Bipod Position - is it Pivitol :-)

[Steyr]

Asked the Q on another forum but nobody can tell me if the combined affect of the rifles recoil and harmonics,and any other factors that may apply) are effected by the position of the bipod on the forend of the rifle stock.

I appreciate this will be in front of the balance point, but is it a case the further forward the better or is there a sweet spot somewhere between the front of the rifle and back towards the trigger.

Does the point at which the bipod attaches affect the recoil only or harmonics or both !!!

Anyone investigated this feature. I have not seen posts on the subject before now and usually, it is the manufacturer that dictates where this position is.

Thanks

SI

 

[12man]

I shoot predominately off a Harris bipod,and do notice a little POI shift when the bipod is taken off and shot off sandbags or a different rest. Could be the weight of the bipod up front, the bipod bouncing on recoil, harmonica of the barrel or maybe even the stock flexing a little not for sure. Don't have a solid rest like Bench shooters use would be nice, my uses dictate bipod or shooting sticks in the field and bipod what little time I spend at the range. Do get to make up for it shooting in the field Alot.

 

[Shootndig]

I can't speak to the effects of a benchrest style front rest, there are plenty here that can. I would suspect that they are consistant enough that the effects are negligible. A harris style hunting bipod is a whole nother can of worms.
Personally, I believe the POI shift is mostly due to the motion of the recoil, and on a free floated barrel would only be minimally affected by harmonics.
Because of the folding design of most bipods, on recoil the rifle will move rearward, causing the bipod to begin the same motion that it goes through to fold the legs. This will induce a vertical motion on the rifle, provided you are set up horizontally to begin with, and both legs are on the same material. Put one higher or lower, or on a soft spot or a rock, and something else altogether will take place. The effect seems to be more pronounced on a hard surface like concrete, rock, pickup hoods, and the rifle will literally bounce on recoil. fortunatly the impact change in the field is usually not critical, and is offset by the steadier hold. I definitly notice it on paper though. A consistant hold on the rifle and careful and consistant bipod foot placement is key.
To some extent you get the same recoil induced POI shift by moving bags forward or back ward under the forearm, though it's much less noticable.
If there are harmonics involved, I would guess it is only to the extent that the recoil bounce gets transferred to the barrel via barrel channel contact. Some limber stocks will do this on recoil whether shot off a bipod or even bags. Just my experience...FWIW.

 

[Steve]

depending on what you shoot.
in the old timey stuff people take a little brass hammer and ping the barrel till they hear a flat sound, working from the breech to the muzzle, that is where they place their shooting sticks.
but this is usually on those old long barreled black powder rifles or sharps.
as for modern tacticle rifles I think it probably doesn't matter as much since the bipod is attached to the stock and the barrel is free floated and action is bedded.
Some folks though will have a impact change when shooting from standing position then going prone or sitting with either shooting off sticks or bipod or just slung, I think that has more to do with the way the rifle recoils in those various positions, but some of the top shooters do not have a impct change. I think that is due on how the shooter really gets locked in no matter what the shooting position they both move under recoil the same.

just my 2 cents though.