Front rest location

[UndFrm]

For long distance shooting while using a front rest, does it matter at which point you rest the forend on the rest?

For example, in the attached pic, there's an extension to extend the forend as front forward as possible, for the bipod attachment point. Is it always the case, farther forward the better?

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Over a shooting career, you will try many techniques and products to attempt a higher score or consistency. Sometimes they work for you, more often they don't - but hopefully, you learn something.

As for the distance to the rest, you certainly don't want to be too close to the rear bag - and this sure looks exessive - but if the shooter is achieving a stable platform, so be it. - if it doesn't - be ready for some banter in the club room.

 

[Albany Mountain]

For long distance shooting while using a front rest, does it matter at which point you rest the forend on the rest?

For example, in the attached pic, there's an extension to extend the forend as front forward as possible, for the bipod attachment point. Is it always the case, farther forward the better?

I would beware of this setup totally. At our range, you must be back behind the line with the rifle and have the muzzle over the front of the line. You can not accomplish this using this setup.

 

[coldboreshot]

I would beware of this setup totally. At our range, you must be back behind the line with the rifle and have the muzzle over the front of the line. You can not accomplish this using this setup.

I think this speaks for any range and/or rifle matches.

 

[Rank Amateur]

To OP, yes it matters, but not more than technique. The longer the base (bipod to rear bag) the more stable. Also, the less vertical error introduced by small movements behind the trigger due simply to long lever arm. Many “precision” rifles offer “spigot” mounts or extensions off the fore arm to move bipod positioning further forward for this reason (although what you picture is pretty extreme). Will not cure bipod bounce or other shooting errors if your setup/positioning/technique have flaws. Good luck!

 

[Krogen]

Other than range rule considerations noted above, it seems a super long extension would tend to bounce. I suppose it could be made stiff enough, but then weight may be a problem. I don't know for sure. This is all "seat of the pants." The picture isn't very clear, but it seems there's little cross section just forward of the attachment point. I bet it flexes there.

 

[Varminterror]

Bipod extenders are very common in ELR competition. The idea, of course, being Archimedes' Principle that the longer lever arm will dampen displacement of the muzzle by input force on the stock. They're not decisively or definitively the "winning gear," but a lot of folks at the top of that game are using them.

Some chassis' designed for ELR competition are designed with bipod extenders integral to the design, like the Orca:



Pretty obvious are the potential issues which have to be managed in the design and operation:

--> They have to be sufficiently rigid to not create a bouncy diving board
--> Because they remove weight from the bipod feet which was promoted by the torque of the muzzle weight hanging out in front of the bipod, the rifle loses some "down muzzle" torque during recoil, so it's critical that the apex of support of the bipod has to be above the barrel so recoil doesn't create torque around the rear support to lift the muzzle
--> Brake design has to be considered to prevent blast damage to the spigot
--> Firing line footprint is longer
--> Access to adjust the bipod is farther away

But watching targets in the scope behind an extended bipod, yes, you can tell that the reticle moves less across target as you manipulate the rifle, and movement on target during recoil is generally "slower" and "less," it feels a little trippy at first as it's just easier to watch the target, and the rifle seems actively on target, but less reactive to adjustment.