Do I "load" new bi-pod?

[4xforfun]

Won an Accu-tec bipod. I shoot some off of a regular Harris and do know that things shoot better when you pre-load the bi-pod. With this new unit, with the legs forward at 45 degrees, do I still try and load the legs?

Thanks,
Tod

 

[Dgd6mm]

I don't preload anything and haven't in years. Back when K&M was in the panhandle of Florida Shannon Kay was giving a free train up day on Friday before the first 1 day shoot that was held at the facility. Now named Altus. He told us not to preload because many situations will not allow it, such as shooting off a highly waxed vehicle hood or similar situations. So I don't and it works for me in every type of bipod I use.

 

[ballisticxlr]

Most people over load their bipod. As a rule of thumb, only enough load should be placed on the bipod to keep the stock on your shoulder if you were to take your hands off the gun. With really hard kicking guns I recommend loading it just enough to help control the recoil. As you put more load into it you'll often change POI as you put a bending load into the front end of the stock and change harmonics. As far as using the 45deg forward setting, I prefer that position only for high angle shots like shooting downward off a cliff and it's being done so that the feet are planted straight into the ground perpendicular to level instead of being at an angle very much different to 90deg from level. This keeps the forces pointing straight back as much as possible instead of applying a bending load to the fore end. Others may have their own opinions and they're free to justify them or not. My advice is based on minimizing bending loads applied to the fore end. Minimum biological input and minimum bending loads is my goal. Seems to be very consistent in not giving me random POI deltas.

 

[std7mag]

Kinda akin to what scope to get, or which caliber.
Different people use bipods differently.

My preference is heavy loading.
But that's just me.

 

[JEFFPPC]

One summer I was determined to learn how to shoot off a bipod. I shot some very small 100 yd groups loading the bipod. But, I shot much more consistent not loading. I think it is something you will need to figure out for yourself. I have killed both mule deer and whitetails 400 to over 600 yds all not loading the bipod and pretty much hit right at my aiming point so that is how I do it.

 

[Mauser06]

Try a few different holds and see what responds the best.


I have rubber feet and spiked cleats for my Atlas. If I were to come upto a waxed car hood, I'd run the rubber feet. I can still get a solid load on it. If I'm on the ground or wood, I dig the spikes in.


I shoot with a solid load. But consistency is what matters. The rifle will recoil differently when loaded vs not which can change POI.

See what works for your situation and do it that way every shot.

 

[FeMan]

My go-to hold is as ballisticxlr describes. I shoot a LOT off a bipod and rear bag. Each rifle likes different treatment though. The amount of shoulder pressure matters less for the lighter caliber rifles (Dasher, 6.5x47, 6.5 CM) and matters more for the heavier ones (6.5 SAUM, 284, 30-28). The one exception if my Dasher - if I load the bipod on that one it shoots poorly. It weighs 18 lbs and likes free recoil. Go figure......

 

[ballisticxlr]

Kinda akin to what scope to get, or which caliber.
Different people use bipods differently.

My preference is heavy loading.
But that's just me.

I'd suggest that this is a preference which depends for its usefulness on both the recoil severity and your ability to consistently apply the same amount of bending load to the fore end. It is not possible to use the mk.1 shoulder to accurately sense the difference between 2lbs of forward load and 4lbs of forward load nor is it realistically possible to continuously control that pressure during the firing cycle as your brain transitions from building your position to focusing on your sight picture and dynamically correcting your wind hold while consciously engaging the fire control system in a controlled manner. Brains don't symmetrically multi-process well.

Try a few different holds and see what responds the best.

This is exactly the reason that I practice and teach minimum biological input. It's been pretty well analyzed already but even without anyone going out themself and doing controlled experiments it follows from simple logic and the fact stated above that human beings lack internal instrumentation of sufficient accuracy and symmetric multi-processing capabilities sufficient to deal with loading bipods both heavily and consistently.

Everyone is free to make up their own mind and do what they see fit to but if we're to make logical and fact based decisions then it's pretty easy to see that the difference between 1 and 2 lbs of loading force in the case of minimum load effort is a much smaller difference than the difference between 10lbs and 15lbs as in high loading pressure technique. Load enough to maintain positive control of the rifle including preventing bipod hop and no more (minimum biological input) is taught by huge numbers of instructors for a reason. I've never encountered one that said to load heavily and that admonishment has been explicitly extended by quite a number of other instructors that I've worked with to include boomers like .338Lap and .50BMG.

ETA: The one case where I do teach people to load much at all is with light weight and hard kicking guns like pencil barrel hunting rifles.

 

[eric32]

Don't load the bipod I shoot the accutac over the atlas just cause I like the weight and the over built leg give me something to hold on to. Plus the springs in the feets deploy much easier and adjustment are easy as well.

Just make sure your not laying on top of your rifle and it doesnt get a running start.

 

[drop_point]

I want to load my bipod just enough that if I let my grip go, it remains in place. If you over-load the bipod, you can get skidding and thrown shots. Increasingly it isn't uncommon to see guys shooting light recoiling 6mm cartridges in heavy guns and free-recoiling these days. I do believe the days of heavy loads are over. I still believe loading a bipod is more consistent in field positions.

 

[eric32]

During field conditions you can't count on the same load every time. Grass, Rocks, Mud and Sand all react different to loads imparted by the bipod.

 

[drop_point]

You can always load it to keep it in your pocket, every time. How much pressure or the type of feet needed may be different, but you can load to keep it pocketed.

 

[std7mag]

I'd suggest that this is a preference which depends for its usefulness on both the recoil severity and your ability to consistently apply the same amount of bending load to the fore end. It is not possible to use the mk.1 shoulder to accurately sense the difference between 2lbs of forward load and 4lbs of forward load nor is it realistically possible to continuously control that pressure during the firing cycle as your brain transitions from building your position to focusing on your sight picture and dynamically correcting your wind hold while consciously engaging the fire control system in a controlled manner. Brains don't symmetrically multi-process well.


This is exactly the reason that I practice and teach minimum biological input. It's been pretty well analyzed already but even without anyone going out themself and doing controlled experiments it follows from simple logic and the fact stated above that human beings lack internal instrumentation of sufficient accuracy and symmetric multi-processing capabilities sufficient to deal with loading bipods both heavily and consistently.

Everyone is free to make up their own mind and do what they see fit to but if we're to make logical and fact based decisions then it's pretty easy to see that the difference between 1 and 2 lbs of loading force in the case of minimum load effort is a much smaller difference than the difference between 10lbs and 15lbs as in high loading pressure technique. Load enough to maintain positive control of the rifle including preventing bipod hop and no more (minimum biological input) is taught by huge numbers of instructors for a reason. I've never encountered one that said to load heavily and that admonishment has been explicitly extended by quite a number of other instructors that I've worked with to include boomers like .338Lap and .50BMG.

ETA: The one case where I do teach people to load much at all is with light weight and hard kicking guns like pencil barrel hunting rifles.

I'd have to agree with where your going.
My situation is a Stevens 200 rebarreled with a 24" sporter in 250Savage.
Perhaps it's the factory Tupperware stock, but recoil feels harsher than a Mossberg Patriot in 308 Win.
Using a simulated (knock off) Atlas bipod with spiked feet, i can get a good loading on the bipod on a wood bench or prone. Groups as such are approx 3/4" at 200 meters for 5 shots.

At a match, with concrete bench & the rubber feet, best i could do was grapefruit sized groups at 200 yards. Feet just couldn't get a purchase to load the bipod how my rifle liked.

 

[DGP4]

Won an Accu-tec bipod. I shoot some off of a regular Harris and do know that things shoot better when you pre-load the bi-pod. With this new unit, with the legs forward at 45 degrees, do I still try and load the legs?

Thanks,
Tod

I think that you only set the legs at 45 degrees when you are shooting off a berm so you can load the bipod with your shoulder pressing into the stock. You may want to watch this video:

Accu-tec bipod - Search Videos

www.bing.com

 

[4xforfun]

I think that you only set the legs at 45 degrees when you are shooting off a berm so you can load the bipod with your shoulder pressing into the stock. You may want to watch this video:

Accu-tec bipod - Search Videos

www.bing.com

This will mostly be for shooting out of my shack where everything short of 900 yards is down hill. Need as low as I can get. Even with the short Harris i need to build a fairly high rear rest.

Thanks,
Tod

 

[JEFFPPC]

This will mostly be for shooting out of my shack where everything short of 900 yards is down hill. Need as low as I can get. Even with the short Harris i need to build a fairly high rear rest.

Thanks,
Tod

If your shooting out of a shack why are you shooting off any bipod? I sure do not. Sandbags of some type front and rear.

 

[ballisticxlr]

One thing I have found is interestingly useful has been, with both spikes and claws in place on my Accu-Tac bipods, to set the legs to the 45deg rearward position when I'm on a surface that's strong enough for this to work but soft enough to get good bite with the claws and feet. What happens is the recoil is largely negated by the spikes but I can still get a proper loading thanks to the claws. Doesn't work everywhere by any stretch but made some of my harder kicking guns a lot more pleasant during protracted shooting sessions like in load development.