F-TR with Atlas Bipod

[girish]

I'm new to shooting F-TR at local matches. I have an Atlas bipod with rubber feet. I know almost everyone uses ski feet bipods, but I'm interested in using the Atlas as is for now. I'm wondering though about the bipod leg position. What effect does putting the legs forward at 45 degrees have? Does gravity then do the preloading automatically? With the legs forward, does the recoil impulse cause the muzzle to move up or down or straight back?

The firing positions are on a flat concrete pad. Would it be preferable to have the bipod feet resting directly on the concrete or on the padded shooting mat or on the flat fabric at the front of the mat that is used to wrap the mat when rolled up?

Thanks.

 

[Precisionhunter417]

I used an atlas PSR BT7 LW17 (non swivel legs) for my first match. I did OK. I purchased a Sinclair from Brownells the following week.

 

[davidjoe]

I watched a rubber footed bipod rifle shoot recently in a match on concrete. The shooter didn’t use a towel or even cardboard between the bipod and the concrete. The rifle tends to back itself up, and the shooter, during the string, from recoil. Like two little tire marks on the concrete, the feet showed probably 3 inches of movement over the string.

Many bipod legs are pinned so that you can preload them without the feet rotating so as to defeat the effort. So when the rifle moves backward a bit at a time, the shooter must pick everything up to reposition it, eventually. The is the only type of front support in F-Class where “free recoi” is guaranteed to substantially worsen your group size.

Aside from that, there is otherwise not much of a penalty if any, in terms of accuracy with folding leg bipods, as long as you hold the gun the same way each shot. Preload is similar to shooting a heavier gun, from the perspective of the muzzle. Because they fight preload, whereas ski feet bipods slide forward after “breaking” at consistent resistance, the shooter must exercise some additional effort to keep the gun moving consistently shot to shot.

I would personally always put a folded towel under one. The effect of a gun bouncing on concrete after a shot, and what that does in the long-term to a scope, rifle bedding, action screw threads and so forth is too disconcerting to let it happen.

 

[girish]

I watched a rubber footed bipod rifle shoot recently in a match on concrete. The shooter didn’t use a towel or even cardboard between the bipod and the concrete. The rifle tends to back itself up, and the shooter, during the string, from recoil. Like two little tire marks on the concrete, the feet showed probably 3 inches of movement over the string.

Many bipod legs are pinned so that you can preload them without the feet rotating so as to defeat the effort. So when the rifle moves backward a bit at a time, the shooter must pick everything up to reposition it, eventually. The is the only type of front support in F-Class where “free recoi” is guaranteed to substantially worsen your group size.

Aside from that, there is otherwise not much of a penalty if any, in terms of accuracy with folding leg bipods, as long as you hold the gun the same way each shot. Preload is similar to shooting a heavier gun, from the perspective of the muzzle. Because they fight preload, whereas ski feet bipods slide forward after “breaking” at consistent resistance, the shooter must exercise some additional effort to keep the gun moving consistently shot to shot.

I would personally always put a folded towel under one. The effect of a gun bouncing on concrete after a shot, and what that does in the long-term to a scope, rifle bedding, action screw threads and so forth is too disconcerting to let it happen.

That's all great information. Thanks. Sounds best to place the bipod feet at the front of the mat which is padded, and maybe even add something extra to cushion it.

 

[JLT]

That's all great information. Thanks. Sounds best to place the bipod feet at the front of the mat which is padded, and maybe even add something extra to cushion it.

I don't shoot TR, but I have shot AR Tactical a few times with an Atlas BT-10. I set up as you describe above, and it seems to work for me. I don't add any extra padding - the mat is enough to control bouncing. I angle the legs forward, too.

 

[girish]

I don't shoot TR, but I have shot AR Tactical a few times with an Atlas BT-10. I set up as you describe above, and it seems to work for me. I don't add any extra padding - the mat is enough to control bouncing. I angle the legs forward, too.

That's kind of what I am wondering. With the legs forward, it seems that any preloading effort (if it doesn't slide forward) would tend to rock the barrel up due to gravity having already taken the play out of the bipod.

 

[Sandstorm]

You just need to get out there and shoot, to really see what works best for you and your style.
Im thinking in the long run you like many others will build a new rifle for said discipline as most do.
I know I got tired of getting beat up and built a few open class rifles and enjoy it more than the first season with a factory Tikka., although it was fun as well....so get out there and get some knowledge and gain some experience,
Its awesome fun and very addicting..

 

[drop_point]

It can be done, but isn't ideal. I used an Atlas at my first match in FTR and put up a very respectable score. I ran them at 90 degrees and used my shooting mat as a pad.

 

[Mitchk]

I’ve shot with a Harris bipod and a Sinclair bipod. I really like the Harris better. I’ve shot a 596/600 on a midrange match with a 223

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Go to your local equine supply store and buy a chunk of stall matting and put under your bipod!
1/4 - 3/8" thick is enough

 

[Laurie]

I would personally always put a folded towel under one. The effect of a gun bouncing on concrete after a shot, and what that does in the long-term to a scope, rifle bedding, action screw threads and so forth is too disconcerting to let it happen.

It's very easy to cross-shoot after such a bounce too. Always a good idea to check the target number anyway before taking the shot off the simpler bipods.