Jeffvn said:
Phil3 what kind of shooting are you planning to do from the bipod? I ask, because some of the responses above presume that you are going to be shooting F-Class or competition shooting where shooting from a front rest may be of some benefit. Conversely, if you are looking for tactical or hunting techniques, the front rest conversation is not as beneficial.
To specifically answer your question, a "hard hold" (at least to me) means you are affirmatively putting forward pressure into the stock of the rifle with your shoulder, combined with some small level of pull back into your shoulder with one or both of your hands. (I am presuming that you are using a correct position behind the rifle).
I believe the grip he is talking about is a standard grip on the stock that looks something akin to a handshake with the stock when looking at it from above and behind the grip (assuming something that looks like a McMillan HTG or similar hunting stock). Your thumb is on top or or wrapped over the stock and your fingers wrap around under the stock. (as compared with a pinch grip where the shooter never really grabs the stock at all but places his index finger tip on the trigger and the thumb on the rear of the trigger guard and pinches the trigger and trigger guard between the finger tip and the thumb).
I shoot right-handed. For me, I push forward into the stock with body / right shoulder, and simultaneously pull the stock into my shoulder with the bottom three fingers of my right hand. The pressure with the hand is slight, as I am using my right index finger on the trigger (trying to pull hard with 3 of your 4 fingers and still keep your trigger finger loose - not easy to do. Even if possible its not something you can maintain for any length of time without having muscle fatigue issues). The key is to get a stable secure position.
When using a Harris Bipod (not my first choice of bipods), I try to push forward enough on the bipod to "preload/load" (exert forward pressure) the bipod. If you shoot from a bench on the bare smooth concrete, the harris will slide forward slightly when you apply the pressure with your shoulder. I have shot everything that I own and load for from a Harris bi-pod (6.47 Lapua, 7 WSM, 7 Dakota, .308, 30-06 AI, 338 LM Improved). The technique is the same for all of them. loading the bipod reduced hop dramatically, especailly if you can push into a small ridge that prevents the bipod from sliding forward under reasonable pressure. I don't use a Harris now, as I love my LRA (much more stable than a Harris - but also much more expensive).
Sorry for the rambling answer. I hope this helps as far as shooting from a bipod.
JeffVN
Thanks for the time spent penning this reply. Your very first question, "what kind of shooting are you planning to do from the bipod?" is a loaded one for me. I don't hunt, don't compete, and simply shoot paper targets off a bench at my local 100 yard range. My wants are a contradiction, and I realize I can't have it all. I want tiny groups, but also convenience, and like tactical style rifles. That says bipod and perhaps small rear bag, but I may loose out on accuracy. The accuracy may be maximized with a 20 - 30 lb. $800 front rest and rear bag filled with heavy sand, but hardly convenient, even if I am just lugging this stuff from the car to the bench.
At risk of offending some (if not many), I also want more shooter engagement with the gun when using it than offered with a heavy front rest and rear bag as seen in formal BR. Please, this is no offense to BR shooters! I had the opportunity to shoot a 65lb. unlimited gun in 300 Weatherby Mag on an 80 lb. two piece rest at 1000 yards, with switching winds and horrible mirage in the 103 degree heat. It was an absolute miracle I did not come in last in the competition. This kind of shooting is HARD. My 10 shot group was dinner plate size, far bigger than some other guys. But, I guess I want to drive the rifle more, hold onto it and not use the free recoil style. In some ways, it seems I might be needing whatever setup varmint shooters use.
No question I could use some tutoring on proper body position. Another shooter let me fire his Howa 308 and I thought it kicked pretty hard. He immediately told me to get more behind the rifle, and the recoil was much better. I have lots to learn...
The hard hold grip as described is what I do all the time. And I do preload the bipod but it slides on the bench wood surface, so used a range sandbag in front of the bipod legs. The AR-15 can shoot 1/2 MOA groups this way, most of the time, with sub .75 MOA almost always on my first low power handloads. But after the shot, the 12.8 lb. AR-15 is way off POA. Given the rear is in a heavy sand bag, the front must be jumping all over. It never feels very planted.
In response to some other questions asked.
- I am shooting an AR-15. Barrel is a Krieger chambered in minimum spec 223 Remington. Also will be shooting a Howa 223 bolt action, and later on, a 6mmBR with custom barrel.
- My AR-15 has shot 3 overlapping holes as well at 100 yards. Maybe it is doing bipod shooting better than I expected.
- I did shoot the rifle off a mechanical rest, but the bag was a cobbled together temporary arrangement for my AR round handguard and was shooting Blackhills ammo, which it never did like. The AR's performance was not good that day.
Phil
