How to shoot with a bipod?

[1911nut]

i want try shooting a rifle with a bipod.

I read here about “ loading “ the bipod, I’m guessing that means pushing or pulling the rifle to take the slack-play out of the bipod.

Any suggestions from bipod shooters is appreciated.

The gun is a 40X in a McRee chassis with a Sinclair tactical bipod.

 

[BP1]

Look up some videos of Jacob Bynum from Rifles Only one of the best there is.

 

[1911nut]

I saw a YouTube of Bynum selling videos, it looked like they had the bipod loaded/ push forward.

Anybody shoots off a bipod real good can instruct?

“ if me and the boys wanted mucilage, we woulda ordered mucilage”

 

[BP1]

I saw a YouTube of Bynum selling videos, it looked like they had the bipod loaded/ push forward.

Anybody shoots off a bipod real good can instruct?

“ if me and the boys wanted mucilage, we woulda ordered mucilage”

I have those videos if you want to watch them pm me your mailing information and I will mail them to you as long as I get them back. I have shot with Jacob he can shoot off of anything with extreme accuracy.

 

[1911nut]

BP1,
Thank you for the very generous offer. This was my first effort to get some very basic ideas. I’ll see what I find and may take you up on the video loan. I put the rifle together yesterday and never shot off a short bipod. lots of group shooting off a benchrest.

I’m hoping to get the gun out this week.

 

[creedfan]

http://www.accurateshooter.com/shooting-skills/bugholes-from-bipod/

 

[Drop Port]

Get a good instructional video by a reputable belly shooter. I shoot 80% bipod these days and started as a three position shooter. I have instructed prone in the past and would suggest you worry more about body position to start and later you can determine if your setup likes a pre-load on the pod, some do some don't, some like a little and some like more. Without watching your form the only advice I can give from here is natural position behind the gun without torquing it, set the gun on target and come in behind it don't muscle the gun on target. You will see some shoot "off the gun" on an angle and others shoot on or directly behind. I shoot directly behind military style. One purpose is less visible to counter snipers but civilian benefit is gun recoils straight back and stays on target better for me.
Happy shooting, with good technique and practice it can be very effective and rewarding.

 

[alinwa]

I build hunting rifles designed to be shot off a Harris Bipod. I think the single biggest issue is setting the bipod on too solid a surface..... Bring a cake pan full of sand with a couple towels on top. Shoot off a couple gunny sacks or layers of towels.... then compare to setting the legs right on the bench.

And I 'YUGEly disagree with "loading the 'pod".... neutral, consistent, absolutely NO LOAD because the bullet's in the bore for a quarter inch of recoil and F O L L O W T H R O U G H . . . . . . all the way to the target

"Getting behind the gun" properly is also friggin huge BUT..... since I think this is a follow-thru issue I think anything you can do THE SAME, will work.

my opinion,

worth what ya' paid for it

 

[Ned Ludd]

I shoot F-TR competition and do all my load development shooting from a pre-loaded bipod. In fact, I load it HEAVY. I always have, so it's second nature for me at this point. Shooting from a loaded bipod with good precision is really not difficult. The key is to apply consistent pressure when loading. That is no different than keeping the rifle tracking straight when using a ski-type bipod. Each approach has its own special considerations.

1911nut - Just try it. Try using different amounts of pressure, find out exactly what it takes for you to minimize rifle hop, but still shoot consistently. I like to pull the rifle into my shoulder slightly with my right hand, while pushing forward on the buttstock with my shoulder using my toes and stomach. I adjust elevation squeezing a rear bean bag with my left hand. I prefer to be as straight as possible behind the rifle. However, I find that if the rifle muzzle hops laterally to one side or the other under recoil, angling my lower body/feet ever so slightly in the direction of the hop usually minimizes it. I believe that angling the lower body slightly works by changing the angle of the shoulder pocket. Like everything else, you will need to find what works best for you, but it's really not too hard to pick it up, and experiment a bit to optimize it.

 

[alinwa]

I just thought of something that's probably quite important...... the amount of recoil. All the stuff I build to be fired from a bipod is for 338's pushing 6 tons of energy. You CANNOT suck up the recoil, it will break you. Therefore you absolutely must let it come back until the brake grabs the gun back. It's kinda' like shooting the BMG, the harder you load, the harder it bites. And the worse it shoots.

If I were shooting a little 308-sized case (6.5X47L, Creedmoor, 243/BR, 22-250 etc etc) or even a 270/30-06 type thing.....then loading it or unloading it wouldn't matter.

Because of this, my opinion re "loading" is probably moot.

 

[Sniper338]

Depends on the bipod type... a bipod qith skis are made to allow the rifle to slide back through the rear bag and into your shoulder, these you dont load up at all.

Cheaper adjustable bipods, well Ive broke every one Ive had.

Some guns shoot better loading up or a hard grip, others like to be free. You juat gotta figure out what she likes best. Theres no one way.

 

[BP1]

1911nut you’re more than welcome to borrow them anytime.

 

[1911nut]

Thanks to all.

I’ve got something to start with, now I just have to get some trigger time.

 

[Bojo]

Not the target type if report here. I don't even know the amount of shots I have fired.( I use Harris ) I recently just started the benchrest thing. In a woodchuck field the bipod is king. That being said if I leaned into my rifle to hard in a chuck field it would really mess up my vertical. Do it the same every time once you figure it out. I would do my sight in and development on a bench with a bipod and then lay down or sit in a field , not the best idea. Now all my figures are done laying or sitting during development.

 

[mikecr]

I shoot off Harris bipods exactly as I do sandbag rests. Free recoil.
The bipod needs to be on soft terrain, as it would be in the field, and load development completed in this condition.

 

[FeMan]

I shoot almost exclusively off of bipods. As mentioned above, my experience is that each rifle tends to like to be addressed differently. One of the first things I do after load development is to do bipod testing. Some rifles shoot best with free recoil. Others like some shoulder. The most "loading" I do is to load the butt plate enough to hold the rear of the rifle off the bag. In that case the bag is used to steady rather than support the rifle. A general rule is that my lighter calibers (204, 223, 6mm) prefer free recoil. My heavier calibers (284, 300 wsm, 30 Nosler) shoot better with the loading described above. I have found that for me, shooting surface, bipod height, rifle weight, stock design, and caliber all make a difference.

 

[coldboreshot]

I saw a mention here regarding Fclass. When it comes to technique such as "preloading", it depends on the discipline you intend. F/TR for example, does not permit "preloading" such as a static obstruction in front of the bipod in which to brace against. It is to be uninhibited.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I saw a mention here regarding Fclass. When it comes to technique such as "preloading", it depends on the discipline you intend. F/TR for example, does not permit "preloading" such as a static obstruction in front of the bipod in which to brace against. It is to be uninhibited.

You are correct if referring to something like a shooting mat with a small dowel rod sewn in or cloth seams/hooks specifically designed for the bipod feet to be placed against and braced. However, most shooting mats have a nice flat rubber section for the feet in the front. Alternatively, a flat concrete pad, or even just the ground, is more sufficient to pre-load a bipod with grippy rubber feet. And I can assure you that doing that is completely legal in F-TR.

 

[Delfuego]

You guys are making mountain out of a molehill. You load into the bipod to prevent it from hopping. If the bipod doesn't hop, you see your impact and you stay consistent. If you shoot off your belly dig your bipod feet into the ground. If you shoot off a bench while seated, you might get some hop. If you load too much, you might slide forward, or have difficulty repeating the same pressure each time.

It's just practice (like everything).Make sure you're behind the rifle, make sure you're square, make sure your comfortable (super important!), make sure the butt is correctly in the pocket of your shoulder, and practice, practice, practice.

You'll do fine!

 

[C. Collins]

i want try shooting a rifle with a bipod.

I read here about “ loading “ the bipod, I’m guessing that means pushing or pulling the rifle to take the slack-play out of the bipod.

Any suggestions from bipod shooters is appreciated.

The gun is a 40X in a McRee chassis with a Sinclair tactical bipod.

It depends on the type of bipod, and the caliber/load.