from the article on Ric's great 7mm WSM long-range hunting rifle, here on 6mmBR.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek064.html

Regards, Guy

 

[mikeinct]

Thank-you all for your replies..I got to test drive the problem gun [22-250] with the borrowed short Bi-pod...I used the carpet & tried my best to keep some pressure on the legs using consistant push of the shoulder & a decent rear bag set up...I had one great 3 shot group but I could not best myself against a bag set up on a very solid front rest...3 groups below..show some of my efforts..I may consider one of these short bipods if they go on sale price but for now I think I'll keep shooting from my Caldwell rock front rest for load testing...mike in ct..image 39 vs 40 grain bullet was shot from bags & front rest testing new powder in the 20 Tac gun..

 

[steveyrock]

I use a bi pod for live varmint hunting with the .224s and I threw sand bags on the hood of the truck when I had my 243 Ackley but even shot that with a bi pod at times but could never see the hit.

I do all load development and target shooting with a Hart rest and a good rear bag.

Hey Mike,whats the trigger pull weight on that 20?

 

[wolf]

have three just bought a long one all harris never had a single problem with any of them think they are one of the best bits of kit you can have on a walking varmint and deer rifle.

 

[JCummings]

There is another method you can use to tighten up groups: a sling. Coming from a highpower background I naturally tried using a sling with a tripod to steady things. It worked great. Of course it helps to have experience shooting prone with a sling. The combination of a bipod and a sling makes for a rock steady position

 

[beartrack]

A good front rest is always going to be more accurate, that's why competition shooters use them. There is a question as to how much more? There are so many variables, I'm not sure anyone can say.

Obviously, free recoil and pod just doesn't work, but there are many other issues. If there is a lot of weight out front,over 26" barrel and 1" diameters) unless your stock is extremely stiff, there is going to be flex. In fact, w/ many stocks, even ligher barrels have way to much flex in them to shoot well from a pod.

Having said that, I have encore rifle: Trigger job done 2 1/2#,,but still has a hint of creep) and the barrel is free floated except for the stock screws through aluminum pillars replacing the factory synthetic ones in the forearm. The encore has a slow lock time and the lock up isn't known for being the most accurate gun in the world. It has a factory .204 barrel 26" SS. I only shoot 3 shot groups, but shoot them in groups of 3. 4.5x14 Nikon on top. Some recent testing from a 2 weeks ago:

1st set w/ front rest & naked 32 VMax: .446, .442, .329
2nd set w/ pod & naked 32 VMax: .638, .448, .350
3rd set w/ pod & molly 32 VMax: .378, .365, .268

Now, 9 groups are definitive evidence, but there is the suggestion on this gun that the pod makes less difference than the molly.

 

[lbenson]

Not trying to highjack some elses thread,but Mikecr mentioned "pod paws'Are these different than the normal Harris rubber feet? If not, what are they,what do yhey look like and where can they be found?

 

[mikecr]

A good front rest is always going to be more accurate, that's why competition shooters use them.

I don't believe this. For one thing, many competition shooters use sandbag rests because it is REQUIRED by the rules.
If we were allowed to attach a rest to ours stocks, then a competitive bipod might develop. Possibly one which offers advantages over sandbags,which are not exactly hi-tech).
Imagine if sand wasn't required..Alot would change in a hurry.

It looks like PodPaws are no longer made or sold. Too bad. I really like mine. Should have bought more.

 

[Varminator]

This is to both Mikes,
Rules can be frustrating, I have not shot in competion for many years because of the frustration I encountered when sanctioned by the good ol' boys and the rules could be bent their way. Enough said.
I shoot almost exclusivly from Bi-pods of one sort or another. When I used to hunt varmints daily after work. I used to carry two rear bags in a day pack with walnut tumbling media fill for reduced weight. One of the bags were used for a "rock" front rest and was only partially filled, the other was filled so as to act as a rear bag with the Bi-pod. I've since found I may loose one bag if I just squeeze the rear bag more when used in the rear.
I don't think a Bi-pod as we see them today can shoot as well as the machine rest and the solid hard/heavy sand rear bag that most benchers use, I own both but have found that I can still shoot good enough to test loads without having to carry the cast iron machine around. The Bi-pod will force you to concentrate more on what you are doing and it interjects yet another varible, i.e. your own built in competition with yourself and I believe makes you a better machine rest shooter.