Will use of my Harris bipod raise the POI somewhat for my 308 rifle?

[Cassidy]

I seemed apparent to me so I inquired of some of my friends at my local rifle club who shared that use of my bipod can raise the point of impact for my Remington 700 XCR compact 308 rifle (or any rifle) about an inch or so at 100 yards target shooting. Is this the case? Have you had a similar experience?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its all in the stiffness of the forend and clearance around the barrel. Not sure what its an inch higher than but if you put a rest in the same spot and hold the back the same way i suspect theyd be the same.

 

[rijndael]

If you have the spring/notched legs, like the S-BRM, make sure you're shooting from at least the first notch. Don't use the fully collapsed position. It will lead to more POI shifts.

 

[6.5 forever]

It will not change the rifle POI. But it could change the way you shoot the rifle, meaning your shooting form could change the POI.

 

[K22]

I haven't used a bipod in quite a while but when I did, I distinctly remember that it shot to a different point of impact than off a bench with front and rear rests. It was not only a vertical but also horizontal change. However once resighted, it shot fairly consistent off the same surface.

I do remember also that different surfaces produced different points of impact. For example, it shot differently off a concrete bench versus prone off the ground.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Very comfortably free float the bbl. Even then you have smaller factors, like more shoulder pressure will slightly increase velocity over free recoil. I doubt you'll see much strictly vertical change but an overall tune change, which can be up, down or sideways.

 

[Gargoyle]

Yes, I experience a .5 MOA higher POI using a bipod vs shooting off bags. I used the loading the bipod method. Now I am ready to try the ski feet and free recoil method.

 

[lotech]

I prefer not to use any sort of rest attachment to a rifle's forearm. However, shooters that do will need to shoot with the attachment in place at varying distances and shoot enough groups to verify any POI difference after zeroing from a benchrest using bags, pedestal rest, etc., or bipod from a solid benchrest.

Everyone holds rifles a bit differently with different amounts of pressure here and there and this affects point of impact changes after a rifle has been properly zeroed from a benchrest. No standard answer as to how much, if any difference there will be. Level of skill and consistency of all factors will also affect the POI.

I use a standard original BogPod when hunting. I found when I first practiced using the BogPod point of impact varied somewhat from the benchrested zero. After getting used to the setup, paying close attention to what I was doing, and with a little practice, POI change did not occur.

Best way to answer this question is for the shooter to do some shooting. It's going to be at least slightly different for everyone.

 

[K22]

I prefer not to use any sort of rest attachment to a rifle's forearm. However, shooters that do will need to shoot with the attachment in place at varying distances and shoot enough groups to verify any POI difference after zeroing from a benchrest using bags, pedestal rest, etc., or bipod from a solid benchrest.

Everyone holds rifles a bit differently with different amounts of pressure here and there and this affects point of impact changes after a rifle has been properly zeroed from a benchrest. No standard answer as to how much, if any difference there will be. Level of skill and consistency of all factors will also affect the POI.

I use a standard original BogPod when hunting. I found when I first practiced using the BogPod point of impact varied somewhat from the benchrested zero. After getting used to the setup, paying close attention to what I was doing, and with a little practice, POI change did not occur.

Best way to answer this question is for the shooter to do some shooting. It's going to be at least slightly different for everyone.

Spot on - great advice.

 

[Doug Casner]

My Dad always told me when I was a kid, dont let the barrel rest on the bags. Rest the forearm on the bags. Same deal. Doug

 

[lotech]

I'm not an expert on anything nor am I a highly skilled rifle shooter or hunter, but, as I give this more thought, I would seek the advice of true experts. However, finding those folks might be difficult, especially if you're limited to YouTube and Internet forums.

I've been on many, many deer and elk hunts in the last fifty + years. Some of the elk hunts were guided. I've had countless opportunities to see what equipment others were using. A couple of things stick in my mind: I've yet to see anyone on various hunting grounds with a 6.5 Anything and I only recall one, maybe two hunters who used a rifle with an attached bipod. I'm not criticizing 6.5s or bipods, only commenting on what I've observed in the field.

I'd still try to locate an expert on bipod use for guidance only, but regardless, I'd do a lot of shooting and eventually be able to answer my own question better than anyone else.

 

[Cassidy]

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments and advise. The rifle shoots about 1" more vertical at about 1 o'clock at 100 yds with the bipod versus using a bag under the forestock with no bipod. I am going to try a number of your suggestions including no bipod and bipod re-zeroed.

 

[Jr solocam]

In my experience it certainly does change the POI. 2.5 MOA at 400 yards with a custom 6.5 rsaum. I found out the hard way on a whitetail. My fault for not checking it.

 

[jelenko]

Anything that changes the way the rifle is held 'in battery' will change the POI. It's just the way that the rifle recoils off all the pressure points being applied to it.

 

[Gargoyle]

Anything that changes the way the rifle is held 'in battery' will change the POI. It's just the way that the rifle recoils off all the pressure points being applied to it.

I always try to remember if I am leaning against a tree or the 4 wheeler, that recoil will make the POI go a bit away from the immovable object used as a rest. How much? Dunno. I just favor into the rest side with POA.

Edited: No schit, the ground is immovable and I found my POI to be .5 MOA high. LOL Sometimes I just gotta sit back and observe...

 

[David Milisock]

I seemed apparent to me so I inquired of some of my friends at my local rifle club who shared that use of my bipod can raise the point of impact for my Remington 700 XCR compact 308 rifle (or any rifle) about an inch or so at 100 yards target shooting. Is this the case? Have you had a similar experience?

Practice shooting from various field positions, in the field use what ever is available to steady yourself. I have found many times while I had a bipod it was of no value. However the practice time always paid off.

 

[762willdo]

If the free float clearance is .ooooooo1 or some such when you put the weight of the rifle (50%) on the sling stud that clearance will go,away quick, hence POI Change.

 

[Bill K]

I think you answered your own question.

I seemed apparent to me so I inquired of some of my friends at my local rifle club who shared that use of my bipod can raise the point of impact for my Remington 700 XCR compact 308 rifle (or any rifle) about an inch or so at 100 yards target shooting. Is this the case? Have you had a similar experience?

 

[LVLAaron]

Are you loading the bipod?

 

[Drop Port]

Yes and No, it's not a simple answer, too many variables. Often what you put in determines what you get out. Are you shooting a rigid custom stock, bedded, loaded pod or not, hard surface bench, pod legs locked rigid or in all the way resting on sprigs, firm grip on the rifle etc. etc. etc. You need to shoot it and see for yourself. I shoot mostly from a bipod, Harris and Atlas and I have seen shifts occur depending on input and setup.