Bipod Positioning

[DumpHollow]

There is no I right way or wrong way. There is only the best that works for you and you equipment setup. I shot F-TR for three seasons with a 308 rifle and ski bipod. Hard hold, strong cheek weld and the skis free on carpet. In the past, I’ve tried bipods with rubber feet and they did not work out for me. One of the top F-TR shooters that I know, preloads hard and uses a bean filled sock at the butt.
Change anything about the bipod/rifle setup and you have to find you sweet spot again. The worst system for me was the rubber footed vertical Harris type geometry. I tested my F-TR rifle off of cement benches the same as the prone configuration.
There is no right answer, just the best method for you.

 

[Evan]

I clamp a wood board to the front edge of the bench and load the bipod. With consistent form behind the rifle, I come right back on target after recoil and can frequently spot my shots, even with a 9 lb 30-06 hunting rifle. The rifle doesn’t bounce, hop, drag, or move on the bench at all. You need a sturdy bipod to do this.

If whatever you are doing results in having to reset the rifle after every shot, you will not be able to consistently shoot small.

 

[Oso]

There is the old advice of “Bags for benches, Bipod for prone”

There is some truth to this saying. The challenge of using bipods on benches centers around ability to get the feet to get traction so that bipod is stable during recoil. A bipod sitting on top of a bench has tendency to bounce. Depending on size of cartridge, weight of rifle, and muzzle device, this can be comical when viewed from the adjacent bench.

The surface construction of the bench and the type of feet on bipod affect ability to load the bipod on a bench. Wood surfaces, carpeting, and front stop board all improve the ability to load the bipod. Then just a matter of shooter learning the right amount of downward pressure while pushing squarely from behind.

 

[dusterdave173]

My experience while looking for a rock stable bipod
Mount almost Any bipod set rifle in a bag and you can rock the rifle forward and backward some while it sits on the bench--harris style are the Worst and that is where all the "load you bipod" comes from IMO to get rid of the Slop
Even the high $$ units have for and aft rock
Then..I discovered the Mystic Bipod made by EGW in PA--mount it up --Zero play--zero rock back and forth!
It has ski feet--Now I shoot ARA with a CZ 22 off concrete benches--I tried a towel, carpet scraps and then thin yoga mat--the towel and carpet slips and slides--the yoga mat would induce preload like mentioned in previous posts--move it a tad and you induced a preload--not good!
Then I discovered $6 silicone pot holder squares on Amazon--the silicone grips the bench tight--it has enough friction to keep feet from sliding but never induces and preload as I move the bipod--lots of pals are using them now with ski feet bipods
On the bench it is Rock Solid --zero fore and aft movement--NO need to "load " the bipod
It works Wonders! I am using that bipod on my 6BR and PD rifles that are pretty heavy--again works like a dream

No more worry about bipod screwing up a shot

 

[Oso]

Agree - my brother’s bipod has a wider stance with ski feet. It doesn’t bounce on bench top… just slides. He doesn’t have to worry about loading downward pressure on the legs.

Even worse than Harris is the polymer bipods. Too much downward pressure can flex the legs. Don’t get me wrong Harris and Magpul bipods will do on a field rifle shooting minute of coyote/deer. They just aren’t rigid enough for consistent small groups.